Was planning to blog last Friday but went out to watch 那些年 which was quite unexpected but still good! So here goes…

As seen, my plan to blog everyday on the last week of school failed miserably, mostly because of all the Chinese revision going on –BUT Idid make a mental note to remember the significant events of each day, of course most importantly 4 Nov!!

Wednesday (2 Nov)

Had Grad ceremony briefing after probably 4 hours of Chinese. Ms. Chia returned our edited class speeches so Xiang Xuan and I decided to stay back and edit it there and then. It was waaaaaaaaaay too long so most of the time was spent cutting it.

We had so much difficulty writing the thank you parts to the teacher, especially for Mr. Tan Liang Hooi. Most of the time we thought of stupid stuff and laughed like mad, like thanks for the pigeon shit story you told us and turned all of that in jokes. But I did realize how important Mr.Tan was to our class, perhaps due to the significant impact he had on defining 302. How many memories he had left us with. Finally came up with something short, sweet and precise as well. It was a good thing we didn’t laugh during the class speech because of all the inside jokes. That would have been bad.

Thursday (3 Nov)

Class outing to ECP!! Hmm... Though it rained quite heavily, but we still made the most of the trip? Memorable moments included when we took turns to drive the “pink thing” Beverlyn and Xiang Xuan rented. If I had enough money, I would rent that the next time…

Let the pictures do the talking…







I know probably no one from 402 reads this blog so I can write this here. Well, I used to complain a lot about 402, saying that I really never fit it anywhere and I didn’t like the feeling of the whole class? But Thursday made me realize that I did find some really great friends in that class and maybe I couldn’t see that before. But just to sum everything up, I’m really happy that I was a part of 402, for 2 wonderful years. Besides the teachers we had, I think it really hard to find a class where there are no major (or perhaps none at all) conflicts, bitching and so on…

Rushed back to school after the outing to 10 minutes of CCA-watching and a quick dinner, gift-getting session for Rachel gan, at coro with Chermaine. Man, when was the last time we had a batch dinner together after cca at coronation…

Watched dramafest later on. Though it was a commendable effort, dramafest definitely needs a break through. Not everything emo is worthy of portrayal on stage, as meaningful as the themes may be, especially not when like 75% of classes chose depressing themes. 202’s Nodalbrink was good just simply for the fact it was a comedy and 206’s Alice was something different and very well-rehearsed as well. GOOD JOB SEC 2s!!!

Stayed up till 12+ that day to rush out most of my notes..

Friday (4 Nov)

Part 1: Morning Events

Last day of school started with incomplete opomou thanks to one moumou… Went to the studio at 7.10 and got a super sweet and meaningful gift from our little NYMD family. Apparently, Weifen and Lihoung went geylang to get it hahahahaha.

Another reminder of why I’d miss Nanyang so much. Thank you juniors for making that day right from the beginning!

Morning assembly in the hall with a closing done by Mdm. Heng that was fine, just didn’t like the fact that she loaded us with stuff about J1 academic stuff. Level closure was by Mrs. Phua and felt a little sorry for her because many people were talking away. Then gave out model student awards and finally the most iconic part of every level closure we’ve been through for 4 years- - the montage!!! All the better, 3 of the songs were NYMD songs and they were the more symbolic ones as well. Halo and Firework, all batch 11 dances, one being the first and the other being the last :’) whoever chose the songs is awesome!!!! Just wished some batchmates were seated around
me so I could have sung them with them.

Next was farewell ceremony. Started with the screening of the new corporate video which was a little… I don’t know, but NYMD part was super cool and I am so glad that we’ve finally got a footage that truly represents our style.

Followed by the bye-bye pal thing, which was also when I tear up for the first time that day. Thanks Chen Li Houng, though I know you won’t read this, for really a super meaningful good-bye gift which now sits on top of my cupboard amidst all the NYMD things and bits of pretty gifts. Nanyang bear is really cute and lovable, besides the fact it sheds a lot of fur…





Part 2: Last Recess in Nanyang

Last recess in Nanyang, also our last batch lunch in Nanyang, outside our second favourite place in Nanyang (quote gan), outside the dance studio. Later on, 4 of us went into the studio and just sat there, feeling the homely feeling of the studio, how beautiful it was although it had no fanciful lighting or perfect floor, just one spot of orangey light in the middle. It was probably the last time we could ever enter the studio anytime we wanted to.



