In the spotlight this month is Loretta Yong, data analyst and Korean culture enthusiast. She inspired us with her dedication and tenacity returning to ballet as an adult, and the strength and grace with which she took on the challenge.
Q: Tell us about yourself! How long have you been training like a dancer with BalletBody?
A: Hello BalletBody world! My name is Loretta, and I’m a data analyst with the Republic of Singapore Air Force. Besides dancing, I’ve been learning the Korean language since 2017, so listening to K-pop music and watching Korean drama/movies are my go-to pastime activities. I’m an introvert who gradually warms up to people, but once I do, there’s no turning back!
I started BalletBody classes almost two years ago, right in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Driven by a desire to do something productive during those dark times, I decided to take the plunge and train again as a dancer after stumbling upon BalletBody. It felt like some mystical force knew exactly what I needed!
Q: What made you want to restart ballet as an adult?
A: My relationship with ballet has been complicated. It began as an on-again-off-again affair when my mum enrolled me in ballet class as a pudgy four-year-old. Despite insecurities about my body shape, ballet and modern dance continued to be a part of me through my teenage and young adult years. Unfortunately, due to work commitments that I had to prioritise, I reluctantly made the decision to stop dancing altogether.
The motivation to restart ballet stemmed from the fond memories of being in a dance studio. While I saw (and still see) ballet as unnatural and mostly uncomfortable, I consider it a means of expressing myself better. However, my journey with BalletBody got off to a rocky start. The initial classes were physically strenuous on my deteriorating body, and I couldn’t keep up with the demands of the ballet training. If it weren’t for the constant encouragement and care from the wonderful and patient instructors at BalletBody, I probably would have given up!
I am eternally grateful to every BalletBody instructor, past and present, who has taught me. I truly appreciate their dedication, passion, and drive to give their best every single time. Thank you for pushing me to my limits and beyond.
Q: Do you have any ballet goals for the rest of the year? How’s it going?
A: Gosh, that’s a tough question. My ballet goals for this year can be divided into two parts, and are inspired by the famous proverb, ‘Age is but a number.’
I hope to begin attending Classical Ballet Intermediate (or even Advanced) classes to build up my self-confidence.
Another personal goal of mine is to normalise ballet as a dance form for anyone, regardless of gender, age, size, shape, or colour. Since I currently work in a predominantly male environment, my mission is to bring the guys from my office to join a stretch class or two!
Though I still have a long way to go for both goals, I hope to accomplish them before 2023 comes to an end.
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