LIFE EN POINTE

Magnetic, seamless, fluid - these are just some of the words to describe the power of modern contemporary dancer Kenny Shim's movements. Beyond the blinding lights and smoke effects, we get to know how he landed on the big stage, and most importantly, the state of the arts.

- TENGKU ZAI

It takes courage to make that first step towards dancing as a young boy. In the time I’ve spent with Kenny Shim for this cover story, and as a dancer myself, I know that it takes unbridled bravery to continue being a true artist. Choreography takes putting your rawest and innermost self out there on display. All while balancing on your toes.

My first time meeting Kenny was at our Prestige KL Ball last November, where I’d hastily thanked him for choreographing the performances of our biggest event of the year. Fast forward to three months later and we’re doing a studio shoot in the dead of night. There’s a smoke machine, a full crew of nearly 20 people, racks and racks of clothes, and then there’s Kenny who bends and moulds to our stylist WeeChee’s every ask. This time, I thank him for being such a great sport.

ACT I: IT TAKES A VILLAGE 

“I was so sore after that night! I haven’t felt that kind of sore in a really long time,” he exclaims as we sit down together. Post-shoot, I catch up with Kenny for what I think will be a quick chat that turns into an hour-long out-pouring of feeling and nostalgia between two creatives. Having once trained in similar genres of dance, it’s easy for us to connect.

“I’d always had a passion for ballet, but at the age of 11, for a boy to say they want to do ballet takes a lot of courage. And I didn’t have the courage to say, ‘Mom, I really want to do ballet’. But I knew I loved dancing, so I took whatever came my way. But from that age, I knew; ballet has always been something that I admired and really appreciated. So, I started ballet even later at 16.”