很多人誤會了我可能因為票房慘淡而決定停演 ACACIA的演出。或許，我應該分享為什麼我會訂下這些想法：
- 6月18號（星期日）晚上10點的票房數量來決定演出是否停演的決定。
- 每場最低票房目標是80位觀眾，而我們有兩場演出：24號星期六晚上七點半及25號星期天下午两點半。哪一場不達標就取消演出。
- 若兩場演出都不成行，那我就得將沙巴旅遊局的贊助退回，並發布正式消息來平實的將我們的藝術處境擺在檯面討論。讓大家能夠好好的看待這件事，並決定這地方是否有這塊藝術的需要。
A lot of people think that it will be a sad thing for me to cancel the ACACIA dance performance which happens at 24-25th June 2017 due to poor support from the community. However, as the director of Synergy Dance Theatre, I have made the decision to do as such:
1. I will decide whether the ACACIA performance will proceed or not based on the ticket sales until 10pm 18th June Sunday night.
2. The minimum number of audience is 80 for each performance. The performance that cannot sell till the minimum number, will be canceled.
3. If both performance doesn’t make it at the end, I need to return the sponsorship back to Sabah Tourism Board due to the cancelation. It will be a good condition to face honestly towards art scene in Kota Kinabalu.
曾經有舞蹈圈的朋友和我分享說：那些不懂得舞蹈是很理性的人根本就不懂舞蹈。這句話一直都盤繞在腦海至今。因為職業關係，我都是很理性的在處理事情。創作的感性，是個溫泉。這趟ACACIA的事讓我看見：
My friend used to share with me that my dance career is something very rational. Those who think that dance is only emotional doesn’t understand dance. This idea still strikes my thought until today. I have observed some of the scenario happening through this ACACIA ticket selling process:
1. 它重要，但是它不需要。
我們當然希望演出不只能夠爆滿，還獲得許多的迴響。但是這些事似乎只能夠發生在那種哈韓的糖衣下。SDT是還在成長沒錯，但是十二年不是白過的， 我們都一直努力提升自己、提升演出素質。對我們，這世界很重要。基本上，演出後的一個星期，我們就開始努力上課，排練下一檔的演出。 ACACIA 就是從2016年6月24號開始準備作品、籌劃第四屆的青年編舞計畫等等活動。再怎麼努力都好，那是我們的本分。一整年下來，亞庇這個地方只有不到50個人買票支持，這代表說這地方不需要。我沒有意願助長那些免費贈票來個一兩千人來看演出以製造大排場的手段，因為我有藝術藍圖要實現。所以，希望用藝術來提升生活素質的人對我們來說就格外重要。甚至有些人說不大看得懂演出，但是一直很欣賞我們的努力而走進劇場，然後慢慢就看懂了。我沒辦法和我的舞者分享說：沒關係，你們努力了366天，我們還有50位觀眾看見我們的努力。” 這有問題。
It is something important, but not necessary.
We do hope that ACACIA will go viral and every ticket will be sold out and receive great feedback from everyone. However, this condition seems like it only happens to K-pop culture. SDT is still working very hard after twelve years of practicality in dance art. We always prepare our next year performance right after the week of the last performance. Hence, ACACIA had started at 24th June 2016 by my choreography, class, and the young Choreographer Project etc. After one year of preparation, we only have 50 tickets sold. This is a big problem and it seems like this place do not need this kind of art. I do not wish to support the culture of giving free tickets and make thousands of people to come and watch the performance and make it look like a successful event. This is because i have a vision for art development in the place where i stay. One of the audience had taken a few years to understand what we are doing and now he just enjoys theatre performances. It is hard for me to tell my dancers : “Dont worry. After working hard for 366 days, you still have 50 audiences coming to support.” Which is a problem.
