Rendezvous: A Modern Circus Art show by PsycuSix – 12 November 2016

It's me, the poster girl

Me again, featured in the article of discoverkl.com

Viva Vertical was invited by PsycuSix (Malaysia’s leading modern and contemporary circus performing group) to perform for this 1 day event, free to the public at the Square, Publika.

We were informed 2 weeks before the event and were asked who was available for the show. I was available and I said yes and had no regrets as it was super fun being surrounded by the circus team!

We were rehearsing the whole 2 weeks; with late nights on Wednesday and Friday, the week before the show. On the full dress rehearsal on Wednesday, 9 November 2016, we were able to watch the circus act put together by the team, PsycuSix, and we got to try the “air-brush make-up” done by Anissa, one of the lady members of PyscuSix. We had to hold our breath and close our eyes while the colour make-up was sprayed on our faces.   

Our show was scheduled to start at 8.00pm. Before 8pm, we saw the crowds already coming and trying to get the best seats in the house, though right at the front you needed to sit on the floor. A few seats were put near the front (in front of the restaurants) but that was not enough. Also, some people would go and get a table at the restaurants upstairs to get a better view of the whole stage.

The show started off with the opening of beating of the drums and then a contemporary opening dance. There were Acts 1, 2 and 3; Act 1 told the story of working adults with their busy life in a beautiful future and showcased the circus team performing various acts like juggling, acrobatics, aerial arts in hoop and silk, fire arts and hip hop dance. 

I was in Act 1, performing the opening contemporary dance, duo hoop with my partner Sheila and towards the end in Act 3, in the LED performance. After Act 1, we quickly rushed backstage to get our make-up done by Anissa.

Our duo hoop performance, picture captured by my friend Caroline Jim. She had the best seat, i.e. 1st floor restaurant

My partner, Sheila, getting her make-up done

This is me and Anissa, my make-up artist

Scary......

There were international artists that performed that night; Dai Zaobab from Japan, Marvin Ong from the US, Legato Visual Performing Arts from the Philippines and Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo from the Philippines.

We had an amazing time with the make-up, circus team and crowds. I was so grateful that I have my husband, little girl and a few friends that came and supported us and videod our performances.   

The swan and the bee. The costumes for our Act 3- LED performance

Check out our make-ups

The bee trying to sting the swan

Group photo of the aerialists and our manager, Nana 

Our colourful costumes

Viva Vertical In House Competition – 16 July 2016

Venue: DPAC Theatre
Date: 16 July 2016 (Saturday) 8.30PM
Ticket price: MYR50

Our annual in-house pole competition is back with the addition of aerial hoop and silk. Students were asked to submit a video (not more than 2 minutes) to be assessed as to whether they would be chosen to compete in the finals.

These were the finalists:-

Aerial Silk Solo

1.         Charmaine Ang

2.         Mindy Yong

3.         Nessie Tu

4.         Tan Yun Ru

Pole Solo 

1.         Lee So Xi

2.         Eileen Woo

3.         Wang Wei Hua

4.         AJ Wong

5.         Noah Yap

6.         Jax Burditt

7.         Teoh Mei Yee

8.         Alan Lim

9.         Fiona Shak

10.       Shernes Tan

They were supposed to have Pole Duo and Aerial Hoop but these 2 categories were taken off from the list as there were not many students who submitted the videos for these 2 categories.

The name of the finalists was announced in mid-June 2016 and they had 1 month to choreograph their new routine and to get their costumes ready.

In preparation for the competition, some of the students had extra lessons with Viva instructors and they trained most of the days of the week. There are also time slot allocated for them to practice during access time.

So on the day of the competition, we started off with our emcee, Samantha Chan Geok Hui giving a brief introduction of pole and aerial and the contestants’ journey to the finals. Also, she introduced the judges Samantha Yee (Miko), Nana, V Lea and Reiko Shalini Soo.

