School of Hard Knocks
School of Hard Knocks looks at the issue of urban poverty in Singapore through the lives of Mel, a single mother, her seven children and a community of at-risk youths she banded together through dance. It also explores the ways they react to and cope with being disconnected from mainstream society.
Now 38, Mel has gone through a lot – from two prison stints for drug-related offences, to enduring years of abuse from her previous partner and mothering seven children alone. Since she was released from prison in 2010, she has turned to dance to mentor other youths. She now runs a dance group, Pluspoint, and is a bulwark to many of the boys there.
2014 - work in progress