dancesport malaysia

4th Gatsby Malaysia Finals

2012-01-16T00:18:00.003+08:00

The most anticipated Malaysian Finals in the 4th Gatsby Dance competition has come to a close with the crowning of the new rising star - Rebounce Crew. The final dance-off was held on 14 January 2012 at Neverland Club, Kuala Lumpur with a huge turnout from entourage of fans and media buddies. The contest in its fourth year running saw a record-breaking 114 entries form solo and group acts. Not only has the number of entries doubled from last season's records; the contest has also attracted over 25,000 Facebook followers, putting Malaysia way ahead of other Pan Asia countries.

During the voting period from 14 November till 16 December 2011, 59 video entries were short-listed by judges for online voting. Six contestants with the highest number of 'like' by Facebook fans together with 4 winners from on-ground auditions moved on to battle it out in the Malaysia Finals. This season's panel of judges comprised of Japanese celebrity dance guru Fishboy, Floor Fever leader Boojae Fadzil and Fellest Yan of Royal Phantom Crew.

Rebounce Crew walked away with RM2000 cold cash plus and all-expenses paid trip to participate in the Asia Grand Finals in Tokyo. Following in the footsteps of Jackson Chua and Alex Poppin' Rex, both past champions of Malaysia Finals and Asia Grand finals, Rebounce Crew now represents Malaysia with the hope of winning the Greatest Gatsby Award in the Asia Grand Finals, Tokyo on 10 March. Second and third place went to School Brotherz and Teh Pitt Den. Each of them won RM1000 and RM500 respectively.

Live To Dance

2012-01-16T00:18:00.002+08:00

Live To Dance was a television reality programme and dance competition in the United States. Dancers from all over the US auditioned for Live To Dance in specially constructed 'dance domes'. All genres of dance were allowed and there was no age limit. The youngest contestant was a 9 year-old kid whilst the oldest was a 90 year-old granny. Shortlisted contestants in the auditions would go on to fight it out in the semi-finals and finals where the winner was awarded the prize of $500,000.

The show premiered in the USA on 4 January 2011 and was headlined by dance choreographer, singer and former American Idol judge Mariah Carey as lead judge with Andrew Gunsberg as host. The other two judges were former Pussycat Dolls member Kimberly Wyatt, and Travis Payne, a long-time choreographer of the late Michael Jackson.

In the first show which was screened on 8TV Malaysia on 12 January 2012, eighteen contestants participated in the audition. Among the dances which were performed were hip hop, breakdance, krump, Cuban rumba, tap and contemporary. There was also an Indian bhangra dance. Overall the show was quite entertaining and fun to watch. It was announced that Live To Dance wouldn't return for a second season.

4 Popular Belly Dance Styles

2012-01-09T00:18:00.000+08:00

Belly dancing originated from the Middle East and as such there are many different forms of styles that have developed in different countries and regions. The most popular and recognized style is Cabaret/Egyptian that is glitzy and flamboyant, however there are several other styles that are becoming more popular around the wold.

1. Zambra Mora - Zambra Mora is a form of belly dancing that is infused with flamenco dancing. Not only does it use Middle East styles but the music is played on Spanish instruments such as guitar. Today Zambra Mora is famed for its chest circles and shimmies as well as the posturing associated with flamenco dancing.

2. Khaleeji - Originating in the Arabic peninsula, Khaleeji is different from the styles that are favoured in Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. Instead of hip movements, Khaleeji focuses on foot movement and as well as spinning. There is also a lot of movement in the upper torso and shoulders, allowing the dancers to toss their hair from side to side.

3. American Tribal Dancing - American tribal Dancing was founded in California, USA in the 1970's and is performed in groups as opposed to solo dancers. The group's head leads the dance signalling moves to the others via hand signals. Props are also used such as finger cymbals and even swords!

4. Gothic Belly Dancing - the bright colours of belly dancing may not be something that would have an immediate association with Gothic styles, but over the years a form of Gothic Belly Dancing has evolved. Known for their intensity, Gothic Belly Dancing incorporates elements of life and death to its styles making for a trance-like dance that utilises the styles of both the East and the West. (www.worldbellydancer.org)

Dance Like Nobody's Watching

2012-01-02T00:18:00.001+08:00

You've gotta dance like nobody's watching

Love like you'll never get hurt
Sing like there's nobody listening
And live like it's heaven on earth

I came across this poem while browsing through Wikipedia. The above poem is attributed to William Watson Purkey (born 22 August 1929), an educator and professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA. An active writer, Purkey has published nearly a hundred professional publications and written more than a dozen books. At his lectures, Purkey used to close his speech with the above quotation and it has now made it into the public domain.

Although Purkey is the source of the above poem, it has been attributed to many others. Lines from it were included in the song Come From The Heart written by Susannah Clark and Richard Leigh in 1987. Whatever it is, the poem written or 're-arranged' by Purkey is a beautiful one. It's about having a zest for life and living life to the fullest. If you dance like nobody's watching and are really enjoying yourselves even if you don't dance so well; it's like heaven on earth!

Dancing Is Top Hobby

2011-12-26T00:18:00.001+08:00

I recently came across a lifestyle article in msn.com titled "The top 10 hobbies that make people fancy you". The article reported: What do you find attractive in the opposite sex? Good looks? Charm? Wit? Have you ever watched David Beckham playing football and wondered why it was making you weak in the knees? Or seen a surfer on the beach and watched in admiration at his bravery?

Research by sports and hobby website www.clubbz.com might hold the answers they recently took of a poll of 1,392 Brits to find out which hobbies are the most attractive to the opposite sex. The study revealed that nearly half of men and just over two-thirds of women would be more likely to find someone desirable if they had a number of different hobbies, as it made them seem more exciting and interesting. See which ones made it into the top 10.

1. Dancing

2. Yoga

3. Swimming

4. Cooking

5. Pole Dancing

6. Football

7. Surfing

8. Photography

9. Rock climbing

10. Whitewater rafting

I am not surprised that (social) dancing and pole dancing made it to the numbers 1 and 5 spots respectively. This is what was written about these two hobbies. Dancing - It probably won't come as a surprise to you ladies that men rated dancing as the most attractive hobby for a woman to have. A whopping 89% of those questioned said they'd be more interested in ladies who knew their fancy footwork. Time to get your groove on, girls! Pole dancing - Pole dancing has become a popular activity in recent years and not just with women. Nearly half of all the men who took part in the study said they find the hobby appealing in the opposite sex.

Charity Belly Dance Concert

2011-12-19T00:18:00.001+08:00

The Middle East Dance Academy and the Coronade Hotel, Kuala Lumpur in co-operation with the Pink Ribbon Deeds Foundation (PRIDE) recently hosted the first of its kind charity belly dance concert in aid of breast cancer awareness. The dinner on October 29 was attended by over 120 people including foundation chairman, Datin Azrene Abdullah and Datin Paduka Faridah Abdullah of the Noah Foundation.

The event saw 30 dancers take to the stage portraying the mythical Persian story of Scheherazade, a daughter of the prime minister, who saved a nation of daughters from being executed by their evil king whose heart was broken by his adulteress queen.The king would pick a new bride every week, only to have them executed the day after their wedding.

"We chose this story as we wanted to spread the message that even the most helpless situations can be overcome with strength and tenacity," said Middle East Dance Academy principal Nancy Bakshy. The biggest contribution of the night came from Datin Paduka Faridah and the Noah Foundation with RM10,000. The proceeds of the concert would go toward various PRIDE projects.

"We are very grateful to be the beneficiary of this initiative," said PRIDE general manager Richard Lim. "Belly dancing encourages women to feel good about themselves, regardless of their size or body type and that is also the message we try to spread to breast cancer survivors. That there is life after breast cancer and you should feel good about yourselves." (The Star)

Apps To Make You Dance

2011-12-12T00:18:00.001+08:00

Dancing With The Stars has helped spur interest in ballroom dancing, but for many who would like to follow in the footsteps of the stars, lessons are often too expensive, too far away and socially awkward in the extreme. But if your partner is a mobile device, none of these obstacles apply. Mobile apps could be the best thing to hit ballroom dancing since the hurdler's stretch. The better ones like LDF Hot Salsa (up to US$3 for iOS), Pocket Salsa (US$3 for iOS or US$2 for Android) and Learn Argentine Tango (up to US$13 for iOS) - offer solid, inexpensive tutorials. And thanks to the mobile format, you can see them when no one's watching or brush up on your steps immediately before you try to impress a date in public.

After a few swings around my living room, I found the Hot Salsa series especially effective. There are three levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced), with each anchored by a set of instructional videos featuring Christian Gutierrez and sometimes his partner, Liem Pham. The videos are adequate, if slightly less than professional quality. The audio is passable, the lighting is fair and the set is a living room, complete with fireplace. The video is framed from a point that was slightly too far at times for me to see Gutierrez's footwork clearly, although that problem was less bothersome when I tested the app on an iPad.

Aesthetics aside, the quality of the instruction was quite good. The 30 lessons featured in each app average roughly one minute each - just enough to cover one distinct movement. Gutierrez typically introduces a move by demonstrating and explaining it at full speed. He then offers a slower demonstration along with a more technically oriented discussion. The videos are bolstered by text explanations of each move, which I found helpful, if occasionally in dire need of proofreading. You can also add notes of your own to each lesson, which is a nice touch...... NYT

Dance National Association Officially Launched

2011-12-05T00:18:00.003+08:00

The Dance National Association (DNA) was officially launched on 19th November 2011 at Wisma Peladang in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. A press release issued by DNA soon after the event, has this to say:

The dance industry today welcomes and celebrated the official launch of Dance National Association (DNA) this morning at Bangunan Peladang, Petaling Jaya. The event was marked by performances from varied genres of dances ranging from Standard Ballroom, Latin Dance, to Hip Hop, Line Dance and Belly dance. There were many lucky door prizes for members of DNA who attended the event. The event attracted approximately 400 people from all ages coming from all walks of life. There was also an interesting dance fashion show modelled by teenagers and children showcasing a variety of costumes for dancers and competitors.

Following the official launch, there was the inaugural DNA Ballroom Dance Championship which saw a participation of approximately 150 competitors for various Ballroom, Latin and Hip Hop competitive events. In her inaugural speech, DNA's president Ms Josephine Seow explained DNA's objective to promote dance and dancesport to the mainstream dance fraternity and also to the masses through championships, competitions, workshops, training programmes, social events and outreach programmes.

She added, "We appreciate the contribution of all dance teachers in Malaysia and it is our top priority to give top recognition to them and provide support programmes to ensure a thriving dance industry. In order to achieve these, DNA needs support in all manner and from all sectors of the corporate sectors and individuals." One of DNA's highlights is the 2012 Malaysian International Ballroom Championships to be held on 2nd March 2012 Kuala Lumpur where you can see a congregation of the world's top ranked competitors.