And this picture I took last year still never fails to make me feel nostalgic.

From Chermaine’s blog:
I couldn’t help but tear up when I recollected the times that we danced on that floor with nymd, the times that we slept on that floor during camps or before performances, the times that we were noob dancers dancing raj's feedback in the worst ways imaginable, the times that we dropped hair all over and the times that we did our makeup together in that hexagon, the times that we would dim the lights to collect our emotions…. So many precious memories were created on that floor and I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. I just wish we had more time.
I wouldn’t trade these memories for anything in the world.

Part 3: Class Closure

Basically report books and graduation certificates were issued. And according to my height and weight measurements, I gained 6kg this year hahahahahahaha, probably due to all the conditioning… Spring cleaning was as heart-warming just like every year. I don’t know, there’s just something about everyone working together to leave a clean classroom for the next batch, taking off all the notice board papers and staple bullets together that gives a really nice feeling. Still remember so clearly spring cleaning back in 2009 with 202, looking forward yet fearing another 2 tough years in Nanyang…

Part 4: Gan’s Birthday Celebration



One of the highlights of the day! And it was more like a pre-celebration hahahahaha. Rach kept whining about wanting to go home or something, so we had to change plans and decided to surprise her when she got back to school in her hongzi. Met at 1pm at 402 classroom to finish off the cards, photo album and finalise the plan. Thankful to the Chinese Dance juniors who allowed us to use the studio for a while to surprise gan.

And so when she finally appeared in the studio under the impression that we were prac-ing steps there, we tried to dance around the studio to create a “magical feeling” without stepping on the cake in the middle of the dance floor, but obviously failed. Gan in her hongzi was… FUNNY.

Hmm, so we cut and ate the cake outside the studio and gave her the seriously last minute photo album (which we’ve yet to settle the $$$ for ahem). Pre-mini-surprise was a success and I bet she was convinced that that was all muahahahahaha.

With nothing left to do for about 2 hours, we played hide-and-seek. Sought (?) which Xinyi for two rounds and we both agreed that seeking was quite fun, just for the fact that we didn’t have to hide in stuffy, weird corners and garner confused stares. For one round, we hid in the staircase area leading to the car park. Ms. Tan and Mr. Koh and some other LA teacher walked past and were like what the crap are you guys doing. And they couldn’t believe us when we said that we were in fact playing hide-and-seek, funny.

Camped in the library red spot room (which was also the first time I entered the room! :0) for a while because we were all sweaty from playing. Finished off my cards and folded roses while they played poker cards.

Part 5: Graduation

From LT1 to the hall… Many things happened. Some memorable things included Mrs. Wong’s touching speech that made me tear up a little… Singing the school song for the last time…The star wars music when the graduands entered the hall which was filled with cameras flashing away in the parents’ hands, will never forget Cassmain saying, “I feel like I’m in Hogwarts” LOL.

Class speech went fairly well I guess, though it exceeded the time limit a little. Xiang Xuan and I were both experiencing upset stomachs and sweaty palms before that, perhaps we both knew that this speech was pretty important, although the audience may not have listened. Oh, I’m also really pleased that I received my “graduation scroll” from the hands of Zhang Laoshi!

Was really touched that some of juniors were helping out with the ceremony and saw us graduate from NY :’)

The formal ceremony ended with a touching and somewhat personal speech by Zhiping and Ang Jie, the singing of the graduation song and an NDP song “Home”. Everything that happened after passed really quick (just like how my whole life in NY did): Looking for teachers to take photos, eating my dinner in the 402 classroom for the first and last time, meeting Haoqing’s and many other parents, and finally helping some of the teachers to rearrange back the canteen tables and benches. It was a really great way to end the Nanyang journey, moving all those benches and sweating it out, night-time work out! Cher and I clung onto opomou table for a while. Sigh, old place…























A beautiful school compound, the place of many unforgettable memories that need no elaboration. The place where I met so many friends I’ll never want to lose for life and teachers I’ll always be grateful for. I loved Nanyang even before I became a part of it. I was desperate to get in when I came for the Open House, and even when I failed the DSA entry.





