Melting and Dissolving | Reimagining Masculine Leadership
Experiential Workshop with Peter Banki
Tony Yap is an accomplished dancer and multidisciplinary artist who explores and creates an individual dance-theatre language informed by psychophysical research, Asian shamanistic trance dance, butoh and ‘psycho-vocal’ experimentations.
Yap has been a distinct figure in inter-cultural discourse in Australia. He received Asialink residential grants in 2005 and 2008, as well as a Dance Fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts, and is the founding Creative Director of Melaka Arts and Performance Festival – MAP Fest. Yap brings a non-Western perspective to the development of contemporary dance and performance practice that is grounded in Asian philosophies, sensibilities and forms.
Traditional leadership models often rely on self-assurance, control, all-knowingness and hierarchical power. This workshop uses the metaphors of "melting" and "dissolving" to explore how letting go of these facades creates space for adaptive, empathetic, and truly resilient leadership.
We invite participants to drop rigid armour, soften emotional boundaries, and redefine strength through vulnerability and collective care.
What to Expect
Guided Embodiment: Gentle movement and somatic exercises to locate where tension and expectations of "toughness" live in the physical body.
Reflective Dialogue: Open, guided conversations examining how traditional masculine ideals shape our professional environments, communication styles, and personal relationships.
Unlearning Control: Practical tools to transition from posturing and performance to attentiveness, responsiveness and shared responsibility.
Integration Circles: Small-group storytelling and active listening to anchor insights and envision collaborative cultures of kindness.