2. 我愛跳舞，但我不想家人來看
舞蹈教育一直是我的教室的方向。Synergy Dance Theatre （簡稱SDT）從創團2004年到今天，舞者是我自己物色有潛能及態度良好的舞者邀請入團。舞者受的是免費舞蹈教育，演出沒有讓他們還演出費及服裝費。對於這些人，他們是我落實我理想中舞蹈教育的種子，而我也是裡面的種子之一。這地方孕育出了赴國外深造舞蹈專業的幾位舞者，到台灣、新加坡、韓國、美國及英國都有。看著舞者對我說：“我賣出了一張票。” 然後和我說著許許多多成立的理由：太貴、朋友爸媽不給等等。還有那些舞者只買票給男女朋友，連家人圈子都不分享的，因為擔心言論及覺得不好，我就開始發現一件事：舞蹈對你重要，你要演出，但是你不要家人來看及支持。這是多麼荒謬的情況。
I love dancing but I do not wish that my family come and support.
SDT recruits dancers from different schools based on their talent and attitude. After they join the dance company, they need not pay any money, and the company even pays for all their costume fees during a production. This is a free dance education which had happened for twelve years since 2004. I have a vision of making all these dancers a better person, which includes myself. SDT has trained dancers who had gone abroad to study dance in professional settings at Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, US and UK. When my dancer told me that I have sold one ticket, she shared with me about reasons that is true: too expensive, parents of my friend didn’t allow him to go etc, and also they had only sold one ticket to their boyfriend or girlfriend BUT not family members. This made me realise that if dancing is important to you, you would want to perform but you wouldn’t wish to see your family to come to support because of embarrassment. It is kind of a silly situation here.
3. 我愛跳舞，但我不看別人的演出
在亞庇的舞蹈教育機構這麼多，栽培出來跳舞的孩子那麼多。單靠這些愛跳舞的人來看演出，基本上票房就已經有保障了。但是為什麼沒有？因為這些孩子都沒有經 濟能力(但是可以在咖啡館消費），家長一句：“這麼貴，不要浪費錢”他們基本上就沒有說話的權利。因為這一代父母覺得文憑比較重要，藝術涵養及素質可擺放 一邊。當然我也碰過舞者和我問許多有關演出的細節，說她必須向家長交待到清清楚楚，她才能夠去看演出。我向崇正舞蹈團的孩子們說：“你們喜歡跳舞，但是不 看表演，又希望你們在表演的時候別人來看你。這邏輯我覺得不對。” “覺得太貴。其實你只需要少喝幾杯奶茶就可以了。” 這件事，讓我看見舞蹈教育這一塊的空缺。
There are many dance studios in KK and even more dancers. If some of the dancers come to support the performance, there would be no problem at all with the production fee. But why is that not the case? One of the reason why is because the children has no financial ability (but they still can spend money at cafe), the parent would say ,” Too expensive, don’t waste the money.” I have shared with the dancers in Tshung Tsin Dance Troupe, “ You like to dance, but you do not want to watch performance, and when you wish your friend will come to watch your performance when you perform, u expect her to come. Doesn’t this sound funny?” “ If you feel it is too expensive with RM35, do drink less milk tea instead .” This made me curious about the education today.
4. 我的孩子沒有表演
是的，就算你的孩子有表演，你也只是來看他的演出，然後就離開。不信的話，看看歌唱比賽、繪圖比賽的辦活動手段就知道。就是因為大部分家長本身沒有提升的意願，孩子也看在眼裡，學在心裡。身教就是這麼回事。前幾天和我芭蕾學生的家長聊孩子的上課情況，我很直接的謝謝她等待孩子的開花時間，而不是用文憑來衡量教育。這孩子是幸福的。別以為把孩子送進名校就一切平順。教育是環境激盪，學校風氣、家庭素養管教、身邊群眾特性都個別養成我們今天的樣子。我是老師，我就做好我自己舞蹈藝術工作者的本分，教育孩子放眼觀世界、看自己，好好思考。甚至，我都叫孩子要學會懷疑我的話。唯有思考透徹，才是你的想法。
My children did not perform in this performance.
Yes. even you have children performing, you should come just to watch your child only and not the performance. If you don’t believe it, just have a look at the singing competition and drawing competition that happens in KK. Most of the parent have no vision of improving themself in art appreciation. whatever you project out to your child will be learned by your child in the future too. I have shared this with one of the parent in Ballet class. I do compliment her by saying that “Thank you for waiting the right time for her child to “bloom” in the dance art but please do not think that sending your child to the best school will make him a better person.” Education is the collaboration between school environment, family education and the environment that your child is living in. As a dance artist, I teach my dancers to question, even it is something that I personally share with them.
