Working World

All the Right Moves

Young dancer talks about the steps to success

By Suwitcha Chaiyong, Photographs by Suwitcha Chaiyong

Did You Know : In early ballet, all the dancers were men and wore masks to perform.

Though she�s often seen side by side with high-profile superstars like Thongchai McIntyre, Katha- reeya English and Ya Ya Ying, most people probably wouldn�t recognise Chompoonut Uawithya (Nong). But, as a dancer for Grammy�s recruitment group D-Dance Troupe, she is always eye-catching.

THE DANCERS� ROLE

Dancers may be nice to look at, but why do performers need to have them in their acts? Nong, who has worked part time with D-Dance Troupe for six years, believes that dancers add a lot of colour on stage and reinforce an artist�s image.

�For example, if an artist has a gangster image, dancers will dress and act like gang members,� Nong explained.

Although dancers have an important role on stage, Nong accepts that they aren�t necessary for every song. �I personally think dancers should perform in fast tracks to add more fun on stage,� she said. �However, the music team and choreographers will decide how many songs need dancers.�

THE RIGHT STEPS

Having the opportunity to work with renowned artists and the dream of becoming a star someday are factors that can lead a young person into a career as a dancer. However, Nong observes that it isn�t an easy job.

�A good dancer should be good looking and have a great personality,� Nong said. �Staying healthy and fit is a must because we have to dance for an average of five hours per day. Also, a professional dancer should be confident and be able to handle problems well.�

As with any career, professionalism is important, and, of course, practise always makes perfect.

When asked about the quality of Thai dancers, Nong observed, �Compared with western dancers, Thai dancers lack discipline. Many don�t come to work on time and don�t practise enough, which is very important.�

And hard work will set one dancer apart from others. According to Nong, there are many dancers in the market, but it is still rare to find one who can dance many different styles. �I can do many complex movements,� she said. �I also found that I am good at movement that shows body strength, but I am not good at performing sexy moves. So I have to take more time to practise those.�

For any aspiring dancer looking for an opportunity to join a professional team, Nong suggested auditioning for a training course called Star Dance that is offered every October by D-Dance Troupe. Nong joined one of D-Dance Troupe�s training courses seven years ago. �More and more people are interested in this career,� she said. �I am happy to see people come to join classes and become dancers. If many people who love to dance can work together, the quality of dancers will improve quickly.�

Vocabulary

recruitment (n): the process of finding new people to join a company, an organisation, the armed forces, etc.
eye-catching (adj): immediately noticeable because someone or something is particularly interesting, bright or attractive
reinforce (n): to make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger
choreographer (n): a person who designs and arranges the steps and movements in dances
renowned (adj): famous and respected
factors (v): to include a particular fact or situation when you are thinking about or planning something
discipline (n): the ability to control your behaviour or the way you live, work, etc.

Idiom

side by side: close together and facing in the same direction