No Age Barriers In Dancing

2011-11-28T00:18:00.002+08:00

At 71, many ballroom dancers might have hung up their dancing shoes. But Tham Cham Soo, known as the 'one-leg dancer' among his friends after two stokes in 2005 left him walking with a limp in one leg, still travels with his dance partner Frances Teoh to learn new skills and take part in dance championships in the country and the region. After the stroke, he uses his left leg more in his dance moves. Tham said he and Teoh, who have been dance partners for 20 years, travel to Australia and China several times a year to hone their skills.

"We want to keep learning new things and we also needed a third eye to check our skills and posture," Tham said at the Nam Hooi Association in Chulia Steet, Penang recently. Tham, believed to be the oldest participant in the 18th Penang International Ballroom Dancing Championship on November 26, is gunning to win the Standard Senior title for the 11th time. He has been winning it with Teoh for the last 10 years. The semi-retired chartered architect and Teoh, who is in her 50s are the holders of a Guiness World Record and are in the Malaysia Book of Records for winning 184 times in ballroom dance championships in the Asia Pacific region.

Tham said he suffered two strokes within a couple of weeks in 2005. "One doctor told me to stop dancing and another advised me to continue. I listened to the later. I remember leaving the hospital and performing straight away at a Chinese opera show," said Tham who is also an opera singer. Having picked up ballroom dancing at age 23 when he was studying in Australia, Tham now dances for exercise. Tham and Teoh are the organizing committee members of the Championship. Some 500 couples are participating. (The Star)

Got Soul-soul Dance Has Soul

2011-11-21T00:18:00.002+08:00

Crazy hip hop mixes and pop hits dominated all sounds at The Spring shopping mall in Kuching, Sarawak as 17 talented groups gave their all to compete for a spot in the finals of the Borneo Street Dance Competition on November 13. There was chest popping, hair flinging, fancy shuffling footwoork, sensuous body swaying and even a little acrobatics on stage to wow the crowd. Organized by the Tourism Ministry, the competition aimed to promote tourism through dance as well as provide a platform for streetdancers to showcase their talent in a more positive tone.

The groups who performed were Bs Boys Crew, LightningX Vanity Crew, Exothermic Crew, Milkshake, Funky Crew, Flamo, FunkyWockeez Crew, One Motion, Wryneckz-Girl Crew, Croxxie Crew, Feasible Crew, Nightmare Galaxy, Stepholic, B-Freedom Crew, Got Soul-soul Dance, Heartbreak Kids and Spirit. Stomping to the beat, some of the groups even incorporated theatrical acts to add some zest to their performance.

After careful deliberation, the judges ruled Got Soul-soul Dance as the top performers. The group, attired in funky overalls, was also a crowd favourite with their pop and lock movements. Following closely behind was first runner-up Feasible Crew, who garnered huge cheers with their on-stage confidence and pulsating breakdancing spins. No surprise, since the group was on reality dance battle crew show "Showdown 2010". The second runner-up title was won by Stepholic whose moves showcased rhythm, vibrancy and a style of their own. All three winners go on to compete in the finals slated to take place in Labuan on November 28. (The Star)

Floor Work Exercises

2011-11-14T00:18:00.001+08:00

If you have taken up dancing, having never done it before, you will find yourself using muscles you are unaccustomed to. These will ache at first, however after time and exercise, you wil grow used to using them and build them up over time. Here are four exercises designed to strengthen these muscles.

1. Weight training - Dancers are incredibly strong and they need to be able to perform all the moves they do. Ballerinas for example, need strong arms and legs in order to be able to hold positions and poses for long periods of time. In order to build up your limb strength, it is an idea to do some basic weight training. Now we are not talking about massive dumb-bells here, but light weights that will gradually tone your legs, arms and back.

2. Yoga/Pilates - Your muscular core is used extensively in dance, and as such many dancers do pilates and or yoga to strengthen these muscles. By doing so, dancers are able to hold their bodies in positions longer as well as minimising risk of injury. Yoga and pilates also allow you to build up muscles you might not otherwise use.

3. Go swimming - Dancing not only works your muscles but also your cardio-vascular system. It is therefore important to make sure you regularly work your heart. Jogging or running are good options, but swimming is probably the best as it not only exercises every muscle, but is an excellent way to keep fit.

4. Stretching - Once you have worked all these muscles, the only way to improve your flexibility is to stretch these muscles. You can do this in every day life by taking longer strides, holding your stomach in and reaching out your arms as far as they go. By doing a series of stretching exercises before and after dance, you will reduce the chance of injury. (Article republished with kind permission of www.worldbellydancer.org)

Project Dance Penang

2011-10-31T00:18:00.004+08:00

Project Dance is a movement of dancers seeking to positively impact culture through artistic integrity. Its desire is to see every dancer nurtured to their fullest human potential for their own well being and their contribution to the world. It offers training, education and performance opportunities for dancers worldwide who desire to dance with integrity to inspire. Project dance was born 11 years ago out of a desire to serve the people of New York City directly after the events of September 11.

Each year, thousands of New Yorkers stop to watch the concert held on a temporary stage on the corner of 44th Street and Broadway. This event has also been replicated in other cities around the USA and internationally in Toronto, London, Hong Kong, Manila, Sydney and Brisbane. Project Dance is not a convention or competition but rather a life changing experience for dancers who desire to perform with integrity to inspire.

This year, Project Dance will be held in Malaysia for the first time. The event which will be hosted in Penang from December 9 to 11 is open to all dancers and dance enthusiasts. Master classes, workshops, motivational forums and a free all-day dance concert at Queensbay Mall are among the many exciting activities to be staged. Choreographers and dancers from the USA, South Korea, Nigeria, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia will be taking part in this event.

Dance genres that will be showcased in Project Dance Penang include Argentine tango, ballet, street dance, lyrical jazz, worship dance and Korean traditional dance. There will also be master classes on hip hop, popping, locking, bboy, krump, girlstyle, soul, lyrical jazz, contemporary, tap and theatre dance (Broadway style). For more information, call 012-4129272 or 012-4853272 or check out projectdancepenang.blogspot.com.

Pole Dancing Finesse

2011-10-24T00:18:00.002+08:00

Pole dancing to the music of a 20-piece live orchestra, including violins? Yes, says one Philippine pole dance troupe that seeks respect for its art and athleticism. Against the background of women around the world turning to pole dancing as a form of exercise, the Manila-based group Polecats proved at a recent week-end show that the performances are no longer only for strip clubs and sleazy bars - or just for women, either.

As the orchestra played classical-style arrangements of modern songs, dancers of both genders swung and climbed gracefully up 4m poles, combining flexibility, strength, and moves bordering on acrobatics, with sensuality. "You don't go to Cirque du Soleil to get turned on, although maybe you will, but I just want people to see that we're really good at what we do, and not just hot," said Christina Dy, the Polecat's director.

"Routines involving swings and twirls require balance, concentration and a high level of technical skills, and that is what audiences should appreciate," she added. "The group has gathered male performers, as well as male viewers, by focusing on the athletic aspects of performing," said Job Bautista, the first man to become a regular Polecats member. "Now here in the Philippines we're trying to promote the more acrobatic type of pole dancing, which we Polecats think is more suited to men," he said. (Reuters)

Ballrooms And Boardrooms

2011-10-17T00:18:00.001+08:00

Whenever I am free, I like to view websites that are related to dance. There are quite a few of such good websites out there in the internet. One of my favourites is nytimes.com where you can find news and reviews on dance happenings in the USA and all over the world. One article which I found very interesting and which was published on 6 August 2011 is titled "Ballrooms and Boardrooms" by Catherine Burzik, chief executive of Kinetic Concepts Inc, a wound care company in San Antonio. Catherine and her husband Frank, are both into competitive ballroom dancing. Below is an excerpt of the article.

"I've been married to Frank Burzik, my high school sweetheart, for 40 years. We met while roller-skating when I was about 13. We have always liked to dance socially; we used to go to the Rainbow Room in Manhattan. We now go ballroom dancing together. In fact, we just built a house with a ballroom in it. Ballroom dancing can teach you a lot about life and business. You can dance well only if you are connected, myself as the follower and my partner as leader. I have to intuit in fractions of seconds how to respond to a lead. So you learn to read a person's mind.

I talk to my people at work about ballroom dance, about how to be connected, and to be aware of musicality. In a business sense, this means learning a three-dimensional presentation of yourself that allows you to understand how to harmonize with others in the organization, as well as with customers and patients. It gives you the insight and intuition to anticipate and take initiative quickly, and then to follow through in an informed way. Once or twice a year, I invite my leadership committee members and their spouses over to my house and we dance. And they've turned out to like it. A few are even taking ballroom dance lessons now. I like to think it's my influence."

Hip Hop Fun & Thrills

2011-10-10T00:18:00.004+08:00

Local television station 8TV organised its second Showdown Street Fest 2011 recently in Petaling Jaya, Selangor at the I Utama Shopping Centre's open car park. Some 8,000 people attended the event which featured performances by the top dance crews of Showdown 2010 and Showdown 2011. Since its premiere, this street dance reality show has garnered a huge following that has taken the show to unexpected heights, breaking viewership records and bagging many awards. Thus, with the aim of giving back to the fans, 8TV held this free street fest so that hip hop enthusiasts get the chance to indulge themselves in street dance culture, meet and greet the Showdown crews and learn a thing or two from the genii of the craft.

The Showdown Street Fest 2011 featured an array of activities including career talks, shopping bazaars as well as performances by local artistes. Street dance gurus Sheena Cruz (of Philippines All Stars); Bboy Zen and Jackson 'Boogie J', along with expert on the mic, MC Vandal; turntable connoisseur DJ Krates; beat dropping maven Shazet and skilled graffiti artist Bone of Phobia Klik edified the tricks of their trade at their specified workshops. Meanwhile Marcus Tucker of the United States shared his thoughts in a career talk titled Hip Hop 4 Life. Referring to the Showdown Street Fest, Tucker said: "This is very educational. All the elements of hip hop are represented here."

Point Blanc, a representative of Malaysia's prominent hip hop group Poetic Ammo also added his input at the festival. Giving an insight into what hip hop was all about from a career perspective, he said: "A lot of the kids wanted to know how I got started and that's one of the things I shared with them." Hip hop enthusiasts were also entertained to the likes of a hip hop fashion show, two-on-two bboy battles, all styles one-on-one battles as well as a star-studded lineup of performances from Sona One, Hunny Madu, Shawn Lee, Nadhira, Shazet, SSK, Arabyd, Nigel Sparks featuring Point Blanc, Showdown 2011 dance troupes and others. (The Sun)

Bill Clinton Loves To Tango

2011-10-03T00:18:00.003+08:00

Think Chaz Bono is a polarising Dancing With The Stars contestant? It could have been a lot worse. Former US president Bill Clinton appeared on the Rachel Ray Show on September 20 and admitted he had been asked to compete on the hit dancing competition - but the grueling training regimen would have been too much for him.

Asked if he'd ever consider appearing on the show, Clinton said, "This is interesting. Actually, they contacted me once about this. And I told them I didn't have the time to train for it. You know, you actually have to go out there and train - you really work at it - so I had to pass. But I think it's a hoot."

