Where to Dance around the world

I like to dance whenever I'm on the road traveling. Whether in an open public space or in a dance studio. Dance is the one constant thing in my life that I've had since I was about 4 years old as a young ballet student. Having grown up and lived around the world, there is nothing that grounds me more than the freedom of movement. As a dancer, I've danced/performed or taught in Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Manilla, Kuala Lumpur, Claremont, Los Angeles, Durham, Oakland, New York City, Houston, Washington D.C., Toronto, Guangzhou, Edinburgh. I love the dancing traveling life! (Book me for teaching workshops!)

I'm currently creating a Dance Film project with Laura Lamp, longtime dancer and collaborator with my dance company (A.H. Dance Company); we exchange physical postcards and film short dance scenes from different parts of the world. The postcards and the text greetings serve as a backdrop or soundscape for the short dance scenes. This is an ongoing project and if you would like to send us a postcard please send us an email.
Check out our Letters Project  to see a few of our videos!

Barcelona, Spain


Lisbon, Portugal

Sydney, Australia

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.

My Favorite spots to Dance outside and take Dance pictures:

1) Washington Monument in Washington D.C., USA

2) Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn, NY, USA

3) Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain

4) City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain

5) Plaza de Espana in Seville, Spain

6) Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria

9) Tate Museum and Southbank in London, UK

10) Battery Park in Manhattan, NY, USA

The best places have always had an open space plan. I adore wide open spaces because all I want to do is run, skip, turn, jump, leap, and dance around. I also love stunning architecture and the old palaces of Europe always have these large grand halls where the ceilings are beautifully adorned.  You can just imagine all those amazing ball gowns that the ladies of the court used to wear.

Plaza de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Valencia, Spain

Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn, NY

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

Belvedere Palace, Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace gardens, Vienna, Austria

Where to Dance in...

I like to take dance classes while I'm on the road and checking out new teachers, classes, and studios is quite fun! Especially when on the road for many weeks, a dance class or yoga class really grounds me and makes me feel at home.
If you want to take dance classes when you travel these are MY favorite places 

Singapore

1) Dance On Us Studios - These studios has a a variety of freelance teaching all kinds of classes from Zumba to Classical Ballet to Street Dance. The location of these studios are right by Orchard Rd so its extremely central and easy to get to. 

I teach contemporary dance classes at these studios and private lessons as well. If you want to know more about my classes. Join my Facebook Group: Alaine's Contemporary Dance Classes

2) Goodman Arts Center - This arts centre houses Frontier Danceland, Dance Nucleus, and T.H.E. Dance Company all of which has workshops, classes, open company classes regularly. 

3) Dans Festival at Esplanade - Every year, the dans festival at the Esplanade hosts different visiting and local dance companies for performances in their theaters. In addition to the performances, there are a variety of workshops offered in the dance studio (stunning views of the marina bay), outdoor stage, and in the hall between the two large performance venues. 

The beautiful studio at Esplanade overlooking the Marina Bay

Amsterdam 

1) Henny Juriens Foundation at Chasse Studios - The classes are hosted at a refurbished church that is run by Chasse studios and offers daily high level dance classes for intermediate to advanced dancers. 

2) Chasse Dance Studios - For multi-level dance classes for children, youth, adults, I recommend checking out the class offerings of Chasse studios.

Chasse studios/ Henny Jurriens Foundation

Brussels

1) Yantra Academy - The classes are taught in French but I really loved the lofted studio and they have a variety of classes available throughout the whole day. 

2) Ultima Vez and PARTS - I haven't actually been here but these two facilities are world-renowned in the contemporary dance world.

Yantra Academy

Copenhagen

1) Sceneindgangen - It was quite the adventure to get to this studio. Located in Nørrebro district on a residential stretch and down a little alley. I was pleasantly surprised with the space. There are two large studios in this space and a beautiful lofted reception area. I really enjoyed taking the contemporary dance class here. Jenny Major is the owner of the studio and teaches contemporary classes here. It was one of the best classes I have taken in a long time. I hope to return and take classes with her again when I'm in Copenhagen.

