In alphabetical order, a list of independent non-governmental dance companies in Malaysia emphasizing dance as a theatrical form and a performing art.
ASK Dance Company
ASK Dance Company (ADC) is a professional dance collective. We specialize in providing training, workshops, master classes, performances, choreography as well as undertaking collaborative projects in traditional and contemporary genres of dance.
The company was first formed in 1994 at ASWARA, Malaysia’s university of the arts. It was a project-based collective of lecturers, graduates and outstanding students, established to promote local performances, artistry and champion a Malaysian identity in traditional and contemporary dance.
In 2011, the professional company was registered, and received a tremendous boost with the injection of funds from the Sime Darby Foundation, embarking on a nationwide tour with the project Connecting Communities, a series of performances and workshops provided free to the community. This has continued with its cornerstone outreach programs Building Bridges, Get Malaysia Dancing and Forging Traditions. At the same time, the company worked to stage an impressive range of dance productions including Women On Top, 3 Faces, Main Zapin, Reborn, Pitstop, Becoming King … the Pakyung Revisited, 2 by 2, Panchali Sabatham, Tracks and Traces, Crossing Borders in Bharatanatyam, and Take Off! The company has also participated in major Malaysian festivals including JB Arts Festival, Kluang Dance Festival, Sibu Arts Festival, Arts on the Move, Georgetown Festival, kakiseni Arts Festival, Iskandar Festival and Borak Arts. Internationally, the company has toured in Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Vietnam and Thailand. The company has continued to receive arts awards and accolades for its work primarily through kakiseni’s Boh Cameronian Arts Awards.
Facebook: ASKdancecompany
Instagram: @askdancecompany
Website: http://www.askdancecompany.com/
Email: inquiries@askdancecompany.com
Tel: +60 3 4287 6674
Studio address: A1-1, Block A, Jalan Excella 3, Taman Ampang Hilir, 55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
[updated Dec 2018]
BalletBase
Bilqis Hijjas, founder
Balletbase is an amateur contemporary ballet performance group founded in 2007 by Bilqis Hijjas. An opportunity for classically-trained Malaysian dancers to perform, Balletbase has presented its own full-length works Take Flight! (2007), Technatomy (2008), and Balletbase Presents… (2017). The group has performed consistently in Dancing in Place at Rimbun Dahan, in works by Patrick Suzeau, Ming Lam, and Bilqis Hijjas, and at Open Day / YSD Festival at klpac. Many of the performers in Balletbase are themselves teachers of classical ballet in local studios and universities
Email: bhijjas@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balletbase/
Ballet Theatre Malaysia
Choong Wan Chin, artistic director
Ballet Theatre Malaysia (BTM) is the first professional classical ballet company, based in Klang Valley, Malaysia. It was established jointly by Datin Jane Lew, Choong Wan Chin and Rachel Chew.
Malaysia has numerous ballet schools that provide training for young dancers. However, the country lacks an avenue for talented dancers who aspire to progress further, to turn professional. So far, the accepted norm has been for these dancers to seek training abroad, via either scholarships / sponsorships or with parental financial support. For obvious reasons, both these avenues are not always available, and much talent has had to be left on the back-burner. Hence, the birth of Ballet Theatre Malaysia.
BTM was set up with two aims:
- To make available a professional-standard ballet company to meet the needs of local dancers, and
- To achieve international recognition in the classical ballet scene, through quality productions.
To meet these aims, we have amalgamated 2 essential components: “hardware” in the form of the physical theatre, and “software” such as experienced artistic and production personnel. This combination is critical in developing local talent while providing returning dancers a stage on home ground to build their future.
To provide a viable, career platform for local ballet students aspiring to become professional ballet dancers in Malaysia.
Facebook: ballettheatremy
Wesbite: www.ballettheatremalaysia.com
Email: ballettheatremy@gmail.com
Telephone: +603 4021 1092/ 011-13268888
Address: H-01, DPAC, Empire Damansara, Jalan PJU 8/8, Damansara Perdana, 47820 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
[Updated Sep 2021]
Dua Space Dance Theatre
Aman Yap & Anthony Meh, artistic directors
Established by Anthony Meh and Aman Yap in 1998, ‘Dua Space’ carries the meaning of sharing and interaction.