And now, we’ve all become alumnus of Nanyang and I guess the perfect sentence to express how I feel (and how we all feel) about NY is:

I’m proud to be a Nanyang girl.

Ever since SYF 2011 and Hurry. Hurry? came to an end this year, the word “farewell” started lingering around. The f-word that everyone tried avoiding but knew would come one day. For the sec fours, we all knew so well, it would be the only farewell in which we wouldn’t be involved in all the planning…

如果没有这个离别会, 我还没感觉你们要离开 – Laoshi

We all knew so well what we couldn’t avoid, and the end of FOA, where we were all bundled together crying our hearts out really was like the last station before the train terminates. The last milestone we had with our lil’ NYMD family A family we grew so attached to over the years.

Yesterday marked the last day Batch 11 walked the floors of the dance studio as NYMD dancers. I know there’s this whole thing about being NYMD alumni, losing a CCA but losing a family… but deep down in my heart, I still believe I’m an NYMD dancer. Nope, not “I was an NYMD dancer”.
Nothing will change that fact.

***

Not all of you guys may know, but I wanted to join this CCA known as “Modern Dance” ever since I came for the open house in 2007. My father and I went to the dance studio, the same dance studio where I had my most memorable moments years later. Saw the multiple mirrors, the orangey lighting that I grew so accustomed to later. I wanted to come to Nanyang so badly and I wanted to join Modern Dance.

Sec one, CCA selections came along. I remember seeing Eunice come to the 102 classroom in the MD jacket, but I was too shy so I didn’t ask her anything, haha! I remember the day where the CCA results were released, I was jittery all day. I couldn’t help feeling fearful of… being allocated to a CCA I never was interested in, like as if it’d ruin my entire NY life. The bell rang, I flew from the 1-02 classroom on the 4th floor to the canteen board with all the lists and names. Bobbed around at the back and tried looking past the 50 over heads in front of me. Then I saw the words of conviction beside my name – Modern Dance. I think I was so excited and thankful that my hands were cold and shivering slightly.

I decided to look for some of my future batchmates. Managed to find only one – Quah Ying Clare. Gave up in the end as people were all nudging their way through.

That day as I went home from 3rd lang, it had just rained super heavily. I was coming down a flight of steps in the HDB area, fantasizing about NYMD. Whether I was smiling to myself I didn’t know, but the next thing I know I was tumbling down that flight of steps. When I sat up again, now at the bottom of the flight, I was covered in cuts and water with two other Nanyang girls and an old aunty hovering around me, asking me if I was alright. The day ended with me telling my dad on the phone that I was “covered with blood”, so he brought me to NUH. The next day, I went to school with patches of plasters, cotton blah all over my legs, elbows and hands. Nanzhongquan hurt quite bad that day… And I was still telling everyone with pride “I GOT IN NYMD YEAH”. Everytime I think about this, I can’t help but burst out laughing. But oh well, I never ever fell on stairs for the next four years from that day onwards. It was a day to be remembered 



I remember so clearly going to the Science department the next day to look for Ms. Jocelyn Goh because apparently we were supposed to meet our teacher I/Cs once we knew our CCA. Was at the telephone when the girl in front of me using the phone said, “…Hi Ms. Goh…supposed to meet you…Joy Wong…Modern Dance”. I tapped her on the shoulder and told her I was from Modern Dance too, feeling damn excited.

Soon, as a batch of 18 at first, we entered the NYMD family, blurry faced and being the victims of wacko. The only name I could remember was Joy. Saw Karyan and felt slightly scared of her, haha! The rest was really a blur. All I can picture was us, Batch 08 09 10 11 sitting around the Siew May statue outside the auditorium doing self-introductions and wacko. Then they headed on to prepare for the production, HFOS II.

One day on the way to tuition, suddenly the girl beside me on 171 turned to me and asked me if I was from Modern Dance. She said she was Jermaine (whom I sadly couldn’t remember then lol) and soon she became the first batchmate I became close to in B11. That day, we studied together in the food court and went to the same class.

