From Bollywood to Zumba

WISS hosted Dancefest 2018 bringing together 120 students from ages 5-15 from 6 international schools. Dancefest 2018 brought young dancers together to share in workshops introducing them to new dance styles and techniques from Bollywood to ballet, contemporary to Zumba.The dancers also built friendships with the common love of dance. At the end of the day, each schools’ dance team performed for one another in a culminating show. Louise (Grade 7) and Alix (Grade 3), part of the WISS Dance Company, reflect on this exhilarating and fun filled day. 

1. What was your favorite part of Dancefest?

Louise: My favorite part of the day was when we all did a tech rehearsal and got to see each others performances. It was great to see the different types of dance and dances moves, and to hear different music. We could see how others were, what kind of people they are, and everybody was really nice to each other and was happy to see different things.

Alix: When we were performing in front of the audience

2. What was your final performance - what style of dance and how did you feel about it? 

Louise: We did a Bollywood dance and we had Indian skirts wrapped around our waist as a costume. Bollywood is a type of Indian dancing and I find it really fun to do. When we went on stage the first thing the audience did was to cheer for us. I felt happy and couldn’t help but smile! It was a major boost to do the dance for a lot of us. While I was dancing I felt extremely energetic and I could feel the energy throughout the entire Orsini Theater.

Alix: The song was Uptown Funk, the version from Kidz bop, and the style was funky! I felt a little bit nervous, but when I am nervous I smile. I enjoyed it very much.

3.  What do you LOVE about Dance?

Louise: I love the fact that dance can help us learn from each other. Lots of countries have traditional dances - China has martial arts, there is Scottish dancing in Scotland, Irish tap dancing in Ireland and lots more. Dance can really tell a lot about who you are and where you come from, what you like, and what kind of person you are.

Alix: I like the dance transitions and the dance Miss Vicky taught us. Uptown Funk is my favorite dance. I can remember it and funky is fun!

4.  Which Learner Profile do you feel that your time with the WISS Dance Company has helped you to develop?

Louise: I would most definitely say risk-takers because even though I have different tastes and styles of dancing I took a risk at doing something different and learning something new out of it. It also helps to see other point of views in dancing and know why other people like it, which helps me understand those people even more. It helped me want to find new ways to find what I really enjoy in dancing, what are my strengths and weaknesses, and also helped me to see how people communicate through dancing.

Alix: I think we developed cooperation because when the team dances together they need to know where they are supposed to go and when. And for me, I learned how to be a better communicator.

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