Dance Body Project

31/12/2025

Abstract:
Dance is an expressive art form embodied in bodily, temporal, and spatial dimensions. When institutionalized within educational and sociopolitical frameworks, it operates as a complex mechanism of identity construction and bodily regulation. Drawing on the author's field practices and archival engagement through the Malaysian Dance Recollection project, this paper foregrounds the performing body as a site where culture and history intersect, exploring how dances of Chinese are shaped, misread, and reimagined amidst form, institutional practices, and identity politics. Over nearly two decades of cross-generational research and observation, critical questions have emerged: how should we understand Chinese communities and dance, and who holds the interpretive authority over “my body/movements”. As the investigation deepens, tensions surface – between collective and individual cultural sentiments, overlapping political and cultural identities, and the pressures of theatricalization and commercialization. Through research and participant observation, it becomes evident that dance is not merely a matter of technique and aesthetics, but a cultural manifestation interwoven with historical contexts, corporeal memory, and sociopolitical structures – a space where power dynamics and identity negotiations unfold. This paper seeks to foreground a situated reflection on epistemic ruptures and interpretive challenges in the dance practices and research, through the lived perspectives of a performer, creator, and researcher. It further reflects on methodological implications and possibilities for Chinese (Malaysian) dance and embodied interpretation. （许瑛纷，2025）

#华族舞 #生根开花 #华人文化 #华人舞蹈研究 #舞蹈研究 #有幸创作 #舞蹈文字 #舞蹈身份 #身体诠释 #视角位置性 #谁在用历史的身体跳舞

冬至快乐！！！期待大家再来团聚🌻

❤️活动：“生根开花：马来西亚华文话剧诞辰106周年”戏剧国际学术研讨会论文集（上、中、下册）新书推介礼
💛日期：2026年1月4日（星期日）
🧡时间：3pm-5pm（2pm报到）
💙地点：LG Concourse Stage @ Cheras LeisureMall, K.L. (临近MRT Taman Mutiara - KG 25）
❤️询问：心向太阳剧坊016-2322693

02/10/2025

Every body carries memory, experience, and creativity — it is both a cultural archive and a living reflection of society. To move toward a future of diversity and creativity, dance and the arts must have their rightful place in national cultural policy.

We stand with fellow artists and cultural workers in supporting this petition, hoping the arts will have a true “home” in our nation and continue to be the breath and heartbeat of Malaysian society. 🌟

每个人的身体都蕴藏着记忆、经验与创造力，身体既是文化的档案，也是社会演变的形塑。若我们要真正迈向多元与创造力并存的未来，舞蹈（身体）与艺术必须在国家文化政策中占有一定的位置。让艺术成为我们的一种生活方式，一种理解彼此与共创未来的途径。

我们愿与各界艺术与文化工作者携手，推动这份请愿书的落实。愿我们的艺术在国家制度里有个‘家’，也愿文艺能继续成为大马社会的呼吸与脉动。✨

#艺术无界 #风雨同路 #艺起守护 #艺术一家

31/07/2024

We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully donated extensive collection of dance materials to the University of Malaya's main library. This contribution was possible under the support of Ms. , the principal of . She began collecting dance materials with the aim of enriching the Ipoh community's access to dance information. Now retired, Ms. Chan hopes that these resources will continue to inspire and benefit the public.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the personnel of University of Malaya's main library, for their prompt and efficient service in facilitating this donation. We invite interested ones to visit the library (operates from 9am to 4pm) to access these resources and continue the beautiful journey of dance appreciation. This donation marks a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to preserve and celebrate the art of dance. Cheers~
#舞迹采集

🎀🎀 The donated materials includes the following:

📼 *VHS Videos*
1. Diversion of Angels, Lamentation, Frontier, Adorations, Cave of the Heart, Appalachian Spring - Martha Graham Dance Company
2. Selection from Jewels, Stravinsky Violin Concerto - New York City Ballet
3. The Balanchine Celebration (Part One) - New York City Ballet
4. The Balanchine Celebration (Part Two) - New York City Ballet
5. Three Modern Dance Classics (The Moor’s Pavane, The Traitor, The Emperor Jones) - Jose Limon

💿 *CDs*
1. Cinderella “Classical” Symphony - London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn
2. Don Quixote - Sofia National Opera Orchestra
3. Giselle - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
4. La Fille Mal Gardee - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, John Lanchbery, Richard Bonynge
5. Romeo and Juliet - London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn
6. Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker) - London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn
7. The 3 Ballets (Delibes) (Coppelia, Sylvia, La Source) - National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
8. Tales of Beatrix Potter - Royal Opera, John Lanchbery

📀 *DVDs*
1. Bamboo Dream - Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
2. Coppelia - The Kirov Ballet, Vinogradov
3. Coppelia - The Royal Ballet
4. Coppelia - Australian Ballet, Lisa Pavane
5. Don Quixote - American Ballet Theatre
6. Essential Ballet - Kirov Ballet
7. Evidentia (Sylvie Guillem)
8. Firebird - The Royal Danish Ballet
9. Giselle - American Ballet Theatre
10. Giselle - The Kirov Ballet
11. La Bayadere - Ballet De L’Opera De Paris
12. La Fille Mal Gardee - Australian Ballet
13. Le Corsaire - The Kirov Ballet
14. Le Corsaire - American Ballet Theatre
15. Manon - Australian Ballet
16. Margot Fonteyn
17. Nutcracker - Australian Ballet
18. Peter and the Wolf / L'enfant et les Sortileges - The Royal Ballet School, Prokofiev’s, Nederlands Dans Theater
19. Romeo and Juliet - Ballet De L’Opera De Paris
20. Romeo and Juliet (Modern) - Lyon National Opera Ballet
21. Sleeping Beauty - Ballet De L’Opera De Paris
22. Spartacus - Australian Ballet
23. Swan Lake – Margot Fonteyn, Vienna State Opera Ballet
24. The Moon Princess (Kaguyahime) - The Nederlands Dans Theater

📚 *Books*
1. A Ballet Dynasty - Livia Brillarelli
2. ABC of Ballet - Janet Grosser
3. American Ballet Theater (A 25 Years Retrospective) - Elizabeth Kaye
4. Ballet - Darcey Bussell
5. Ballet Class - John Green
6. Ballet School: What It Takes to Make a Dancer - Camilla Jessel
7. Classical Ballet Technique - Gretchen Warren
8. Classical Ballet Terms - Richard Glasstone
9. Pas De Deux - Nikolai Serebrennikov
10. Pointe Shoe Secrets - Ester Juon
11. Spanish Dancing - Lala Gia
12. Stagecraft - Trevor R. Griffiths
13. Stretching Without Pain - W. Paul Blakey
14. The Ballerina’s Handbook - Caroline Plaisted
15. The Ballet Book: A Young Person’s Guide to Classical Dance - The National Ballet School, Deborah Bowes
16. The Muscle Book - W. Paul Blakey
17. The Pilates Body - Brooke Siler

03/06/2023

Ms Oh, though our time with you was brief, we firmly believe that your impact on the ballet community in Penang was profound. Your unwavering dedication left an indelible mark that will be forever remembered. Throughout nearly a century of life, your spirit will continue to dance among us, inspiring generations to come.

===🌼===
Dear all, if any of you possess any materials pertaining to her dance or Oh Eng Sim School of Dancing (Penang), we would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly reach out to us. Thank you.
(Photos from 'Ruby Jubilee Celebration : Oh Eng Sim School of Dancing (1959-1999)', Collection of Sandra Ong, S.210126)
..May her soul rest in peace~🍂