You don’t need talent to dance | Weijie Kong | TEDxLondonBusinessSchool

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] what is dance the dictionary defines it

what is dance the dictionary defines it

what is dance the dictionary defines it as a series of steps and movements that

as a series of steps and movements that

as a series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of

match the speed and rhythm of a piece of

match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music but instead only definition what

music but instead only definition what

music but instead only definition what do you have in mind when I mentioned

do you have in mind when I mentioned

do you have in mind when I mentioned dance some of you may think of this

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

or others may have something different

or others may have something different in mind

[Music]

[Music] but you can definitely look like this

any movement

any movement can be danced the act of sitting down

can be danced the act of sitting down

can be danced the act of sitting down not moving can be dancing I know there

not moving can be dancing I know there

not moving can be dancing I know there are many mainstream dance genres out

are many mainstream dance genres out

are many mainstream dance genres out there but we need to recognize that any

there but we need to recognize that any

there but we need to recognize that any movement or the lack of it can be dance

movement or the lack of it can be dance

movement or the lack of it can be dance and has indeed evolved throughout

and has indeed evolved throughout

and has indeed evolved throughout history it has roots in ceremonies and

history it has roots in ceremonies and

history it has roots in ceremonies and rituals in early roles then it became a

rituals in early roles then it became a

rituals in early roles then it became a form of social bonding through folk and

form of social bonding through folk and

form of social bonding through folk and ethnic dances unique to each country and

ethnic dances unique to each country and

ethnic dances unique to each country and culture and for the past few centuries

culture and for the past few centuries

culture and for the past few centuries the aesthetic and storytelling aspects

the aesthetic and storytelling aspects

the aesthetic and storytelling aspects have become more dominant and we see

have become more dominant and we see

have become more dominant and we see often perform on stage as entertainment

often perform on stage as entertainment

often perform on stage as entertainment I think Chinese dance Indian classical

I think Chinese dance Indian classical

I think Chinese dance Indian classical and ballet and today we have modern hip

and ballet and today we have modern hip

and ballet and today we have modern hip hop jazz ballroom and many more

hop jazz ballroom and many more

hop jazz ballroom and many more but despite many forms its core function

but despite many forms its core function

but despite many forms its core function to express and communicate has remained

to express and communicate has remained

to express and communicate has remained the same and the fact that this has

the same and the fact that this has

the same and the fact that this has remained the same tells me that dance is

remained the same tells me that dance is

remained the same tells me that dance is one of the most natural ways to express

one of the most natural ways to express

one of the most natural ways to express and communicate and because it’s so

and communicate and because it’s so

and communicate and because it’s so natural I believe everyone likes to

natural I believe everyone likes to

natural I believe everyone likes to dance everyone it is an innate ability

dance everyone it is an innate ability

dance everyone it is an innate ability that brings pleasure to everyone who

that brings pleasure to everyone who

that brings pleasure to everyone who does it and there are research to

does it and there are research to

does it and there are research to support this University of Haifa sure

support this University of Haifa sure

support this University of Haifa sure coz 37 participants with Parkinson’s to

coz 37 participants with Parkinson’s to

coz 37 participants with Parkinson’s to attend a dance class every week for 10

attend a dance class every week for 10

attend a dance class every week for 10 weeks and it measures their mood before

weeks and it measures their mood before

weeks and it measures their mood before and after the 10-week period

and after the 10-week period

and after the 10-week period results show that the participants

results show that the participants

results show that the participants overall mood disturbances was

overall mood disturbances was

overall mood disturbances was significantly reduced they were actually

significantly reduced they were actually

significantly reduced they were actually less depressed after dancing

in another study Oxford University go

in another study Oxford University go over 200 high school students to dance

over 200 high school students to dance

over 200 high school students to dance continuously for 10 minutes

continuously for 10 minutes

continuously for 10 minutes and it measures their endorphins levels

and it measures their endorphins levels

and it measures their endorphins levels before and after dancing and found that

before and after dancing and found that

before and after dancing and found that the synchronization and exertion during

the synchronization and exertion during

the synchronization and exertion during dancing elevated their pain travels and

dancing elevated their pain travels and

dancing elevated their pain travels and we know the elevated pain threshold

we know the elevated pain threshold

we know the elevated pain threshold signals increased levels of endorphins

signals increased levels of endorphins

signals increased levels of endorphins the happy chemical in our body

but we really need scientific literature

but we really need scientific literature to tell us that dance makes us happy

this my niece her name is Sawyer she’s

this my niece her name is Sawyer she’s 20 months old and I think she can tell

20 months old and I think she can tell

20 months old and I think she can tell exactly the same thing

[Music]

