INTRODUCTION TO DANCE & CREATIVE PROCESSES - JOURNAL
22/09/2025 - 22/12/2025 (Week 1-14)
Chan Suet Yee 0358427
Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Introduction to Dance and Creative Processes
Journal
TASKS
WEEK 01
In Week 1, I was unable to attend the class because I was still in the process of redoing my OMR and had not yet confirmed my timetable. As a result, I missed the first lesson. Although I did not participate in the physical class activities, I understood that this course would involve learning different dance forms and creative processes. I felt slightly anxious about missing the first class, but I planned to catch up and stay focused in the following weeks.
WEEK 02
In Week 2, we were introduced to Malay dance, specifically Inang. Ms. Kim taught us the basic steps of Inang, which helped us understand the foundation of this traditional dance. There are 10 basic steps that we learned:
Asas Setempat Lenggang Menghayun
Asas Maju Undur
Asas Empat Penjuru
Langkah Berbentuk “L”
Rogam Jemput Sudi
Langkah Acah Depan / Belakang
Langkah Asah Berbentuk “C”
Langkah Berbentuk “L” Tak Sudah
Langkah Pusing Malu
Asas Duduk
We practiced all the steps by following the sequence given by Ms. Kim and performed them together with the music, which helped us understand the rhythm, flow, and grace of the Inang dance.
At the end of the class, we performed the full choreography in front of Ms. Kim in groups of five to show that we understood the steps and achieved the learning outcomes for the lesson. This activity required teamwork, coordination, and timing.
Personally, I felt very happy during this class because I had learned Inang before. Having the chance to dance this genre again felt very meaningful and enjoyable. It brought back memories from my high school days, and it reminded me of my past dance experiences. This made me feel more confident and motivated in class.
Fig 1.0 Week 2 Class
Fig 1.1 Week 2 Class
WEEK 03
In Week 3, we had a small test during class. We were asked to choreograph our own dance in our group using the 10 Inang steps that we had learned earlier. For this task, we were allowed to rearrange the sequence of the steps and create different formations while performing them.
This activity challenged us to think creatively while still applying the correct Inang techniques. We had to discuss as a group, decide on the order of the steps, and make sure our movements were clear and synchronized. Changing formations helped make the choreography more interesting and dynamic.
Through this test, I learned how to apply traditional dance steps in a creative way. It helped me better understand the structure of Inang dance and improved my teamwork, creativity, and confidence in choreography.
Fig 1.2 Week 3 Class
WEEK 04
In Week 4, we learned contemporary dance. During the class, we were taught a choreography and were required to learn it on the same day. At the end of the lesson, we performed the choreography in groups in front of Ms. Kim as another small test.
This task required us to focus, remember the movements quickly, and work well with our group members. It was challenging but also enjoyable because it pushed us to learn and adapt within a short time.
Personally, I felt very excited during this class because I love contemporary dance. I enjoyed the freedom of movement and the expressive quality of the choreography. This lesson motivated me even more and made me feel confident and engaged in the class.
Fig 1.3 Week 4 Class
WEEK 05
In Week 5, there was no class due to the Deepavali holiday. However, we were asked to prepare for our mid-term exam, which required us to choreograph an individual dance in any genre.
During this week, I decided to do a contemporary dance for my mid-term. I first focused on choosing the music, as it plays an important role in expressing emotions. I wanted a song that was soft and emotional, so I chose “All I Ask” by Adele.
At the beginning of my choreography process, I listened to the music carefully and thought about what kind of movements would suit different parts of the song. For example, when the music has a strong beat, I planned to include jumps or more difficult skills, while during the softer parts, I used gentle and fluid movements.
During this process, I also used improvisation with the music to brainstorm and explore different movements. Improvising helped me discover new ideas naturally and allowed me to connect my emotions more deeply with the music. This made my choreography feel more expressive and personal.
Fig 1.4 Week 5 Self Practice
Fig 1.5 Week 5 Self Practice
WEEK 06
In Week 6, I completed my mid-term exam. The exam was originally scheduled for Week 7, but because I was on leave, I had to take the exam earlier. Ms. Kim was not present during this week, so a replacement teacher helped to record my performance and send the video to Ms. Kim for assessment.
Overall, I felt satisfied with my performance that day. I really liked the choreography I created and felt that I was able to express the emotions of the music clearly. Completing the exam gave me a sense of relief and confidence in my creative process.
After finishing the mid-term exam, we also had a K-pop workshop on the same day. We learned the choreography to “I Can’t Stop Me” by TWICE. As I am not a K-pop fan, it took me some time to learn the choreography. However, the class was fun, energetic, and enjoyable. Even though it was challenging, I had a great time and enjoyed the overall experience.
Fig 1.6 Week 6 Mid Term
WEEK 07
In Week 7, I was absent from class as I had to attend other events during the week. This week was also the actual mid-term exam week for the course. However, I had already completed my mid-term exam earlier in Week 6 due to my approved leave.
WEEK 08
In Week 8, we were supposed to have a yoga workshop, but the teacher was unable to attend. Instead, we formed groupsand began discussing our final exam choreography.
During the discussion, our group decided to combine Chinese dance with street dance for our final performance. We felt that this fusion would be interesting and allow us to explore different movement styles. We shortlisted a few music options and used voting to decide on the final music. The song with the highest votes was chosen by the group.
In the same week, we also had our first practice session. Our group leader choreographed a part of the dance, and we learned the steps from her. This helped us understand the direction and style of the choreography. Practicing together allowed us to start building coordination and teamwork within the group.
We also began looking for costumes for our final performance, which helped us visualize the overall concept and presentation of the dance.
Fig 1.7 Week 8 Dance Practice
WEEK 09
In Week 9, we showed Ms. Kim our choreography progress for the final exam. Her feedback was that the choreography was okay so far, which reassured us that we were moving in the right direction.
During this week, two more members joined our group, so we needed to readjust everyone’s positions and take time to teach them the choreography. This required patience, clear communication, and teamwork.
This week, I was also in charge of choreographing the first song of our dance. I created the choreography and taught the steps to my group members. The process went smoothly, and everyone was cooperative and supportive. I am very grateful to have group members who are easy to work with, as it made the learning and teaching process much more efficient.
After that, we discussed everyone’s available practice time to ensure that we could practice at least one to two times a week. One of the biggest challenges we faced was finding a venue to practice, as the experiential theatre and dance studio were often unavailable. However, we still managed to practice in other lecture halls, even though the space was quite limited.
This week helped me develop my leadership skills, as well as my ability to adapt and work collaboratively in a group setting.
Fig 1.8 Week 9 Dance Practice