Probably a few weeks later, after a few Raj lessons have passed, Jerm and I went heading to our class again and saw Rachel Gan (or then, the girl who got scolded for laughing in dance WAHAHA) standed outside the classroom, head buried in books.

Raj lessons passed really quickly for the next months. HFOS II, I must say was still memorable – the first time I wore (a senior’s) NYMD jacket, the first time I saw the Batch 08 cry on stage, and I never really understood why.

The faithful day came when we were informed that we were having a switch in instructors. And rumours spread said that NYMD was gonna become more “ballet-based” (SO WRONG). When I first heard that, I was like yeah right… But soon enough, Cher and I were complaining to each other over msn, things like – Wth ballet based…. Totally not the same as sec 1 mini concert… SHE TEACHES IN CHINESE?!?!?

(Ah I feel like smacking the head of my sec1 self PIAK).

The first lesson with, the new instructor came and we all learned with reluctance that she was called 刘老师. She told us to wear leotard and jazz pants (what the heck was that?) for CCA from then on and remember to *ahem* at night before every CCA. She showed us some of her past works, works that I couldn’t comprehend with my artistically shallow brain. She asked us to go the floor and get up within 8,4,2 then 1 count. She brought in the simple cannon warm-up exercise and grouped us according to our birthdays.

Days after that were filled with intense technique training in our leojazz which started to get holes in the buttocks area. Out of which included a super painful rolling exercise which Jo and Veena taught me in the rooftop hall one break. Hello bruises and I remember my mum tsk-ing everytime she saw them. We did floorwork, the contractions which seemed so awkward then. We did three count, which trained the fluidity of our movements. We did the slide, the same slide that got revived just weeks before our farewell. We did moonwaker, which is almost instinctive now. We did a “hiphop-like exercise” which we all loved because of the powerful beats of the music. Laoshi taught exercise after exercise, never stopping, always pushing. She brought into NYMD an entirely new environment, the tangible changes like the upbeat safri duo music and those you couldn’t touch and see – her life lessons. It was often that after CCA she would say “来，全部来这里坐下”, and start telling us about dance, about her dance life, about us as growing dancers, about life. She talked about how she used to learn a new choreography and had to perform it in 3 hours. She talked to us how we needed to protect ourselves, how she got injured when she danced. She told some of us to jump more frequently and drink more milk, hahaha 

For a long time when Batch 08 was still attending CCA, Laoshi would always refer to them as really strong dancers, “她们都是蛮强的舞者”. I guess that was partly the reason why we worked so hard, to hear that from Laoshi one day, when in her eyes, we became beautiful dancers too. Another reason was that we were scared that the following batch would be stronger than us. So we fought and fought and fought, danced and danced and danced.

Sec 4 farewell party that 2008 year was really awkward. We got some nice-looking lollipops for the graduating batch, no notes, nothing. Batch performance was Cher and Rachel speaking on behalf of everyone. Ms Yeo joined in the farewell party that year, but B11 only knew her as the really nice ex-teacher in charge.

I’m still grateful for the day Laoshi suddenly decided to treat us, Batch 09 10 11, all to ice-cream. She said we improved a lot and we deserved it. That was the first time I felt the warmth Laoshi, who hardly knew me, exuded. We said 谢谢刘老师 with such enthusiasm.

It was a December holiday CCA session when Laoshi suddenly dropped a little bomb on us and told us that she may want all of us to cut short hair for SYF the following year. I still remember the exact scene, us sitting around Laoshi on the dance floor, mats strewn all over as we had been doing backrolls. Our mind boggled that Laoshi would have such a request. We soon laughed that idea off as Laoshi continued on with some of her inspiring stories 

That was also the December Laoshi started to introduce authentic, hard-to-catch but intriguing choreography, in preparation for SYF 2009. It was also when Batch 10 started creating Apologise.

That was sec one.

