Embarking on her dance journey 27 years ago, June Lin, supported by a devoted circle of friends and family, now graces the professional stage with Apsara Asia.
SINGAPORE (CNA) – At the age of 12, June Lin took her first steps into the world of dance alongside classmates at Towner Gardens School, designed for children with special needs. Recollecting that transformative moment, she shared with a source the enduring joy and excitement she felt moving to the music on stage.
Now, at 39, Lin has evolved into a professional dance co-trainer at Apsara Asia, a social enterprise utilising performing arts to instil life skills in individuals with diverse abilities.
Additionally, she actively participates in the Diverse Abilities Dance Collective (DADC), a community initiative by Maya Dance Theatre fostering the performing arts space for persons with disabilities.
Lin’s full-time commitment involves dancing and training, dedicating most weekdays to refining her skills and preparing for upcoming performances.
Support from a passionate community
For Lin, her passion for dance began with a supportive “village”. Her parents, Jean Wang and Lim Joe Ann, supported her endeavours from an early age. Even though they were told that children with Down syndrome would be limited in many ways, they backed their daughter wholeheartedly in her interests and hobbies, from dance to arts and crafts.
When she performs at events, her parents, older brother and his wife, are there to cheer her on. And their family group chat on WhatsApp is filled with videos of Lin dancing on stage.
Dancing aside, her other love is bowling, which she started in her early twenties. She would take part in bowling meets organised by the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore) and her skills developed to the point where she represented Singapore in the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, United States. There, she won a silver medal in bowling.
Her supervisor at Apsara Asia, Kavitha Krishnan, is a long-time friend and mentor. The 52-year-old choreographer and creative director, whom Lin affectionately calls Kavi, tirelessly advocates for Lin and other dancers with Down syndrome in the local performing arts space.
“I’ve known Kavi for 25 years of my life,” Lin said, smiling widely. “She makes me happy, and teaches me a lot of values and important life lessons, like taking care of myself, putting on my own makeup and being on time so I won’t miss any dance lessons.”
Krishnan is the reason why Lin is particularly drawn to Indian classical dance, such as the Bharatanatyam, which narrates stories based on Hinduism.
An accomplished dancer and trainer who co-founded Apsara Asia and Maya Dance Theatre, Krishnan carries a wealth of experience in the Bharatanatyam style and imparts her knowledge to Lin and her fellow dancers.
At her workplace, Lin also learns how to manage herself and her belongings by doing housekeeping, taking care of props and costumes for different performances, and learning ad-hoc skills such as how to caption photos for social media.
“I take care of the dance studio because it’s part of being in a team,” Lin said. “I sweep, mop the studio floor, look after the props and makeup.
“I enjoy doing these extra tasks because it’s great to be able to help my teammates and colleagues,” she added. “We all play many parts and are there for each other when we’re in a team.”
Dancing is the best form of self-expression
As part of DADC, Lin has performed in front of different audiences with other dancers, many of whom have Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities.
“When I’m on stage, I get so nervous and worried, especially when I know so many people are watching,” Lin said. “But when I start to dance, I feel good and I just think about moving and dancing to the music.”
She recently performed in the SEEDS dance film series, a collaboration between Maya Dance Theatre, DADC, and Apsara Asia.
The series currently has three episodes and features dancers with disabilities and special needs. The latest instalment, titled SEEDS Here. Not Here, premiered at The Projector in July 2023.
Before the screening, Lin and a few dancers performed for the audience. The SEEDS team wanted to show how people with intellectual disabilities could express a wide range of emotions through their facial expressions and movements.
The dance film received such a positive reception that the team even travelled to Solo, Indonesia, to perform at the Solo International Performing Arts 2023 festival. The performance was also broadcast on Indonesian television.
“One of the best feelings is hearing people clap for me,” Lin said. “When I see and hear the applause, I feel proud of myself. It feels great and I never want to stop dancing.”
More opportunities for people with disabilities
Working at Apsara Asia has provided Lin with other opportunities beyond dance.
Through the social enterprise, she started teaching dance techniques and mobility exercises to others, including patients at the Muslim Kidney Action Association, the senior care centre at Sree Narayana Mission of Singapore, and special education organisations like Pathlight School and Rainbow Centre.
She speaks fondly of a primary school student with cerebral palsy she taught for three months at Rainbow Centre.
“I see her as my friend,” Lin said as she showed the source photos and videos of both of them doing seated dance moves together. “Together with Kavi, I taught her how to dance and she would always make me smile when we moved together with the music.”
Lin used to believe her career options were limited to simple, menial jobs. Her perception was shaped by the misconception in society that people with intellectual disabilities can only perform basic tasks for a living.
“I used to work as an officer at Mount Faber – I greeted people in front of the cable cars and gave them sweets,” Lin said. “I was also a waitress – I took orders for food and drinks, I served and I followed a checklist. But it was hard for me and I wasn’t happy.”
At Apsara Asia, Lin feels most at ease. “When I dance, it’s so fun and I feel free,” she said. “And when I dance with my friends or teach others dancing, I become so proud of myself.”
Though the work may be challenging, the ability to express herself through dance has been rewarding and fulfilling.
“I want other people like me to know that they can try and do all sorts of jobs,” Lin said. “Office work, admin work, factory work, artist, dancer – if there are people with you to help you, you can do almost anything.”
