Speaking up for myself was always difficult for me. I was very shy, especially when it came to debating or giving my own opinion on specified topics. Because of my small fear of harsh and negative feedback, I usually retained from expressing my views which were often different from my group members. As I kept my mouth closed, my self-confidence continued to decrease steadily until it finally reached an extremely low point. I will never forget the time in the seventh grade when one student had asked me if I at least knew how to talk. Of course at that moment, I did not know what to say at all, even in my own mind. I would wonder why it was so hard for me to socialize, whereas for others, socializing seems as though it was never a problem. From looking back into my past, I evaluated my social skills. My independence may have come from the fact that my two older sisters have kept me isolated from joining them in childhood activities. But it was not until I began dancing when this whole aspect has been altered.

Dance gives me great confidence. By articulating bodily movement, I am able use dance as a form of expression. I would use soft, peaceful, and graceful movements to release any tension that tend to rise from daily school and social activities. On the other hand, I would use sharp movements to the sound of hard beats to help me release all the struggles I have to deal with in my personal life. With dance, nothing seems to matter. There is no particular way to think or move. I focused less on what people thought about me as I danced in my own way. Overtime, I would often get positive energy instead of the anticipated negativity. By being in the dance environment for two years in the dance organization, Makamae Melia O’ Polynesia, and in Franklin High School’s Fusion Dance Company, I always look forward to practice by the end of each day. 

            Beginning in high school, I decided that I should be more involved in the outside community. As an inexperienced, shy, and close-minded young woman, I joined the Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association in 2006 during my freshman year. Sinag-tala is the only Filipino non-profit organization in Sacramento. At first, I did not know exactly what I had gotten myself into, knowing that I was only encouraged to join by Sinag-tala veterans. Because both of my older sisters had decided to join as well, I chose to balance my daily school activities with my late night Sinag-tala rehearsals. I slowly became more comfortable in performing arts. Learning about my own culture through music, dance, and theater was actually fun – not frightening.   

After three years, my active participation in this organization resulted in my position as an assistant and an instructor. I became one of the youngest resident choreographers teaching children and young adults traditional folk dances. Through tough casting decisions, leadership obstacles, tears, stress, long and late night rehearsals, I created four of my own Filipino-based choreographies. Moreover, I grew an active leader and performer of the Sinag-tala Theater Ensemble, which runs every year from March through September. The ensemble performs for various events in the Sacramento County and surrounding areas in order to promote the performing arts through the works of Filipino artists. Of these events include the annual Pacific Rim Street Festival, Pilipino National Day, and the California State Fair.  One of my greatest touring ensemble experiences was teaching several teachers two Filipino cultural dances at the AWE workshop in Matherfield.  Afterwards, the teachers were then able to bring what they have learned from my workshop to teach their own fourth and fifth grade students.  

I have great patience when teaching beginners the cultural forms of dance. All I look forward to is watching each individual grow. I continued to open myself up to any form of dance and became a very versatile dancer. I appreciate dance especially on a high cultural level. Aside from Sinag-tala, I am a master Tinikling dancer with extremely fast feet who also loves shaking my hips to the sound of Tahitian drum beats. In addition to my experience as a Hula and Tahitian dancer, I am the founder, president, and choreographer of the Tinikling Dance Club (TDC). I love teaching the club members and the audience about the Filipino traditions as well as the famous national bamboo dance. TDC shares their graceful passion of dance during school events, such as multicultural showcases, rallies, and even for Good Day Sacramento. The club also receives requests for community events including weddings, festivals, and special ceremonies. The more I taught dance to community members, forming creative ideas continued to become an easier process for me. 

Volunteering my time in teaching kids and teens the art of dance is a wonderful community service experience. Serving others through dance is very beneficial as it does increase their self-esteem and poise. By teaching them a new style of dance, even shy people will be able to step out of comfort zone to try something new. Not only does dance help with rhythm and coordination, but it also reinforces one’s pride. Confidence is an important factor that children should have to remain strong and motivated to overcome difficult obstacles in life. 

On a social level, dance brings people closer together with friendly smiles and joyous laughter.   Although many people neglect to use dance as a form of cultural expression, it is a fun and healthy way for community members to get involved.   

Serving the community through dance became my passion. This was and still is a great learning experience not only for them, but for myself as well. Growing from a timid and taciturn Sinag-tala member, to an inexperienced apprentice choreographer, to a seventeen, now eighteen year old confident resident choreographer resulted in a dramatic change of maturity. Creating company schedules with my Artistic Director and speaking with important event coordinators helped me develop professional speaking skills. Although I am usually independent in my work, no longer am I afraid to seek professional guidance from my Artistic Director nor do I shy away from the assistance of current SFTPAA Resident Artists. My open-mindedness strengthened each time I elaborated specific artistic concepts into my own interpretation and overachieving creation. As I became more opinionated and independent, I enjoyed being the role model for unseasoned participants. Overall, I was able to broaden my personal knowledge and develop self-confidence. Everything that I have gained is extremely rewarding. Unlike how I was before, I am now an outspoken and outgoing young adult, and most importantly, a great service leader.