***

Sec two opened another chapter. A batch of 18 became a batch of 16. Amidst all the events before SYF 09 was Apologise, in which we were evaluated for. Apologise also brought in 15 little girl (on broom sticks and one dust pan ). Remember seeing Lihoung at our booth after sec 1 mini concert, she was talking alot, hahhahahahaha. Remember ziqi going into a full side split and kellynn doing flips, I was so deflated then, ouch I couldn’t that. Nevertheless, the excitement of finally being a senior heated up and I still remember them crammed into one mirror, learning Apologise from Batch 10. They must have looked as blurry faced as we were in sec one just a year ago.



SYF 09 knocked on our doors. I remember Joy and I approaching Gen super shyly, asking if she could go through the SYF audition set with us once. The way she said ok was like “can lah duh, why you guys look so scared.” The SYF audition set felt so awkward on my body. I wanted SYF 09 so badly and practiced the routine at home, took videos of myself doing them to see if I looked fine. When Laoshi finally put our whole batch into SYF despite the incredibly challenging audition set, so many new memories were created.

One of the fondest memories of SYF 09 must have been dance camp 09. We were all huddled together, seniors and juniors, around the tiny tv screen, watching an unrealistic but still inspiring movie on cheerleading to get up self-esteem up for SYF. Before we all slept, batches shouted across the floors, “goodnight juniors”, “goodnight NYMD”. As simple as that, barely a sentence, but the spirit of the NYMD family was fully expressed. It was really too awesome for words (Ah, Lihoung and Mr. Ting YOU GUYS MUST HAVE OVERNIGHT DANCE CAMP, it makes a huuuuuuuuge difference).



Around then, SYF 09 became known as Stalemate. Saying the name today still fills me with pride and nostalgia. Also around then, our hair was chopped…

The day we first went to school with our chopped hair and bangs, as horrible as we thought we looked, I never felt such a strong sense of belonging before. “Feel calm, I belong, I’m so happy here…”

Just to sidetrack a bit, Hilary once mentioned on her lj that the most prominent thing she felt from B11 was acceptance. For me, it’s security. I feel so safe with all of them and sometimes when we set out to do crazy things like cutting our hair short and pulling stocking over our heads, I feel like it’s just against the world :’)

Lol I couldn't really tell what I looked like when the person was cutting my hair 'cause I didn't wear my specs, but it turned out to be ok. Surpirisingly, nobody had drastic changes, so good lah :D I think the hair dresser must be totally sianed diao from cutting like 40+ times of the same hairstyle (btw it's short hair with bangs, haha)

After that practised some more. The effect of the hair quite nice, haha!
My bruise got 10 times worse ):
Will someone invent a butt protection guard...?

The day of SYF 09 finally came. Seniors spammed us with sweets, again the NYMD love. Shall cope some things from Cher’s blog and my old blog:

Remembering what Laoshi's said on friday makes me feel like tearing.
“在我的心里，你们已经达到了Gold with Honours，比 Gold with Honours 还要高得好多好多。不管你们得到什么奖，我都会为你们感到高兴。我不希望你们得不到 Gold with Honours，就哭得要死不活，因为我已经很 appreciate 你们的 effort”

I still can remember how frustrated with us she was after our first UCC rehearsal. She thought we were hopeless. The amount of effort she put into training us and choreographing the dance cannot be described with words.

Laoshi told us, or rather warned us, before SYF not to look at the previous school’s item when we were backstage getting ready for Stalemate. The scene on the actual day turned out exactly how Laoshi wanted it. Backstage, everyone was furiously going through steps in their heads and developing the mood. As young as we were (a CCA with barely more than 10 years of history), we were incredibly professional and that’s one bit I’ll miss so much about NYMD. If Laoshi taught us anything, that would be to always believe in the dance, believe in ourselves.

Item No. #68 Stalemate.

