Oliver!: Spotlight on Nikki Cheung

Next up we have the beautiful and graceful Nikki Cheung. She was in the dance ensemble for Oliver! and this was her first YAF project. 

Nikki, what are your top three tips for giving a good performance?
1. Food before the show! I can’t do a show on an empty stomach.
2. Tidy hair and good makeup. It helps me get into the performing mood. Sometimes you can be really tired and fed up, but once hair and makeup is done with finesse it definitely helps to bring the energy up for the show.
3. Smile? Smiling can never hurt! I try to think of happy things that get me excited for the performance!

What was is like moving from the rehearsal studio to the theatre?
 The studio and the stage are two very different locations to be dancing in. In the studio, we are more concerned specifically with choreography and unity among the cast. This is not to say that it is not important for stage, too! When you have the opportunity to work in a theatre, you have to be even more spatially aware of others, be prepared for anything that may happen, and also perform and project to the audience.

What was your favourite number?
“Consider Yourself”. This is probably one of the longest numbers in the show, but it doesn’t feel nearly as long as it actually is when you are performing it. I love the interactions between the dancers in this song, and also the integration of different types of dance styles in the choreography (contemporary, jazz, tap etc.)
 
What are you going to miss the most?
Aside from the wonderful cast members, choreographers, directors and other stage assistants which made this production possible, I will actually miss the theatre and the set the most. It is definitely a rare opportunity for me to work on such a spectacular stage, not to mention I had six great shows with gorgeous costumes and music too!

​What are you usually doing 10 minutes before the show begins?
 I like to go over my steps very quickly in all my numbers. Sometimes when I am really into the performance, I can blank-out. If I settle myself before the show and allow myself to run over all the choreography, I will be better off.
 
Tell us something we don’t know...
Billy has a secret obsession with dragon fruits. Yes, he brought twelve of them to rehearsal one day. Not to mention he peels and eats them like a banana too.

What was the greatest challenge
 It is not easy to dance with injuries, big or small. I’ve experience worse injuries before, and that taught me how to remain composed and continue the show. It is a huge test for your determination and perseverance. Comparatively, the injury I had was fairly minor, but it was still frustrating to have to worry about something else aside from your dancing. (On a side note, thank you stage crew for climbing over mountains of props to fetch me the ice packs!)

What’s next, now that Oliver! is over?
There are so many opportunities lined up, so I am not at all worried about having nothing to do on a Saturday morning at 9:00am! As a dancer, there is still so much to work on in terms of technique and performance. Now I will have more time to explore different styles of dance and improve myself for any future opportunities.

How do you think we can raise the standards of art in HK?
I think we can all learn to appreciate more. Watch more shows! Dance, theatre, opera, drama, film... there is so much to offer and so much to learn from just within our community. Hong Kong is a vibrant city with a lot of great performers, and I definitely would encourage others to be less critical and more open about the different forms of arts around them.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?
Pause time. So that happy memories would last forever.

If you could meet any artist for a day...
If I can spend a day with David Hallberg, I will be thrilled beyond words. He is a stunning ballet dancer with exquisite technique and also sublime performance. I had an opportunity to watch his performance Giselle last year, but I missed him at the stage door (which I later found he had to catch a flight). I do hope I can meet him again in the near future!