The Tao of Loi's Dance (Sunday People)

First published in New Sunday Times

26 April 2008

The Tao of Loi’s dance

After four years, dancer Loi Chin Yu returns to the stage in a solo performance to explore the meaning of Taoism and its rituals. MAX KOH writes

SEATED by the quiet lake at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre in Sentul, Loi Chin Yu doesn’t come across as a sage or a spiritual guru despite the religious nature of his upcoming dance. Dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, Loi tells me that he is just a seeker.

He is back on stage in My Calling My Stage, My Act after a four-year-hiatus. In this performance, he says, he explores the meaning of Taoism and his internal struggle for spiritual balance and peace.

By exploring the movements derived from Taoist ceremonial acts — speaking in tongues, chanting, ceremonial scriptures and such — Loi hopes to internalise the sacred scripture of the Tao Te Ching and find spiritual balance in his inner man.



"During my break from the stage, I was able to find the time to read the Tao Te Ching, the scriptures written by Lao Tze more than 2,000 years ago.

“Having grown up with so many Taoist practices around me, the book opened up a new understanding of Taoism which is of a different level than the rituals,” says Loi whose family house in Klang stood next to a Taoist temple.

“This spurred me to want to say something about Taoism. The message behind Tao Te Ching is that we need to return to Nature to find our spiritual balance. More than 2,000 years later, the message is still relevant today.”

Loi believes that truth and love can only emerge when the heart is settled.

“In every person’s life, there is a need to maintain a spiritual balance. Very often, we get ‘stuck’ in a certain emotion and state which arises from situations and circumstances in the past. We will never find the peace until we channel out (what’s) stuck in our hearts.

“Some of us find it in yoga, tai chi, or a hobby. For me, I find my balance on stage.”

It is precisely this reason that has brought Loi back to the stage. This is his way of internalising Taoist philosophy in his life.

“These four years has made me realise that I miss the passion of dancing and performing onstage. Dancing has always been my healing therapy. Without it, I find an imbalance in my spiritual side.”

Loi believes that everyone has to find their own way of self-therapy. “The spiritual man is like a tree. Without water, it will become dry and eventually wither away.

“Dancing rejuvenates my spiritual man.”

While the performance dwells on spiritual matters, Loi is adamant that he is not there to preach or impose his beliefs on other people.

“It is very much a personal journey.”

What Loi hopes to articulate to the audience is this: “If your heart is calm, then you are a god. When your calmness is strong like a mountain, you will find your own way to spiritual balance. It is your own journey. No one can tell you how to attain it.”

Loi’s love affair with dance began when he watched the Kwangsi Association perform at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre in 1989.

“I was then in Form Five. I was taken aback by the contemporary and Chinese style of the Kwangsi Association. I found that the movement suited my body. Before this, I only dabbled in lion dance as the ball-bearer being chased by the lion. I was in high school then.” He laughs.

Loi joined the association and trained under Vincent Tan. Loi became a pioneering member of Nyoba Dance where he worked regularly with acclaimed dancer Lee Swee Keong.

Loi is also a fine arts graduate and designer of stage sets and domestic furniture.

His dance credits include The Tree, Lady White Snake — The Revenge, When Durian Meet Banana, Red Banquet, Four Men One Face, and SeeSaw. He has also appeared in several independent films including Man From Thailand and Survival.

Loi has also been involved in many musical productions including Puteri Guning Ledang, P. Ramlee – The Musical, September Tales (Dama Orchestra) and Little Mission Impossible.

When not dancing, Loi is an award-winning set designer. He won the BOH Cameronian Award for Best Set Design for Leave Me Along (Dua Space) in 2004. He owns the company Five E Production and designed the set for My Calling My Stage, My Act.

“I will be building a square platform similar to the one monks use to meditate in the mountains. The only difference is that it will be indoors. It’s going to be big and serious.”

My Calling My Stage, My Act will be showing at KLPac, Sentul Park. Shows begin at 8.30pm on May 2-3 and 3pm on May 4. Ticket prices are RM25/RM15 (students, senior citizens & the disabled). Call 03-4047 9000 for bookings or log on to www.klpac.com.