But if he did have the time to put himself through the paces, Clinton is certain which dance he'd most like to take on. "I would like to master the tango," Clinton offered. "Just last night, Hillary said to me. You know, when I'm not Secretary of State anymore, we should take dance lessons." (Reuters)

There is something about tango which men find fascinating. Maybe it's the passionate character of the dance, the close hold or the music. Many think the tango is a difficult dance to master and shy away from learning it. Actually, of all the ballroom dances, the tango is the easiest to learn. So, for those who have always wanted to learn how to tango but were afraid to try - go for it!

Whither Dancesport In The Olympics?

2011-09-26T00:18:00.000+08:00

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a press release on 2 September 2011 announced that six cities have been put forward by their respective National Olympic Committees to apply to host the XXXII Olympiad in 2020. The cities in alphabetical order are: Baku (Azerbaijan), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), Madrid (Spain), Rome (Italy) and Tokyo (Japan). The Host City of the 2020 Olympic Games will be chosen at the 125th IOC session to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 7 September 2013.

In early July 2011, the IOC had also agreed on a shortlist of sports that will be considered for inclusion in the sports programme of the 2020 Olympiad. The sports are: baseball, karate, roller sports, softball, sports climbing, squash, wakeboard and wushu; one of which could be added to the 2020 sports programme to be voted on by the 125th IOC session. It would be great if squash is included in the Olympic Games, as Malaysia is strong in this sport and our chances of winning medals in this event is good.

Hopes for dancesport to be considered for inclusion in the Olympic Games have once again been dashed. In spite of the popularity of dancesport in nations like China, Japan, USA, Russia and the European Union; not much headway has been made. When will dancesport ever make it's way to the Olympics, if ever? The world dancing fraternity must put aside all politicking and work hard for dancesport to be made an Olympic event. Dancesport is now a medals event in the Asian Games and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Chan Pui Yi's Glee

2011-09-19T00:18:00.001+08:00

If there is one thing Chan Pui Yi (pic) loves to do more than anything, it has to be dancing. Play her some good music and Pui Yi would just dance circles around anyone. The 20-year-old girl simply loves to move. Pui Yi started learning classical ballet at age five, but quit when she turned 11. However, that doesn't mean she stopped dancing altogether. "I did hip hop dancing and cheerleading while in secondary school" says Pui Yi who has picked up several dance genres along the years. She is now into street jazz and contemporary dance and can even do burlesque.

This dancer has appeared on several TV commercials and has performed in local musicals such as Always In Wonderland and Prom The Musical. "I love to dance and am part of a dance group called Awesome. We perform at corporate functions and have even joined several dance competitions," says Pui Yi. Although she is occupied with her dance commitments, Pui Yi stresses that she still allocates time for her studies. Pui Yi is currently pursuing a degree in law and adds that she is also interested in obtaining a diploma in dance someday.

"I love studying law, it is something I wanted to study, and I enjoy it. But I also want to go overseas and get a proper diploma in dance," Pui Yi reveals. She is also very keen to establish herself as a dance choreographer and teacher. "I know that it is quite difficult to establish yourself as a dancer here. That is because very few people appreciate dance and there is no demand for it in Malaysia," she says. Nevertheless, Pui Yi feels that there is hope for one to make it as a dancer in Malaysia in the future. "You can still make it here, I know some people who have done well for themselves as choreographers," she adds. (The Star)

Into The Centre Of Dance

2011-09-12T00:18:00.000+08:00

Sutra Foundation is presenting Into The Centre, an international dance production celebrating the timeless spirit of both Eastern and Western dance traditions co-produced by Sutra Dance Theatre of Malaysia and Battery Dance Company of New York. The show is under the artistic direction of Ramli Ibrahim and Jonathan Hollander. It will feature a world premiere, revivals and repertory items performed by a cast of dancers from Malaysia and the USA. Four performances will be presented from 22 to 25 September 2011.

September 22 - Premiere and Gala Night

September 23 - Presented by Malaysian American Alumni Partnership and Fullbright Alumni Association of Malaysia

September 24 - Public Night

September 25 - Presented as Watsons Corporate Night

Venue: Auditorium DBKL, Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur

Entrance to Into The Centre performances is by invitation only

Enquiries: 603 4021 1092

Email: sutradancetheatre@yahoo.com

Website: sutrafoundation.org.my

The Sutra Foundation was established in 2007 to develop awareness of traditional and contemporary performing and visual arts, upholding the philosophy of nurturing a society that appreciates art, while embracing the nation's cultural diversity. Spearheaded by Ramli Ibrahim, one of the most accomplished artistes of his generation, the foundation is his legacy to Malaysia. The foundation encompasses Sutra Dance Theatre - where new choreography is crafted and performed; Sutra Academy - where future dancers are trained; and Sutra Gallery - where visual artists exhibit their works. All of these activities are concentrated in the premises of Sutra House, the foundation's nerve centre.

World Tango Championships 2011

2011-09-05T00:18:00.004+08:00

A Colombian couple was named winners of the salon tango category at the World Tango Championships 2011 held recently in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Staving off the challenge from 39 other couples in the finals, Diego Benavidez Hernandez and Natasha Agudelo Arboleda (pic) became the first Colombians to win the category at the tango competition. A jury of seven experts picked them over John Erban and Clarissa Sanchez from Venezuela after a dance-off between the two pairs. The third placing went to Brian Nguyen and Yuliana Basmajyan from the United States of America.

Twenty couples took part in the finals of the stage tango category. Argentina managed to salvage some pride when it's pair of Max Van de Voorde and Solange Acosta was crowned champions, and three other Argentinian couples took the second, third and fourth placings. "In the salon tango category, one grades the elegance, the timing, the form in which the motions and characteristic steps of salon tango are carried out," says Oscar Velazquez, a dancer who served as a judge in the semifinals. "In stage tango, one pays attention to the wardrobe, the choreography, the movement. One looks that the essence of tango in the contemporary dance isn't lost."

Some 500 couples from around the globe participated in this year's competition which was the ninth edition of the annual event. The Argentine tango was developed by the lower urban classes in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Uruguay in the Rio de Plata basin during the early 19th century. It slowly spread through all social classes of the region and then all over the world and became popular in Europe, the United States and Japan. In 2009, the Argentine tango was granted 'intangible cultural heritage' status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Flash Mob Glee In JB

2011-08-29T00:18:00.001+08:00

Shoppers at the KSL City shopping complex in Johor Bahru yesterday were surprised when about 150 fellow shoppers suddenly performed a synchronised dance in front of them. The flash mob danced to a hip hop dance song, Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO. The event organizer Lai Jia Yan, 26, said the activity was to promote street performing among youths in the state of Johor. "This is our third stop after we did the same routine at Sutera Mall and City Square, both also in JB. Our purpose is to encourage youths to express themselves in public through healthy activities such as dancing."

"We promoted the event through our Facebook page, where our followers learnt the dance moves through a video clip pasted on the group's page," Lai enthused. Lai, a lecturer, said the followers would then meet and dance at a random place and time posted on the page. "When we started the event in Batu Pahat a month ago, we only had about 30 participants, and I am happy that the number of participants have grown," she exclaimed, adding the participants were between 7 and 40 years old. Participant Tan Seok Yeow, 24, said he previously watched such flash mob events on the Internet. (The Star)

MyDance Festival 2011

2011-08-22T00:18:00.003+08:00

MyDance Alliance in partnership with Asia Dance Magazine and University of Malaya is presenting the MyDance Festival 2011 which will be held from September 9 to 25. The fourth MyDance Festival brings the exuberance of energy and dance to Kuala Lumpur. During this three-week festival, you can watch spectacular dancing as well as join in the many interesting workshops.

You can experience the mystery of butoh, the magic of classical Indian dance, the physical spectacle of contemporary dance or the beauty of ballroom dance. Challenge yourself with masterclasses by local and international artistes. Or begin your journey into dance with introductory workshops for children and adults, including dance film and photography as well as an academic conference of renowned dance scholars; this festival has something for everyone!

MyDance Festival 2011 "All In One" creates an unforgettable celebration of dance, from traditional to cutting edge, young talents to reputable artistes, showcasing local Malaysians as well as dancers from the Asia Pacific region. Witness the depth, drama and diversity of dance in Malaysia, all in one! For more information check out mydancefestival.net.

Yes You Can, Samantha Tan!

2011-08-15T00:18:00.003+08:00

Samantha Tan, 26, was born and raised in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Originally trained as a rhythmic gymnast, she made the late transition to dance at the age of 18 when she took up ballet, jazz and tap. Within a year of dance training, she had won the Encouragement Award at the 8th Solo Classical Ballet Competition 2004 in Kuala Lumpur. In 2006, she went to England to further her dance studies at the famed London Studio Centre where she graduated with a first class Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre dance.

Currently based in London, Tan made her West End debut at the original London cast of High School Musical in 2008 at the Hammersmith Apollo. She has acted in The King And I twice with two different companies - at the Royal Albert Hall in 2009 and at the Curve Leicester theatre early this year. Tan has also performed at the Brit Awards, danced in many stage shows in Britain and appeared in several television commercials. Other than that, this talented lady has even acted in two Harry Potter movies.

Tan has recently been accepted into the three-year Masters in Fine Arts acting programme at the prestigious Actors Studio Drama School in New York. Whilst she is thrilled with the opportunity that has come her way, she is at the same time saddled with the task of trying to raise the money for her lessons in the Big Apple. In order to raise the necessary funds, Tan has set up a blog (refer www.samanthatan.co.uk) and sent out appeals to several Malaysian individuals and companies to seek funds to help finance her studies.

The response to Tan's initiative has been encouraging, with donations totalling US3,700 from all over the world collected so far. Better Malaysia Foundation, which was founded by tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, awarded her a partial scholarship of US20,000 a year, which is more than half the annual tuition fees of US34,000 a year over three years to help defray her studies. With that donation, she needs another US45,000 in fees and an additional US50,000 for cost of living and other expenses in the US over three years.

Dirty Dancing Remake

2011-08-08T00:18:00.000+08:00

Hot on the heels of Footloose, Dirty Dancing has become the next '80s dance movie to be remade for the big screen. Entertainment group, Lionsgate, confirmed on August 8 it was remaking the 1987 film classic. The original movie starred Jennifer Grey as "Baby" Houseman, a teenager who falls for her holiday camp dance instructor, Johnny Castle played by Patrick Swayze, and becomes his student in dance and love. The film won Oscars for Best Music and Best Original Song. Kenny Ortega who choreographed the original movie was set to direct and produce the remake.

Ortega said: "The opportunity to direct Dirty Dancing is like returning home for me. Growing up in the '60s on the dance floor helped defined me as a person and as an artiste. I am looking forward to assemblying a great creative team and an exciting cast to bring Dirty Dancing to the screen for a new generation. Patrick Swayze set the bar for men dancing in the movies as Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire did before him. I believe everywhere you look, there is evidence that the talent is out there and I can't wait to begin the process of discovering the next breakout triple threat".

