AGILITY is not a problem for Vanessa Ip Shak-yee, who is shaping up to be a fine dancer indeed.
Unfortunately, her timing has thrown her somewhat out of step in her dance plans. Not her timing on the floor, but her timing in taking up various dance styles.
When the Canadian-born Chinese tried out a jazz dance course at the German Swiss International School a few years back, she knew dance would be a passion. Her mother decided to send her to the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for formal training.
But at the APA, Vanessa had a very frustrating experience.
First, she found that she was too old for the APA's ballet classes. Then she heard that she was too 'inexperienced' to take up jazz dance.
What could she do, then? Modern dance was suggested, and that is what Vanessa has been training in for the past few months.
'I once found myself in a ballet class with six-and seven-year-olds! I'm glad that's over.' says the Form Three student.