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. Vanessa has decided that ballet is 'too graceful' for her, with its elegant steps and moves, and is looking forward to a serious study of jazz dance, which she finds very appealing. 'It's fun, you can dance it with your friends. But you can't jazz dance in a disco. That looks like showing-off!' In the meantime, till she is ready for proper jazz dance training, Vanessa is enjoying a semester in modern dance to build up her basic dancing skills. 'Modern dance is not as fast as jazz, and it's pretty easy to do. Jazz is fast. You really have to be on the beat. Vanessa goes to the APA twice a week after school for dance classes. At each one-hour session, she has to first do stretching exercises before learning any new dance steps. As if dancing is not enough, Vanessa also excels in athletics. She was the 100 metres sprint champ at the regional track-and-field competition in her home town Toronto, Canada. 'I think sports has helped my dancing,' she says.' Is there an outstanding student in your school you would like us to write about? If there is, drop us a line with a summary of his or her accomplishments. Write to: Spotlight, Young Post, GPO Box 323, Tai Po, New Territories, or fax us on 2660 5378. Spotlight is co-ordinated by BENSON CHAO