What is a triple threat? According to searches on the internet, a triple threat is a person who is adept in three different fields or in three different skills in the same field. In American football it refers to a player skilled in running, kicking and passing. In entertaintment, it relates to an artiste who can act, sing and dance well; for example Jennifer Lopez. In the movie Shall We Dance?, starring Jennifer Lopez as a dance teacher and Richard Gere as her student, she did dance the waltz and tango quite admirably. That cannot be said of Richard Gere who looked like he had two left feet.

Gatsby Dance Competition 2011 Auditions

2011-08-01T00:18:00.001+08:00

Dancers, listen up! The Gatsby Dance Competition is returning for the fourth time. If you're a student who is into b-boying, popping and locking or modern dance, this is the competition for you! The competition is open to all students in Malaysia, and from seven other countries: Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and Thailand. Think about it, if you make it past the Malaysian Finals, you might just get to dance off with students from these countries - and in Japan too.

Auditions will be held in several locations around the country - Johor Baru (Oct 15), Penang (Oct 22), Kota Kinabalu (Oct 29) and Kuala Lumpur (Nov 5). Shortlisted candidates from each venue will automatically qualify for the Malaysian Finals, which will be held on Jan 14, 2012. All you need to do to join the competition is - apart from knowing how to dance - to download a 'theme song' from the list given at the Gatsby Dance Competition Malaysia facebook page to practice to. Then, head to any of the 'recruitment drive' venues.

If you can't make it to the venues, worry not, because you can also upload your videos to the facebook page, where fans will vote for their favourite clips. Participants with the most number of 'likes' for their video clips will also qualify for the finals. Here's the best part- the Malaysian champion will go on an all-expenses paid trip for the final showdown against winners from seven other countries in the Asia Grand final in Japan on March 10. 2012. (The Star)

Waltz With Love 2011

2011-07-25T00:18:00.002+08:00

On the evening of July the 16th, 376 Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) students literally waltzed in to the Malaysia Book Of Records at the Utar Perak Campus in Kampar. Led by Wincent Ch'ng, the students took six months to organise the gargantuan record breaking event. The large cafeteria at the Student Pavilion was converted into a ballroom for the event.

Themed "Waltz With Love 2011", the evening started with a series of performances by students before 188 couples took their positions and moved synchronously and gracefully to David Cook's waltz piece, The Times Of Our Lives, for the feat. "It's good to see undergraduates nowadays being so proactive, and this reflects their strong commitment towards the university" said Malaysia Book Of Records official Zul Hairi, after presenting the certificate for the largest participation in a waltz dance to Wincent to confirm the record.

"Waltz is not a culture in Malaysia. I'm really happy to see so many Utarians who are brave enough to step out of the norm (to participate in the event)," said Wincent. "I'm very pleased to know that our undergraduates can work together to achieve something of this magnitude," said Utar vice-president (Student development And Alumni Relations) Dr Teh Chee Seng. (The Sun)

F&N Big Fun Fest 2011

2011-07-18T00:18:00.000+08:00

Tourists and shoppers who came as spectators turned into performers and all had a great time dancing at the busy intersection of Jalan Bukit Bintang and Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur as hundreds of motorists whizzed past the area. Despite the Sunday afternoon drizzle, tourists and even some local teenagers were thrilled with the use of multi-media technology "augmented reality" to enhance the feeling of participation in the F&N Big Fun Fest 2011 preview. The Big Fun Fest is back for the second year running and this time with the aim of introducing the biggest dance flash mob in Malaysia with the use of augmented reality.

F&N is blurring the line between the virtual and real worlds, with the integration of realtime interactive graphics into a live video stream. In doing so, passive shoppers passing by the busier parts of Kuala Lumpur get roped in as active performers. It enables the people to interact with characters in their own environment. F&N Malaysia brand marketing assistant general manager Jenny Wong said the screen was placed strategically at the intersection and this allowed passers-by to experience and interact with augmented reality dancers in a specially choreographed dance. It will be performed by a flashmob on July 23 at the same intersection.

Wong explained that augmented reality referred to a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment that contained elements augmented by computer-generated sensory input, such as graphics. "As a result, the technology enhances one's current perception of reality. In contrast, virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one," she said. "We want everyone in the Bukit Bintang area walking past the screen to learn the moves and join us in creating the biggest flashmob the city has ever seen," she added. (NB: the flashmob performance on July 23 has been postponed to a date to be announced later) ( The Star)

Elecoldxhot Is Hot!

2011-07-11T00:18:00.000+08:00

Five-member Elecoldxhot danced their way into the hearts of the audience at 8TV's Showdown 2011 finale at i-City, Shah Alam on July 6, taking home a cool RM50,000. Comprising Ooi Kok Wei, Yin Zhen Huang, Yap Jin Hou, Ang Joo Yee and Lin Yit Zhou, they emerged victorious in the final battle against HMC Phlow. "We came to win and we're glad that all our efforts over the past six months paid off, so it was all worth it" said Yin. Ooi chipped in "We are thinking of competing at international level with our target being the World Hip Hop Dance Competition.

Elecoldxhot will be taking a week off to enjoy their hard-earned prize money. Yin said "We will definitely have a good holiday now that we are each richer by RM10,000." Mixing dance moves influence by American superstars Justin Timberlake and the late Michael Jackson to South Korean sensation Rain, the Elecoldxhot quintet were clearly a class above the other dance finalists namely, HMC Phlow, Rokusteps and Bounce Stepperz.

Elecoldxhot convincingly won with their every performance, and delivered their best choreography during songs like In For The Kill (by British duo La Roux) and Welcome To My Hood (by American trio DJ Khaled, T-Pain and Busta Rhymes). Rokusteps was eliminated after the first round for having the least text votes. Next to leave was Bounce Stepperz after their stellar performance failed to garner enough votes for the final face-off. (The Malay Mail)

Second ISTD 2011 Malaysia Workshop

2011-06-27T00:18:00.002+08:00

Yvonne Taylor-Hill, member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Council and Chairman of the Disco/Freestyle/Rock 'n' Roll Faculty will be in Malaysia in August 2011 to conduct a 'continuation' workshop for all dance teachers. This is the second ISTD workshop conducted since the beginning of 2011 and will be followed by another one in October. Details are as follows:-

Venue

GC Conference Suite @ GC Building Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, Shah Alam, Selangor

Dates

August 5 - Ballroom and Latin professional lectures
Fees: RM 100 for ISTD members, RM 150 for non-members

August 7 - Ballroom and Latin professional lectures
Fees: RM 100 for ISTD members, RM 150 for non-members

August 8 - Country and Western professional lectures (Covers full syllabus)
Fees: RM 300 for ISTD members, RM 400 for non-members

Time 9.30 am to 6.00 pm (one hour lunch break)

Private lessons at 50 Sterling Pounds per hour at your premises are available on August 6, 9 & 10.

For registration or more information, kindly contact Nelly Tsen at 6012-2848088 or Lim Sae Min at 6012-2030107.

MDSB Malaysia National Championships 2011

2011-06-20T00:18:00.002+08:00

Malaysian Dancesport Berhad (MDSB) is organizing the MDSB Malaysia National Championships 2011 (MDSB Challenge Trophy). Further details of the competition is as follows:-

Date: 6th August 2011 (Saturday)

Venue: Thean Hou Temple, Kuala Lumpur

Time: 12.00 noon to 11.30 pm

Events: Ballroom ~ Standard & Latin - Malaysia Amateur Close, Amateur Rising Star, Pre-Amateur, Novice I, Novice II, Senior Over 45, Junior Under 16, Juvenile Under 12, Ladies Events, Solo Open, Solo Under 12, Solo Under 8

Participation: Open to all Malaysians

Closing date for entries: 25th July 2011

A challenge trophy will be awarded to the champions of the Malaysia Amateur events (Standard and Latin sections). They are allowed to retain the challenge trophy till the next MDSB Championship. The challenge trophy will be given to the champions who have won 3 consecutive championships organized by MDSB. For more information, kindly email: malaysiandancesport@gmail.com or contact Janet Lim @ 012-3233839, Jovy Wong @ 012-3112203, Chong Kim Yee @ 012-2215727.

Pole Star - Malaysia Pole Championship 2011

2011-06-13T00:18:00.002+08:00

The finals of the Pole Star - Malaysia Pole Championship 2011, organised by Viva Vertical was held at the Black Box Theatre in Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur on June 12. A total of 14 finalists - 12 ladies and 2 guys, competed in the Exotic Pole, Fit Pole, Duo Pole and Ultimate Pole categories. The competitors who came from various pole dance schools in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru and Klang were judged on their performances based on technical ability, artistic interpretation and presentation.

The exotic pole title was won by Amy Lim Mei Wei. The 29 year old Amy, who is a sales manager with EC Management Sdn Bhd in Petaling Jaya, said "I have been learning and practising pole dance for ten months." The fit pole crown went to Yong Ye Yee, 18, a former student of SMJK Hwang Hwa, Klang. Ye Yee said "I have been dancing since I was 14 and was the Asia Pacific Champion in the hip hop solo event held at the Shangrila Hotel in Kuala Lumpur in 2009."

Lim Xiu Yen (pic) captured three titles - one with crowd favourite Adam Tan in the ultimate pole, another in the duo category with Kitt Goh, and was also named "Most Popular Dancer" of the meet. The 28 year old Xiu Yen who was sporting a spiky Mohican style hairdo performs professionally in the Klang Valley. She started learning jazz, hip hop and Latin American dances when she was 20 and only picked up pole dancing fifteen months ago.

Adam is a 20 year old, second year Diploma in ICT student at International Inti College in Subang Jaya who has a passion for dance, gymnastics and pole acrobatics. The delighted youngster said, "I discovered my love of dance with hip hop four years ago and in 2008 was introduced to pole dancing in my local studio." At the International Pole Dance Fitness Championship 2010 held recently on 9 December in Tokyo, Adam took home a championship title in the Pole Art men's category.

The tall and slim Kitt Goh performed a flexible routine in the duo pole with Lim Xiu Yen which enthralled the spectators. Kitt, who was a former Perak state high jump champion, showed tremendous strength, stamina and agility which complemented well with Xiu Yen's flexibility and grace. Chief judge Anna Przeplasko who was impressed with the women's performance, instantly awarded a wild card for the pair to compete in the qualifiers at next year's International Pole Championship.

B-boys, Can They Dance!

2011-06-06T00:18:00.002+08:00

Two local b-boy teams - Giller Battle Crew and Famous Crew are representing Malaysia at the R16 Southeast Asia Finals to be held at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on June 11, starting at 8 pm. This is the regional spin-off of the R16 World B-Boy Masters Championship which sees dance crews from different regions pitting their b-boying skills against each other. The R16 Southeast Asia finals will see the two Malaysian teams competing against six other b-boy crews from Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam for the chance to represent Southeast Asia in the world championship in Seoul, Korea on July 2 and 3.

