Dance teacher Vivian Chan is beaming with pride at the prospect of participating in her own student’s charity project scheduled to be held this coming Merdeka Day.

Organised by Liew Xiao Rou, 15, the Dance Pulse Studio founder will teach two one-hour dance classes on lyrical and contemporary dance as part of the teenager’s “Dance for Food” project.

Scheduled for 12pm and 2pm, respectively, both lessons will be conducted via Zoom, and are open to people of all levels and ages.

Tickets are priced at RM20 per participant, with all proceeds going to Food Bank Malaysia, the region’s leading anti-hunger organisation that donates food and grocery products to the needy.

“I realise that many people are struggling due to the pandemic, and I wanted to do something to help,” two-time national lyrical dance champion Liew said.

“The response has been good,” The International School @ Park City student tells FMT.

“One donor has sponsored 30 tickets, which will be offered to children from a refugee school I currently volunteer at.”

“I am very proud of Xiao Rou’s initiative, and am really excited to contribute,” exclaimed Chan, who was herself a top 20 contestant on So You Think You Can Dance (Malaysia, season 2).

Beginnings

“My own mom wanted to be a dancer, but my grandmother refused to let her take lessons,” Chan told FMT.

“When I turned six, my mother enrolled me in ballet,” she recalls, adding that she reluctantly persevered for six years despite her dislike for the genre. “I didn’t like wearing tutus and pointe shoes!”

Everything changed, however, when she discovered jazz dancing as a 12-year-old.

“I fell in love with its modern, funky and energetic moves.”

“I now appreciate my ballet beginnings because it is the foundation of dance,” the 39-year-old adds. “Good technique allows you to pick up dance styles easily.”

Liew’s involvement in dance began at an even earlier age.

“I started ballet when I was three or four years old and went on to jazz dancing, before learning contemporary and lyrical dance under Vivian,” she says.

“I’m into all styles, but I especially like lyrical dance because it feels more natural to me.”

“Dancing cleanses my mind,” she muses, explaining that it helps take her thoughts off the rigours of schoolwork.

Dance styles

A former national elite rhythmic gymnast, Vivian teaches several different dance styles, including contemporary, lyrical, acro and jazz.

“Lyrical dance is ballet-based and technical but also straightforward,” she explains.

“Contemporary dance, on the other hand, is more abstract and expressive, and incorporates elements of ballet, yoga, tai chi, jazz and acro.”

“In fact, contemporary dance evolved as a protest against the traditional and structured form of ballet,” she points out.

Dance is for everyone

“There will always be people who say they are bad dancers or have two left feet, but I firmly believe that everyone can dance,” Chan assures. “It’s all about practice and muscle memory.”

“A long-time student of mine is now 55 years old, but still participates every weekend and can give youngsters a run for their money,” she enthuses. “As the cliché goes, age is just a number.”

Challenging times

Things have been rather challenging as Chan’s dance studio has for the most part been closed since the start of the pandemic.

“I’ve been giving online classes since the first lockdown last year,” she tells FMT, adding that she currently teaches 16 to 20 classes a week.

“Online lessons have their limitations,” she laments, with the biggest obstacle being a lack of space.

According to her, most students do not have a proper space at home to dance in.

“Some students resort to dancing in their porches, or between their bed and wardrobe,” she points out, “while others must make do with dancing in the living room, even as their family members can be seen watching television in the background!”

Still, she calls on dance enthusiasts to persevere. “I have faith that we will get back to the studio someday soon,” she says. Liew certainly hopes so.

For more information, check out the Dance for Food project on Instagram. You can also follow The Dance Pulse Studio on Facebook and Instagram.