A bit tricky to locate but so worth the adventure! Sceneindgangen

London

1) Rambert Dance Company - I was staying in Southbank on one of my trips to London and passed by a flyer for open dance classes at Rambert Dance Company. I ended up taking a class that evening and loved it! The classes are more casual and geared towards young professionals and former dancers so it isn't the usual pressure of being in a class with other advanced / professional dancers. I always make it a point to stop by and take a intermediate ballet and modern class when I'm in town because the studios are wonderful to dance in and the teachers are so lovely here. The modern dance style is a cross between classical modern and release technique with very punctuated and specific movements.

2) Greenwich Dance - The best thing to do to get over jetlag, especially if I wake up really early is to have light breakfast and coffee then head to dance class at Greenwich dance. The advanced / professional dance classes in the mornings here are taught by guest teachers. I usually end up feeling inspired to dance and to dance with other dancers is such a treat. Even though, I will sometimes leave feeling really sore. The classes remind me of my dancing days as a dancer in New York. There are also classes geared for non-dancers in the evenings and the dance space is in a large hall. I don't know if you noticed but the space in which I choose to dance in really matters.

The very large studio at Rambert Dance 

Melbourne
1) Chunky Move - I was a little excited to take classes at this company's space because I've seen some of their performances in the past and really enjoyed the movement. There are classes for the general public and for professional dancers throughout the week offered at their studio in the arts district of Melbourne. I was only in Melbourne for a few days so found a dance class to take that fit into my schedule. They seem to have a rotation in the teachers so check the website.

Chunky Move is in a really cool district with lots of galleries and performance venues

Sydney
1) Sydney Dance Company - One of the most beautiful spaces I have ever danced in. The classes here are quite popular with the after work crowd so get there a bit early to secure a spot in class. I arrived really early for the class and had plenty of time to explore the grounds around the space. It is overlooking the harbor and if you walk along the pier around the building, you can see the Harbor Bridge. I ended up filming a short scene for Letters Project  here while I warmed up and waited for class to start.

Warming up early before class at Sydney Dance

This view! Just around the building at Sydney Dance

Dance is like breathing for me. Wherever I am in the world, if I have an outlet to dance and move, I am home. Home is not a place for me. It is the memories and moments of the past, present, and future. 
- Alaine Handa

Where am I dancing next? 
Koh Samui, Thailand! Come join me: August 9-13, 2017!
Social Zen Retreats curate retreats full of authenticity, creativity, and balance!

Glow in Thailand by Social Zen Retreats

6 of my favorite Capital Cities in the world

6 of my favorite Capital Cities in the world

1. New York City

New York City is where it all happens. Wall street, Fashion, Broadway, Hipsters, Food trends. Technically not the capital city of the USA but in my opinion its the capital city of the world. I had a beautiful love affair with New York City as my home. Just walking in a city that literally never sleeps and convenience at your doorstep (Hello Seamlessweb, Rent the Runway, Fresh Direct, Beauty services, etc.) or a subway/bus ride away, you can get anything and be anything in New York. Its a vibrant bustling city with the most talented and no-nonsense people you will find. You either love it or hate it.

My Favorite spots in New York





2. Stockholm

Stockholm has beautiful architecture, islands, people, food, culture, fashion, fika, and lifestyle. This city is stunning! From my first visit to my 8th - the experiences and memories were all different and according to the seasons. This Swedish capital morphs and changes according to seasons along with its residents. In the summer, everyone is out ALL the time and partying. When the leaves start to fall and the air gets a little colder, people prepare for the holiday season and head back to indoors-only activities. During the winter months, the days are short and the dark winter nights make walking around a bit chillier but has that mysterious air that is captured perfectly in Nordic Noir films.

When in Sweden, YOU must have a Fika






3. Amsterdam/Copenhagen

Quirky, weird, architecture, canals, coffee shops, liberals, art, Indonesian food, and eclectic. Amsterdam has the trappings of what I love. A capital city that acts like a town. This is a walking city (or if you're an expert city biker) and the trams are also easy to navigate. Residents are always on a rush on their bikes so get out of their way! However, if you find them in a cafe, coffee shop, restaurant, they are certainly a friendly bunch. I've used Amsterdam as a pit stop for a couple nights in most recent years whenever I'm traveling through Europe. The architecture is really quaint and you will want to constantly be taking pictures of every canal and bridge you pass through.

