Anthony King in depth Interview! Learning, dance and creativity

Anthony King sat down with mjjforum.com for an extensive interview on learning to dance, Michael jackson, Philosophy and much much more…

What was the main reason that made you want to teach Michael Jackson’s style of dance and do you consider it to be an art form such as Ballet, Tap, Or Jazz?

Michael Jackson is a great dancer…a true performer! This said, I do not consider Michael Jackson’s style of dance anything different from Ballet, Tap, Contemporary or Jazz or whatever…and I think that the reason is pretty obvious. Michael Jackson’s dance style and choreography incorporates all of the above! So when we talk about “style” we are talking about the way in which he executes the choreography or step. This is what differentiates him from the rest, not the actual “style” of choreography, necessarily (note: Take a look at his dancers performing the same choreography as him…very different to Michael’s delivery). It has been said that “there is nothing new under the sun” and this is true. What Michael does so well is apply his own style in his execution and in the fact that he moulds and reconciles lots of seemingly unrelated styles in an amazingly exciting and entertaining way, bringing it to the masses! Truly amazing! Like the moonwalk! Think about it, what is the moonwalk composed of exactly? A fusion of Demi- Pointe and a raw slide from the street, perhaps? Michael Jackson fuses every style out there in his short movies! You might have a “jazz dancer” who watches Michael dance in “The way you make me feel” or “Beat it” and say to themselves “I could never do that”, but in actual fact, every step from those two particular videos was derived directly from the Jazz/Ballet Broadway musical “West Side Story”. Yes…Every choreographed step! Now that same dancer would have no difficulty at all with the steps from West Side Story from a “jazz perspective” or mindset. Now that is not logical at all! So, the problem arises, not from the reality of the situation and the dancer’s actual ability, but from the dancer’s mind and from the application of labels like “style” etc…simply put Michael’s choreography is a combination of many styles executed in a unique way, and I like that!

How did the idea of the book come about?

I felt that the time was right. It’s so hard when teaching and interacting with people because sometimes you just don’t have the time to go into detail. So, I thought that the time was right to put it in a book, so that people can take it away and think about themselves, ability, goals and dreams for themselves…as it’s always a case of YOU are the number one expert in the subject of YOU. You don’t need a teacher or an expert to enlighten you. It takes a long time to go into specific reasons and remedy for different situations, and the usual 5 minute chat, quick sound bite or general tips isn’t the best way to inspire real change. It’s a lot easier to make a case with a book and encourage the reader to inspire change and think for themselves.

Does music play a major key in the appeal of a dance? Ex: “Can you fully express yourself in the dance if you don’t like the song?

This is a great question! Yes, music and dance have an obvious symbiotic relationship but I think it’s important to be specific. We are actually talking about the relationship between music and FORM. There is a clear analogy between form, sound and interpretation of what is aesthetically pleasing and the overwhelming effect of sound on the senses and our emotional state. Goethe declared that “architecture is crystallized music”. The Greeks also explored the relationship in depth and I am in agreement…physical form (let’s say movement, dance, architecture or anything “physical” in the world) are only physical manifestations of psychological expression. A sound is an aural expression. In plain English…we’re talking about harmony. If it’s harmonious it will look great and sound great. If it’s not it won’t. There are a number of factors involved, which we don’t have the time to go into right now…everyday factors that apply to every part of your life….you’d be shocked! I mean, a great dancer is harmonious dancer. A happy person is a balanced harmonious person. A strong building is a balanced building. A great song is a harmonious song….a rubbish song is exactly the opposite….out of key. They are all linked. “Key”, “Chords”, “Tone”, “form”, “Vibration”, “Harmony” are all things that you would normally associate with music and song. The true secret is that they are that and a lot more…but they have a profound effect on physical expression (i.e. dance!). This is nothing new; in fact we just need to take a look at the allegory of the walls of Jericho in the theological reference works, to recognize the significance of vibration, keynote (or music and sound) on the physical (in this particular example, the walls came physically crashing down….a very interesting allegory) By the way, I like the way you phrased the question “major key” I would also say that it all depends on the individual and if they feel comfortable with the music…as it is they who are dancing and expressing themselves. I think that if you don’t like a song, then that fact alone might be a great stimulus to dance and express yourself honestly, in itself! So liking or disliking anything has no bearing on our ability to express ourselves because feelings, thoughts, emotions etc…are temporary. In the same way, just because you think you can’t dance does not been that you can’t dance.

What are your inspirations? What inspires your individual dance projects? How to you personally create sequences and is it hard?

