Joseph Victor Gonzales

Joseph Victor Gonzales
Joseph Victor Gonzales in 2012
Born	Joseph Victor Gonzales (1960-06-22) June 22, 1960 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Occupation	dancer, choreographer, pedagog

Joseph Victor Gonzales (born June 22, 1960, Kuala Lumpur) is a Malaysian choreographer. Currently, he is a recognized expert in the choreography and interpretation of traditional dances in Malaysia, prominent in the theater and in the field of dance pedagogy (he published a number of significant books and manuals).^[1]

Brief biography

In 1986, he graduated from the Mathematical Department of the Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Malaya. He received a choreographic education at the Davis Ballet School in Sussex (1987-1990), the London Studio Center (1991) and the Royal Academy of Dance (1992) in England. In 2006, he completed his master's program at Middlesex University. In 2010 he defended his doctoral dissertation at University of Malaya.

Dance and teaching activities

He started dancing as a student, in 1981-1984 he participated in the choreographic ensemble "Kesuma" (Flower) of the University of Malaya and at the Francis Ballet Academy, and in 1984-1987 at the Federal Academy of Ballet.^[2] In 1992-1994 he was a dance teacher at the Federal Academy of Ballet. Since 1994 - teacher and head of the dance group of the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA), since 1999 - Dean of the Choreographic Faculty. He is Co-President of the Asian Dance Committee, Seoul, South Korea, and has served as adjudicator for the Singapore Youth Festival since 2008, and Sprouts, a young choreographers’ platform in Singapore. Since 2011 - Vice-President South East Asia World Dance Alliance. In 2017, he was appointed as a professor and Head of Academic and Contextual Studies in Dance and MFA Coordinator (Dance) at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.^[3]

Creativity

Participated in choreographic festivals in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Japan, Belgium, Indonesia, China, India, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. In 1993 he took part in the preparation of the opening ceremony of the XIX International Festival of Independent Cinema in Brussels and in 1998 - the 16th Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. He represented Malaysia at the Philadelphia Dance Festival (2000).

His productions can be described as an avant-garde ballet, notable for its originality of dance ideas and techniques. His credo: "Dance and you will enjoy freedom, for dance is a struggle".^[4]

Participants of the choreographic composition "Awas" (2003). Director Joseph Gonzalez

Productions of recent years: "P. Ramlie, Musical " (2007) at the Palace of Culture in Kuala Lumpur, “Hamlet” (2007), “Passion” (2007) at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Center, ”Rhythms in Bronze” (2011),^[5] The Two (2013) ), "Rise" (2013) in the Penang Center for the Performing Arts, "Enter/Exit" (2014), "Becoming King… the Pakyung Revisited" (2016).

Awards

• "For brilliant success" (Ministry of Culture, Art and Tourism of Malaysia, 2001)
• "For the best production of the year" (Society of Art Lovers "Kaki Seni", 2003.2008)
• Crosscultural Champion of the Arts at the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards (2007).
• For outstanding contribution to the development of dance art (Academy Kshetra, 2010)
• For outstanding contribution to the development of dance art (Rotery Club, 2011)
• "For brilliant success" (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage, 2011)
• Best Choreographer of the Year (2016)

Publications

• Joseph Gonzales. Dancing the Malaysian. Kuala Lumpur: SIRD, 2010. ISBN 9789675832345
• Joseph Gonzales. Dancing Mosaic: Issues On Dance Hybridity. Mohd Anis Md Nor (Ed.). Kuala Lumpur: Cultural Center University of Malaya & National Department for Culture and Arts, Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, 2012. ISBN 9789670380179
• Joseph Gonzales. South East Asia report. - in: Asia-Pacific CHANNELS. Newsletter of the World Dance Alliance 2, December 2012. Australian Dance Council-Ausdance Inc.

References