Giller Battle Crew and Famous Crew had earlier edged out 13 other local crews to earn the opportunity to represent Malaysia. Organised by the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) in conjunction with visit Korea Year 2010-2012, the event is presented by LG Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd and managed by GFW Urban Youth Sdn Bhd. The R16 World B-boy Masters Championship is an annual tournament by KTO aimed at enhancing the quality of dance and promoting urban cultural exchange among youths in the Asian region. It is supported by the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The championship showcases 16 b-boy crews representing 15 countries competing in a two-day tournament for titles in two categories: best crew performance and best crew battle.The festival also features graffiti artistes, street wear designers, musical performers and dancers who specialise in hip hop, popping, locking and other urban arts subcultures from South Korea and other countries. Since its inception in 2007, the global competition has attracted participation from more than 300 artistes, musicians and dancers. (Sourced from The Sun)

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Breakdancers Take Midnight Break

2011-05-30T00:18:00.001+08:00

Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur has become a popular spot for breakdancing at nights, with young adults showing off their skills in front of the Tune Hotel. When The Malay Mail passed by the area last Thursday, we saw more than a dozen b-boys and b-girls (as breakdancers are called) being watched by a big crowd of appreciative onlookers. Among the breakdancers was 24-year-old Westkarnain Mohd Yassin from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. "Breakdancing is very challenging as one makes full use of the body," said Westkarnain, adding that he first took it up when he was 14.

"This American dance is also considered an extreme sport and it's good that it has also been recognised by our Youth and Sports Ministry." added Westkarnain. Also known as B-boying, breakdancing is a street dance created by African-Americans in New York City as part of hip hop culture and became a rage from the 1980s. "In Malaysia, breakdancing was also popularised by local groups such as KRU, Nico and 4U2C in the 1990s," said Westkarnain. Among Westkarnain's breakdancing buddies was 18-year-old Sazaly Hasgli who is also from Kota Kinabalu.

"I recently competed in a breakdancing contest in a local reality TV programme and want to improve my skills in order to compete at an international level and make my family proud," remarked Sazaly. On weekends, Westkarnain and Sazaly, who both reside in Ampang here, would perform breakdancing in Bintang Walk in Jalan Bukit Bintang. "Sazaly and I plan to open a breakdancing studio in Kota Kinabalu during the next five years," said Wetkarnain. Meanwhile they will continue to rule at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Bintang Walk by night. (Sourced from The Malay Mail)

South Korea Hosts Argentine Tango Festival

2011-05-23T00:18:00.004+08:00

The sultry South American tango is winning a big following in South Korea, and Seoul's third festival celebrating the passionate dance drew an international cast of enthusiasts. Dancers from Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Canada and Argentina got into the swing with scores of Koreans for the Seoul Tango festival from May 5-9.

"I didn't know so many dancers would come from so many places.... it's surprising to see such a huge tango festival here in Korea", said businesswoman Lee Chae -Won, 27, who has just begun learning the dance. But she is already under the sway of the tango and understands the attraction. "I think there's some sort of emotional interaction with the partner, and it soothes my heart when I dance the tango," she said.

"It's the indescribable interaction with the partner," said another local dancer, Ma Sang-Heun, 31, a Seoul elementary school teacher. "It feels as if I am whispering secret words." Tango took off in South Korea only about a decade ago but has grown rapidly in popularity, expanding from Seoul to other cities including Daegu and Busan which have studios dedicated to the dance. - AFP

KLDA Holds 29th AGM

2011-05-16T00:18:00.005+08:00

Some 40-odd members of the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) attended its 29th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Wisma OCM on May 8. The outgoing president, C C Lai, in his address spoke of the many trials and tribulations the KLDA had gone through all these years. He thanked the executive committee for a job well done in working together to overcome the obstacles, and in the effective management of the KLDA.

Lai talked about the many fund raising events held during his tenure. Monies collected from these events were channeled to charity and also to the scholarship fund for youth members of the KLDA. The dance teachers at the KLDA, Dean Craig Kim and Eric Tan See Ming were also praised for their dedication and contribution. In winding up his speech, Lai mentioned the 'legacy' of the KLDA, which he summed up as:

1) Two elegant dance halls in the centre of Kuala Lumpur

2) Available cash fund of RM138,092

3) Good potential for growth

4) Free of encumbrances and liabilities

The following were elected to the executive committee for the 2011/2013 term:-

President - Calvin Ong

Vice President - Joseph Wong

Secretary - Kathy Leong

Vice Secretary - Schlaine Wong

Treasurer - Grace Chan

Vice Treasurer - Jane Ong

Committee Members -

1) Wong Beng Choo

2) Kay Leong

3) Villy Chai

4) Kelly Choo

5) Lee Yip Seng

6) Wilson Chew

7) Tan Wei Nam

Nick Demoura Conducts Workshop In Malaysia

2011-05-09T00:18:00.003+08:00

The next time you hear parents advising their children that dancing is no way to make a decent living, tell them about performer and dance instructor Nick Demoura. From dancing in family functions to choreographing routines for celebrities and Hollywood projects, the energetic 23-year-old has come a long way to garner the experience for the high-profile jobs he has been taken on. The Boston-native is currently touring with pop sensation Justin Bieber on his world tour, where he coaches the singer and his back-up dancers.

Demoura was in Kuala Lumpur with the Justin Bieber concert crew on April 20. Although he was in town for just about 40 hours, he managed to conduct a workshop for finalists of 8TV's dance reality show Showdown 2011. The dance maestro was all serious when giving pointers to the participants who were busy chattering. "If you want to talk, be a politician" Demoura says sharply to the group. Immediately a hush fell over the dance studio, but the scenario was repeated a few times, necessitating a few more chidings from the strict instructor.

This says a few things about the artiste: he's focused, determined and disciplined. It also explains his success at his young age. Demoura was inspired by the legendary Michael Jackson as well as other industry giants of the golden era of Hollywood such as Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse. At 15, he started travelling to Atlanta and Los Angeles for dance workshops since there weren't many avenues in Boston where he lived. It was about this time when he decided to pursue dancing as a career. His mother was alright with the idea but his businessman father did not take it too well. (Sourced from The Star).

Meet The 'Showdown 2011' Finalists

2011-05-02T00:18:00.004+08:00

The auditions for Showdown 2011 were held in January in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur and in Kuching, Sarawak. Hundreds of dance crews participated in the auditions, out of which 34 teams were selected to take part in the Battles event. After a series of elimination rounds, 12 teams were selected to enter the finals where they will fight it out to see who becomes the champion and take home the cash prize of RM50,000. Showdown 2011 is being aired over 8TV every Wednesday at 9.30 pm. The 12 finalists and their hometowns are:

Bounce Stepperz (BQS), Kuala Lumpur

Elecoldxhot (ECX), Kuala Lumpur

Force 136 (FRC), Kuala Lumpur

HMC Phlow (HMC), Kuala Lumpur

Panic (PNC), Kuala Lumpur

Rokusteps (RKS), Kuala Lumpur

Soulution (SOL), Kuala Lumpur

Blazin Squad (BSQ), Kuala Kangsar, Perak

E.G.S. Monster (EGS), Muar, Johor

Borneo Crew (BRC), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Dejavu Breakerz (DVB), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah,

Stepholic (STP), Kuching, Sarawak

Poco Poco Gets Okay

2011-04-25T00:18:00.000+08:00

Malaysians will be allowed to perform a controversial "poco-poco" line dance after top clerics ruled that its benefits to health outweigh concerns about taste and decency. The decision came after a mufti in the predominantly Muslim nation outlawed the dance in his state, saying it amounted to cult practices and that its crossed-shaped movements was associated with Christianity. However, Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the country's National Fatwa Council said Islamic clerics had decided against a ban, paving the way for its free use.

"If they can adhere to the regulations...and if it can bring about positive impact to the health, then we have no objection on that matter," he was quoted by Bernama news agency after chairing a special meeting Friday. Muslim women, however, have been reminded to not wear sexy clothes or mix freely with men while dancing. Harussani Zakaria, an elderly mufti from the state of Perak declared the "poco-poco" dance violated Islamic law and banned it. Regardless of the Fatwa Council's decision the dance will remained banned in Perak as matters pertaining to Islam are covered by local law.

In Malaysia, many adults and children take part in the dance, which is considered a recreational activity to keep fit. More than 60 percent of the nation's 28 million population are Muslim Malays and other faiths have expressed concerns of creeping Islamisation in this multi-racial country. Norazliza Alias, a dance instructor said her students were mainly women who just "love to sweat with poco-poco movements and music. The dance I teach is not linked to any religion. My clients really have fun, with mothers bringing in their sons and daughters to join in," she said.

Clerics Ban Poco Poco Dance

2011-04-18T00:18:00.001+08:00

Islamic clerics in a Malaysian state want Muslims to avoid a dance they claim has Christian influences.

The "poco poco" is a line dance that is common in social events in Muslim-majority Malaysia. It is widely thought to have originated in Indonesia.

Islamic scholars in Malaysia's Perak state say they believe the "poco poco" is traditionally a Christian dance and that its steps make the sign of the cross.

State cleric Harussani Idris Zakaria said Friday the scholars have issued an edict forbidding the dance. It is not clear if other states will ban it.

Some Muslims insist the ban is unnecessary. Malaysian clerics have also banned yoga for Muslims and barred girls from behaving like tomboys, but the edicts are not legally binding. (AP)

'Super Dancers' To Battle It Out

2011-04-11T00:18:00.002+08:00

A quintet of dance teams from Penang will square off against the Klang Valley's best for the ultimate title of 'Super Dancer' at The Mines in Seri Kembangan, Selangor on April 17. Of the 19 teams battling it out in the Super Dancers Competition 2011 Selection 2 in Gurney Plaza, Penang, on Sunday, only five remained standing at the end of an exhilarating and intense contest.

D' VolCrew, D' Versatile, Danzity, Floor digital and Eupho Girls were all optimistic of making an impact in the grand finals, where they will be joined by five qualifiers from Selection 1 held earlier at The Mines. For the grand finals, all 10 teams will each need to come up with a specially-choreographed routine according to a theme drawn at the end of each regional selection.

For the finals, well-known Taiwanese hip hop dancer Bmouth will be among the judges, while another, Manchuker, is set to emcee the event. At stake are cash and prizes amounting to RM22,000. Be sure to catch this event at The Mines on April 17. For more information please check out SuperDancersCompetition at Facebook. ( Sourced from The Star ).

MDSB Beginners Ballroom Dance Competition 2011

2011-04-04T00:18:00.002+08:00

Malaysia Dancesport Berhad (MDSB) is organizing the inaugural MDSB Beginners Ballroom Dance Competition 2011 in conjunction with its fourth MDSB Dinner & Dance. Further details of the competition is as follows:-

Venue: Royal Lake Club, Jalan Cenderamulia, Taman Tasek Perdana, 50480 Kuala Lumpur

Date: 15th May 2011

Time: 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm

Events: Ballroom ~ Standard & Latin - Rainbow 8 and below, Juvenile 8 to 12, Junior 12 to 16, Adult 16 to 49, Senior 50 and above

Partnering: Couples can be Man with Lady or Lady with Lady

Participation: Open to all Malaysians

Closing date for entries: 1st May 2011

Entry fees: RM125 per person (inclusive of dinner)

MBSB reported in a communique: "The Beginners Ballroom Dance Competition is held with the main purpose of building a large core of competitors from the foundation level. We wish to focus on this level of dancers from all age groups as we feel that with a large number of competitors at this level, we would be able to nurture more dancers of high caliber in the future."

