Sasha Leong is no stranger to the centre stage. Coming from an artistically-inclined family based in Ipoh, Sasha started performing at the tender age of four. Having danced mainly at commercial events for the past few years, she tapped her way back onto the stage with her first Dancebox performance (Sept 2012) with “i love u (like water)” by American choreographer, Sea Heike. Aspiring to grow as a performing artist, Sasha debuted in her first play “The Betrayal” during the Short+Sweet Malaysia Theatre Festival last year. This was followed by Box of Delights Family Theatre’s “Kleting Kuning & the Giant Crab” end of 2012, where she took on both the roles of the kindly mother and the villian Crab. She also finally got her break in the musical genre when she joined the ensemble in ‘Chow Kit Road! Chow Kit Road!” as one of the Chow Kit Road posses.
Not everyone would have the guts to leave the security of a full-time job to pursue a passion, but that’s what Sasha did. We sat down with her to talk about all things dance: Zumba, ballet, the highlights of her dance career, and more!
Q: Hi, Sasha! How has 2013 been treating you?
2013 has been great so far. I made a decision to quit my full-time job end of last year to ‘follow my dreams’, as some might say. I have met and worked with some extremely talented people in the performing arts industry, and have garnered quite a number of ‘first experiences’ for myself too. The Universe is treating me nicely and I am really grateful for it everyday.
Q: That such a bold step! Let’s get to talking about you! Not only are you a dancer by profession, but you teach Zumba too! Why Zumba, though?
To be honest, it was out of sheer curiosity. Quite a number of my friends were raving about the Zumba Fitness programme. Hence I signed up and got myself certified as an instructor. It’s a great way for me to ‘torture’ adults for a whole hour! Just kidding!
What’s great about Zumba is that it’s exhilarating and upbeat. The easy-to-follow sessions feel more like a ‘dance party’ than your regular workout. It shows that one can burn calories while having fun! Plus I think I discovered my love for teaching. I enjoy watching people smile, especially when they don’t realise it. It is inspiring to inspire others, more so the ones who keep insisting that they can’t dance or have two left feet. That phrase is a myth, really. I think everyone can dance, just differently.
Q: What ignited the passion for dance? Did you grow up wanting to be a dancer?
Believe it or not, I vividly remember the first time I fell in love with dance. When I was just a toddler, my parents took me to a charity dinner at one of the community halls in Ipoh. The organisers brought in a group of international ballroom dancers, and they were moving across the space so gracefully with their gowns. If I recall clearly, I was seated at the side of the dance floor, throughout the whole performance, just staring at the dancers in awe.
I did not grow up wanting to be a dancer per se. I think I have always aspired to be a performing artist. It’s just that feeling you get when one performs to an audience, and sometimes the energy received from the crowd can inspire greater things or ideas. And through performing, I want to inspire others the way the dancers have inspired me when I was a little kid.
Q: What are some of your favorite forms of dance?
Mmmm… this is tricky. I enjoy every single dance style I have learned so far. Each form is unique in its own way and has its own history behind it. Ballet has always been my foundation. Contemporary/lyrical allowed me to channel my emotions when words fail. There’s cultural beauty in all traditional dances. Butoh has allowed me to explore out-of-the-box. Both ballroom and latin can never go wrong, and by knowing the basics, casual dancing is a breeze. Old school hip hop and street dancing brings out the groove in you. But I could go on forever…
Q: Assuming you were to teach someone who didn’t know anything about dance, what would be the one move they should know?
The famous ‘Step Ball Change’! It’s easy. You can apply it in various dance styles, or when you are out dancing in a club with friends. Basic salsa or merengue (latin dances) footwork. If you want more groove to it, do the ‘Dougie’!
Q: Is there a dance mantra/philosophy that you live by?
Before every performance, I always remind myself to “Enjoy, and Perform!” Martha Graham has some really inspiring quotes: “Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired”, and “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion”.
Q: What is your most memorable experience as a dancer?
Dancing at the Vienna Opera House in 2009 during the annual Opera Ball still remains at the top of my list. 10 of us from Malaysia trained under renowned ballroom instructor, Mr Roman Svabek, a few weeks before the ball at his studio in Vienna. To open the ball in front of Austria’s high society crowd while the whole event was telecasted live on national TV was quite a magical experience for a 20-year old then. Prior to our departure to Vienna, we had intensive ballroom dance training in Kuala Lumpur with international dance instructor Mr Reinhard Polt, too.
Q: Any word of advice for young, budding dancers out there?
If dancing is really what you want to do, go for it. As a full-time dancer, you must be ready to work seven days a week. On days where you are not performing, there will be rehearsals. On days where there are no rehearsals, one must continue training. It is not always a smooth journey, but triumphing over obstacles make everything worthwhile. Challenge yourself and never give up. Live your dream!
Q: Before you quit your job, how did you juggle a full-time job and your duties as a dancer? It must’ve been exhausting!
It was not easy when I had a full-time job. I still danced on a freelance basis, at the same time I took classes or workshops to improve on my techniques and I had to make sure I stay fit. I was guilty of overworking myself. However, back then, I had to prioritize my full-time job so I turned down a number of opportunities due to clash of schedules or time constraints. That said, I do think that when there is a will, there’s always a way.
Get in touch with Sasha here or follow her on Twitter.
Photo credit: Facebook