***



Speaking of I.D., I still recall Joy, Haoqing, Eunice, Shiyan, Rosanne and I have dinner at KAP and the title “I.D. I Dance. Our Identity” just sprung up of nowhere. Ever since dance night was confirmed, NYMD never stop running for the finish line, making sure every bit was not just perfect, but done with love. The days of designing tickets, poster and for cher the taxing programme booklet. The days of converting our batch dance from dream to reality. The days where cher and I rushed from GAP/AEP to hiphop to see what awesome choreography they’ve learned from Ms. Ng. The days seeing B12 struggle to find their sexier side for broadway and come to a roaring success in the very end (refer to above about B12 making us proud). I can’t forget how loud everyone cheered when the broadway line finally became neat after countless weeks of practice. The days where our publicity event was pushed back, feeling pissed. Feeling pissed about BTs clashing with I.D. The days where we raced to the end with Bollywood being completed a week before the actual production. The days leading up to I.D. The excitement and countdown. The notices of full house on both days. Staying late in school until 8pm. The days of the production…

I was standing behind the curtains that were seriously towering above me, with C2 hat in hand. Took a look at my dancers, recapping the steps just like how they did before SYF 09. NYMD never fails to inspire me. The audience chattered insanely and when finally the houselights dimmed and the audience cheered, my hands started shaking for the “dance night” we’ve been imagining ever since SYF 09 ended was really happening. C2 music rang in my ears and the spotlights shot across the auditorium. And with the very first step we took, revealing our faces from behind the hats, I felt only one thing – pride.

By the time we finished Shihui’s final lift and got backstage, c1 girls were squealing and in tears.

I know we did well. Without even having the audience to say it. I felt it. For with passion, you can’t go wrong. And those two vigorous nights, every single dancer out there that stepped on the auditorium stage danced their hearts out.

Reviews of I.D. started streaming in, from Mdm. Wee, Mdm. Heng, seniors… saw Ms. Teng who helped for the production and she said “good show” with a smile. By the time the 2nd night has ended and the curtains fell, expectedly, everyone was in tears. Unwilling to let go of something that became our lives for the past months. And that was how easily NYMD became our lives, it just came naturally somehow.

I.D. shaped my sec 3 life, and it’s probably my best memory of NYMD.

***

NYMD can really be One. Big. Cry. Baby. Another point I’ll miss about all of them. As much as Laoshi dislikes our wailing and bawling, I feel like as if I don’t need to hide how I feel. How I feel like seeing people leave or leaving ourselves. For everyone felt the same way and everyone was willing to express that.

Even the Taiwan Trip was met with tears, funnily enough. 8 days of high ended off with people sniffling away on the way to the airport when the 5 Batch 09 dancers made their final “farewell” speech. As much as the trip was fun and memorable, as Chermain and the rest spoke, some cracking a little, it was a reminder that when we were back in Singapore, it was truly B11’s turn to take the reigns. To write our last bit of NYMD.

***

From here on, it’ll seriously be random thoughts jumbled up…

Leading NYMD was a total other experience. I can’t say that I never got pissed, never complained to Cher about how tired I was, but never did I once lose faith in NYMD. Seeing from the past 3 years, no matter how last minute or difficult anything was, we made it. I guess that really goes to show the passion and chemistry we have.

SYF 11, we fought so hard from 21st-28th March and 152 other days non-stop. And we did it.

I’ll never forget cheering at the exact same spot where we cheered 2 years ago, except this time with B12 and B13. Seniors writing countless encouragements and heading down to support. In my mind on 31st March , saying it along with the announcer as he read with so much conviction “Gold with Honours”. Swallowing back my screams as Laoshi wished. A week later, saying the same words into the microphone in the school hall along with Cher and NYMD. Showing our entire journey to the school and huddling together at the side, watching the montage Cher made that still gave me goosebumps today.

Sometime after SYF 2011, I headed to Cher’s blog archives and dug up her post dated a few days before I.D. And she said something like “It’s scary that a few days from now, we’ll have no aim till SYF 2011”. And I just burst out into tears.







2011 brought in the final batch of NYMDers we were ever gonna be with, B14. Their passion was almost immediate and so far, they’ve become the last to leave after every CCA session :’) Sometimes I just sit there, look at them and suddenly feel soooooo envious. I’d suddenly wish I was there, dancing with the rest of B11, looking forward to another four years of NYMD goodness and NYMD love. I wish there had been someone there in sec one to show me how much she cried at farewell.

