Michelle Wan Lok Chan
Michelle Chan is a performer, dance teacher, choreographer and currently an international dance/movement therapy student at Pratt Institute. She was born and raised in Hong Kong, and graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor’s degree (Honors) in 2010, majoring in Ballet and Dance Education. She was awarded HKSAR/Mainland Performing Arts Exchange Scholarship when she was at school. In 2016, Michelle had also completed Inspirees Professional Dance Therapy Core Training Program which was the alternative route program in Hong Kong. Since graduation she has had great pleasure to work with various populations with diverse cultural backgrounds and abilities in the community to promote life education through multidisciplinary arts. In addition, Michelle has traveled to Nicaragua, Iceland, Myanmar, Africa, Sweden, Singapore and Taipei National University of the Arts for cultural exchange and performances. In 2016, Michelle has participated the program of artist in residence in Iceland and presented her first interactive dance theater performance “Memomentary” at the 3rd Skammdegi Festival. In 2018, she recreated her solo dance video “Land of snow and sorrow” in Iceland and integrated the experiences in dance/movement therapy training, and finally presented in New York.
Michelle actively participated in diverse productions to develop the arts field in Hong Kong, including ‘Bolero’ (2006) with Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, ‘Burning My Life 201’ (2008) with Goodnews Communication International, ‘In Search of the Tree of Life in the Concrete Forest’ (2011) with Danceart, ‘Thanksgiving Music Concert 2013’ with Sharehymns Association Limited, ‘A Bit Closer’ (2014) with HKFYG, LCSD school tour "Philosophy of Happiness of Ant-men"(2016) by DancingAngels, ‘Philosophy of Happiness’ (2016) with DancingAngels, ‘Loving in the moment’ (2017) with HKFYG, ‘Separating From Separation’ (2017) with DancingAngels.
I aspire to be the pioneer to promote the field of dance movement therapy in Hong Kong, China and Asia. One of my dreams is to spread the concept, intervention and impact of dance movement therapy that integrate my cross-cultural experiences and Eastern wisdom to the community and share with people all over the world. As many people think that therapy is only offered to people who are unwell. In order to promote welling being and prosperous living, being in touch with dance movement and arts appears to be one of the ways to reach the full qualities of humanity, honesty and wholeness. I strongly believe that this approach and shift in mindset will prove beneficial to the society and to the people who are preoccupied with their busy life. Everyone and the society needs it.
Website:
https://michellecwl.wixsite.com/lifexdance