Making Our Wonderland Come True: Dance Night 2024

Written by: Heidi Danielle Foo (24S74)

Edited by: Tan Wen Li, Glenda (24S6K)

Photos were provided courtesy of Studio Ardent

The Music And Dance (MAD) CCA showcased its talents on 3rd and 4th May during Wonderland, its annual Dance Night concert.

The preparation for Wonderland commenced months ago with rigorous training sessions spanning from the crack of dawn to the dark of night. The dancers worked tirelessly to hone their skills and perfect their routines in hopes of presenting the best version of themselves to the audience and representing their CCA’s name with pride.

Leading up to the concert, various publicity schemes including countdowns and teasers had garnered attention and created high anticipation amongst concert-goers, who sat eagerly at the edge of their seats as they waited for the music to commence, and the concert to begin. 

The wonderland concept represented the contrast between the different MAD sections that are distinct yet complementary to each other, including captivating and immersive performances, and coming together seamlessly as one big concert. The series of performances featured a wide variety of dance genres and techniques, ranging from traditional Chinese dance, to fusion choreography and collaboration between different genres. The thematic performances were designed to take the audience on a journey, with each dance telling a part of the larger story.

The MAD Chinese dancers

Much of the concert featured whimsical elements and interactive dialogue to engage the audience and generate hype. The witty banter between the emcees who donned themed costumes, as well as memorable catch phrases, are prominent examples, where both elements enhanced the Wonderland experience. This allowed the audience to feel included into the storyline, and for it to enjoy the dance pieces while following the Wonderland theme closely.

The MAD Modern dancers

The MAD Street dancers

The performances themselves featured choreographies made by our very own Hwa Chong students, where they threaded the delicate details cautiously throughout the dance. They exercised their creativity by including advanced techniques and complex formations which required precise cooperation and synchronization, a feat which was possible due to the likemindedness and chemistry between the dancers.

Dance Night signalled the end of the C2’s MAD journey, as well as the passing of the baton from the senior to the junior batch of dancers. As the concert neared its end, the performance night was brimming with emotions and sentiments as overwhelming tears of joy and sadness were shed. The annual concert was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the MAD dancers.