Music, dance and fashion have always been interlinked in street culture and dance culture in China is definitely growing right now. We sat down with one the more prominent dancers in Guangzhou, Foshan, aptly named Biao Ge and find out that it's not just Wong Fei Hong that is famous in Foshan.
FI : Hi Biao Ge, I am curious about your real name, would you be able to share with us and what are you up to?
BG : HA, Hi everyone, my name is actually Ye Biao, and people call me Biao Ge as a form of respect, not because I am old haha! I am a professional dancer and I am based out of Foshan, GZ.
FI : How's the dance scene in Foshan? Why did you decide to be a dancer?
BG : The dance scene is massive here, and is growing every day. I have been seeing young dancers stepping up the game and getting better everyday.
FI : You are a dance instructor at a pretty young age, how does that feel?
BG : To be an instructor, it is definitely not an easy task, but for me I would say I am lucky as well. A good instructor needs to have a strong foundation, and with what I have, I believe it is sufficient to train other students. It's a totally different process to be an instructor as you need to impart your skills to students who, more than often, are learning dance for the first time, and what you teach them is of utmost importance as you are the first person that brings them the proper spirit and mindset into the world of dance.
FI : What do you hope to see for the future of dance culture in China?
BG : I think the dance culture is really strong and there are a lot of dance crew with a lot of potential and flair. The dance crew that we see now in China are probably on par with many international crew, but the reason that they aren't able to compete on the international level is due to visa problems, or financial situations where these crews aren't able to travel outside of China. My wish is to see these issues, which can be easily solved via our central government, especially on the visas and travel documentation. Funds to support these talented dancers can also come from both the government and private companies.
With these support, I believe that the dance culture in China can reach its full potential.
FI : In recent months, the hip hop and rap wave has swept China by storm, and dance is definitely one of the elements of the street culture inspired by hip hop. We have seen Rap Of China, and if there is a similar reality TV series for dance, would you take part?
BG : Of course! In fact, there are some talks about having a program like that and I believe it will be launched next year! This will be a great platform to bring rise to the dancers who have been grinding since Day One to become recognised.
FI : If you were to compare yourself to a piece of clothing, what would you be?
BG : I would want to be a versatile piece of clothing. Something that has style, yet function, simple yet stylish. I can be anything you want and something that fits your body that perfectly integrates into your lifestyle.
I am simple, but there's more than meets the eye.
FI : Do you have any advise for aspiring dancers?
BG : I think my advice is simple, but it is quite hard to follow, cos as a dancer myself, I know how it feels when your jam comes on and your body will start moving and groovin. haha. Sleep early, stick to your meal times regular and drink more warm water (haha) Do I sound like a real teacher now? I know it feels good to drink cold water right after a great dance workout but it's not good for health. Dance in itself is an activity that strengthens your mind and body, so if you do not take good care of your health, you might not be able to reach your full potential.
FI : What about you, who do you look up to?
BG : I really look up to 经伟老师, because besides from dancing, he asks us questions on how to evolve and perfect the art of dancing. Questions like, how to make a simple dance move into something with more flair, and how to differentiate yourself from other dancers. These thought provoking questions forces you think outside of just dancing and how to reinvent and create a style of individuality, and combine music and dance as an art form.
When I first saw Biao Ge's video back in March, I was impressed, not because of how sharp and snappy his dance moves were, but how he managed to combine East and West elements into his video. As I found out more about him, I was impressed to know that at 27, he is already an instructor and that there is a bustling dance scene not just in GZ, but also in China. Feeling sheepish at my lack of knowledge and understanding of my Chinese friends, I realised that the culture is growing at such a fast rate that we need to play catch up real soon.
Talking to Biao also made me realise that we are much fortunate to have a good infrastructure in Singapore which allows our creative talents to reach out to other similar communities on an international level, and vice versa.
Dance might be relatively new in China and talking to Biao, I sense his fervour and vision on how he wants to be a part of a evolution that takes existing dance culture that came from the West and weave Chinese influences into it, and bringing it to the next level.
This, to me, is the real Dance Dance Revolution.