I am inspired by lots of things and some people. Musically it would be people like Michael Jackson, Jean Michel Jarre, various classical composers and Pink Floyd. When it comes to choreography then it’s a combination of taking a look at the person and trying to understand them and where they want to go. With that information the creating and the dancing can commence. Sometimes dancing is hard on the body, but the conceiving process is pretty easy and a lot of fun. The hard part, for some can sometimes be the perfecting process of repetition and practice. Although sometimes hard, this is the most important bit and really pays off on stage. I can be inspired by anything, everything or nothing though, it depends on the specific situation or with whom I am working.

You have worked with a number of stars what is it about the dance that drawls you back to Michael Jackson’s style?

Again, I think that Michael Jackson is an amazing performer because he executes his steps so precisely and also he is expresses himself honestly on stage…so in a sense….we should all, as performers, strive to recreate that “style” in our own unique way. Specifically though; form, speed and dynamics. I go into a lot more detail about this in the book. We can all learn a lot by watching Michael Jackson perform.

What was the “It” moment that made you think “I want to be a choreographer”

This is interesting. There was never a moment in time, because how can you be anything other than what you are anyway? It’s more like a gradual realization that you are doing what you want to do more and more frequently and doing what you don’t want to do, less so. There are very few “it” moments in life. The only “it” moment is now. Which is great, when you think about it! Generally, I do not differentiate between who I am and what I do, so I just do what I feel like doing as much as I can. It’s a case of; if you just be yourself and enjoy what you do, then it’ll work and you’ll be happy…the alternative isn’t logical or honest anyway. Consequently, “Thinking” doesn’t come into it. Knowing does…know what you want to do, then do it or even better BE it! That’s my philosophy, which works for me.

You are the founder and teacher of the “Michael Jackson Style Dance Class at the Pineapple Dance Studios“, how is that going for you?

I always have so much fun! We have the best class in the world without doubt! The amount of different types of people is amazing. We have a lot of fun and I love to do it. People are very surprised when they come because they don’t know what to expect…they soon realize that it is indeed a dance class where you need to come prepared to work hard and sweat! I have a profound respect for my art and for Michael Jackson. One person came dressed like Michael Jackson once, thinking that it was a Michael Jackson convention or something! The only person that I’d except into the studio dressed as Michael Jackson is the man himself! You can learn so much from great artists and people like Michael Jackson. I focus on the dance, and I think that is the key. I wish I could do it more, but it’s a small part of what I do and personally have a lot of fun doing it. Michaels music is great to dance to!

Is it difficult for the average person to understand and pick up the technical aspects of the dance?

Not at all! It’s really quite simply when you think about it. If you want to know something: learn to do it! It might take time, training, effort and hard work…but who cares! So the hard part is overcoming fear, motivation, effort…psychological issues, hardly ever physiological issues! We all have the ability.

Is it possible to simply look at someone and know they are the right mind set and will be a great dancer or does it take time to develop with most people?

In my opinion, you can usually tell and it is very possible to look at somebody for a few seconds and gage their ability, seriousness, maturity and mindset. Ability, usually from their walk, attitude and physicality, for example, but mindset and potential from the words they speak, or more importantly, lack of them. The student or dancers with the most potential are the ones who listen…its pretty simple! In fact the quickest learners are usually the people who have the least faith in there own ability because they feel that they have nothing to lose, so they put the extra effort and have that willingness to learn…that eagerness. In fact it is that mindset that get’s you there quicker! It’s about the psychology of the person as well as intellectual integrity. Somebody who thinks that they have ability but doesn’t is incapable of learning anyway and already has everything that they need. Somebody that thinks that they don’t have ability can only improve, and usually with hard work and dedication, very quickly! So you are right to point out mindset, as it is very very important. Especially in the learning process, this of course, is a psychological thing before it manifests physically in any kind of form.

What is advice you would give to young people who want to make a career out of dance? What are the challenges, and on what should they focus?

I would say to them; study the greats like Michael Jackson and Fred Astaire. Get as much performing experience as you can. Get a strong grasp of Ballet and Jazz and increase your dance vocabulary with as many unique styles as you can. Take care of your physical body and try and look good. Smile a lot! Forget the idea of making money out of it for a long time…if you are thinking about money when you are a young person instead of about learning your craft, then you should go and study accountancy or something in the financial sector….but if you’re willing to work hard, for little money and for the love of your art then go for it! And you’ll be surprised at where you can go. Most importantly…read. Read, read, read…read everything and then question the world and the people around you and then go and put all of that passion into your art, and change the world! Focus on YOU and then other people will too. Finally, disregard all of the above if you want! Feel free to create your own path and make your own way and do what you feel is right….you can’t go wrong!

Your book is divided into 3 parts, psychological, fitness and beauty in movement, out of the 3 sections which do you feel is your strongest and which one do you think is the hardest for developing dancers to achieve?

