FEMALE: How did you first get into dancing?
Pei Ern: “I remember breaking several vases at home at the age of four when
I started to ape the dance movements, jumps, stunts and tricks I saw on TV.
That’s when my parents decided to enrol me in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet
class. Since then, dancing has been a part of my life, and that was 23 years ago!”
F: What’s it like being a rhythmic gymnast and ballet dancer?
PE: “Both physical activities require years of training, practice and rehearsing
relentlessly before one could perform or compete. While rhythmic gymnastics is
all about competing and winning trophies and medals, ballet is about performing
to audiences who are willing to pay to watch and appreciate the art. For rhythmic
gymnastics, I’ve endured up to five hours of training, six times a week and learnt
how to master the skill using a ball, rope, ribbon, club and hoop. Initially, I felt like I
was tortured to enable me to become flexible. I was even asked to run in a huge park
whenever I gained weight and I had to solely eat proteins and cut the carbs until I
achieved my ideal weight! In a nutshell, to become an athlete especially in this field,
one would need to have a lot of discipline, determination and dedication. And, be
prepared for mortifying scoldings (from the coach), possible injury and endless body
aches. Every single day, you’re required to give your 200 per cent and nothing less.”
F: What opened the pathway and gave you the opportunity
to perform for international choreographers?
PE: “I must say that it all boils down to hard work. I applied
to every dance audition I came across and my determination
to work with well-known choreographers could very well be the
reason why I was selected. To date, I’ve worked with Wu Yi San
from Hong Kong, Akiko Kitamura from Japan, Marie Gabrielle
Rotie from the UK, Inma Marin from Spain and Singaporean
choreographers, Melissa Quek, Susan Yeung and Albert Tiong.”
F: Can you tell us about some of your signature dance moves?
PE: “Generally, it changes depending on the dance genre I’m
in. As a contemporary dancer, I do a lot of exploration-like
movements where I’m always `listening’ to my body – how it
wants to move, react and co-respond to the environment it’s in.
People somehow refer to me as an `animalistic’ dancer... maybe
because I move a lot like one!”F: What type of songs do you listen to for inspiration?
PE: “I hardly get my spark from music. I usually pore through
books, look at photos of sceneries and go for long walks to get my
inspiration and ideas. Once something hits me, I’ll refer to music
as my secondary source to keep my creative mind going. Most of
the time, it’s instrumental music instead of songs that moves me,
so to speak.”F: What kind of life skills has dancing taught you?
PE: “From young, it was always a struggle for me to get through
piles of schoolwork while having to attend training at the gym
and studio until midnight. I also found it a challenge to wake
up early in the morning as the school bus would come at 5am!
From the rigorous and demanding dance training, I’ve learnt
to manage my time well and be physically and mentally strong.”Pei Ern’s other
favourite
pastimes:- Cooking
- Mountain climbing
- Reading
non-fiction