[Music] Oh

now she will grow up in our modern

now she will grow up in our modern society and our social conventions might

society and our social conventions might

society and our social conventions might push her away from this natural form of

push her away from this natural form of

push her away from this natural form of expression she may even say I really

expression she may even say I really

expression she may even say I really like to dance but I just don’t have the

like to dance but I just don’t have the

like to dance but I just don’t have the talent for it I don’t believe you need

talent for it I don’t believe you need

talent for it I don’t believe you need talent dance I believe everyone can

talent dance I believe everyone can

talent dance I believe everyone can dance and don’t just mean we are drunk I

started dancing hip-hop when I was a

started dancing hip-hop when I was a first year engineering student after I

first year engineering student after I

first year engineering student after I graduated I started learning modern

graduated I started learning modern

graduated I started learning modern dance and before London Business School

dance and before London Business School

dance and before London Business School I was training and performing with a

I was training and performing with a

I was training and performing with a contemporary dance company in Singapore

contemporary dance company in Singapore

contemporary dance company in Singapore as I observed my fellow dancers in the

as I observed my fellow dancers in the

as I observed my fellow dancers in the company I realized that talent was not

company I realized that talent was not

company I realized that talent was not the defining reason that enabled them to

the defining reason that enabled them to

the defining reason that enabled them to dance

dance

dance instead they did two things two things

instead they did two things two things

instead they did two things two things they were far more important than any

they were far more important than any

they were far more important than any talent they might have the analyse and

talent they might have the analyse and

talent they might have the analyse and the practice now miss must be wondering

the practice now miss must be wondering

the practice now miss must be wondering right now what has analysis got to do it

right now what has analysis got to do it

right now what has analysis got to do it dance let’s illustrate this when the

dance let’s illustrate this when the

dance let’s illustrate this when the exercise so everyone can remain seated

exercise so everyone can remain seated

exercise so everyone can remain seated right but let’s just sit up away from

right but let’s just sit up away from

right but let’s just sit up away from our backrest

roll your shoulders relax your neck

roll your shoulders relax your neck wriggle your fingers we’re at the front

wriggle your fingers we’re at the front

wriggle your fingers we’re at the front okay peel it back drink good you’re on

okay peel it back drink good you’re on

okay peel it back drink good you’re on top you can see me excellent now I’m

top you can see me excellent now I’m

top you can see me excellent now I’m going to teach you a dance movement they

going to teach you a dance movement they

going to teach you a dance movement they look like this you can do it with the

look like this you can do it with the

look like this you can do it with the other arm up before I teach it to you I

other arm up before I teach it to you I

other arm up before I teach it to you I need to warn you do not poke your

need to warn you do not poke your

need to warn you do not poke your neighbor in the eye on

neighbor in the eye on

neighbor in the eye on they need it for the rest of the

they need it for the rest of the

they need it for the rest of the conference so and don’t worry I’m going

conference so and don’t worry I’m going

conference so and don’t worry I’m going to break down the movement into four

to break down the movement into four

to break down the movement into four different steps and teach them to you

different steps and teach them to you

different steps and teach them to you step by step step one shot your

step by step step one shot your

step by step step one shot your shoulders up great

shoulders up great

shoulders up great shortly I’ll show this easy shot your

shortly I’ll show this easy shot your

shortly I’ll show this easy shot your shoulders excellent

shoulders excellent

shoulders excellent step two now you press your shoulder

step two now you press your shoulder

step two now you press your shoulder down at a same time move your elbow up

down at a same time move your elbow up

down at a same time move your elbow up simple shoulder elbow shoulder elbow

simple shoulder elbow shoulder elbow

simple shoulder elbow shoulder elbow excellent now for the third step you

excellent now for the third step you

excellent now for the third step you want to move your elbow down and move

want to move your elbow down and move

want to move your elbow down and move your wrist up elbow wrist elbow wrist if

your wrist up elbow wrist elbow wrist if

your wrist up elbow wrist elbow wrist if you start on your shoulder again we go

you start on your shoulder again we go

you start on your shoulder again we go shoulder elbow wrist shoulder elbow

shoulder elbow wrist shoulder elbow

shoulder elbow wrist shoulder elbow wrist excellent now for the last step

wrist excellent now for the last step

wrist excellent now for the last step you roll your fingers and relax down you

you roll your fingers and relax down you

you roll your fingers and relax down you roll your fingers and relax now you roll