Dua Space focuses on creating dance productions to be showcased locally and internationally, with a distinctive dance style that fuses elements from modern to ethnic dance. The company had performed in China, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Pakistan, Indonesia, London, Philippines, India, Spain, and South American countries including Peru, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay.
Dua Space is currently developing projects under its 5 core directions:
【Sowing The Seeds of Art 】 Besides theatre productions, we bring dance performances into communities where dance and performing arts are less accessible through ‘Dance Mapping’ Project and performing at unconventional venues.
【Hand in Hand】 We partner with Taiwan Polio Care Association, Dual Blessing Berhad (Disabled Independent Development Association), Persatuan Kebajikan Berkat Berganda (Shuang Fu) Johor Bahru and Persatuan OKU Kuching (House of Joy) to stage-manage and perform in their fundraising and social events, and teach dance and perform with disabled and wheelchair dancers.
【Sharing Dance】 Our latest initiative of ‘Dua Space Community Arts Studio’ converts our studio in Puchong into a community space by organizing talks, workshops, exhibitions, or even studio performances to bring dance and art closer to the community. Besides, ‘Puchong Dance Network’hopes to join forces with artists and dance practitioners in Puchong to raise the awareness and visibility of dance and arts in the community.
【Dance@ONLINE】 Continue to present our works through digital platforms in the midst of pandemics, including online screening and creating and sharing video content on our YouTube channel.
【Dua Space Art & Craft】 A new vision runs under the dance company, hoping to develop a model of financially self-sustainable art-entrepreneurship through merchandising of ar,t and craft products that would elevate the aesthetic and wellbeing of the public.
Facebook: duaspace
Instagram: @duaspace
Website: www.duaspace.com.my
Youtube: DuaSpace
Email: dance@duaspace.com.my
Tel: 018-2071005, 03-8070 0890
Address: 2B, Jalan Kenari 11, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia
[Updated Sep 2018]
Euphoria Penang Moden Dance Ensemble
Aida Redza, artistic director
Euphoria Penang Modern Dance Ensemble is supported by Penang State Government, Hunza Sdn, Bhd and Gurney Paragon. EUPHORIA PENANG is Penang’s first modern cultural dance ensemble helmed by Aida Redza as President. Euphoria Penang is a project that provides unparalleled training and opportunities for our local dancers to work and perform locally and internationally. We focus on taking ownership of all our unique multi-cultural forms to develop a new dance training system, form, quality and identity that aims to re/present all Malaysian. The project brings and support acclaimed talented, emerging choreographers local and beyond to create and present original new creation dance works, to be presented in Penang, with aim to bring it out to the most prestigious performance venues.
Facebook: euphoriapenang
Website: http://euphoriapenang.wixsite.com/euphoriapenang
[Updated Sep 2021]
Five Arts Centre
Five Arts Centre is a dynamic collective of Malaysian artists, activists, and producers, dedicated to generating alternative art forms and images in the contemporary arts landscape.
It is well-known for cutting edge performances in theatre, dance, music, and young people’s theatre, and incorporates aspects of the visual and digital arts as well. Since it was formed in 1984, Five Arts Centre has been committed to articulating the complexity of Malaysian culture and identity through explorations and fusions of local vocabularies, forms, and traditions – in relation to the global, modern, and cross-cultural. As such, it has been instrumental in the growth of a Malaysian identity in the arts that draws from multiple influences and hybrid histories.
For over three decades, Five Arts Centre has been at the forefront of creating experimental, interdisciplinary, and intercultural work, providing platforms for the next generation of arts practitioners. Contemporary social, political, and cultural issues impinging on Malaysian life are precipitated by way of performances, exhibitions, creative seminars, research workshops and arts advocacy.
