Dancing for Myanmar
Some people hear the upsetting news in Myanmar and think, “Gosh, that sounds so bad, I wish I could do something.” Others hear what is happening, and immediately rush to figure out how they can help, in big ways or small, whether in terms of material or simple morale.
An international coalition of dancers have come together to support the democracy movement in the latter way, demonstrating through their art form how they stand (or rather, dance) in solidarity with the Burmese people. They have written the following statement, and produced the video along with it.
Thank you!
WITH YOU is the project to unite global dance communities for raising awareness about what is happening in Myanmar right now and sending our message to people in Myanmar - our dance being our voice:
"We are connecting with you, standing with you, willing to support your hardship"
On May 7th 2021 I received a video from dancers of Yangon, Myanmar dancing in their house, putting masks on, being anonymous to keep their safety. I was in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E, projected their video on the floor, danced within their dance, wanted to tell them "I'm with you". I started to get in contact with dancers, choreographers and dance communities throughout the world, inviting them to join the project. Many people from many countries responded through their dance to support artists and the people in Myanmar. Now, I'd like to send our voice to Myanmar, to the world through our movement.
As of 20 May 2021 over 4,200* people have been detained since the Myanmar military seized power on Feb. 1st. 810* people have been killed so far as Myanmar's military continues to use brutal methods to quell anti-coup protests.
*The number according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) research
website with the message of dancer/P cube from Myanmar
kiorikawaicom.wordpress.com/2021/05/21/with-you/
Dance:
Yangon, Myanmar - P cube, Anonymous, video: Thet Htet Moe Oo
Abu Dhabi, U.A.E - Kiori Kawai(Japan)
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Thomas Körtvélyessy
New York, U.S.A - Elise Knudson
Luxembourg - Tebby Ramasike (South Africa)
Detroit, U.S.A - Joshua Bisset, Laura Quattrocchi (Italy)
Edinburgh, U.K - David Yates (U.S.A)
Hsinchu, Taiwan - Kevin Ke
Muscat, Oman - Tara Atkinson (U.K), Joe Bunn (U.K)
New York, U.S.A - Yoshiko Chuma(Japan) @Ki-Smith gallery ; the painter /visual by Alana Dee Haynes
New York, U.S.A - Yuki Hasegawa, Kanako Yokota (Japan)
Gomarduli, Georgia - Maria Concetta Cariello (Italy)
Tokyo, Japan - Mei Yamanaka, Kumiko Yamanaka
Niigata, Japan - Hitomi Tsumura
Rotterdam, Netherlands - Thomas Körtvélyessy, Marjolein, Cristel @Studio Cuartito Azul
Cape Town, South Africa - Gita Galina
Seoul, Korea - KarinBaipasarn
Texas, U.S.A - Kirsche Dickson, Miguel Esparza
Massachusetts, U.S.A - Neige Christenson, Patrick Crowley, Claudio Garrido, Lani Nahele, Sarah Young, Dale Rosencrantz, Saliq Savage, video: Nikki Lee
New York, U.S.A - Dan Getman, Ilonka Wloch, Pete Crotty, Lugh, Virginia Iverson, Halle Kananack, video: Dave Sheppard
Vienna, Austria - Reset Collective: Sarah Sea, Kees Lemmens, Monika Schuberth
New York, U.S.A - Luce Mahler
Cape Town, South Africa - teacher: Natalie Fisher, students: Nicola De Jager, Tjaart Van Der Walt, Kelsey Buchalter, Courtney Merryweather, Chloe Howes, Lea Blerk, Thando Dlamini, Sunny Yoon, Oyena Ngqondela, Naoline Quinzin, Micaela Tucker, Allen Chambers, Michiel Bester @ LAMTA musical theatre school
New York, U.S.A - Teresa Smith, Michelle Arieh (Israel)
New York, U.S.A - Nancy Zendora
Athens, Greece - teacher: Konstantin Mixos, students: 3rd grade from the Art Hifh School of Gerakas
Gomarduli, Georgia - Kiori Kawai (Japan), Beate Absalon (Germany), Ariel Leventhal (Israel), Adrianna Berezowska (Germany), Stefanie Seitz (Germany), Noam Raz (Israel), Natalia Parfenava (Minsk, Belarus), Maria Kurachova (Minsk, Belarus), Yaroslavich Daria (Russia, Bryansk), Lana Yaumenchyk (Minsk, Belarus), Maria Concetta Cariello (Italy), Nesibe Irem Erdem (turkey), Yevhen Vodka (Kyiv, Ukraine), tech/video: Slava Poliantsev (Kiev, Ukraine)
Music: "Fallen" Daniel saw (Myanmar)
Video editing: Kiori Kawai
Special thanks to: Hpone Myat Pine Soe