J McKenzie

Artist Vision

My artistic dance expression is driven entirely by confidence and courage. The greatest sources of inspiration are the works of Scottish Dance Theatre and Scottish Ballet which have influenced my creative vision to explore movement. I work in a visual language and value engagement on a practical level in support of theory.

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“I was born in ShangHai, China and have always loved to dance. My mother took me to see performances by Scottish Ballet and Scottish Dance Theatre whilst we were still living in China. On moving to Scotland I was able to follow my dream of working with these companies.” Jia McKenzie (2019)

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I believe that human beings should have access to language that is stimulated by our feelings and emotions.

 "Expressing your feelings through actions helps develop your wellbeing... No one should have their emotions suppressed, no matter who they are, the ability to express ourselves through the language of movement frees us of this suppression. We should allow our hearts to speak."

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Within my practice, I combine contemporary dance and dance theatre within a fusion of Sign Language, Ba Gua Zhang, Kung Fu and Chinese Classical Dance to explore the power of interpersonal relationships and social structures in today’s society. In seeking innovation, my practice to date has created new works that blend dance, audio visual art and film. 

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I recognise the importance of inclusive practice across the arts. I am interested in both professional and community creativity and value the opportunities to train in both fields that I have experienced so far. In the my future I hope to continue my training in Community Dance Practice.