Dance.

 This was originally posted on my blog page in Multiply jose8.multiply.com on the 31st of May 2008. But since this is the blog I now use, viola.


--------------------------

The dialogues here aren't accurate. But this is how I remember it, heheh. ;)
Also for those of you who don't know, mid March - early June is summer in the Philippines

Sometime during the month of March 2005.

This is gonna be my last summer in the Philippines before moving to Malaysia.
I want to have a fruitful summer. But how? Well, Campus Harvest is coming. But what could I do?


"I wanna do something, Lord. I wanna serve... I wanna do something for you. Should I sing? (I used to sing a lot when we lived in Alabang, but since we moved, I almost never opened my mouth.) Should I act? dance? or even be an usher in Campus Harvest? Open a door for me, please Lord!!"

I really wanted to do something that summer but I didn't know what.
I always wanted to be in Musical Theatre; I just never had the chance.
I asked around... I told my parents I really wanted to... but it just didn't seem to work out.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 3, 2005- Open Field Convergence @ the Fort.The manuvers and Gary V performed... first time I found "dancing" cool.
---in my head---
*It would actually be cool if I could dance like that. It's worth the try... I guess I could take classes during the summer. Well it'll be something to do... something that would eat up my time. Who knows... I might actually end up being good at it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 4, 2005
"Pa, what if I take dance classes nalang (instead) during the summer?"
   "Oh sige, (sure) where can you take classes?"

"I'm not sure eh... oh, I think they're gonna be having pala (no direct translation) hiphop classes at the fort... (they announced it alot in church, hehe)"
   "Oh, yan pala eh (there you go). Do you know when it starts?"

Unfortunately I didn't know when it was starting. Heck, for all I knew, it probably started already. So I just asked my dad to ask someone at the fort (I don't really remember who he asked). He/she said it was starting on the 5th of April.
Oh my, that's tomorrow!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 5, 2005- I go with my dad to try out the hiphop beginners class at the Fort.I was early. There was only one person in the dance studio... he was just sitting in the floor. Is he a student? or is he the teacher?

Turns out it was Eauj Corpuz (he was the assistant teacher, Jon Supan was the teacher).
I walked in... hesitantly of course. I mean, I've never danced before, and here I am entering a dance studio! I thought I was crazy.. haha, why am I doing this?? But heck, i thought, better than just staying at home, doing nothing the whole summer.

Anyway,more people came... and it was a real basic "first class". They just let us groove to the music. They tried to make sure we knew how to just "feel" the music, if you know what I mean.
Well, I certainly had fun. Although we really didn't do much "dancing", haha.

After the class, Eauj came up to me and asked if I was interested in dancing in Campus Harvest. I didn't know what to say. The only thing I could think of was Wow, Lord! That was quick!!! hahaha
   "Uh, sure, i guess" I answered
"Auditions started today. There's one more tomorrow, but it'll be in Galle (Our center in Robinson's Galleria, Ortigas)"
   "Oh, ok... what time will be?"

So that's how it started.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 6, 2005
I ended up going to that audition. I felt... hahah, stupid. I DON'T DANCE! It's a good thing when I got there, I saw a lot of people that I knew, Voica being one of them.

  "Are you auditioning, Jose (Only the 'Voica group' called me Jose then, hehe) ?"
"I'm not sure, haha, are you?"

Well she did audition. I didn't know she was a Jazz dancer!
I didn't know if I was there to audition to be a dancer... or a performer... or even a singer.
I know I was asked by a "dancer" to audition... but I don't dance remember? hahah.
So anyway, I sang "Consume Me" in front of Janelle Antonio, Eauj Corpuz... and, I'm pretty sure there was one more person, I'm not quite sure who it was though. Forgive me, other person, if you're reading this now, hhaha.
Anyway, I sang. Then they asked if I prepared anything to dance. (well duh, I didn't, right?) I told them I didn't haha. They said it was ok cause Eauj was gonna teach something anyway.

So here I was, in the middle of a bunch of dancers... learning a choreography by Eauj. Boy, it was tough... I was glad Voica was right next to me. I didn't feel too bad next to her (not that she's not good or anything. But it was because I already knew her and she's so nice. So I didn't feel like I was alone. heheh (Thanks Voics! I'm just realizing what a big help you were!)

Ok, this is getting kinda long. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ended up joining the dance class at the fort and dancing in Campus Harvest. I was busy that summer. I danced 6days of the week. I'm glad I asked God use me that summer... 

Haha, I kinda lost my train of thought.

God really revealed himself to me. For one thing, I started to have friends again after moving out of Alabang. And I started to dance! For some reason though, even after that, I didn't want to be know as a "dancer". I honestly don't know why. Maybe because I felt like I didn't deserve to be called a dancer... or maybe I just didn't want to be a "dancer".

Today, I am the dance teacher of the KDU College dance group. I help out/half teach the dance class at the New World Park every tuesday. And I dance for DANZITY DANCE HOUSE.

I kinda stopped learning since we moved here to Penang. But I really want continue learning since God seems to be opening so many doors for me in the dancing world; I'm probably meant to do something here whether I really want to or not. 

What I know is if I just continue to follow and obey God, I've got unlimited possibilities. When I watch the videos of Eauj or Madelle, I really wonder why I had to leave the Philippines and be here in Penang, where the dancing scene is just starting. (You guys are so goooood! My Idols man!) God has a big plan though. I believe that with all my heart. Hm, take it from me, God may have you do things you've never ever dreamed of doing. Just obey!

I guess it's safe to say now that I am a dancer, hehe and I'm glad I'm one. ;)

There are so many to thank. So many people who helped me at this certain period of my life, but I guess, Lord, you're the one to thank ;)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Links:

--Tap Dance Performance VIDEO (Campus Harvest 2005)-- Photos here.

--My First Dance Recital

--My first dance competition 1st Round [Pictures, Video]  and Finals [Pictures, Video]