Summer part 1 in Brussels and Amsterdam





Copenhagen

Copenhagen is another fantastic walking city that is lined with colorful buildings, Danish design interior furniture, cobble stone streets, castles, palaces, museums, and tons of Michelin starred restaurants and bars. Similar to Amsterdam, Copenhagen also has residents that are in a hurry on their bikes to get to their destinations so I would only recommend renting a bike if you're an expert city cyclist. A lot of innovation and creativity goes on in Copenhagen and you can see it in the food, fashion, design, and architecture. Always looking forward and innovating, the Danes have a great quality of life in a sense that they make sure they take breaks to refresh their mind before figuring out the next great design.

My journey to Noma




4. London

Oh London! You amaze me with your stunning old architecture and new skyscrapers. Winding little alleyways to riverside walks along the Thames. I have to be honest, the first time I was in London, I wasn't too impressed. I was in a weird headspace at that time and kept comparing London to New York. London is not New York. London is London. A British metropolis with traditions of standing outside the pub while drinking beer, eating fish and chips or pie on the way home, rushing around in the tube stations, walking fast and looking preoccupied, free art museums, beautiful palaces and gardens, thriving art scene, and very cool residents. The more I visit this fine metropolis, the more I adore it and simply want to discover different neighbourhoods.

Wandering amongst hipsters in Shoreditch







5. Vienna

Music, easy public transportation, urban, good food, palaces, cafes, museums, art, and good coffee, wine, beer, schnitzel! Vienna is a wonderful city and its no big surprise that its rated very highly as one of the most liveable cities of the world. With moderate prices, big wide streets, lots of bike paths (I did rent a bike and ride through the city here - with a lot of caution of course!), friendly residents, and just gorgeous architecture. I have been to Vienna only a couple times but I want to keep returning because there is so much to do and see in this beautiful city.

Summer part 3: Music, schnitzel, museums, and palaces in Vienna

6. Singapore

And now we've come to my birth country and where I hold my permanent residence card proudly. Singapore is a small island country off the tip of Malaysia very close to the equator. The tropical temperatures really get to me and I spend most of my days indoors in Singapore. I grew up here as an expat kid and went to an international school. Those were some good and bad memories. The food scene in Singapore is incredible with local food dishes to the multitude of hipster eateries and cafes, celebrity chef owned restaurants, and not to mention the cool speakeasies, cocktail bars, and pumping clubs. Its a love/hate relationship with Singapore for me at times because it isn't easy to be a third culture kid returning to a place that I once called home. I feel like an anomaly because I speak, act, and think differently from true-blue Singaporeans due to my background. My friends in Singapore are mostly other expats or globally-minded Singaporeans. Though most of these feelings are personal conflict, subjectively speaking... Singapore is a great place with skyscrapers, urban gardens, abundance of food, shopping centres, and the mix of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian, Expats, Tourists, make it an interesting multicultural country.

A bourgeois guide to eating, drinking, shopping, and pampering in Singapore

Summer part 1 in Brussels and Amsterdam

Atomium, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016

In June, I packed up my small apartment in the Swiss mountains and shipped off some boxes halfway around the world to my parents' place and packed three suitcases. I felt sad to leave such a peaceful and beautiful place that became a safe haven for me. I was heading back to finish up my internship in Brussels, I was happy to see my colleagues again. The past few months was hectic and yet I grew comfortable with working from home. There's something to be said about working from a computer during normal working hours from anywhere with a wifi connection. I think the digital nomad is the future of working. I accomplished tasks and tackled problems more efficiently plus learned a lot of time management skills as well as flexibility when I was able to work remotely. Skype and email were my lifeline and the constant communication between my managers and director helped. At times, we were all working from different parts of Europe which I thought was super cool. Why don't more companies do this?  