roll your fingers and relax now you roll

roll your fingers and relax now you roll your fingers and relaxed arm excellent

your fingers and relaxed arm excellent

your fingers and relaxed arm excellent now we have all four let’s combine them

now we have all four let’s combine them

now we have all four let’s combine them together from shoulder elbow wrist

together from shoulder elbow wrist

together from shoulder elbow wrist fingers shoulder elbow wrist fingers now

fingers shoulder elbow wrist fingers now

fingers shoulder elbow wrist fingers now we’ll do it now

we’ll do it now

we’ll do it now imagine there’s a wave a current that

imagine there’s a wave a current that

imagine there’s a wave a current that flows through from your shoulder elbow

flows through from your shoulder elbow

flows through from your shoulder elbow wrist and fingers in one smooth fluid

wrist and fingers in one smooth fluid

wrist and fingers in one smooth fluid motion one smooth wave one continuous

motion one smooth wave one continuous

motion one smooth wave one continuous wave now whenever last time right last

wave now whenever last time right last

wave now whenever last time right last time now this time we’re going to do it

time now this time we’re going to do it

time now this time we’re going to do it four times in a row

four times in a row

four times in a row so four conjugative times and we’re

so four conjugative times and we’re

so four conjugative times and we’re going to count you in

going to count you in

going to count you in ready front back top all right five six

ready front back top all right five six

ready front back top all right five six seven eight one two three four two two

seven eight one two three four two two

seven eight one two three four two two three four three two three four four two

three four three two three four four two

three four three two three four four two three four

three four

three four well done

as you have seen a movement can seem

as you have seen a movement can seem complex but once you break it down it

complex but once you break it down it

complex but once you break it down it becomes simple and dancers do that all

becomes simple and dancers do that all

becomes simple and dancers do that all the time but analysis is not just use to

the time but analysis is not just use to

the time but analysis is not just use to break down movements is used to

break down movements is used to

break down movements is used to understand the process of remembering

understand the process of remembering

understand the process of remembering combinations of movements I still recall

combinations of movements I still recall

combinations of movements I still recall what my first classes with the dance

what my first classes with the dance

what my first classes with the dance company the artistic director was

company the artistic director was

company the artistic director was teaching as a combination he started at

teaching as a combination he started at

teaching as a combination he started at one end of the studio and he move across

one end of the studio and he move across

one end of the studio and he move across the studio Hey and the idea of the

the studio Hey and the idea of the

the studio Hey and the idea of the corner when I first saw the combination

corner when I first saw the combination

corner when I first saw the combination I was completely overwhelmed I I saw him

I was completely overwhelmed I I saw him

I was completely overwhelmed I I saw him there and then I saw him here everything

there and then I saw him here everything

there and then I saw him here everything else in between was a blur I did not

else in between was a blur I did not

else in between was a blur I did not register a single thing I simply thought

register a single thing I simply thought

register a single thing I simply thought my brain was just not set up to

my brain was just not set up to

my brain was just not set up to comprehend this and what still everyone

comprehend this and what still everyone

comprehend this and what still everyone around me starts to move when I have no

around me starts to move when I have no

around me starts to move when I have no idea what the combination was but I told

idea what the combination was but I told

idea what the combination was but I told myself to calm down and I better start

myself to calm down and I better start

myself to calm down and I better start moving because you don’t want to be

moving because you don’t want to be

moving because you don’t want to be standing still in a room for moving

standing still in a room for moving

standing still in a room for moving dancers and I thought okay at least I

dancers and I thought okay at least I

dancers and I thought okay at least I can do the first step so I look around

can do the first step so I look around

can do the first step so I look around see okay first step step your right leg

see okay first step step your right leg

see okay first step step your right leg okay that’s easy and okay step some more

okay that’s easy and okay step some more

okay that’s easy and okay step some more and okay you scoop the air and you do a

and okay you scoop the air and you do a

and okay you scoop the air and you do a turn okay I better stuff on top again

turn okay I better stuff on top again

turn okay I better stuff on top again before I forget we go step step scoop

before I forget we go step step scoop

before I forget we go step step scoop turn huh I remember that I realized that

turn huh I remember that I realized that

turn huh I remember that I realized that in order to remember movements in to use