Today, the collective consists of 14 individuals from diverse disciplines and generations. They are Anne James, Chee Sek Thim, Chew Kin Wah, Fahmi Fadzil, Ivy N. Josiah, Janet Pillai, June Tan, Kubhaer T. Jethwani, Lee Ren Xin, Mac Chan, Marion D’Cruz, Mark Teh, Ravi Navaratnam, and Suhaila Merican.
Instagram: @fiveartscentre
Facebook: FiveArtsCentre
Website: https://www.fiveartscentre.org/
Email: fiveartscentre@gmail.com
[Updated Sep 2021]
Hornland Dance Theatre / Sibu International Dance Festival
Hornland Dance Theatre (HDT) based in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia, is a non-profit organization which was founded in 1995 and registered under the Act of 1966 (Akta Pertubuhan 1966).
HDT is managed by committee members. It aims to provide a professional dance platform, as well as to explore local arts and culture through dance.
The name is derived from ‘The Land of Hornbill’ and the inspiration of the magnificent Rejang River. These formed the basis dance forms symbolizing the multi-cultural nation of Sarawak.
Under the guidance of the artistic director Mr. Chen Ing Kuan who has trained in Taiwan and Beijing Dance Academy and obtained the Master in Choreography at the University of Melbourne, all Hornland’s dancers receive training in ballet, contemporary, cultural dances, and yoga. However, the dance theatre puts more effort in exploring the local culture and arts in the choreographies.
Since 1996, Hornland has created about 200 short pieces of dance and was the only dance group to win the top 2 awards (gold and silver) in the 20th National Chinese Dance Festival in Kuala Lumpur, a record yet to be broken. Hornland has been invited to perform in the towns in Sarawak, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Brunei.
Hornland had been invited to perform in overseas: invited in year 2012 by Fujian province to perform in four cities of Fujian province which are Ningde, Gutian, Mingqing, and Fuzhou. In 2014, was invited by Fuzhou city to perform in Sea Silk Road Night in Fuzhou city, and invited by Geochang city of Korea to perform at Hamdang Festival in 2015.
In 2020, Hornland was the only group from Malaysia invited to perform in Juedai Taipei International Dance Festival. Due to the Covid-19, the festival was cancelled.
Hornland is the organizer of Sibu International Dance Festival (SIDF). In year 2012, Hornland organized the first debut of Sibu International Dance Festival with the acknowledgement and support of the Sibu Municipal Council and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture. It is aimed to be held as an annual event in the largest town in central zone of Sarawak, Sibu, which is located next to the Rejang River, the longest river in South-east Asia.
Facebook: hornlanddance
Website: http://sidfestival.com/
Email: hornlandoffice@gmail.com
Tel & Fax: 084-349932
Mobile: +6 011-3844 9932
Address: No. 46, 3rd Floor, Lane 1, Lanang Road, 96000 Sibu Sarawak
[Updated Sep 2021]
Inner Space Dance Company, Temple of Fine Arts
Umesh Shetty, artistic director of Inner Space Dance Company
Malar Gunaratnam, senior director of dance at Temple of Fine Arts
Inner Space Dance Company is the performing wing of the Temple of Fine Arts, formed in mid-2017 as a collection of bodies able to masterfully communicate in a multitude of dance forms. Previous productions of Inner Space include SUM – The Multicultural Body (2018), I Am Ravana (2018, with Saraswati Mahavidhyalaya, Australia) and Conversations (2017) which included the full-length bharatanatyam work Śiva: Love — Paradox — Ananda by Mavin Khoo.
The Temple of Fine Arts is a centre of Indian music and dance, founded by Swami Shanthanand Saraswathi. Many dance styles, including bharatanatyam, odissi, kuchipudi, contemporary, kathak and Bollywood, are offered at The Temple of Fine Arts, with part time courses for both group and individual students. Since 1981, The Temple of Fine Arts has captured the imagination of art lovers in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, India and even the USA. The centre of the Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields is a five-storey building which includes dance studios, music rooms, spacious rehearsal hall, 500-seater performance hall, library and cafeteria.