Again, I personally do not differentiate between them at all! They are of equal importance to me, which is why I included them all. In fact I would be hard pressed to separate them as they are so interlinked and in my interpretation are one and the same thing. If I had to, I would say “psychological” is the most important aspect, because dance and movement are just physical manifestations of who you are. If you do not understand who you are or your own intentions, how on earth can you convey them successfully to an audience in a believable way? The physical bit always comes after this…in fact the physical bit is the easiest bit, because anybody physiologically able with training and hard work can learn that. Generally, dancers or people in general seem to have more difficulty developing their psychological awareness and ability over anything else. This isn’t surprising! Especially when you look at the state of society and the way in which we are all trained/indoctrinated in the system! That’s a long one so I’ll leave that one till next time! It’s more than an issue of artistic expression though…but the way out, for the people that are searching, is artistic expression and intellectual integrity, in my opinion.

What your book offers looks more to be a way of life than just a simple instruction manual. Is your own life built around the art?

I think that I might have answered this question already, but yes, I express myself in many ways, as honestly as I can at all times. That might be dancing, thinking, reading, walking, drinking tea, writing books, creating a DVD or whatever. A true artist cannot differentiate between who they are and what they do…I strongly believe this. So there is no 9 – 5 job, or “work mode” or “holidays”….this is not an artists life…so if you want to express yourself artistically to your highest potential, just know that there are real sacrifices, real pain, possible loneliness and alienation but real rewards and fulfillment to! It is definitely a way of life and not for the majority of people. It helps if you’re a little nuts as well!

Have you ever spent time with Michael Jackson? If yes, When you spent time with Michael, did you two ever talk about your diet and fitness regimes? Did he give you any advice in that regard? Or what makes MJ’s creative dance process stand out from other dancers/choreographers?

I have never choreographed for Michael Jackson so I have never been in a situation where I have been asked for my advice or professional opinion, in relation to him personally. I have met him and it was a very quick thing, so there wasn’t time to talk about a lot! But I’m sure we’d have a lot to talk about…probably about Philosophy and Theology and how it relates to artistic expression…something that most people find boring, or something that I’m interested in like that! I know a little bit more about the creative process because some of my good friends have choreographed and danced for him. I would say that he is just who he is on stage and just let’s the energy flow though him…he doesn’t need direction and his energy, charisma and talent is recognized as magical, universally.

You’ve had some exciting achievements, what would you like to achieve next? What has been your greatest project so far?

Wow, that’s hard! I would have to say that my greatest project to date was actually pretty recently working with Pink Floyd and Nick Mason. It’s an honor to work so closely with people that I respect so much, and even more of an honor to be invited around the house, play his drums and work on some unique choreography for such a nice person! You’d be surprised, the bigger the star the more relaxed they are and more comfortable they are to let you do what you do. It’s fun to work with legends and to talk about, for example, how Michael has been influenced (staging, lighting, pyrotechnics etc…) by Pink Floyd, and how it would be great to take some inspiration in return from Michael…and then have the chance and opportunity to give it a try! We had a laugh about this because he had just met Michael a few weeks earlier and said that he would have brought it up! (the “borrowing” of ideas) …I’ll give you guy’s a clue…go and have a look at the end of Black or White in the History tour, with the Search lights, sirens and the explosions with the falling speaker boxes….and then go and watch Pink Floyd’s “The Wall”….anyway a lot of fun! Long live them all! I was very excited about being featured as breaking news on Michael’s website too though! That was a while ago, but still a lot of fun. I try and make all of my projects fun to be honest, no matter who they’re with. I’m working on choreography for a dance act, 2 gorgeous twins and a DJ right…I’m having a lot of fun doing that! I’m working on the audio disc version of my book right now in the studio…that’s a unique challenge and we are having so much fun doing that too! Right now though, the main focus is my new DVD “Thriller Dance workout” which we have totally redesigned and is just about ready to be shipped…I am very excited about that too…so it’s all exciting!

How do you go about setting your goals?

My opinion about goal setting and achievement is in the book. My personal achievement technique is simply based on action rather than a thought process or philosophy…in the words of Nike, “Just do it”. If I have a goal, it will be done, and that is the end of the matter! At the end of the day, it’s about making a conscious decision to do something. Don’t TRY, don’t think, don’t attempt, just make a plan, work hard to implement it and sooner or later with intellectual integrity, honesty and a little bit of patience you can achieve your goal. Some people might find that writing goals down can clarify the situation and help achieve your goals. My perspective is clear…if it encourages you to act, then great! If it encourages you to contemplate for too long, it’s probably an excuse and you should probably just give it a try anyway!

Where do you want to be 5 years from now?

I just want to be happy. So, as happy as I can be! I haven’t got a clue where I’ll be in 5 days so I’ll just have to wait and see…maybe we’ll speak again then!

Special thanks to mjjforum.