Making it as a ballerina in Singapore

What does it take for an artist to succeed in Singapore? Is it even possible to make a living as an artist in an economy built almost solely around commerce and the bottom line? And how does any artist stay inspired when they hit the inevitable bumps along their chosen path?

Just ask Jessica Lam.

A winner of the prestigious National Arts Council (NAC) Scholarship, Jessica first started dancing when she was just five years old, has studied dance at Singapore’s School of the Arts (SOTA) and is now continuing that education in America. And although she has always loved dancing, Jessica was at times unsure if she would ever be able to turn it into a professional career.

“In my first two years at SOTA, I was certain that dance was what I wanted to pursue. At the same time, I was getting injured so frequently because my body had difficulty adapting to the rigorous training. So when I was 15 I set my sights on becoming a physiotherapist specialising in treating dancers, instead of dancing professionally,” Jessica said.

But in her second-last year at SOTA, when dance hours began to get cut back in order to make room for academic classes in preparation for the school’s diploma program, Jessica had an epiphany.

“I realised that as much as I love the dance-related fields and geeking out on dance theory, nothing can replace the sensation of dancing. It is cathartic – both personal and communal, corporeal and transcendental – and I think it is the ultimate manifestation of the beauty of the human body,” she said.

Beautiful or not, Jessica’s parents were initially not too keen about their daughter’s renewed decision to pursue dance professionally. But they eventually came around to the idea after seeing their daughter’s dedication to her art.

“I think the biggest challenge was convincing my parents and having the courage to take a less than conventional route,” she said. “I believe that fortune favours the bold and when you are passionate about something, you will excel in it no matter what field or industry you are in.”

It is this persistence and self-motivation that has propelled Jessica to where she is today. Apart from winning the NAC Scholarship, Jessica’s dedication to her art has resulted in many opportunities… and even caught the attention and support of a major international brand.

“My love for dance has taken me to places – like on this new adventure in the United States – and opened doors for me to experience new things. Most recently, I was appointed as an advocate for Johnson and Johnson Acuvue as part of their on-going campaign to inspire, empower and enable youths to ‘dare to be’ and go after their passions without inhibitions.”

The partnership makes sense. Having worn glasses since she was 11, Jessica often danced without them and simply learned to tolerate her blurred vision. But when she was 14 she realised it was holding back her training.

“When I enrolled at SOTA my vision had gotten slightly worse at this point and my training got more intense. I wanted to be able to take in as much as I could. Because the visual aspect of dance is so apparent, being able to observe subtle details demonstrated by my teachers and peers – then applying it to my own dancing – is one of the ways that I refine my technique.

“My first pair of contact lenses, at age 14, happened to be Acuvue brand daily disposable contact lenses, which came highly recommended by my eye care professional,” she said. “It has definitely enabled me with the means to approach dance without restrictions, which is really what makes a great dancer: the freedom of expression.”

Even after committing fully to pursuing her dream of becoming a great dancer, she still had some setbacks to deal with along her chosen path. A particularly devastating one came in the form of a letter.

“Getting rejected by one of the colleges that I applied to took me a while to come to terms with, because I tend to be quite hard on myself. But life went on,” she said. “I prayed for peace in my heart; I kept dancing and was comforted by the love shown to me by my family and friends. As they say, ‘When one door closes, another door opens.’ It was not the end of the world.”

True enough, Jessica is currently studying dance in the United States. After she completes her education abroad, she plans to return to Singapore and participate actively in the local dance scene. And it’s clear that the young dancer is extremely grateful for the opportunities given to her.

“I enjoy the art form so much that I do not see dancing as work. It is physically and mentally taxing, but I feel blessed just being able to do what I love. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope that other youths will be inspired by my story to challenge themselves and set their sights high and stretch beyond their limits,” she said.

When asked what advice she’d like to give young and aspiring Singaporean artists, Jessica quotes Lance Armstrong’s “pain is temporary but quitting lasts forever” and then adds some enduring wisdom of her own.

“Take the leap,” she said. “It’s so rewarding to be doing what you truly love.”

by Vanessa Tai/Material World