***

I never thought being an NYMD dancer was easy, but the hardest part really came right at the end. While we experienced so many firsts in 2008 and 2009, 2011 brought many lasts. FOA was a big one that hit hard for days. Of course, the biggest reason to be bawling your eyes out at farewell is definitely the beautiful memories you’ve made for yourself in this family, the dancers and Laoshi.

Klara told me something recently. She said that the most peculiar thing about NYMD dancers is that she’s never heard a single one of us complain about having to go for CCA. I told her I had CCA that very day with a smile. And I was happy, because I knew that was beyond true.

I always knew that NYMD loved each other, but yesterday was the day I really saw it. Giving out the cards, the juniors were crying harder than seniors. As cute as it was, it was painful. Painful to have to accept the fact that you were no longer attending CCA with them. You were no longer ever gonna share the same stage as them. And it would be even harder to take when you’ve finally gotten used to it, accepted it.

When Yuqian’s speech dissolved into sobs, I was quite shocked. Shocked that the bawling started earlier than I expected. I saw how grateful they were and just wish maybe I had reciprocated that love and gratitude a little earlier. Thinking about the sec two days where we would complain about juniors, saying they were slack and unlike us, we were harsh. And shit, do I feel bad about what I used to say. We had the best farewell ever and it was because they dedicated their entire weekends to make sure they didn’t let us down. I couldn’t have asked for more.

And when the sec2s started singing “You’ll be in my heart… NYMD, will be there for you, studio’s always open… don’t leave to soon”, thousands of things were running through my head. Mostly – crap it’s really happening.

Juniors: That’s probably the sweetest thing any junior in NYMD has done for their seniors. I probably never felt so touched in my life before...
:')




Reading all those notes that said "Please remember to visit us often", "don't ever forget us!!!"
Forgetting NYMD and all the fond memories it has brought me will be the last thing I can ever do. I'm serious.

***

Besides all that, another thing I’ll miss so badly is ultimately Batch 11. The feeling of being with B11 all this while. All these four years.

I remember so vividly when we were sec ones hanging out at KAP and comparing us to the Batch 08 seniors, just like how Batch 14 did recently. How we formulated our secret code dratoel over lunch. I’ll also remember sitting around with the lights off during dance camp, and suddenly Jermaine uttered, “I think I’ll really miss our batch next year…”



I remember so vividly every ice-cream date we’ve gone on, every batch dinner we had. Sometimes we laughed at Veena, sometimes we bitched about people, sometimes we pissed off other customers. But every single time was a time I felt at ease.




Every single performance I’ve had with B11 is a whole new experience, though similar in some ways too. I never fail to feel everyone beside me giving their all. Whether it was a 1-minute welcome performance at YDF 2010, or a full-batch performance of Halo, I always wish the last note of the song lasted a little longer.

And whether we were chasing our dreams in dreamworks, murdering students in heping or shaking our heads off in Hurry. Hurry?, we always felt contented after every item.

8th July we performed a snippet of Hurry. Hurry on the hall stage as FOA opening. Just before our turn, Jerm said to me “see you on stage” and we went to our respective wings. Typing those words now still sends shivers down my spine and gets my adrenaline rushing, though I’m not sure when’s the next time I can hear or use such a phrase.

B11 has changed me, the dancers who inspire me, the people who shape me. It’s one of reasons why I actually enjoy school. And I know not many out there feel it, but I do, all the time. When I used to do ballet, I never loved dance so much. I guess passion really comes when you do what you love with the people you love. All this while, I would have been a spoiled brat to not notice how lucky I am. Lucky lucky lucky. Fate brought us together and I believe even as we step out of the NYMD studio for the last time, fate will brings us to meet again.

if theres a day when we cant b together, keep me in your heart n i will stay there forever. nymd ♥ - haoqing





And of course, another person who've had an enormous impact on me in this NYMD journey would have been Ms. Yeo. Although she'll never see this, just wanna say that: Ms Yeo, I think I wouldn't have been who I am in NYMD if it weren't for you and the all the chances you have given when I was in Sec3 to show what I can do. Thanks for your trust in me. I have the utmost respect for you because of your forever undying passion and how big an inspiration you've been to NYMD all this while. You're a perfect example of how someone can still be in our hearts even though they're not physically with us all the time :)



Last but not least, Laoshi. That time where we didn’t get the chance announce our SYF results the day they came out, things got complicated and we had some sorta meeting. They said they made decisions that were better for us, including changing out instructors on April 2008. That got me thinking.