Facebook: InnerSpaceDance
Website: tfa.org.my
Email: tfaidc@gmail.com, tfakl@pc.jaring.my
Telephone: 03-2274-3709
Address: 116 Jalan Berhala Brickfields, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
[Updated Dec 2021]
Jet Leang Dance Theatre
Jet Leang, artistic director
A contemporary dance company founded by Jet Leang in 2018 and based in Penang, Malaysia. Jet Leang has been involved in numerous productions locally and internationally as dancer, choreographer, costume designer, lighting designer, and stage manager. With the experience he have obtained throughout his dance journey, he decided to return to his home ground to contribute to the dance scene, to familiarize the public and the dance community in Penang with professional dance and choreography in a full-time company.
Website: https://www.jetldt.com
Facebook: JETLDT
KESUMA Ensemble/UMa Contemporary Dance Co
KESUMA is the traditional dance ensemble and UMa is the contemporary dance ensemble of the Dance Department of University of Malaya.
KESUMA Ensemble was formed by a group of students at the University of Malaya in 1971 to promote dance on campus. Since its inception, KESUMA has performed frequently in Malaysia and overseas. Amongst the countries visited are Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Scotland, Austria and England. In 2007, KESUMA became the Dance Department of Malaya’s traditional dance ensemble for traditional dances of Malaysia and the Malaya Archipelago. The group is open to all campus members of University of Malaya. Hamid Chan and Mohd Hairil Anuar Bari currently are tutors of the Dance Program, University of Malaya.
The Bachelor of Performing Arts (Dance) degree was first offered in Malaysia by University of Malaya in December 2005. Subsequently, the dance department’s performing entity, UMa Dance Company, was established in 2007 to enable its dance students to showcase contemporary works featuring challenging choreography. The company performed in TARI (Kuala Lumpur, 2007), WDA Singapore Conference (Singapore, 2007), Pra-Festival Negara Kretagama (Indonesia, 2009), CONTACT, a full-length contemporary dance performance (Kuala Lumpur, 2009) and Youth Dance Festival (Kluang, 2009 –2011).
Address: Pusat Kebudayaan, Level 2, Old Canseleri Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Tel: 603-7967 7079
Fax : 603-7967 3576
KL Dance Works
Choong Wan Chin, artistic director
KL Dance Works Sdn. Bhd. was registered in November 2014 with the purpose of enlarging on the original scope of Danceworks Production’s activities. The new entity (KLDW) will provide dance education especially in ballet, support young talents and dance enthusiasts to learn and explore their passion. Another important pillar of KLDW is to stage performances, international events and to provide a foundation for building a career in dance. In doing so, our goal is to help promising dancers reach their potential in Malaysia.
KL Dance Works Production (previously known as Danceworks Production), a non-profit organization, was founded in 1998 by a group of Malaysian dance enthusiasts with a consuming desire to bring dance to a higher level so that Malaysians could share the joy of dance, whether as a participant or spectator. At the same time, it was also aimed to use dance to assist local charities.
Since 1998, KL Dance Works Production has staged 13 productions and raised more than RM600,000 for 26 local charity groups
From 2010 (with the exception of 2016-2017 owing to renovation at IB), KL Dance Works Production has annually been part of the program of Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur with the support from the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, Malaysia, and Embassies of the participating countries such as Japan, Australia, People’s Republic of China, Austria, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Germany, UK and the USA.
Full-length classical and original ballets were made possible by collaboration with guest artistes invited from prominent ballet companies worldwide. KL Dance Works Production involves not only foreign artistes but also many Malaysian artistes and students. We envisage such cultural exchange will benefit our local dancers as well as our people culturally and socially.
Facebook: danceworks.production
Website: www.danceworksproduction.org
Tel: 013-2528804 (Vincent Choong, Managing Director)
[updated Sep 2021]
Kwang Tung Dance Company
Amy Len, artistic director
Kwang Tung Dance Troupe has been established for 30 years and was founded on 15 June, 1980. In 2010, the troupe was upgraded to Kwang Tung Dance Company. The company’s initial focus was to gravitate more towards folk and traditional Chinese dance.
The company changed its directions to focus on modern and contemporary dances following its development in recent years. At 2005, the company even had its first open audition to scout for talent.