It further added: "We are also launching the 2011 MDSB Membership Drive campaign to encourage all teachers, parents and students of dancesport and all other disciplines to sign up as MDSB members. We sincerely wish and welcome members to contribute ideas and participate actively in our activities benefiting dance teachers, students, competitors and parents alike."

For more information on the Dinner & Dance and Competition, kindly log on to www.mdsb-my.blogspot.com or call Chong Kim Yee at 012-2215727, Josephine Siow at 012-2186463 or email malaysiandancesport@gmail.com.

Dine And Dance For Earth Hour

2011-03-21T00:18:00.000+08:00

Whether dancing in the dark or having a nice dinner by solar-powered light, choose to reduce your energy consumption during Earth Hour on March 26. To mark the occasion, WWF Malaysia will be organizing a huge dance event called "Dance In The Dark" at Sunway Pyramid in Petaling Jaya. Participants will take part in the 'flashmob' and dance to the Paul Simon song The Lion Sleeps Tonight at the Oasis Boulevard from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

WWF Malaysia communications unit manager Suan Tan said it had initiated the "Live Green: One Switch At A Time" pledge, which aims to promote sustainable living beyond just Earth Hour. "Those who purchase an Earth Hour T-shirt and sign our pledge will get a free glow-in-the-dark armband," she said, adding that all proceeds will go to WWF Malaysia's conservation work.

Meanwhile, those without dinner plans should head over to Ikea for some Swedish meatballs whilst dining by the light of its Sunnan solar-powered table lamp. All proceeds collected during Earth Hour will also be donated to WWF Malaysia's conservation and outreach efforts. The Ikea building facade and external lights will be turned off from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm. (Sourced from The Star)

Flashmob Dance For Charity

2011-03-14T00:18:00.000+08:00

Inspired by the Girl Effect movement spreading around the world, Malaysian teenager Aisyhy Vimal will perform flashmob dances in four venues in the Klang Valley to raise funds for the movement created by the Nike Foundation. Her first flashmob dance will take place on March 31 at 8.00 pm at Starbucks in Bangsar Village 2 in Kuala Lumpur, and one of the sponsors is Live & Inspire magazine, said Aisyhy, 14, a performing arts student at a dance academy. Also confirmed is a performance at 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya on April 20. Two other shows are likely to take place at Pavilion KL and at Bangsar Village 2 again.

In a flash mob dance which is particularly popular in the United States, a group of strangers breaks into a dance spontaneously and when the music stops, the dance also stops and the crowd disperses. "I started thinking about doing something for the less-fortunate while doing my geography homework when I learnt that 80% of the world's population live in poverty," said Aisyhy, who credits her mother and elder sister for encouraging her. "Then I came across this organization called Girl Effect which encourages teenage girls to help the poverty-stricken in the developing world."

Girl Effect receives financial and intellectual contributions from NoVo Foundation and Nike Inc and its key partners include the United Nations Foundation and Coalition for Adolescent Girls. "For 14-year-0lds like me, the hardest thing is passing our school exams but there are many unfortunate girls our age who are victims of child labour, child marriages, teen pregnancies and unwanted diseases," said Aisyhy who has also created a Facebook page which has generated a growing fan base. Her page can be viewed at facebook.com/girleffect.flashmob. (Sourced from The Malay Mail).

Related Post

> Flash Mob Dance Craze Hits Malaysia

Country Dancing In NY

2011-02-28T00:18:00.004+08:00

The sound of fiddles and foot stomping may be the last thing you expect to hear at the Chinatown YMCA. Nevertheless, every weekend Country Dance New York turns the basketball courts in to a country dance hall filled with jigs, reels and plenty of swinging your partner. Make no mistake: this is not square-dancing. These patterned formations, with couples weaving in and out, have a history rooted in English folk dance.

Country Dance New York uses two varieties: English Country which travelled to the United States with the colonists (see Bingley's ball in BBC's "Pride And Prejudice") and its less traditional American cousin, the contradance, which plays fast and loose with music and movement) much like Scarlett's scandalous dance at the wartime charity ball in "Gone With The Wind").

Though their popularity may have peaked in the 1800s. the organization has managed to keep the dances alive in the city for more than 50 years, with weekly English nights on Tuesdays and contras on Saturdays. And, this Sunday, precision and passion will take the floor at the group's Yuletide Cotillion, one of a handful of evenings for seasoned English dancers to strut their stuff, or rather chasse in soft soled shoes.

David Chandler, president of the group, said that he loves the English style for its complexity and variety, but that he also loves contra because he gets to swing his partner, and right now "that's what the modern taste is." Adapting to modern tastes may be one reason the group has seen a rise in younger over the last five years. Less traditional music, new choreography and even social changes keep the membership evolving. (NYT)

Have Computer Will Dance

2011-02-21T00:18:00.000+08:00

With the advent of Youtube and shareware, Kenny Teh can put his dances on the internet. So far, he has choreographed about 80 line dances. His home computer is switched on 24 hours a day so that he can respond to requests and queries as fast as possible. His latest dances can thus be downloaded, viewed and taught all over the world. Many groups have used his performances, workshops, competitions, parties and demonstrations. This is the astonishing feat of Teh, a self-taught line dancing instructor and choreographer, born and bred in Taiping, Perak.

The accolades pour in from as far as the United States, Britain, France, South Africa, Indonesia and Singapore. Teh is moving away from choreographing dances which incorporate western music. He is now coming up with dances to suit Chinese, Malay, Filipino or Indonesian music requested by his students. One of his favourites is the Cha Cha Cha with its well-defined rhythm and easy-to-follow beat. Teh's repertoire of original dances ranges from fast Latin numbers like Cico Cico and simple beginner dances like Secret Admirer to complex, multi-phased, intermediate dances like Bahama Mama.

Teh, a trim and fit retiree, had worked as a school teacher for a few years before he was seconded to the computer section of the Education Department in Taiping. Initially, he was interested in ballroom dancing and was only introduced to line dancing many years later. He bought dance tapes from Singapore and found them easy to follow. "So, I started teaching members of the Chinese Recreation Club as I was then the chairman of its dance section. As I began to conduct more line dance sessions, I found that many of the dances were not that challenging so I started choreographing dances to my own liking," he said. ( The Star)

ISTD 2011 Malaysia Workshops

2011-02-14T00:18:00.002+08:00

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and the Malaysian Ballroom Dance Teachers Berhad (MBDTB) is jointly organizing two dance teacher workshops this weekend. The workshops will be conducted by Richard Hunt, Vice Chairman of the ISTD Modern Ballroom Faculty & Imperial Dance and Dance Sport Faculties Board. Among the lectures to be covered will be popular Latin American and Ballroom dance variations.

The workshops, which are open to ALL professional dance teachers will be held at the Conference Suite at GC Building Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, 7 Jalan Perintis U1/52, Kawasan Perindustrian Temasya, Bandar Glenmarie, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor. Richard Hunt will also be available for private lessons. Additionally; ISTD Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship training can be arranged.

Latin American Teachers Workshop

Date: 19 February 2011 (Saturday)

Time: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm

Fees: ISTD Qualified Teachers - RM100, Other Professional Teachers - RM150

Ballroom Teachers Workshop

Date: 20 February 2011 (Sunday)

Time: 9.00 am to 6.00 pm

Fees: ISTD Qualified Teachers - RM100, Other Professional Teachers - RM150

For registration or further information kindly contact Lim Sae Min at 012-2030107, Chong Kim Yee at 012-2215727 or Nelly Tsen at 012-2848088.

Charity Line Dance

2011-02-07T00:18:00.001+08:00

Do your part for charity and dance to your heart's content at the 1Caring Heart Charity Line Dance and CNY 2011 celebrations on February 20 at the ground floor main concourse at Subang Avenue in Subang Jaya. Jointly organized by four organizations namely Selangor Multi Cultural Dance Society, Wanita MCA PJ Selatan, Persatuan Keturunan Lim Subang Jaya and Persatuan Kemajuan Wanita PJ Selangor, the event scheduled from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm, will be launched by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

A portion of the proceeds from ticket collection will be allocated to charity homes for women, disabled and mentally-ill rehabilitation centres such as Women Aids Organisation, Persatuan Permulihan Orang Orang Cacat Selangor & WP and Malaysian Mental Health Organization. The organizers hope that this would provide a platform for line dance aficionados to come together and have fun. More than 80 dance tracks will be selected for the event such as Come Dance With Me, Under The Sun, Let Me Dance, Matahariku and Sway Me Now.

There are two types of tickets. For RM18, you can buy the normal ticket that entitles participants to one lunch box while the Special Ticket, priced at RM50 entitles participants to a CNY Yee Sang lunch. Both tickets include a goodie bag of one bottle of mineral water and a treatment voucher from One Community Worldwide Sdn Bhd worth RM100. For ticket enquiries, contact the organizing committee: 012-3870321 (Emily Mah), 012-2971626 (Sharon Lam), 012-2866338 (Jenny Low), 012-6910682 (Annie Low) or 016-2107628 (Soo Wong). (Sourced from The Star)

Jackson Chua Wins Malaysia Gatsby Styling Dance Contest

2011-01-31T00:18:00.003+08:00

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.

Big Turnout At KLDA Open House

2011-01-24T00:18:00.001+08:00

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

2011-01-17T00:18:00.002+08:00

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

2011-01-10T00:18:00.002+08:00

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

2011-01-03T00:18:00.000+08:00

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.

Countdown To New Year 2011

2010-12-27T00:18:00.001+08:00

Ambank Group will be organizing a concert at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on December 31 to usher in the New Year 2011. The countdown concert, titled Ambang 2011 will begin at 8.45 pm. The artistes who will be making an appearance include Datuk David Arumugam (formerly of The Alleycats), Pop Shuvit, M. Nasir, Ramlah Ram, Amy of Search, Pop Idol 2 winner Daniel Lee, The Singing Shop and bhangra group Gold Kartz.

Cultural performances have been planned as well. Dancers from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be performing the 1Malaysia and other Malay traditional dances. CN Dancez will be doing Chinese folk dances while Vehaara Arts will be putting up Indian contemporary dances. Not to be sidelined, the Mah Meri orang asli will be showcasing their aborigine dances. The DBKL Orchestra will be in attendance to provide the musical accompaniment.

Many VIPs will be attending this gala event. Amongst them is philanthropist Tan Sri Azman Hashim, the chairman of Ambank Group. Tan Sri Azman, who has a keen interest in music is expected to go up on stage to croon a song or two to entertain the crowd and also lead the countdown to the new year. The Ambang 2011 concert will be telecast live over TV2 from 10.15 pm to 1.15 am. Have a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2011!