Full length mirror selfies is a tradition for me, Brussels, Belgium

So with bruised arms from carrying my luggages and carry-on backpack and purse, I flew into Amsterdam and stayed at the airport hotel for a couple days and left a couple suitcases with a friend and took the train into Brussels. The train ride is pretty peaceful because of the lack of free wifi. How come we don't already have wifi on trains? I've come across some trains that do have wifi but these are short distance trains. I arrived at the office a bit before lunch and managed to get some work done. It was weird to see colleagues and sit at my desk. My computer wasn't working properly on the dock because they changed the system so I had to get that fixed. Quite a bit of changes. I felt for a brief period of time that things were back to normal. After experiencing chaos, one can't help to just want everything to be normal. 

Halles Saint Gery, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016

I hadn't seen much of Brussels so I explored the Avenue Louise, Bourse, Sablon, and Atomium that weekend. Cartoons like Adventures of Tin Tin came from Belgium and after the terror attacks in March. Belgian cartoonists turned to their art and put up Belgian pride cartoons at the Halles Saint Gery. Some were funny, some were sad, and some were political. The Halles Saint Gery was a former marketplace that has been transformed to house a cafe, beer garden, and art gallery. A very cool building to venture into when the weather in Brussels becomes unpredictable. 

Halles Saint Gery, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016.

Speaking of the weather in Brussels... When I arrived, the first two days was gorgeous sunny weather. I was happy to be walking outside after work. Once the weekend arrived, the clouds and rain started coming which is what always seems to happen in Brussels. 

If you are heading to Belgium, be sure to always carry an umbrella with you at all times and bring an extra jacket or sweater. The weather can flip like a switch and you have to be prepared.

Atomium museum, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016

Le pain quotidian is Belgium's contribution to the global cafe culture. I started going to Le pain quotidian when they opened in Westwood village in Los Angeles. I would go there to have coffee/tea with a book or study materials in the middle of the afternoon between classes or a light lunch on weekends. The concept of communal tables became trendy by this brand. They have the best hazelnut chocolate spread (Nutella has nothing on Le Pain quotidian's blonde spread). I vowed that when I returned to Brussels that I would come to the very first Le Pain Quotidian near Bourse area in Brussels. The cold snap and rainy weather had me escaping the depressing weather on the weekend and I was happy to stop in for a Belgian Fika. Coffee is served in a bowl and I ordered the apple cake because it seemed sweet but not too heavy like chocolate. 

Very first Le Pain Quotidian, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016

The cold rain crept in over the weekend and it became quite depressing very quickly. I was determined to get my negroni and researched where to get the best negroni in Brussels since Belgium is mostly a beer drinking country. I trudged through the rain with my trusty umbrella and found a bar in a basement of a building that was designed to look like a grotto cave. 

Hortense bar is the kind of place to chill, drink good cocktails and have a quiet night catching up with friends. I couldn't find anyone to join me because of the rain. I was determined to get my negroni and not waste my last weekend in Brussels due to bad weather. The weather was the very reason why I hadn't seen much of Brussels while I was living there. I forced myself to trudge through the rain. I ordered two drinks: my negroni and corpse reviver tasted delicious and well worth the rain trek. Mixed well, smooth, and potent. The bartenders here knew what they are doing!

Hortense bar, Brussels, Belgium. June 2016

Negroni

Corpse Reviver

Finishing out my internship was bittersweet because I didn't really have a plan what to do next and since completing my Postgraduate program and internship, everyone had been asking what was next for me. I'm still working on it. Currently, I want to inspire my dear readers to travel and live authentically without a timetable to rush to reach "life's milestones" that are set forth by society through heavy marketing, political agenda, and pressure from people around that are living a life that is deemed "normal". Why buy into the rat race if that is not what you desire? I would like to live a life that is authentic to me. Sharing my stories, eating good food & drink, sharing my passions for travel, dance, art, hosting fun events, and culinary delights.

Its always a bit tough to say good-byes so I always tell people see you later in life. The world is a small place and the more people we meet the smaller it becomes.

Onto my journey...