The beautiful emcee Samantha Chan Geok Hui

The judges (L-R) - Samantha Yee (Miko), Reiko Shalini Soo, V Lea and Nana

Sad to say I could only watch the competition from the side of the stage and I must say that the students did put up a brilliant job and having the guts to be on stage. It’s definitely the first time for some of them!

Here are the contestants in action:

Lee Soxi

AJ Wong

Mindy Yong

Eileen Woo

Noah Yap with his comical wiping floor act

Shernes Tan

Fiona May

Jax

Mei Yee

Alan Lim with his Chinese pole act

After the competition, we had some performances lined up by Virginie Laurency on aerial hoop and the Aerial Master group performed a 10 minute routine on silk, due silk, duo pole, synchronized hoop and duo hoop, while waiting for the judges to tabulate the marks of the contestants.    

Here are the pictures of the performances:-

Virginie on aerial hoop

Opening dance for Aerial Masterclass with the song Feel the Light

Cynthia Wong on aerial silk

Squido and Noah Yap on duo silk

Mai Ukaji and Sheila on duo pole with their artistic act

Sun Wei on syncronised aerial hoop with the song from the soundtrack Terminator

This is me on syncronised aerial hoop with the song from the soundtrack of Terminator

Our last dance before our duo aerial hoop and syncronised pole

Me and Squido on duo spinning hoop

All of us as a TEAM

After the performances, the emcee announced the winners. The winners were:-

Winner for Aerial Silk Solo - Mindy Yong

Best Dress Award - Alan Lim

Pole Fitness (Men) Runner Up : Alan Lim

Pole Fitness (Men) Champion and Audience Choice Award: Noah Yap

Noah, a shy young innocent boy came to our Aerial Master class few months ago and has fully matured in his performances. How do I know? Well, we trained together.

When he practiced his pole routine in front of me, I told him that you are going to be the WINNER. I was super right about that. 

His routine was all about a boy hired by his employer to clean the premises. While cleaning, he imagined himself dancing and doing a pole routine. Immediately when he performed his routine, I knew what the story was all about, what he was trying to tell the audience and that itself is unique and good enough to capture and captivate the judges’ heart for the ultimate champion.

Pole Art Runner Up : Mei Yee

Pole Art Champion : Fiona May

Pole Fitness (Women ) Runner Up : Shernes Tan

Pole Fitness (Women) Champion: Jax

Congratulations to all WINNERS on a job well done. For those of you who did not win; always remember you are already a WINNER by performing your routine on stage (that’s what I always tell my ballet students). You have come so far in your journey, pain, sweat, stress and blood! Never give up as there will always be next year. 

Good Bye and see you in next year's competition

  

Viva Vertical Students’ Recital – 17 July 2016

Venue: DPAC Theatre
Date: 17 July 2016 (Sunday) 3.30PM
Ticket price: MYR50

Students of Viva Vertical who completed 3 months of pole and/or aerial were allowed to join the students’ showcase by paying RM300 for 8 classes and the students were asked to choose either Friday (under Kitt), Saturday (under Angel) or Sunday (under Nana and Pui Yi for burlesque) classes.   

As there were many students participating this year, the students were split into Groups A and B on Friday and Saturday (depending on the time slot they chose).

Apart from the students’ recital, the Aerial Master group, i.e. each and every one of us, came up with our individual aerial performances.   

Here are the rundown and pictures of the event:-

Diva Love (Fri Group A) 

Silk routine by Cynthia Wong

Duo Pole by Noah and Suk Hong

Silk Routine by Sun Wei

The Lost Chandelier (Sat Group B). Performed to the song Chandelier by Sia and I choreographed the beginning of the dance

My Silk Routine. Performed to the song Sweet Dreams

Leather and Lace (Fri Group B)

Hoop Routine by Sheila Yew

Burlesque Ensemble (Sunday Group)

Silk Routine by Mai Ukaji

Chicago (Sat Group A)

Silk Routine by Suk Hong

Pole Routine by Jerilyn Huang

Silk Routine by Noah Yap

Pole Routine by Justin Wong