Where We Leave Our Last Footprints
Lisa: Hi I’m Lisa, the head of the Japan Chapter in ARTifact.
Dora: And I’m Dora, a member of the Japan Chapter.
Lisa: We both participated in APAC DANCE which was held from November 14th to 16th in BRENT International School in the Philippines. As Seniors, this was our last APAC DANCE for the both of us. We’ve both been in APAC DANCE for multiple years now, but personally this was the one I enjoyed the most.
Dora: The theme this year was "Classic Impermanence," which explores the concept of change in life and are often expressed through movements that involves contemporary elements. However, coming from a school being mainly known for hip hop choreographies, it was difficult for us to adjust to this theme, but we managed to implement some elements in our dance to showcase the theme of this year. For example, in the beginning of our performance, we chose a piece of music that was slow in tempo and less dynamic, along with movements that are more flowy and required flexibility. However, as the performance progressed, we began to use songs that are more energetic and upbeat with powerful and strong dance moves at the same time. This suggests the concept of empowerment, which is an experience of change that many people go through in life. Whether it is failures from working towards a goal, or the experience of something unpleasant, and recovering from it by gaining power. Furthermore, another element in our performance that expresses the theme is our choie of accessories such as the mask and the hoods which was a part of our costumes. In the beginning of the performance, everyone had a mask and a hoodie on. However, as the performance progressed, both the mask and the hoodie were taken off, which implies the reveal of identity. Often times, we experience major changes and stressful situations in our lives that can lead to an individual losing confidence. Our performance expresses this by illustrating the concept of certainty and the gain in confidence of who we are when the masks and hoods are taken off to reveal one’s identity. This also suggests that it is important to be confident of who we are as an individual, while also embracing the idea of diversity and differences between self and others.
Lisa: During our time at APAC, we participated in multiple workshops led by professional dancers and coaches. One that I found particularly interesting was the traditional Filipino dance workshop, where we learned a type of folk dance called “Tinikling.” This unique dance involved two bamboo poles and precise footwork. It was a completely new experience for me, and although the rhythms were challenging, I enjoyed the lively energy and teamwork very much.
Dora: Another workshop that was also interesting to me is contemporary dance. As someone that is not so familiar with contemporary dancing styles, through this workshop I learned how to use different techniques such as contract and release, fall and recovery, use of flooring, improvisation, and how to focus on the flow of the body, which can be very different from hip hop that mainly focuses on beats and cues from the music. This allowed me to see dancing from a different perspective, which intrigued and encouraged me to wanting to explore more about this genre.
Lisa: As seniors, this was our final APAC dance, marking a bittersweet end to an incredible journey. While being the oldest and in a position to lead our group, I also learned so much from our underclassmen. Their talent in genres that were unfamiliar, pushed me to grow as a dancer, and their fresh perspectives enriched my experience. With five new members this year, each of them brought unique qualities that elevated our final performance, making it truly special. This experience reminded me that growth and inspiration come from every direction, and APAC Dance is definitely a memory I’ll cherish forever.
Dora: I also learned a lot from teammates and dancers from other schools. During my first year of APAC Dance in freshman year of high school, I looked up to the seniors in my team, in which I admired to dance like them, and greatly appreciated how they took care of new members in the team. Therefore, in my 4th year of APAC DANCE in my senior year, I wanted to be someone that underclassmens can look up to and rely on as well. This encouraged me to wanting to become a better dancer, and allowed me to better understand how to handle responsibilities. Additionally, dancers from other schools during APAC events were also an big inspiration for me. Through APAC, I was able to make friends and meet talented dancers which sparked my interest in dance even more, where I was able to learn new ways of choreographing, and learned how to step out of my comfort zone to get to know others and different styles of dance that I may not be as confident in. Therefore, through my years in this team, I was able to build so many strong connections between myself and others, and I was able to grow not only as a dancer, but also as a person.
Lisa: Overall, APAC Dance has been a transformative journey for the both of us. It has dramatically shaped our perspectives on teamwork and creativity, while also allowing us to grow as both individuals and as dancers. As we prepare to move on from high school, the lessons we’ve learned and the connections that we’ve made will continue to inspire us in the future. We’re deeply grateful for everyone who has been a part of this journey, including our teammates, coaches, and fellow APAC dancers. Thank you for making this chapter of our lives so unforgettable!
