– THE DANCE INSTRUCTOR
“I was able to participate in IASAS Dance and Drama, which I’m entirely thankful for. To share and create with so many like-minded individuals who share the same passion as me has been an inspirational and beautiful experience. It was incredibly fun and will indeed have a special place in my heart; I will forever treasure the memories I’ve made.”
We caught up with Victoria W.(’25), who joined ISKL in 9th Grade. She is a passionate dancer who participated in IASAS Culcon recently and has mentored and choreographed for a dance group of G2 students called “The Little Paws”!
Here is Victoria’s story:
Do tell us more about yourself.
I was born and raised in Malaysia, and I’ve lived here my whole life. I joined ISKL in January 2022, during the second semester of 9th Grade. I remember this being a significant moment as we were still amid a pandemic. But fortunately, we were able to start the semester physically.
Can you tell us more about how you volunteered to choreograph and teach the G2 student group “The Little Paws”?
Dance and teaching have always been strong passions of mine. Having started dancing at a young age, I’ve developed my confidence and stage presence, which helped me become who I am today. I wanted to be able to guide a team of younger individuals to gain this, too; therefore, I formed “The Little Paws.” They performed at ISKL’s iFest and at Pavilion Bukit Bintang for Disney’s ‘Celebrate The Magic’. As much as I tried to teach them to grow and develop, they, too, taught me that it was okay to make mistakes and slow down sometimes to enjoy the little moments in life. They may be The Little Paws, but they have huge hearts.
Do you participate in any co-curricular activities at ISKL?
I enjoy filling up my schedule with lots of extracurricular activities! I’m an executive of the LuxAnima Dance Club, the IASAS Dance Team captain, and I am also in IASAS Drama.
Outside of school, I’ve also competed in the World Scholar’s Cup debate tournament, written for ‘Good For Youth Malaysia’ to raise awareness for refugees, and recently attended the Global Health Leaders Conference at John Hopkins. I also love to participate in and organize charities to help others.
Any plans for after you graduate ISKL – what would you like to do?
After graduating High School in ISKL, I plan to study Psychology in the US or Canada. I enjoy helping others and am very interested in the sciences, especially Biology and Physiology; therefore, I’m interested in going into Psychology.
Can you tell us more about your other hobbies and interests?
Ever since I was young, the Arts have always interested me. I found a love for performing and sharing my art and craft on stage. Be it individually or with a group, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to express myself through movements and to be able to tell stories.
I started with Hip Hop and Street Dance at age 10, then transitioned into Ballet and Contemporary, Contemporary, Jazz, and Lyrical. I danced competitively for about three years before the pandemic hit. As of now, post-pandemic, I’ve been freelancing, creating and learning independently.
I also enjoy sharing my creations and teaching others; in Semester 1, I led a series of workshops for Middle School (MS) dancers, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Watching and training a group of younger people passionate about dance was great. My experience in the dance industry has been nothing but beautiful memories that I’ve created with other like-minded individuals locally and internationally. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to compete internationally as well as win titles such as Get The Beat’s World Champion.
Do you have any thoughts on your career pathway?
I’m still figuring out what I want to do in the future. However, I’m excited to continue my journey to find myself and make a difference in the world. But I know that I still want to be involved in the Arts, be it Dance or Drama. I want to continue attending classes and joining communities around me to ensure that I still have a strong connection with performing.
Balancing academics and my other extracurriculars is sometimes challenging as I get stressed wanting to produce great results. Still, the Arts have always helped me to relieve stress and recenter my mind.
Who or what inspires you or has influenced you?
My mum is my best friend, and she inspires me daily. Since young, she’s been my role model, and I’ve always looked up to her. In my eyes, she’s a successful woman who’s beautiful inside and out. She’s taught me to be a strong and independent woman and believed in me even when I doubted myself. My mum is one of the most sincere people I know, and I am forever grateful for her.
Most memorable moment at ISKL?
My most memorable moment at ISKL has to be the IASAS CULCON this year. We were fortunate to start the season in person and host the first physical CULCON since the pandemic hit. I was also able to participate in IASAS Dance and Drama, which I’m entirely thankful for. To share and create with so many like-minded individuals who share the same passion as me has been an inspirational and beautiful experience. It was incredibly fun and will indeed have a special place in my heart; I will forever treasure the memories I’ve made.
The moments that I’ve spent together with my IASAS Dance Team have also been nothing but amazing. Since November, we’ve started brainstorming and devising ideas, and throughout this process, we’ve created such strong bonds and connections with each other.
Leading a high school varsity-level team meant a lot to me. It helped me grow as a leader and opened my eyes further to the value of collaboration, perseverance, and unity. As a sophomore, I felt grateful to have earned this role, and I’ve truly learned a lot from my experience. Working and leading a group of individuals from different walks of life to work together and create something so beautiful and meaningful to us is what the magic of dance is all about.
What does “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” mean to you?
To me, “Know yourself, care for all, and create a better world” is a phrase that inspires individuals to hone their empathy, purpose, and introspection. It emphasizes kindness, exploration, action, and advocacy towards a positive change in the world. This phrase is a call to action for us to develop self-awareness, compassion, and civic responsibility. We can create a more equitable and benevolent world for ourselves and others by implementing these values.
Do you know of any student, teacher, parent, or staff who always have an anecdote to tell, love to share some insights into their passions and interest, or simply is a Panther through and through? Nominate them to be featured in our Panthers of ISKL stories by sending in your submissions here.