The company’s vision is to promote the local performing arts dance scene, nurturing dancers and to create a dance platform as a move to transform itself into a professional dance company gradually.
Some of the memorable and significant performances by the company are the yearly members’ showcase entitled KUA BU series, To Dance or Not to Move in 1995, Qing in 2002, Emotions in Motion in 2004, In-Transit in 2005, and Hiding Love in 2007. The company has also participated in APEC guests welcoming 1998, SUKOM Closing Ceremony 1998, TARI 1998, the opening ceremony of the launching of Istana Budaya 1999, Formula One Malaysia 1999, TARI 2000, TARI 2002, Malaysian Dance Festival 2005, TARI 2007, etc.
In recent years, the company has been well-recognized for its performances and has received many nominations in the Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
Facebook: kwangtungdancecompany
Website: kwangtungdancecompany.blogspot.com
Email: kwangtungdancecompany@gmail.com
Tel: +6012-4717730, +6012-674 8411, +6016-964 8363, +603-2031 1203
Address: The Sel & KL Kwang Tung Association,
6th Floor, No.44, Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur. (opposite Puduraya)
Lee Wushu Arts Theatre
Lee Swee Seng, artistic director
With passion of the arts and persistence to develop “wushu as an art”, Lee Wushu Arts Theatre was founded in 1998 with an aim to strive in creating wushu in various aspects and to emphasize both the beauty and power of wushu in combination of dance, drama, multimedia effect, etc. This creates new multidimensional performances as called “martial dance” in theatres and blended cultural and lifestyle elements in a creative manner.
Thereafter, set up its office and studio in 2009 with full-time wushu artists, administrators and apprentices. It also invited artists to perform and to be involved in its production team. Since its establishment, members have invited to perform in Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Monaco, Singapore, Taiwan, UK and many more.
Lee Wushu Arts Theatre has published a series of unique style work since its inception. Works include Wushu and Dance (2001), Wushu & Dance United – Seeking of the Sun (2003), The King’s Sword (2005), Qi (2007), Dances Experimental Art Show – Walking Distance (2008), Buffer Zone of Force (2009), Farewell My Concubine – The Movement of the Martyr (2009), Wushu Madness – 1 Table 2 Chairs (2011), Wushu Madness II – The Realm Between (2012), A Decade’s Sword (2014), W-soul (2015), Solely Miles (2017). With simple and abstract elements, the performances depict the spirit from within, emphasizing both beauty and power of “martial dance”.
Facebook : LeeWushuArtsTheatre
YouTube : Jack Lee Wushu
Email : wushuarts@gmail.com
Tel: +6016 7159193
Address: 101-02, Jalan Bestari 1/5, Taman Nusa Bestari, 79150 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
[Updated Sep 2021]
Nyoba Kan
Lee Swee Keong, artistic director
The only dance theatre focusing on the Japanese dance art of Butoh in Malaysia and led by Lee Swee Keong, Nyoba Kan has been bringing the most avant-garde and yet absurdist pieces to their audiences. In order to promote the dance form, Nyoba Kan has successfully organized the International Butoh Festival in Kuala Lumpur since 2008. Lee Swee Keong has combined various techniques and disciplines acquired from the pioneers in forming his own Butoh philosophy. He believes that Butoh helps to reconstruct the body and the mind, providing a new perspective towards life and death, and a form of spiritual expression far beyond the physical. Recent major productions include Curse of Forbidden Palace (2008), She Walks in Beauty Like The Night (2008), Green Snake (2009), The Peony Dream (2009), The Testimony of Rashomon (2010), The Butterfly Lovers (2011) and Catan Kulit (2012).
