President of Comuna de Pedra and Curator of Todos Fest! Jenny Mok (莫倩婷) told The Macau Post Daily recently that her association is once again participating in Macau City Fringe with the second edition of Todos Fest! from January 8-23, aiming to provide a stage for people with disabilities to be seen as artists.
Mok made the remarks during a group interview at the Praia do Manduco Centre on Thursday.
According to Mok, the meaning of the Portuguese word “Todos” is everyone, and she hoped that this festival can focus on people with mental or physical difficulties as well as senior citizens.
“To be seen as they are,” Mok added. “When we talk about marginalised people’s performance, we often associate them with charitable events or carnivals. They are often in a position of being in need. However, we want to break through this stereotype,” she pointed out.
Mok said that people usually only notice other’s disability, and through the performance her association wants to take a peek below the surface, i.e., to see them as art.
“This cannot be done by just one show or a performance. Breaking through those rigid images of marginalised people requires education,” Mok underlined. She said that’s the reason why her association included two workshops, a documentary and a sharing session to educate the public about the correct way to view marginalised people as well as promote art equality.
“The theme of the festival for the past two years has been ‘creating inclusive and accessible art’. We also work with senior citizens to alter people’s idea that dancing can only be performed by skinny young girls,” Mok said.
Mok referred to one of the shows “Dancing Veins”, which will be performed by a group of dancers from the Casa Ricci Elderly Centre. She pointed out that they will be telling their stories using their body language.
Co-Choreographer of “Dancing Veins” Jacquline Vong (黃筱淇) said that there was something different about elderly dancers. “They are able to show that they have been through a lot. They sometimes act like little girls, just enjoy dancing as it is. It makes me reflect on the meaning of dancing,” she added.
Vong said that as a choreographer of “Dancing Veins” her purpose was not instructing them how to dance but to guide them to express their imagination. “Their movements are just like their wrinkles, it shows what they have been through and the stories of their lives,” she underlined.
Vice President of Comuna de Pedra Jojo Lam (林詠欣) said that sometimes people, such as the elderly, want to tell their stories in non-verbal ways, adding that Todo Fest! is a platform for them to be in the spotlight.
Co-Choreographer of “Dancing Veins” Jacquline Vong 黃筱淇 (right) dances with one of the elderly dancers at the Praia do Manduco Centre on Thursday.
Vice President of Comuna de Pedra Jojo Lam 林詠欣 (left) and President of Comuna de Pedra and Curator of Todos Fest! Jenny Mok 莫倩婷 pose outside the Praia do Manduco Centre on Thursday. Photos: Prisca Tang
Photos courtesy of Comuna de Pedra
