Find your joy, find your passion in dancing!

When I was eight years old, I had a classmate named Sara who was a dancer. Coming from a wealthy family, Sara attended ballet and tap dance classes; things that were uncommon during my childhood.

The majority of my other classmates and I were from middle-income families and extracurricular activities such as dancing that incurred a fee weren't within our families' means. Oh, how I loved to watch Sara perform during our concerts. She was a beautiful girl, both inside and out --sweet, friendly, and talented, and was well-loved by both her friends and teachers.

Sara knew that my parents couldn't afford dance class for me. Whenever we gathered around her to ask her about her dancing, she would show us some of her dance steps and even taught us how to do them. That made her even more popular. I envied Sara, and her life. I was so disappointed that my parents couldn't afford dance classes for me. Being the youngest of five children, my parents had other more important bills to worry about. But of course, back then I didn't understand.

All I knew was that I was so into dancing and wanted to learn just like Sara was. I practically begged and cried so my mom would cave in and send me to classes but my mom kept repeating to me that we hadn't enough money for that.

So every chance I had, I would ask Sara to teach me more dance moves, both ballet and tap dance, and she obliged.

I didn't let anything deter me from dancing; if it was free, I was in. Whenever I had the opportunity to learn dancing, any kind of dancing such as the traditional Malay dance taught by any of the school teachers, I would sign up for it. I was always one of the best dancers in the group, and during concerts the teachers would position me in front of the group to lead the girls.

While Sara excelled in her performances the wealthy could afford and the poor look up towards, I excelled and enjoyed learning dances that were taught for free and shone at concerts. My dad, who played the trumpet, and comes from a musically-inclined background, attended all my performances. He sat at the front row to show his support. And he would later go on to tell me how the other parents would compliment me on my dancing. I felt great and I knew he was proud of his little girl. I even remember leading the dance team, doing the Hawaiian Dance during the school sports day.

Move forward today -- the millennials are a fortunate bunch as they can take up whatever they want to as we, parents, can afford it. My 15-year-old daughter is currently looking for a contemporary dance dance teacher. Like any other parent I had enrolled her in ballet, tap dance and contemporary dance when she was much younger. She didn't show any crazy passion for any, sadly. But she did perform well and was the eye candy at her concerts.  Today I attend all of her performances, mainly acting, and some dancing taught in her school. I want her to be exposed to the different dances out there but to also be the one who wanted to attend this classes because she is interested in the dance. Nothing good happens when you force a kid to learn something that she isn't passionate about.

I, on the other hand, have enrolled in salsa and bachata classes, and recently, line dancing. It's more than six months since I started learning bachata and I truly enjoy it. It is a partner dance, led by the male. I think perhaps, in bachata, you are as good as the guy that leads you. I do get frustrated at times, so I have now started line dancing classes.

My teenager thinks line dancing is for older folks, so she told me I was old for doing it. Who cares, as long I have fun dancing, and meet other women who love dancing. It does help boost your memory as you have to remember all the steps and coordinated moves. I exercise regularly and yet I find certain muscles sore the next day after dancing; so I guess it is a great way to exercise too! My mom would be proud as we dance to awesome country and western songs and it does bring back fond memories of her singing to the songs.

Till today I think about Sara. We lost contact in secondary school. The last I heard she had quit professional dancing and was doing charity work in Singapore.

During bachata dance practice, April 2018