Indonesian food at Bojo's in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. June 2016

There are a few places I return to if I've been to a place more than once. I like to use Amsterdam as a base when I'm flying in and out of Europe because its pretty centralized in terms of the geography and the airport has direct flights. A nice city that offers a lot of things that I love. Art musuems, easy public transportation and very walkable, lots of cafes, decent shopping, wide open green spaces and parks, cute architecture, friendly people, yummy food that reminds me of my childhood.

A TCK (acronym for Third Culture Kids) friend recommended Bojo's Indonesian restaurant in Leidseplein area of Amsterdam a couple years ago and since then it has always been a pitstop for me. I always manage to get a meal at Bojo's every time I stop over in Amsterdam. The food is delicious and I try something different almost every time I come in. The restaurant ambiance is cozy and service is efficient. I don't think I've ever had a bad meal there. Amsterdam has a plethora of Indonesian restaurants and when people ask me where to eat in Amsterdam, I always tell them to come to Bojo's and have Indonesian food because its a very Amsterdam thing to do. 

I grew up eating Dutch food and Indonesian food with Dutch influences or Chinese-Indonesian food.. I still haven't figured it out why Dutch food tastes like my childhood especially with bitterballen and all the fried foods available at the various automat fast food joints littered throughout the city. Perhaps, its because I couldn't really eat all the spicy curries or eat weird animal parts. Perhaps, I'm always a hybrid type of person even down to my taste buds. A TCK eater!

Stedilijk museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. June 2016

I love modern art and going to museums. The Stedilijk museum has been on my visit list since I've already been to the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum that are near the area. This modern art and design museum has temporary and permanent exhibits. There are interactive exhibits and static exhibits. The most striking piece is done inside a railroad car. All figure heads were given clocks as heads to signify the rat race and how miserable their lives are chasing and racing against the clock. There was one figure that had a face and it was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt to signify that he was taking his time. It was definitely a cool exhibit where one is encouraged to step inside the railroad car and look at the art closely. I like art that makes one think about society and the human existence. 

Travel creates a myriad of wonderful experiences and invigorates a sense of wander, curiosity, adventure. Perhaps, there are those among us who think that a life of following vicious cycle of the rat race to reach life's milestones set forth by society is all there is to life. I'm not goiing to tell you how one should live because that would be exactly what society does.

Sometimes one needs to think outside the box a little and create a life that is meant to be lived the way that you want. If a job doesn't exist or you can't find the career that utilizes all your strengths and passions, create that job for yourself or find many little jobs that would fulfill it. I don't know the answers to my life, but I know for now, I will just exist and not settle for mediocrity. I trust that some day, I'll figure it out one puzzle piece at a time. I thought that I would jump into the rat race when I made a leap of faith to change careers, but it seems to me that it wasn't meant to be through many series of unfortunate events and scenarios.

Foodporn from around the world

I like creating Foodporn but I also like looking at what other people post too!

Best of all: it's calorie-free and so indulgent!



IG @odevour_me posted a picture of Ribs and Coleslaw that looks so mouth-watering! Singapore

IG @emelyntjy is enjoying dimsum in Hong Kong. Dimsum is a MUST in Hong Kong. 

IG @standuplawyer has a typical Swedish breakfast of lox and knäckebröd while visiting family in Stockholm. 

IG @widyay has some Japanese comfort food of chicken karaage (Japanese style fried chicken) and rice with salad in Japan. 

IG @anna_alleshiba is having amazing padthai noodles in Pattaya, Thailand. Looks so good!

IG @nunjourney had rijstaffel in Amsterdam. An ode to the Dutch colonial past with Indonesia resulted in a lot of Indonesian restaurants and establishments in Amsterdam. 

IG @veritablyzontee enjoys the Apricot Toasted Almond Cronut from the original creators at Dominique Ansel bakery in New York City 

IG @quaintandkawaii indulges in the "best gyoza" in Tokyo. My mouth is salivating. 

IG @oursiciliantable has such mouth watering Foodporn! It's seriously amazing and you can tell it's all cooked from the heart. Sicily.

All of these photos were discovered from Instagram and I have permission from each owner to publish their pictures on this blog.