Jackson Chua Wins Malaysia Gatsby Styling Dance Contest

Chua Jack Son (Jackson Chua), 22 was adjudged the champion at the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest 2010/2011 Malaysia Finals held on January 14 at the main entrance of Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur. A record number of participants took part in this competition which was incepted in 2008. Twenty five contestants were selected from the preliminary rounds and their dance videos uploaded to Gatsby's website. Based on an online voting system, eleven finalists were chosen to battle it out in the Malaysian finals.

Jackson (pic), who impressed the judges with his creative choreography; won a trophy, RM2000 cash and an all-expense paid trip to Tokyo, Japan to compete in the Grand Finals to be held on February 19. The first runner-up was Lim Kuan Hui (Twister Burger) who walked away with a trophy and RM1000 cash whilst second runner-up Chung Han Yiew (Ah Zai) took home a trophy and RM500 cash. The judges at the finals were Karisma Kantaro of XYON, Fellest Yan of Royal Phantom Crew and Bojae of Floor Fever.

Last year, at the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest 2009/2010 Grand Finals held in Tokyo on February 27, Alex Lim (aka Popping Rex) of Malaysia did the country proud by emerging as the champion. Alex beat contestants from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore to clinch the Greatest Gatsby Award, a cash prize of 300,000 Yen (RM11,400) and a dance exchange tour to any two of the participating countries. Let us all rout for Jackson and hope he will be able to emulate Alex's success.

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> Alex Lim Crowned Gatsby Styling Dance Champion

Big Turnout At KLDA Open House

Some 300 persons turned up at the open house hosted by the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) on January 16 at its premises at Wisma OCM in Jalan Hang Jebat. At the door to welcome the guests were its president, C C Lai and the office bearers of the KLDA. In his welcome speech, Lai said that the KLDA which was formed nearly 30 years ago, is a non-profit organization and receives no government grants or subsidies. In spite of that, the KLDA is financially healthy and stable and still going strong.

Lai said that part of the income collected from entrance fees, subscription fees and hall rentals are channeled to the KLDA Youth Programme to nurture and help young deserving dancers. In this respect, he congratulated two couples from the Youth Programme who did extremely well in the recent 10th BDFI Malaysian Open Dancesport Championships 2011. They were Alfred Choo & Cecilia Yong (pic) who were champions in the Closed and Open Amateur Latin events and Billy Yong & Carmen Choo who came in third.

To encourage more dancers to patronize the KLDA, the KLDA has decided to issue monthly passes at RM60 each to non-members. With this monthly pass, visitors can dance at the KLDA six days a week from Sundays to Fridays. Those who do not wish to purchase the monthly pass can still opt to pay an entrance fee of RM10 per visit. After the speech was over, there were Ballroom and Latin dance performances by members of the KLDA and resident coach, Dean Craig Kim of South Korea. A jolly good time was had by all.

Michael Jackson Dance Moves On Kinect

Ubisoft has announced it will release a Michael Jackson videogame that challenges Xbox 360 players to dance like the King of Pop, due for release on April 12. Michael Jackson: The Experience taps into camera and gesture-tracking capabilities of Kinect controllers for Xbox 360 consoles to track how well players are imitating the late music legend's moves.

The game features Ubisoft technology that projects players into on-screen scenes inspired by Jackson's music videos and live performances. Ubisoft released a version of the game for Nintendo's Wii consoles with motion-sensing wand controllers in November.

Ubisoft has been a long-time believer in motion controls for videogames and the potential for 3-D cameras to immerse players in the on-screen action. The firm seized the opportunity to work with Nintendo on titles tailored for the Wii and had action videogame Red Steel ready when the innovative motion-controlled consoles launched in late 2006. (Sourced from AFP)

Adam Tan Wins International Pole Dance Championship

Adam Tan (pic) 19, has done Malaysia proud by winning the championship title in the Pole Art Men's Category in the International Pole Dance Fitness Championships held in Tokyo, Japan on December 9. Two other Malaysians, namely Samantha Yee and Emily Tan also took part in this competition. Adam, who is also an accomplished hip hop dancer and gymnast, took up pole dancing in 2008 and has been hooked since.

The Pole Art category recognizes originality and creativity in movement to music on the vertical pole. Other categories in in the Tokyo Championship were Pole Fit that recognise technique & skill of pole acrobatics and the Ultimate Pole Champion that demonstrated the best of art & fitness. The Tokyo meet was the world's first international pole dance fitness championship with a men's and disabled category.

RESULTS

POLE ART

Champion (Men): Adam Tan, Malaysia

Runner-up: Derick Pierson, USA

Champion (Women): Zoraya Judd, USA

Runner-up: Giulia Piolanti, Italy

POLE FIT

Champion (Men): Chris Measday, Australia

Runner-up: Loic Lebret, France

Champion (Women): Rafaela Montanaro, Brazil

Runner-up: Michelle Hafner, Australia

ULTIMATE POLE CHAMPION

Men: Duncan West, Australia

Women: Mai Sato, Japan

Disabled: Eri Kamimoto, Japan

KLDA Open House

The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) will be hosting an open house at its premises at Level 2, Wisma OCM in Jalan Hang Jebat on Sunday, January 16 from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. There will be general dancing as well as smashing performances by its members. C C Lai, the chairman of the KLDA extends a warm welcome to all and sundry to attend this function.

The KLDA was formed in 1982 by a group of dance enthusiasts and had its initial headquarters at the Eastern Hotel & Night Club in Jalan Ampang (where Capitol Square is now). Over the years, the KLDA has shifted several times: to Jalan Galloway, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sg Besi and Cheras Utama before relocating to its present location in Wisma OCM in 2008.

Situated directly behind the YWCA and adjacent to the Olympic Sports Hotel, the KLDA is about 600 metres or a 10 minute stroll from the Hang Tuah LRT and monorail stations. Opening hours are from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm on Sundays and 8.00 pm to 10.30 pm Mondays to Fridays. To know more about the KLDA, check them out on facebook or call C C Lai at 012-2029991.