What if Laoshi hadn’t come to NYMD? I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like. Laoshi is a legendary person, and when she dances, everyone is stunned that such aura can come from her. I remember her teaching us a little bit of Balinese dancing in sec3 or 2, and that really got our jaws dropped. But beside her artistry, many years down the road, the thing I’ll remember the most are the values she has taught us. How she has moulded us in the individuals we are today, and how she has been humbly pushing the credit away and letting us take the limelight.

你们的天真无暇的面孔, 土土傻傻的样子 – Laoshi

Seeing that sentence makes me wish I could go back to sec one and relive all these 4 years that are beyond amazing. I don’t mind being 土土傻傻 again just to experience what a strong bond we had with the laoshi that had the biggest impact on us, or at least, me. I can’t even begin to say how much Laoshi has done for us all this years, how much she has worked, to get us to Taiwan, to get us to Cedar and everywhere she feels is good for us. How she dreamed for us to have a dance night that we could call our own. How she gave us the ownership over our own dances but gave the artistic direction when necessary. How she was generous with chances. How she was uniquely Laoshi whenever she did something funny like say 我好饿when she has completed the SYF dance. How sometimes she zi-highed and the dancers stone for a few seconds before laughing at her cuteness. How she would comment on how bonded we were and tell us that she was proud of us. How she sometimes criticised us for our good (and the effects are obvious) tough love.

When she said she has dropped Cedar, I was initially shocked but then what I wanted to know what made her decide to not drop us. Fate? I really can’t imagine coming back to an NYMD where there is no Laoshi. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, juniors be grateful for every second you still get to spend with her for she’s beyond amazing and beyond inspiring :’)



***

The above 5000 words can’t sum up everything. I guess I just hope that whenever I miss NYMD, I’d dig this up and relive the moments – feel the creaky floor of the studio on my barefoot, do make-up in sucky lighting, have horrible singing that pass off as beautiful just because you’re doing it with NYMD.

I’ll miss everything. So much. Talking about farewell still makes me well up. But I’m more grateful than sad. Grateful that I’ve made the right decision to join NYMD in sec one. Grateful for the boundless love I experience every second with all of you guys.

So grateful that it makes you wanna cry.

NYMD you’ve taken a part of me with you. And I’ve taken with me a part of you too. It’s kept deep within my hearts where it can never be wiped away.









It may be a long time for me to not experience nostalgia at all when I see photos like those above, or worse I may always be longing to be able to share the stage with NYMD again...
But I'll not weep anymore, because all I feel now is gratitude.

I love NYMD is an understatement.
You'll be in my hearts wherever I go.

Nope, the title does not mean "Principle of Moment"

This holidays...

Am satisfied over:
1. Completing SMP poster judging! (results not bad!)
2. Completing Chinese SIA
3. Completing Art SIA
4. Finishing most homework?
5. Streetsales at Dhoby
6. Bruises and burns from PULSE
7. Mini Leap briefing

Am unhappy over:
1. Basically didn't get the chance to mug anything?
2. Chinese SIA ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Pulse yesterday! Seriously couldn't remember the last time I worked out so much. All work no dance makes a dull bohb (: Anyway, new exercise Ms Chiew taught was simply awesome and I love the connectivity of the whole set, it just keeps going. Impro was with XUESONG. Haha she's so cute and pretty! And I love her accent for some reason. Rolling was fun but bruisey but I'm totally fine with it. We started with just basic rolling, 8 counts, 4 counts, 2 counts... When I got up and saw everyone rolling to the tempo, it was like wow. Super wow. It would make a cool stage entrance.

School's starting tomorrow. Why can't we have home-learning until EOYs?!? I swear I'll be able to do better then. Just hope everything goes fine! ART PREP SHIT.

All that's in my mind now is seriously what's in line after EOYs. Freak this.
Off to hit the bookzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzies