Career
In order to support herself while studying at the University of Malaya in the 1960s, Lee Lee Lan taught ballet on a part time basis and immersed herself in the theatre scene. Her first choreographic works were seen in three musicals produced by the university - "West Side Story", "Flower Drum Song" & "Show Boat".
“In those days, it was not easy to get into the university, so when I graduated, many people asked when I would start on a “proper” job. My answer was simple: teaching ballet was a proper job,” she quoted in an interview with The Star in June, 2009
In 1967, Lee Lee Lan founded the Federal Academy of Ballet, which started in a small house in Petaling Jaya. The ballet school allowed many dancers, such as Joseph|Victor Gonzales, to achieve successful dance careers or dance schools in Malaysia and overseas.
“I have taught people from all walks of life - from taxi drivers to koay teow sellers, and some of them have opened their own ballet schools,” Lee quoted in an interview with The Star in June, 2009, who always encouraged boys to pick up ballet.
Lee's knowledged of contemporary trends of the day propelled her in adding a more progressive dances on Malaysian television, including Antara Empat Kaum series which encouraged and supported cultural diveristy. Her use of contemporary trends helped her gain exposure and opportunities to dance for Merdeka festivals, and TV variety shows like Serbanika and Anekatari.
In the early 1970s, Lee Lee Lan steadily grew and turned the Federal Academy of Ballet into an important space and icon in Malaysia and arts and cultural agencies turned to her expertise and guidance when it came to contemporary dance, especially after her shows such as Wind and See Not, Hear Not, Speak Not - which won the prize at the Saitama Choereographic competition in Tokyo in 1984 with the Kuala Lumpur Dance Theatre. Under the school, Lee Lee Lan also offerred part time and full time teacher training courses leading to a Diploma of the Federal Academy of Ballet and Certificates of the Royal Academy of Dancing and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, London. Through these programs offerred by her school, Lee Lee Lan's students were able to study at distinguished foreign dance schools such as the Royal Ballet School, and some won well-earned scholarships from Bush Davies, Central School of Ballet, Urdang Academy and the London Studio Centre.
As her career progressed, Lee Lee Lan worked under Irish-British choreographer Dame Ninnette De Valois ( founder of the Royal Ballet ) in London, where she danced in Checkmate. After a period at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, Lee Lee Lan was inspired to embark in even more ambitious choreography which lead to a three-act ballet, Soraya, that first premiered in 1981. Soraya was performed again in 1982 for the King, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
As part of the initiative of the Cultural, Arts and Tourism Ministry to develop a national dance form which all races can identify with, the programme , Bengkel Koreografi, brought together four leading choreographers from different dance disciplines in Malaysia, one of them was Lee Lee Lan. Lee Lee Lan was recognised as one of the most experienced ballet and modern dance choreographers in Malaysia and was invited to represent Western dance. As a result of the programme and workshops, Lee Lee Lan choreographed and contributed a 15 minute dance- drama Kota Baru 1941 which depicts kampung life in Kelantan and the effects of Japanese invasion.
As her career progressed, Lee Lee Lan worked under Irish-British choreographer Dame Ninnette De Valois ( founder of the Royal Ballet ) in London, where she danced in Checkmate. After a period at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York, Lee Lee Lan was inspired to embark in even more ambitious choreography which lead to a three-act ballet, Soraya, that first premiered in 1981. Soraya was performed again in 1982 for the King, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
As part of the initiative of the Cultural, Arts and Tourism Ministry to develop a national dance form which all races can identify with, the programme , Bengkel Koreografi, brought together four leading choreographers from different dance disciplines in Malaysia, one of them was Lee Lee Lan. Lee Lee Lan was recognised as one of the most experienced ballet and modern dance choreographers in Malaysia and was invited to represent Western dance. As a result of the programme and workshops, Lee Lee Lan choreographed and contributed a 15 minute dance- drama Kota Baru 1941 which depicts kampung life in Kelantan and the effects of Japanese invasion.