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/179867478730564
Email: nyobakan@gmail.com, jess_procast@yahoo.com.my
Tel: 012-300 8255694
Soubi Sha
Yeow Lai Chee, artistic director
A butoh dance company founded in 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, to investigate and explore alternative butoh dance bodies in Malaysia, and to create a new Asian butoh dance form in the future through staging experimental performances and education. Soubi Sha opens its door to multiracial and mixed disciplinary artists in Malaysia who aspire to explore butoh. Previous productions include Reminiscene: The World of the Strange Tales (2013) and The Dead Bird (2018), as well as presentations of works by international butoh artists Yukio Waguri, Yuko Kawamoto, and Taketeru Kudo.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouBiShaPusatTarianRoseQiangWeiWuTaShe/
Email: soubisharose@gmail.com
Sutra Foundation
Established in 1983 by Ramli Ibrahim, Sutra Dance Theatre has groomed a generation of Malaysian dancers and has taken original Malaysian works to reach out to national and international audiences, promoting the cultural diversity and vibrancy of Malaysian dance. Sutra Foundation, was then established as a full-fledged and tax exempt Foundation in 2007 in order to secure its legacy for the future generations. It carries into the future the thread of Ramli’s vision and contribution to the Malaysian arts scene and strives to develop the breadth and depth of Malaysian performing and visual arts by stimulating the creative spirit of cross-cultural Malaysia. Sutra Foundation has presented outstanding local and international artists and groups and has cultivated professional and creative staffs in the areas of lighting, stage management, theatre production and administration. Various cultures come together here to forge a unique ‘sutra’ bond that fosters a universal yet distinctively Malaysian interpretation of the arts. Sutra Foundation has been vital in maintaining Sutra’s activities when the arts face challenging times. It continues to provide Malaysia with sustained activities in the performing arts (Sutra Dance Theatre), exhibitions (Sutra Gallery & KamaRia Gallery) and teaching (Sutra Academy).
An accomplished ballet, modern and Indian classical dancer, Ramli Ibrahim has performed internationally for four decades. Since his return to Malaysia more than thirty-five years ago, he has been instrumental in transforming the dance scene in Malaysia by boldly charting new paths establishing Odissi as a widely appreciated dance form in Malaysia. Simultaneously, Ramli has contributed to the establishment of Malaysian contemporary modern dance through the creation of a strong body of original works, which defines ‘modernity’ from Asian perspectives. Ramli Ibrahim has been honoured with many awards, the most recent being the Sangeet Natak Akademi award (2011) and the Padma Shri award (2018) from India and a Datukship (2013), Perdana Award (2019) and the Lifetime Arts Achievement Award (2019) from Malaysia. To Ramli Ibrahim “Dance is a celebration and liberation of the body, mind and soul.”
Facebook: https://www.
Wesbite: www.sutrafoundation.
Email: sutrafoundation25@
Tel: +603 4021 1092
Address: 12, Persiaran Titiwangsa 3,53200, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
[Updated Sep 2021]
ARCHIVES
The following dance companies have been disbanded or are currently non-operative.
Batu Dance Theatre [inactive]
Vincent Tan Lian Ho, artistic director
In September 1999, after Mr. Vincent Tan Lian-Ho’s Solo Untitled, he had an audition for dancers. Soon then, he founded Batu Dance Theatre, with the mission to become the first professional dance company in Malaysia. A great will to nurture the rising generation of dancers and to bless many others with arts is magnanimous. Thus, the Batu Dance Theatre was born to provide professional training to generate a space to accommodate dance choreography.
The objective of Batu Dance Theatre is to present the performing arts as a form of community service. To have a theatric presence in Malaysia, and to evoke every member of the society to stand on their feet and dance. Like the prevailing rivers, Batu Dance Theatre flows through the cosmopolitans, suburban, schools and the community and nourishes each place with performances, seminars and movement demonstration to engage the people with dances and the arts. There have been more than 40 major and minor performances within the span of two years and it has been receiving praises everywhere it goes. Leaving the raucous city behind, Vincent Tan and fellow dancers continue their journey to travel around rural and suburban areas in search of its cultural sentiment and its roots.
In July 2001, Batu Dance Studio was finally established as a venue for training and rehearsal. Aimed to instill the culture of arts, it provides reading materials and audio and visual equipments for the public’s use. During the weekends, it holds various events to accommodate teachers and youths who are enthused with the arts and dance from all over the country. It is the first mini theatre in Klang where seminars, exhibition and performance are held.