5. 劇場資源的浪費
進劇場不是演出前一個小時進去準備就好，裏頭包含技術協調、彩排整頓。使用的資源如水電、燈光音響器材耗損、人力資源，若單靠少量的觀眾是沒有辦法負荷的。“藝術本來就不賺錢的。”
錯！ 藝術是沒被關心，它對你可能不重要。
試想想看，這個我們引以為傲的首個半官方的亞庇黑箱劇場在猛虧錢的情況之下它可以經營多久？想也知道，不用太久就會是那句：“亞庇Suria以前有個 Black Box 的…….”
Every performance has the need to bump in few days before the exact performance day, this is due to the technical set up, rehearsal etc. By having a very little support from ticket selling, it will definitely be not enough to cover the expenses of theatre e.g. electricity, sound and light equipment maintenance fee in long run, which includes man power payment etc. Some may say,” Art cannot earn money.”
No. Art do earn money. It is just that you do not care, or it is not important to you.
Let’s think about it, when we finally have a Black Box in Kota Kinabalu which runs based on poor support from society, how long do you think it can sustain? It wont take long before you may say to your friend, “ We used to have a Black Box at Suria Sabah….”
看了這麼多，我們不可以只是抱怨，因為這一點都不會改變情況。要維護這個我們想要活的地方，就得自己努力經營：若你問我，我能夠怎麼做。我的建議是：
Thank you for reading until this stage. I do need to point out that explaining the problem will not help the or change the condition too. If you would ask me how can we could help to change the situation, my suggestion will be:
- 獨立起來維護自己的藝術涵養圈子
有演出或你有興趣的活動，自行主動邀約志同道合的人來參與。你的參與，就是最好的助長風氣。看看本地的咖啡館風氣就知道。別期盼公家單位或別人，從自己著手最務實。把消息主動地傳給能夠觸及的單位或團體。大部分時候，他們不是不知道，使他們知道了也不在意。
Be independent to secure the art environment that you think is important for you.
If there is any performance that catch your interest or you feel it is good, do bring along your friends to come and support. The participation is always the best way to sustain it. Just look at the cafe culture in KK then you will understand what I mean. Do not wait for the government sector to help. Share the news out with your group and friends. Most of the time, they probably know about the event but they just don’t care. - 實際行動購票支持
每個演出都是排除萬難的開銷、找贊助、排練、解決突發狀況等。這些，都是你看不到的。下一回鼓勵新踏入圈子的朋友一同買票時，和他們分享這些他們看不見的事。
Support by buying tickets.
You do understand that every production is a struggle of funding, sponsorship, rehearsal and settling difficult situations. Do share these ‘behind the scenes’ stories with your friend if they are new to the group. Share with them something that don’t see all the time. - 鼓勵新的朋友嘗試觀賞藝文活動
生活是不斷的探險。或許他會喜歡，或不喜歡。但是那個經驗是難得可貴的。對藝術圈來朋友來說，有熟悉的觀眾願意自動幫忙找新觀眾來支持自己的演出，這個你是會看到他們一邊笑一邊掉淚的事。
Encourage your new friend to try something new in art.
Life is exploration. Whether he likes it or not will still be a special experience for him. In terms of the art field, if they have a audience who will keep on trying bring new friends to the theatre to support, you will sincerely make them feel grateful.
我們可以犧牲掉，或維護這場 ACACIA的現代舞演出，來造就未來亞庇的藝文活動的格局。因為餵食文化，我們缺乏思考。下回賣票時，我可以接受所有你說出來的理由，這些理由都可以成立，因為那是個人選擇。不過，你說那句：給我兩張票。一張我的，一張我推票給新的朋友來看.” 我相信賣票的人會記住你一輩子。
We can protect or destroy the hard work of ACACIA dance performance by our decision. This will be the scenario that needs to be handled by all the art field in KK too in the future. Next time when I am selling ticket to you, I can accept every single reason that you give me not to support the performance, whether it be your personal choice. However, if you say,” Give me two tickets. One is for me and one is for some new audience that I had encouraged him to come to support.” I believe you will leave a deep impact to the one who sold the ticket to you for their entire life. Thank you.
劉偉義Christopher Liew
2017年6月17日
17th June 2017
