Choreographer brings hope to refugee teens through dance

KUALA LUMPUR: Choreographer Lau Beh Chin had long known that dance was where she felt most alive. But she never imagined it would one day help her through one of the darkest periods of her life – and become a lifeline for others.

Her deeply personal journey has led her to an unlikely classroom, where she teaches contemporary dance to Burmese refugee teenagers in Kuala Lumpur.

“What I love most about what I do is seeing my students grow. They don’t just learn dance – they pick up many skills, like responsibility and leadership, that will help them in life,” Lau told FMT Lifestyle.

“I’ve seen many students start out shy and reserved, and later become confident and capable leaders.”

The 43-year-old didn’t always see herself pursuing dance. She originally studied chemical engineering at university before realising her true passion lay in the performing arts.

“I found that I was happiest when I was on stage performing,” the Melaka-born said. “It made me feel emotions I would never usually experience.”

Although she was initially reluctant to change career paths, a series of family events led her to realise that life was too short not to pursue what truly mattered.

Her decision was not without its challenges. Many institutions turned down her applications, believing she lacked a formal foundation in dance.

Eventually, she found a teacher in China who encouraged her to pursue opportunities abroad. Lau went on to study in the Netherlands before earning a master’s degree in contemporary dance performance from the University of Limerick in Ireland.

She later returned to Malaysia, founded her own dance company, JinnD Productions, and started a family. Lau first welcomed a daughter before giving birth to twins.

Sadly, one of the twins passed away, plunging Lau into a period of profound grief.

Seeking a change of perspective, she attended a refugee conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. There, she noticed a young Pakistani girl enjoying one of the dance performances.

Moved, Lau asked whether she learnt dance at school. The girl explained she was unable to attend school because of her refugee status.

The encounter stayed with Lau and, soon afterwards, she began volunteering at a learning centre for Chin Burmese refugee children in Cheras.

“I thought instead of feeling sad for myself, why not share my love for dance with other people?” she recalled. She now dedicates herself to teaching refugee youths once a week.

Over time, her role has evolved beyond dance instruction: Lau frequently helps organise community fundraisers and events, and lends a hand wherever she is needed

She eventually moved to another refugee learning centre that serves youths from different Burmese ethnic communities, including the Chin, Karen, Rakhine and Shan.

Many of them, she said, were initially shy and distrustful of one another. Through dance, Lau encouraged them to share their stories, traditions and cultures.

Over time, barriers began to fall, and the students gradually learnt to trust one another and work as a team.

They have since gone on to perform at various events, including the Dancebox Festival organised by MyDance Alliance in 2019, the World Conference on Statelessness in 2024, Dancebox 2025, and KL Festival: Gerak Serumpun in May this year.

Lau also recounted one incident involving the mother of a Malaysian student who was initially reluctant to let her daughter interact with refugees.

After watching one of their performances, the woman apologised and thanked Lau for giving her daughter the opportunity to connect with children from different cultures. Moments like these reinforce why Lau continues her work.

“With the world being how it is now, anything can happen,” she said. “I would hope that if I or my children had to flee to another country, they would be treated with kindness and respect.

“They did not leave their homes to come here by choice. We need to see them as fellow human beings, not just as sources of labour.”