1Malaysia Dance Carnival Attracts Throng

2010-12-20T00:18:00.001+08:00

Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur was turned into a huge dance floor on Sunday morning, December 5, when 15000 people from all walks of life, including foreigners, tool part in the Cuti Cuti 1Malaysia dance carnival organised by the Tourism Ministry. Participants included Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister, and Tourism Minister, Datin Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Attired in colourful T-shirts, the crowd danced in unison, collectively forming a beautiful mass movement.

The dance carnival, held for the second time after the successful staging last year, has been recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest dance troupe ever assembled in this country. "Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia dance carnival was introduced by the Ministry of Tourism last year and many people from around the world witnessed it as our dancers performed this at the Malaysia Pavilion in the recent Shanghai World Expo 2010 where about seven million people visited our expo" said Dr Ng.

"The carnival is a creative and innovative product to boost the tourism industry which is one of the government's New Key Economic Areas." She said the dance carnival incorporated seven dances representing the country's multi-culturalism: Zapin, Chinese dance, Indian dance, Sewang, Sabahan dance, Sarawakian dance and Malaysian Siamese dance.

Professional trainers from the Malaysian Folk Dance Association and the Ministry of Tourism spent two months instructing participants on the seven dances. Participants include staff of various government agencies, representatives of non-governmental organisations, students from schools and universities and those from the United States. Australia and Germany. (The Malay Mail)

SHOWDOWN 2011

2010-12-13T00:18:00.000+08:00

Dubbed as the best dance crew competition in the history of Malaysian television, SHOWDOWN 2011 is back for its second season. Once again, the nation's most eminent dancers from around the country will battle it out for the ultimate dance supremacy. Getting down with these crews as they krump, pump and drop the coolest moves on the dance floor, this hip reality dance crew show is all about taking it raw from the streets.

Aiming to bring street dance out of the shadows and into the spotlight while giving it the respect and attention it deserves, SHOWDOWN 2011 will provide drama and enough exciting twists to get the viewers hooked every week. Besides that, the electrifying hip hop and fusion dance styles along with professional training and off-the-edge challenges thrown into the mix will definitely make the dance show a TV hit show!

Like all reality shows, SHOWDOWN 2011 kicks off with a series of auditions which will take place around the country beginning 8th January 2011 in Kuching. The auditions will then move to Kota Kinabalu on the 15th of January and Kuala Lumpur on the 21st and 22nd of January.

Registration for auditions is open from 9.00am to 3.00 pm. During the auditions, the dance crews will break into their own brand style routines to impress the judges. Each crew to comprise of 5 to 7 members. For more information log on to www.8tv.com.my/showdown. SHOWDOWN 2011 will premiere on Wednesday, 6th April 2011 at 9.30 pm exclusively on 8TV. (Sourced from 8tv.com.my)

Joy To The World

2010-12-06T00:18:00.001+08:00

Christmas is just round the corner and soon after that we will be ringing in the New Year 2011. Many of the malls here in Malaysia have already put up Christmas decorations and the festive feeling is in the air. At the Pavilion Shopping Centre in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, several giant Christmas trees bedecked with baubles and tinsels are on display. Red, green and gold are the dominant colours as usual. The place comes alive and looks like a fairyland at night!

I quite look forward to the Christmas season for the joy it brings. Listening to Christmas carols being played in the malls and dance studios adds to the festive cheer and help lift one's spirits. Many yuletide songs evoke happy feelings and can put you in the mood for dancing. I could imagine me and my partner waltzing to Silent Nights, dancing the foxtrot to the strains of White Christmas or doing the cha cha cha to Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer at a Christmas eve party.

Speaking of Christmas eve parties; know your limits and do not go on a drinking binge. If you have one drink too many, I'll bet you'll be doing a lot of Tipples Chasses and Tipsys when dancing the quickstep! Many hotels and restaurants are having special Christmas eve dinner promotions and some of the menu that I have seen look really mouth watering. Go easy on the food and look after your waistline though. Have a "Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year 2011!"

China Dominate Dancesport At Asian Games 2010.

2010-11-29T00:18:00.002+08:00

China brushed aside the competition to win all 10 gold medals in the dancesport event at the 16th Asian Games 2010 which was held in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27. Powerhouse China took all the 5 gold medals in the Standard and 5 gold medals in the Latin categories to emerge as the undisputed number one dancesport nation in Asia. The official medal tally is as follows:-

China - 10 golds

South Korea - 7 silvers, 3 bronzes

Japan - 3 silvers, 4 bronzes

Philippines - 2 bronzes

Kazakhstan - 1 bronze

Here are the detailed results of the individual events:-

1. China

Gold - Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango, Standard Five Dances, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Samba, Paso Doble, Latin Five Dances

2. South Korea

Silver - Foxtrot, Tango, Standard Five Dances, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Samba, Paso Doble

Bronze - Waltz, Quickstep, Latin Five Dances

3. Japan

Silver - Waltz, Quickstep, Latin Five Dances

Bronze - Foxtrot, Tango, Jive, Samba

4. Philippines

Bronze - Cha Cha Cha, Paso Doble

5. Kazakhstan

Bronze - Standard Five Dances

Malaysia did not take part in the dancesport events. The Philippines, which is one of the strongest dancesport nations in South East Asia did fairly well to garner 2 bronze medals. Thailand and Vietnam which were expected to put up a good show failed to live up to expectations. The Central Asian countries were also disappointing and only managed to win a bronze medal through Kazakhstan. It looks like China which won a record 199 gold medals in the 16th Asiad is set to dominate dancesport in Asia.

Power And Energy In Ballroom Dancing

2010-11-22T00:18:00.001+08:00

Some 40 dance enthusiasts attended a workshop on Advance Tango Techniques conducted by Dmitry Novikov and Marina Gaevskaya of Russia at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) on November 13. Novikov and Gaevskaya started the session by doing a simple tango routine consisting of two walks and a link followed by a close promenade. We, the participants could notice that the steps they took were big and positive and their actions powerful. Even though the 'standard' timing for the progressive link is 'Quick Quick', Novikov said he preferred using the 'Slow &' timing as it gives the figure a strong and distinctive character.

The Russian couple then demonstrated to the audience how to close their bodies when doing the close promenade. Novikov said the man should 'roll' his waist to signal to his partner that he wants to close their bodies. The man must never use brute force when executing this move. Gaevskaya then proceeded to show the ladies how to square their bodies on the third step of the close promenade. A slight flick action of the right leg was used on the third step to effect the turn of the body. At the same time the lady must turn her head sharply to her left. The audience were then told to practice the figures and put through their paces.

Novikov mentioned that there are three types of control in ballroom dancing. They are 1) mental, 2) physical and 3) emotional control. He also talked about power and energy and how to feel the energy. "If you cannot feel the energy, you cannot show the energy. Dancers must use their body weight energy and not their muscle energy" he said. Transfer of body weight using the supporting leg was also discussed and demonstrated by Novikov. The audience exclaimed that the movements looked like taiqi (tai chi) moves, to which Novikov quite agreed! We had a jolly good time and certainly learnt so much about advance tango techniques that evening.

Dance Your Way To Good Health

2010-11-15T00:18:00.001+08:00

Which are the cardio activities that blast fat the fastest? According to a recent article in shine.yahoo.com, which listed the top seven metabolic rate enhancing activities, dancing comes in at number six. Here are the top seven fat and calorie burners, from Los Angeles, USA based celebrity trainer Ramona Braganza who has helped shape the amazing bodies of stars like Jessica Alba, Halle Berry and Anne Hathaway.

1. Inline skating

Burns 425 calories in 30 minutes

2. Running

Burns 374 calories in 30 minutes

3. Jumping rope

Burns 340 minutes in 30 minutes

4. Hula hooping

Burns 300 minutes in 30 minutes

5. Tennis

Burns 274 minutes in 30 minutes

6. Dancing

Burns 221 calories in 30 minutes

7. Walking vigorously

Burns 170 calories in 30 minutes

While the article says that dancing may not be the biggest calorie-burner in the bunch, it is still an excellent and fun metabolism booster. (Just look at Kelly Osbourne who jump-started her amazing 42-pound loss with Dancing With The Stars.) The key is to keep the tempo high, choosing songs with fast rhythms like Latin or Bollywood, and don't rest between songs. To boost your burn, use your arms. Raise them in the air and move them to the beat.

Golden Palm Tree International Dance Championship 2010

2010-11-08T00:18:00.002+08:00

Some 160 dancers from 18 countries in Europe, USA and Asia competed in Ballroom, Latin American, Salsa and Argentine Tango events in the inaugural Golden Palm Tree International Dance Championship 2010 held at Golden Palm Tree Resort & Spa in Sepang Goldcoast, Selangor on October 29. Among those who took part in this competition were British Professional Ballroom Champions and Blackpool Grand Finalists Warren & Kristi Boyce (pic) of England.

The guest-of-honour at this function was Heng Seai Kie, the Deputy Women, Family & Community Development Minister. Heng said that her ministry recognizes the potential of ballroom dancing in enhancing family relationships. She also congratulated Golden Palm Tree's efforts in promoting dance as a sport for the family and community development.

The winners of the major categories are as follows:-

Professional Standard - Warren & Kristi Boyce (England)

Professional Latin - Alessandro Carmerotto & Nancy Berti (Italy)

Amateur Standard - Mikhail and Olesya Eremeeva (Russia)

Amateur Latin - Massimo Acrolin & Luba Mustuck (Italy)

Pro-Am Latin - Michael Badong & Soleil Mahani Kamil (Philippines)

Junior Latin - Sam Hunter & Charlotte Plant (England)

ISTD Conducts Masters' Workshop

2010-11-01T00:18:00.004+08:00

More than 60 dance teachers and students attended a masters' workshop organized by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) on October 27 2010. Held at the conference suite of GC Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd in Shah Alam, Selangor; the workshop was conducted by Richard Hunt (Vice Chairman of the ISTD Modern Ballroom Faculty and Imperial Dance & Dance Sport Faculties Board) and Yvonne Taylor-Hill (Chairman of the Disco/Freestyle/Rock 'n' Roll Faculty and member of the ISTD council).

The topics that were discussed at this workshop covered Ballroom and Latin American dances. Poise, balance and centering were explained. The character of the various dances were mentioned and demonstrated. As for Ballroom dancing, the different types of rise and fall were elucidated. Hunt and Taylor-Hill emphasized the use of good technique and showed the simple teaching aids that can be used to improve technique. A Rumba and Tango routine were demonstrated and the participants were then put through their paces.

Hunt and Taylor-Hill said they were pleased with the good turnout and support shown by the teachers and students at this workshop. There are plans to organize more of such workshops in future. They thanked those present and the coordinators of the workshop, namely Nelly Tsen (Examination Organizer - Ballroom Faculty ISTD), Lim Sae Min (president of Malaysian Ballroom Dance Teachers Berhad) and Chong Kim Yee (principal of Swan Link Dance Studio) for their assistance in organizing the workshop.

