Ethel Deidre is a dancer-choreographer from Sabah, Malaysia, currently based in Kuala Lumpur. She holds a Diploma in Dance and a Bachelor of Dance with Honours (Choreography) from the National Academy of Arts, Culture, and Heritage (ASWARA). Ethel's passion for movement began with her immersion in Hip Hop, which then paved the way for her exploration of traditional and classical Malaysian dance as well as contemporary dance. She has worked with various local and international choreographers on dance productions across Malaysia and has received award such as the Artistic Director’s Award for Short + Sweet Dance Malaysia and selections for the Hong Kong SWEAT International Dance Festival and the Mobile Dance Film Festival. Inspired by the fluidity, ripples, bounce, buoyancy, and sense of float found in Borneo dance gestures, Ethel incorporates these qualities into her movement style, blending them with energetic rhythms. Her works often experiment with blending traditional and modern elements while also challenging the boundaries of traditional forms and ideas through her creative process. It is an ongoing personal research for her to look for ways to reinterpret traditional elements in her artistry. She enjoys experimenting with materials, visuals, and other elements, often using them as symbols to deepen the meaning of her work. Lately, she has been delving into more introspective themes, drawing from personal experiences to shape her artistic direction.



Artistic Statement
I am fascinated by the act of play, deconstruction, and exploration, using the body as a versatile medium to embody whatever form it can take. The body serves as the primary instrument in my choreography, driving me to create from its innate potential. I envision my works as holistic experiences, guided by strong, evocative visuals that transport the audience beyond mere stage display into immersive spaces of sensation. My creative process often involves spontaneous sketches and paintings, which inspire the visuals and images I craft within my pieces. With a foundation in diverse dance styles —traditional, hip hop, and contemporary— I blend these vocabularies into a unique movement language that reflects my artistic voice. I aim to create works that are abstract enough to leave room for interpretation, yet anchored in personal and cultural narratives. The tension between tradition and modernity is a constant thread in my practice, as I navigate how to honor heritage while also pushing its boundaries. As a Sabahan born artist, I am deeply influenced by fluidity, ripples, bounce, buoyancy, and sense of float found in Borneo dance gestures through my movement vocabulary. I weave together elements of tradition and then deconstruct them, challenging how far they can evolve within a piece. My creations often take on a chaotic form, blending concepts from culture, spirituality, objects, text, and space. By doing so, I strive to create a dynamic interplay of mediums that push the boundaries of what dance and performance can convey. I also enjoy questioning gender roles—femininity and masculinity often become integral parts of my creative process, which I explore through play, confrontation, and reflection.