"I don't think the movements combine all the racial elements - that's too ambitious at this stage But other cultural elements have crept in; the music, composed by Fauzi Majid is especially Malay sounding. Of course many more workshops will be needed before we can actually create a dance form that is recognisably Malaysian. But this performance marks the successful beginning of a very important experiment." she quoted in The Star in December, 1990
In 1999, Lee Lee Lan choreographed Dance Classique, one of the major productions to launch at the National Arts venue, Istana Budaya, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In 2017, during the ISTD awards, Lee Lee Lan presented some awards named in her honour. The awards was to honour student's achievements in advocating ISTD and raising the profile of Modern, Tap and Classical Ballet across Malaysia
In 2017, during the ISTD awards, Lee Lee Lan presented some awards named in her honour. The awards was to honour student's achievements in advocating ISTD and raising the profile of Modern, Tap and Classical Ballet across Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur Dance Theatre
In 1984, Lee Lee Lan together with Tan Sri Lim Kok Wing, formed the Kuala Lumpur Dance Theatre (KLDT), Malaysia's first professional ballet company. KLDT was a unique blend of Ballet, Modern and traditional Malay dance, which travelled across the world - Italy, China, Mongolia, Costa Rica, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Phillippines, England and America, and of course Malaysia.
Some of KLDT's performances and debuts:
1984: First performance entitled High Energy.
1984: the KLDT performance of Wind and See Not, Hear Not, Speak Not, which won the Saitama Choreographic competition.
1989: the KLDT performed for the Congress of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London.
1990: the KLDT performed at the Austrian Weiner Opernball in Kuala Lumpur which was attended by the Yang di- Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Bainun.
1991: the KLDT performed in the International Festival of Dance in Manila.
1993: the KLDT debut at Macau Dance Festival, where they took part in the Etnographic Parade whereby all foreign and local groups paraded in their national and traditional costumes.
2000: the KLDT performed in the 55th Almond Flower Festival and the 45th International Folk Festival in Sicily, Italy.
2000: the KLDT performed in the Miao Li International Leisure Culture Festival in Taiwan.
Some of KLDT's performances and debuts:
1984: First performance entitled High Energy.
1984: the KLDT performance of Wind and See Not, Hear Not, Speak Not, which won the Saitama Choreographic competition.
1989: the KLDT performed for the Congress of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London.
1990: the KLDT performed at the Austrian Weiner Opernball in Kuala Lumpur which was attended by the Yang di- Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Bainun.
1991: the KLDT performed in the International Festival of Dance in Manila.
1993: the KLDT debut at Macau Dance Festival, where they took part in the Etnographic Parade whereby all foreign and local groups paraded in their national and traditional costumes.
2000: the KLDT performed in the 55th Almond Flower Festival and the 45th International Folk Festival in Sicily, Italy.
2000: the KLDT performed in the Miao Li International Leisure Culture Festival in Taiwan.
The Dance Society of Malaysia
On the 8th of September 1985, Lee invited dance teachers and individuals interested in dance to discuss the idea and possibility of creating Malaysia's first dance society.
By December 1986, a year later, the Dance Society of Malaysia was registered and the Pro-Tem Committee became the first official Committee under its first President and Founder Lee Lee Lan.
1988: The YAM Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Bte Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar was invited as Patron.
1988 - 1991: The Dance Society of Malaysia organised 4 junior dance competitions. After a lapse, the competition was revived and continued from 1998 - 2006, and from 2008 - present.
Since 1991: The Dance Society of Malaysia has organised many workshops by local and international dance teachers. They have also worked in collaboration with Danceworks Production to present International Ballet Gala 2012 and La Bayadere 2015.
By December 1986, a year later, the Dance Society of Malaysia was registered and the Pro-Tem Committee became the first official Committee under its first President and Founder Lee Lee Lan.
1988: The YAM Tunku Dara Tunku Tan Sri Naquiah Bte Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar was invited as Patron.
1988 - 1991: The Dance Society of Malaysia organised 4 junior dance competitions. After a lapse, the competition was revived and continued from 1998 - 2006, and from 2008 - present.
Since 1991: The Dance Society of Malaysia has organised many workshops by local and international dance teachers. They have also worked in collaboration with Danceworks Production to present International Ballet Gala 2012 and La Bayadere 2015.
Awards of Lee Lee Lan
1984 - Prize from the Saitama Choreographic Competition (Tokyo) for See Not, Hear Not, Speak Not
1992 - Avon Woman of Distinction Award for her leadership and entrepreneurship
1992 - ISTD International Awards
2008 - BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award
1992 - Avon Woman of Distinction Award for her leadership and entrepreneurship
1992 - ISTD International Awards
2008 - BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award