WHAT moves you?
Recently, The Vibes’ Culture and Lifestyle team received messages from the front desk of someone persistently trying to get hold of our editors. This made us curious.
On the other end of the line was Michelle Jueney, a dancer enthusiastic about a passion project she is busy curating. The project is called ‘MOVE 2021: International World Dance Day Unesco’, her initiative to commemorate the upcoming International Dance Day celebration held on April 29.
“It is part of my continuous and humble effort to create, connect and celebrate dance together with established and internationally renowned dancers in the performing arts scene. They range from emerging talents to professionals and veterans in their respective dance forms,” shared Jueney when contacted.
“The event is about finding strength and hope – how dance has always risen above the profound immorality and wickedness instigated by those that fuel inhumanity that we see in the recent news. Through dancing, we strive to be one of the torch barriers of humanity”.
Now we do not necessarily jump at any pitches that present themselves, but with such a burning proclamation – and that Jueney displayed such a drive that one cannot help but be intrigued.
Elaborating on the background of her non-profit project, Jueney said: “The size of the creative team is not relevant as this is a global effort to come together sparked by my initiative to break free of the lockdown gridlock”.
A reflection of personal moments
Jueney said that the initiative is not among multiple associations but a collaborative effort of individual dancers and artists coming together, “with a shared passion who are enthusiastic to join hands in an international project on an online platform despite the Covid-19 challenges.
“MOVE 2021 is a beautiful reflection of some of the most personal moments of dancers in their deepest intimate explorations of movement and improvisation, explored through film, theatre, bedroom, and other confined spaces.
“Of course, the project would not have come together without the support of those who have joined in unity as dancers, sharing individual expressions with dance and art regardless of race, boundary, discipline, or school. Having these ‘creative voices’ as part of the event is vital,” added Jueney.
Detailing the relationship background with the participating dancers, she said, “I met them through various platforms, some during art and dance festivals and others through online dance programmes over the years (pre and during the pandemic).
“Ashly Nandong and Tony Yap through The Melaka Arts & Performance Festival – Tony is the director of the festival organised every year in Melaka. Ashly and I were participants whereby I participated back in 2013 and 2014,” she said.
“Jesse Obremski through GibneyDance, New York and José Limón Online class in 2020 and we have kept in touch on Instagram.
“I met Alexey Dmitrenko when he came to hold a choreography workshop where I was a participant at the Federal Academy of Ballet, the same ballet school I attended training at since I was six,” she added.
Unity through dance
The artistic director, dancer, and choreographer of The KLMovement notes that dance and the arts function as the heartbeat of any society.
“To me, it is a barometer to the wellbeing of any nation, as well as to offer respite in challenging times.
“Society everywhere is divided in various forms and content. Dance is a unifying medium, to bridge divides and celebrate shared experiences”.
On how the project got the support of The International Dance Council (CID): “The organisation supports any project by providing members, which I am one, their branding.
“They encourage us to initiate and organise any highly important dance event in any form classes, workshops, performances, and films.
“What I am most excited about – as far as I am concerned – is MOVE 2021 as a unique global initiative to shatter all the negativities, through the medium of dance, associated with a very cruel restrictive lockdown of humanity’s will to live life freely and fully”.
The term dance or dancer, within the context of the discussion, refers to those that are pursuing it professionally in the classical and contemporary genres. Far from the social dance, mainstream, commercial entertainment, and events-based sectors and musicals that we are used to seeing today.
Behind the commitment
When asked if dance as a career is sensible, and given how the pandemic has forced society to relook at lifestyle choices and personal development, Jueney said: “Unknown to the public, an aspiring professional dancer must have intense determination.
“This means the willingness to make tremendous sacrifices in not having financial security, and the resilience to remain on the path for self-fulfilment and in the pursuit of excellence in dance.
“The young dancer that started in 1957 who is now an old man, looks at the way things are and still says the same thing today.
“Dance is a very difficult career and to succeed, one must make dance the main part of their life and be prepared to face hardship.”
She says, “I believe if you love what you do, you just do it. Have a good attitude and never give up.
“Why does the sun rise every morning and set every evening?” – The Vibes, April 28, 2021
*MOVE 2021: International World Dance Day Unesco is organised by The KLMovement and created by artistic director Michelle Jueney. In partnership with The Vibes and Getaran, the event premieres worldwide Thursday, 29 April 2021 at 7pm (MYT), 7am (EDT). Visit MOVE 2021 Playlist to share in and enjoy the experience.