Vincent Tan Lian Ho is the founder and artistic director of Batu Dance Theatre. He was born in Batu Pahat, Malaysia in 1960. He loves Chinese culture since he was young and chose Taiwan to complete his Bachelor’s of Business Administration (BBA). While he was studying in Taiwan, he followed Lin Hwai Min and Ming-Shen Ku to practice dancing. Since 1981, he has performed with several companies – The Taipei Ballet Theatre, Francis Tao Dance Troupe and has served as choreographer and teacher with the Taiwan Overseas Chinese Student Dance Group. In 1994, he returned to Taiwan for further studies and pursued a graduate degree at the National Institute of Arts in 1997.
Address:
1 (3rd Floor) Persiaran Pegaga, Taman Bayu Perdana, 41200 Klang, Selangor.
Telephone: 03 3324 7568
Fax: 03 3324 7569
Facebook: www.facebook.com/batudt
Twitter: twitter.com/BatuDance99
DPAC Dance Company [disbanded]
Wong Jyh Shyong, artistic director
Datin Jane Lew, managing director
Under the guidance and direction of Artistic Director, Wong Jyh Shyong (JS), DPAC Dance Company (DDC) was formed along with the establishment of Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC), Malaysia. As a choreographic workplace, DDC aims to present DPAC’s in-house dance productions – D for Dancing (Contemporary and Classical Ballet Season) with local artists and collaborative projects between Malaysian and international dance artists.
For the year 2013, DDC presented To Dream a Ballerina’s Dream in July, performed by eight freshly graduated students from its Dancer’s Training Program’s (DTP) Classical Ballet Season 2013. Besides, DDC collaborated with Mauvais Chausson Dance Theatre from Taiwan in August 2013 to present La Vittesse Complexe, which was performed by Wong Jyh Shyong and Lin Yen-Ching, current dancer of Akram Khan Company. DDC also presented other dance works in DPAC’s soft opening ceremony, MyDance Festival 2013, TARI Festival 2013 and more. Last September, DDC presented its first contemporary season with In a Space of Time, which was choreographed by Wong Jyh Shyong and performed by six talented young dancers who were from different nationalities – Hong Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia respectively. In a Space of Time was nominated for Best Choreographer in a Full-Length Work, Best Lighting Design, Best Set Design and Best Music and Sound Design for the 11th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
Website: www.dpac.com.my/page/dcm/contentViewer/view/91
Borneo Dance Theatre / Synergy Dance Theatre [disbanded]
Christopher Liew, director
Synergy Dance Studio Sdn Bhd was established in 2004 by Christopher Liew and consists of Borneo Dance Theatre (BDT), Synergy Dance Theatre (SDT), Synergy Tap Crew and RE-UP Crew. The company’s goal is to develop the creative talents of young Sabahans in the following areas: dance, choreography, costume design, costume making, making of props, make-up, stage design, lighting design, multi-media production, and the composing of music. Every year, SDT trains dancers and prepares technicians for a minimum of four public performances, involving anything from ten to 200 young people. Performing publicly means that the SDT team needs to reach the highest standard both technically and creatively.
SDT is divide into SDT 1, which consist of dancers from age 13 to 35, and SDT II, which is the Young Dancer Project that consists of young dancers aged 9 to 12 years old. The Young Dancer Project has extended itself into primary schools in Kota Kinabalu and has received a good feedback.
In 2012, SDT participated in the 5th National Chinese Dance Competition for the first time. Their performance piece Road won the Outstanding Award and was also selected to represent Malaysia at the Hong Kong 2nd Bauhinia Cup International Dance Invitation Championship held on the 21st August 2012.
In 2018, BDT presented the full-length work Waig on tour in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.
Address:
1st floor, Shop Lot 1, Taman Sinar Baru, Jalan Damai,
8300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
(Opposite Sabah Medical Centre SMC at Damai area, KK; same shoplot as COSWAY)
Telephone:
+6019-5330395(Christopher) /
+60168333936(Skyler)
Email: synergydt@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borneodancetheatre/, www.facebook.com/groups/synergydance