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Ever since she was a child, Bianca Chan Min Tze, Bachelor of Arts in Architecture student, has always loved dancing. While studying, she equates her time to study and pursue her passion in dance performances.
Starting out
“When I started dancing, I was four years old and was still in kindergarten,” she said. “I have always liked to be on stage.”
When Bianca started her first performance, she found it enjoyable and has been doing it ever since. Her experience includes various dance performances and stage acting.
“I think I have always liked being on stage,” she added. “I was acting on stage when I was still young.”
While Bianca was still a high school student, she conducted a dance performance for the government. The experience allowed her to expand her knowledge in performing arts.
“When I first started, I was into Cha-cha and Hip-hop. Eventually, I moved on to gymnastics and then onto ballet dances.”
“I love Samba & Salsa as well.”
Her involvement included a variety of solo and group competitions.
Preparing for Performances
“Dancing is tiring,” she explained. ”Before we perform, we usually have these crazy rehearsals.”
Bianca described that training sessions could last between one to five hours. The rehearsals are often exhausting for her and her performers, and include injury risks.
For major events, she has to plan the performances and prepare the choreography.
“I am usually an ‘on-the-spot’ kind of person,” Bianca said and described her choreography as spontaneous whereby she initiates her routines by listening to music.
“When I hear the music, I go all out and hope that my dancers can keep up with me.”
These performances are usually conducted with professionals. This makes it easier to coordinate the entire choreography.
Biggest Challenge
Injury is one of the biggest risks when it comes to rehearsing performances.
Despite the way stage is conducted, there are still injuries during practises.
Bianca explained that performers are often committed to their part and still continue with their performance.
“Singing and dancing is different,” she explained. “Dancers have to build their stamina and dance every day.”
At the same time, dancers have to ensure that their dances match the music.
“Singers sing four to five songs so the dancers need to be able to keep up without resting,” she said. “This is why dancers need to dance every day to build and strengthen their stamina.”
Studies into Passion
Bianca’s passion for dancing gave her the opportunity to gain exposure by working with experienced professionals and expand her network.
She has worked with other established local performers including Hunny Madu, Kayda Aziz and a dancer as well as choreographer for Sheila Majid’s song ‘Sinaran’.
“For me, dancing helps me in my studies,” she said. “In architecture, you need to understand space and light as both are related to each other.”
As an architecture student, dancing allows her to understand space and light. At the same time, it gives her the opportunity to grow as a person and as a professional dancer.
