MOTHER & SON TEAM, PAUL & KAREN MALEK ANNOUNCE TRANSIT DANCE
From the coal mining town of Morwell, both Paul and Karen Malek have formed incredible careers in their chosen field. Paul as a dancer, choreographer and producer, and Karen in dance education, early childhood development and teaching. Both have travelled the world practising their craft, now coming together to fill a void in Australian dance.
Paul and Karen Malek recently unveiled their new and unique dance training institution, Transit Dance, offering newly devised and nationally accredited courses to transition students of contemporary dance and aspiring teachers into their professional careers.
“In the current Australian dance landscape there is a necessary need for artistic pathways in dance. Where there is an abundance of commercial full time and musical theatre courses. What is lacking is a large choice of contemporary courses transitioning dancers into major shows and companies world wide” said Paul. “There are skills you learn, theory, knowledge, multimedia, marketing and business skills that ensure you succeed. These are areas that we will be focusing on as well as the technical & performance skills required.”
Karen, the current president of the Australian Teachers of Dancing not-for-profit training organisation has been inspiring teachers and students for the past 4 decades all around the world. “As an educator it is my passion in life to ensure teachers are well armed to nurture and identify the learning needs of their students. To understand it is not about numbers but about excellence. Many of their students may never be dancers, but with empathy and understanding they will be the best dancer and in turn adult they can possibly be.”
Two leaders in dance coming together to create this new venture comes as no surprise, like two peas in a pod, they have, at times, inspired each other greatly. “One day we were teaching in the same hall with portable petitions between us” said Karen. “I thought he was yelling at the children and I popped my head around the screen. Paul came bounding over ‘Yes?’. I whispered ‘Paul are you yelling at the children?’ He looked horrified and I will never forget his words. ‘Look at their faces Mum (they were smiling). I don’t yell, I MOTIVATE.
It is clear there has been a mass motivation between the Malek combination over the past few decades. With the development of Transit Dance, there is more to come in the future.
For more information on Transit Dance, and for course specifics, visit: www.transitdance.com.au
