Some people have two left feet when it comes to dancing, but what about two wheels?For Kelvin Toh, founder of New Dance Fitness, expressing yourself through dance doesn’t have to be limited to your legs.
New Dance Fitness was established in 2013 to promote an active lifestyle through fun moves, such as dancing!Kelvin’s relationship with dance dates back years before he founded the company, having been a ballroom dancer since 2002, however, the discovery of dance and physical accessibility for other people with disabilities came through a Chinese-language article from one of his school projects.
Today, Kelvin’s social enterprise has partnered with entities such as Sport SG, Singapore Disability Sports Council, and SPED Schools, allowing him to work with individuals with all disabilities. 2014 is an especially momentous year, with Kelvin choreographing the wheelchair dancing performance at the 2014 Asian Para Games Closing Ceremony.
The Chingay Parade is another great occasion in which Kelvin participates, and Chingay 2024 is his fourth stage as the main choreographer of one of his contingents. Audiences can expect to be captivated by the elements of Latin and ballroom dancing performed as a hobby by its dancers. (composed in part by artists in wheelchairs) accompanied by the lively rhythm of EDM beats. But what’s special about this year’s edition is that Kelvin’s father is a newcomer to the ranks.
Mr. Toh Cheng Siew, 71, suffers from polio, a disease that has affected him since shortly after his birth. Currently, he uses a combination of crutches and a wheelchair to get around, but despite this, he continues to stay active through weekly strength and HIIT workouts, as well as participating in fun activities. In essence, it embodies Kelvin’s own work, so it’s no surprise that he invited his father to participate in his first outing of the Chingay parade.
We spoke to Kelvin about running with other people with disabilities and gathered Mr. Kelvin’s insights. Toh on his first performance for Chingay 2024.
Kelvin Toh: As an experienced participant and choreographer, the spirit of networking encouraged me to be a part of Chingay. Personally, I’m quite introverted, but dance has helped me connect with people, and every Chingay performance has its Learning Moments, which help me grow as a choreographer and coach. Seeing the satisfied faces of the participants after the practice and presentation is a pleasure. Chingay is a wonderful platform for my elegance participants to shine and dance their hearts out.
Witness our fun debut with Boogie Sport at Chingay 2018!Thank you to all the participants of Boogie Sport and our. . .
Kelvin: New Dance Fitness (NDF) started in 2013 as a social enterprise to help inclusion systems in Singapore. The People’s Association has helped to promote inclusive systems as it has had an organization interested in dance on wheels, “D’Passion Wheelchair Dance”. NDF has been a partner of the D’Passion Wheelchair Dance Group since 2019, and we are very happy that our launch “Dance With Nuevo”, a combined team of DanceSport and Para DanceSport, has been chosen for Chingay. 2024.
With the ‘Blossom’ theme and the format of the Chingay 2024 parade, I can come with my dad and other seniors with limited mobility to sign up for the contingent to perform safely and shine on the F1 circuit. Hopefully, through this showcase, more people will come forward to sign up for our weekly Para DanceSport education with wheelchair organising D’Passion at the Kampong Ubi Community Club.
Mr. Toh Cheng Siew: My Son, Kelvin, has been bringing me to Kampong Ubi CC for training with the D’Passion Wheelchair Dance Group since 2019. I went with the flow and joined Chingay 2024 with the whole team for fun. I feel happy, and as I have participated in NDP 2016 and other wheelchair dancing at the Purple Parade, I’m not as nervous as before.
The Purple Parade 2022 concert with Pathlight School and D’passion Wheelchair Dance Group
Kelvin: After experiencing the theme “Blossom” from Chingay 2024 and the EDM music genre for Act 5, I decided to choose DanceSport Latin Cha Cha Cha as the dance genre for the showcase. With my 19 years of experience in DanceSport training, I have selected Effective Cha Cha Cha Moves that are suitable for both status dancers and wheelchair dancers.
Adaptations were made from our combined trials. I am fortunate to have a team of committed artists who are passionate about dance; I am satisfied and proud of their progress and their synergy.
Kelvin: Chingay has been a wonderful platform for the ability of all grades and organizations to celebrate networking and connections through dance. We hope that our show can motivate more people to take the first step to sign up for popular arrangements, special interest categories. Exhibition groups and categories to start your journey. Chingay is a popular parade for people, and we hope to see more new faces in long-term editions.
Kelvin: The first challenge was getting diverse NDF partners to come together to shape a compelling concept for the assignment speech. In the way we managed to overcome this problem, I would like to express my gratitude to Justino.
The second challenge was the logistical transportation, garage and maintenance of our sports wheelchairs on a small budget. A big thank you to the Life Skills and Lifestyle Division of the People’s Association for supporting and organizing the logistical problems, rehearsals and the Chigay parade.
Mr. Toh: Since I’m 71 years old, remembering routines will be my challenge, especially when I’m nervous. Fortunately, my dance partner, Mrs. April Kwek, will advise me during rehearsals at the F1 Pit Building to familiarise me with the environment and positions.
Kelvin: I’m very eager to see the 230m floor projection on the parade route. It is the first in Singapore, and it is a unique experience to perform with it!
Kelvin: Working with my dad for Chingay 2024 allowed us to spend more time together and my dad now understands how much time, effort and commitment I put into the program. Since my father is an extrovert, friendships flourish between him and the participants. in my classes, of course more like a friendly meeting with friends.
Kelvin: As a center failure survivor with episodes of cardiomyopathy (center failure) since 2017, I am very sensitive to adjustments in the environment and physical reactions, and I also recognize early symptoms and symptoms. This helps me plan and adjust the choreography to suit Americans with other physical talents to avoid fatigue or sports injuries.
I adjusted my lesson plans to practice a smooth transition from warm-up to maximum functionality and cool-down to ensure a safe education and elegance for my participants and me. Sometimes I look very bloated in elegance due to medication and water retention, but I’m lucky to have participants who see beyond that and continue my dance and fitness elegances in network clubs, dance studios, gyms, and sports centers.
The center’s latest failure occurred after my COVID-19 infection in 2022. I work a lot with my cardiologist to monitor me diligently and keep me in good shape for Chingay and my work.
As a choreographer, I will accompany my contingent, mentor them on designated functional areas, and teach them how to respond to adjustments so that they are less physically exhausted.
Kelvin: NDF hopes that this exhibition will foster greater connections with the Palestinian Authority, Americans, and organizations to work together on adaptive systems across Singapore and make them available to the community. With one person, I can only touch a handful. But if we bring together more like-minded Americans and organizations, we can grow and succeed among the masses.
Kelvin: My highlight is seeing my dad doing a Para DanceSport at a national event with my course participants. As a representative of Nuevo Dance Fitness, putting together an inclusive contingent after ten years of groundwork with the community is a significant milestone.
The fifth act is a very fun act where participants and spectators will have fun to the sound of wonderful EDM music specially designed for the parade. It will be a family party for everyone!
Catch Kelvin and Mr. Toh’s performance at the upcoming Chingay 2024 parade on 23 and 24 February! Tickets for the event are now available and can be purchased from the SISTIC website.
Photos by Brandon Neo from the DANAMIC team.
*Article updated with new visuals