in order to remember movements in to use

in order to remember movements in to use your body not only your eyes your body

your body not only your eyes your body

your body not only your eyes your body is like a notepad on which you record

is like a notepad on which you record

is like a notepad on which you record all the movements there you have broken

all the movements there you have broken

all the movements there you have broken down previously it is an analytical and

down previously it is an analytical and

down previously it is an analytical and iterative process that varies across

iterative process that varies across

iterative process that varies across individuals you could be someone

individuals you could be someone

individuals you could be someone shrim together 20 movements before I

shrim together 20 movements before I

shrim together 20 movements before I start on top again all you may need to

start on top again all you may need to

start on top again all you may need to suffer in the beginning every time you

suffer in the beginning every time you

suffer in the beginning every time you add two new movements in any case in to

add two new movements in any case in to

add two new movements in any case in to break down that process and figure out

break down that process and figure out

break down that process and figure out the most efficient path to remember a

the most efficient path to remember a

the most efficient path to remember a combination but analysis when you bring

combination but analysis when you bring

combination but analysis when you bring you so far

you so far

you so far invest time to make all those analysis

invest time to make all those analysis

invest time to make all those analysis count I did not undergo formal dance

count I did not undergo formal dance

count I did not undergo formal dance training at a dance school instead I

training at a dance school instead I

training at a dance school instead I study engineering and from our

study engineering and from our

study engineering and from our discussion so far

discussion so far

discussion so far dancing engineering just slightly

dancing engineering just slightly

dancing engineering just slightly different but to make up for those

different but to make up for those

different but to make up for those differences I knew I had to put in extra

differences I knew I had to put in extra

differences I knew I had to put in extra hours so that I can keep up and catch up

hours so that I can keep up and catch up

hours so that I can keep up and catch up to those dancers who are formally

to those dancers who are formally

to those dancers who are formally trained almost every night after work

trained almost every night after work

trained almost every night after work whenever my friends or colleagues ask me

whenever my friends or colleagues ask me

whenever my friends or colleagues ask me why our plans for evening my answer will

why our plans for evening my answer will

why our plans for evening my answer will usually be either dance practice or

usually be either dance practice or

usually be either dance practice or after rehearsal for my next performance

after rehearsal for my next performance

after rehearsal for my next performance in my mind how much I practice is

in my mind how much I practice is

in my mind how much I practice is directly impact how well I do on stage

directly impact how well I do on stage

directly impact how well I do on stage the more you practice the muscles in

the more you practice the muscles in

the more you practice the muscles in your body will reshape allowing you to

your body will reshape allowing you to

your body will reshape allowing you to move with more control the more you

move with more control the more you

move with more control the more you practice your brain will rewire allowing

practice your brain will rewire allowing

practice your brain will rewire allowing you to register movements more quickly

you to register movements more quickly

you to register movements more quickly and the more you practice the connection

and the more you practice the connection

and the more you practice the connection between your mind and your body will be

between your mind and your body will be

between your mind and your body will be enhanced allowing you to move however

enhanced allowing you to move however

enhanced allowing you to move however you want whenever you want to practice

you want whenever you want to practice

you want whenever you want to practice is the mechanism which you will lock in

is the mechanism which you will lock in

is the mechanism which you will lock in all the understanding in size they are

all the understanding in size they are

all the understanding in size they are gathered from all your analysis that you

gathered from all your analysis that you

gathered from all your analysis that you have done previously but let’s step back

above all the analysis and practices we

above all the analysis and practices we need to remember how dance makes us feel

how many of you have watched an

how many of you have watched an impressive online dance video and

impressive online dance video and

impressive online dance video and thought yourself that’s amazing I want

thought yourself that’s amazing I want

thought yourself that’s amazing I want to do that someday

dance resonates with us a fundamental

dance resonates with us a fundamental level

level

level do not let mainstream dance genres or

do not let mainstream dance genres or

do not let mainstream dance genres or social conventions distract you from the

social conventions distract you from the

social conventions distract you from the fact that you like to dance of course

fact that you like to dance of course

fact that you like to dance of course I’m not saying that by simply analyzing

I’m not saying that by simply analyzing

I’m not saying that by simply analyzing and practicing you’ll be able to move

and practicing you’ll be able to move

and practicing you’ll be able to move like Michael Jackson or dance like a

like Michael Jackson or dance like a

like Michael Jackson or dance like a ballerina

ballerina

ballerina but you will be able to appreciate the

but you will be able to appreciate the

but you will be able to appreciate the joy of dancing the joy that many of you

joy of dancing the joy that many of you

joy of dancing the joy that many of you knew but may have forgotten remember

knew but may have forgotten remember

knew but may have forgotten remember that joy remember that you can dance

that joy remember that you can dance

that joy remember that you can dance thank you