"Advance Tango Techniques" Workshop By Novikov And Gaevskaya

2010-10-25T00:18:00.009+08:00

By popular demand, Dmitry Novikov and Marina Gaevskaya of Russia will be here in Malaysia to conduct a workshop on Advance Tango Techniques at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) on November 13. The two-hour session, commencing 8.00 pm, will be held at the KLDA's Superstar Hall in Wisma OCM. At this workshop, Novikov and Gaevskaya will demonstrate advance and intricate Tango figures. The session is 'interactive' in nature and participants are welcomed to pose questions. Admission fees are RM30 for KLDA members and RM60 for non-members.

Novikov and Gaeskaya will also be conducting private ballroom classes from November 12 to December 2 from 10.00 am to 8.30 pm at the same premises. Private lessons can be booked now or at the time of workshop. The fees are RM250 (per 45-minutes session) for KLDA members and RM280 (per 45-minutes session) for non- members. For more information or to register, kindly contact Mrs C K Chang at 012-2877212, email: wmchoo@pc.jaring.my or Mr C C Lai at 012-2029991, email: cclai_klda@yahoo.com.

The tall and lovely professional couple of Novikov and Gaevskaya stand at 194 cm and 181 cm respectively. Both have been dancing together since 1988 and compete regularly in the Blackpool Dance Festival, European and Asian dancesport circuits. They were here in Malaysia in July of last year where they conducted private ballroom classes and held 2 workshops at the KLDA: one on ballroom techniques and another on the Viennese waltz. The response was very encouraging and a good number of students turned up at both the workshops to learn from these two masters.

Zumba Fitness - Dance For Charity

2010-10-18T00:18:00.003+08:00

A "Zumba Fitness - Dance For Charity" event will be held on November 7 at HGH Convention Centre, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur to help raise funds for charity. Proceeds from the sale of tickets will be channeled to Kiwanis Club of Bangsar, Kiwanis Club of Bukit Bandaraya and Hospis Malaysia. Zumba instructor and license holder, Jason Ooi says he expects more than 3000 participants to attend this two-hour dance fitness programme which will kick off at 11.00 am. Tickets are sold at RM18 each. For more information, call 013-3672001, 016-6839666 or 016-9042008 or visit www.zumbaforcharity.blogspot.com.

Zumba is a fitness programme that has become a worldwide craze. The fitness programme combines Latin rhythm with cardiovascular exercises to create an aerobics routine that is fun and easy to follow. Participants often comment that it is so much fun that they don't think of it as a workout. There are presently more than 20,000 Zumba trained instructors in over 35 countries, and millions of Zumba DVDs have been sold worldwide. Zumba enthusiasts all over the world are discovering the joy of dancing and the benefits to their health all at the same time.

Colombian fitness trainer Beto Perez stumbled upon the concept of Latin-inspired fitness in his native country of Colombia in the mid-1990s. He introduced a fitness programme which he called Zumba and which soon became very popular in his class. The word Zumba is Spanish slang for "to move fast and have fun". The fun workout comprises of approximately 70% Latin dances (eg cha cha cha, samba, mambo) and 30% of other dances from around the world (eg flamenco, calypso, hip hop). Zumba utilizes the principles of fitness interval training and resistance training to maximize caloric output, fat burning and total body burning.

Mating Dance

2010-10-11T00:18:00.001+08:00

Men who wish to attract women on the dance floor would be better advised to learn a few moves that answer the female mating drive rather than bother with the moonwalk. Psychologists have identified the key male dance movements that most arouse female interest - and all are to do with the central body motions which send out primal signals of health, vigour and strength. A team led by Nick Neave of Northumbria University in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England filmed 109 men aged 18 to 35 in a lab as they danced to a standard disco beat.

The men, none of whom was a professional dancer, wore reflective markers that studded their bodies and were filmed by a battery of twelve 3D cameras. The footage was used to create a dancing avatar, or animated figure, that was faceless and genderless. Thirty-seven young heterosexual women were then shown 15-second clips of the avatars and were asked to judge which of the dance movements were the most attractive. Eight "movement variables" emerged which distinguished the trolls from the Travoltas.

"Good" dancers did wider and bigger movements of the head, neck and torso, and did faster bending and twisting movements of their right knee (greater movements of the right knee rather than the left were to be expected, as 80% of the dancers favoured their right leg). In contrast, "bad" dancers tended to be stiff and plod - and throwing their arms around was no substitute for fast, variable movement of the central body region. "Men all over the world will be interested to know what moves they can throw to attract a woman" says Neave. (Source: AFP) ........

ISTD 2010 Malaysia Tour - Workshops

2010-10-04T00:18:00.003+08:00

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) in conjunction with Malaysian Ballroom Dance Teachers Berhad is organizing a series of workshops which will be held at the conference suite of GC Building Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, 7 Jalan Perintis U1/52, Kawasan Perindustrian Temasya, Bandar Glenmarie, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor. The workshops will be conducted by Richard Hunt (Vice Chairman of the ISTD Modern Ballroom Faculty and Imperial Dance & Dance Sport Faculties Board) and Yvonne Taylor-Hill (Chairman of the Disco/Freeestyle/Rock 'n' Roll Faculty and member of the ISTD council).

Master Class (Open to students and dance teachers)

Date: October 27 2010, Wednesday

Time: 6.30 pm to 10.15 pm

Fees: ISTD qualified teachers - RM20, other participants - RM50

Training Professionals Exam (Open only to ISTD qualified teachers)

Date: October 28 2010, Thursday

Time: 8.30 am to 9.30 pm

Fees: RM80

Teachers Workshop (Open to all professional dance teachers)

Date: October 29 2010, Friday

Time: 9.30 am to 6.00 pm

Fees: ISTD qualified teachers - RM60, other professional teachers - RM120

Topics: Simple variations in Latin and Ballroom, Advanced compulsory Latin figures in Gold Star exams, Faults seen in medal tests, 6 weeks Rock 'n' Roll, Medal tests choreography, What the examiners and adjudicators look for, Teachers' questions & answers

For further information or to register, kindly email mydanceteachers@gmail.com or contact Lim Sae Min at 012-2030107, Chong Kim Yee at 012-2215727 or Nelly Tsen at 012-2848088.

12th CSTD Asia Pacific Dance Competition

2010-09-27T00:18:00.003+08:00

More than 500 dancers from India, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore participated in the 12th Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing Asia Pacific Dance competition held recently in Singapore. The host and organizer of the event, Barbara Hannan said the competition brought together dancers from the different regions together to perform and learn from each other in the spirit of friendly competition.

Two students from the ACTS School of Performing Arts in Kuala Lumpur did credibly well in the competition. Abdul Muhaimin Md Azman emerged as the champion in the Tap Solo under-18 category while Cassandra Law managed a third placing in the Modern & Jazz solo under-14 category. Both said they took two months to practise and rehearse their routines which were choreographed by their instructors Liew Yen Shen and C M Foh.

Besides Tap, Muhaimin also excels in Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz, Ballet and Modern. As for Law, she is also taking Ballet, Latin, Ballroom and Contemporary dance lessons. The two of them are looking forward to competing in the next Asia Pacific Dance Competition 2011 to be held in Hong Kong. Towards the end of the year, ACTS School will be staging "King of Pop - The Musical" as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

ASWARA Open House

2010-09-20T00:18:00.002+08:00

The National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage or Akademi Seni, Budaya & Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA) will be having an open house titled Jamu 2010 at its campus at 464 Jalan Tun Ismail, 50480 Kuala Lumpur on October 3. At this event, workshops for traditional Malay, Chinese and Indian dances plus hip hop & jazz will be conducted. The workshops will be held from 10.00 am to noon and from 2.00 to 3.30 pm.

The workshops are suitable for beginners and advanced learners. Fees are RM25 for adults and RM15 for students for a day pass. Dance performances will also be held from noon to 2.00 pm and from 4.00 to 6.30 pm. These performances will showcase traditional Malaysian dances and and contemporary choreography respectively. For more information please contact Jeffri at 019-2319179. To know more about ASWARA check out www.aswara.edu.my.

ASWARA was set up in 1994 with the objective of producing creative performers, nurturing artistic talent and developing leaders in the arts. ASWARA which comes under the auspices of the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts & Heritage is the only institution of higher learning offering formal training in the performing arts, which is fully supported by the government. It provides, teaching, learning, research and consultancy services in the fields of arts, culture and heritage.

New Dance Spot In KL

2010-09-13T00:18:00.001+08:00

For dance enthusiasts in the Klang Valley, there is a new place in KL where they can go to practice their ballroom dancing. Golden Dragongate Restaurant at 10 Jalan Kampung Pandan, 55100 Kuala Lumpur (near Taman Maluri) is fast becoming a popular spot for dance studios and dance associations to organize their functions and events there. The laminated timber dance floor is spacious and the ambience is good for socialising and dancing. The service is up to expectations and there is ample parking space.

The restaurant was formerly located at Jalan Imbi before relocating to its new and bigger premises in Jalan Kampung Pandan last year. To encourage more people to patronize its restaurant, the management organizes a social & dance night every Wednesday from 7.00 pm to 12.00 midnight. Karaoke is from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and after that it is general dancing till 12.00 midnight. Entrance fee is RM10 only. For more information contact Aaron Chock at 012-2857700 or 03-92821313.

ISTD Plans Exciting Events

2010-09-06T00:18:00.002+08:00

Next month, examiners from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) UK, will be in Malaysia to conduct the medallist tests and teacher examinations. This year, the ISTD will be organizing several interesting events for the benefit of teachers and students. Among the activities to be held in October are several teacher workshops which will be conducted at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA). Some workshops will include students as well. A medallist festival (dance competition) will also be held at the KLDA on October 30. For those who can remember, two such festivals were held in Malaysia in the 1990s with much success.

A dinner and dance will also be held on the evening of the medallist festival on October 30 at the KLDA. After the prize giving ceremony, a sumptuous full course Chinese dinner will be served and there will be general dancing, performances and lots of fun. Well known ISTD examiners Richard Hunt and Yvonne Taylor-Hill will be the hosts at this event. For more information regarding the activities, kindly contact Lim Sae Min (president of Malaysian Ballroom Dance Teachers Berhad) at 012-2030107, Chong Kim Yee (principal of Swan Link Dance Studio) at 012-2215727 or Nelly Tsen (Examination Organizer - Ballroom Faculty ISTD) at 012-2848088.

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (founded 1904), with its headquarters at Imperial House, 22-26 Paul Street, London EC2A 4QE, England is the leading dance examinations board in the world. It is today a registered educational charity and is the only organization that covers the full spectrum of dance examinations on a truly global scale. Every year, more than 250,000 people are examined, for which the ISTD provides grade examinations and medal tests to assess their proficiency. The many styles of dances for which the students are examined include Ballet, Modern, Tap, National, Classical Greek, Disco, Ballroom and Latin American.

3D Movies Are Over-Rated

2010-08-30T00:18:00.002+08:00

Three dimensional or 3D movies seem to be all the rage now. 3D movies are nothing new actually. They were introduced in the 1960s and was greeted with some success as it was a novelty back then. Cinema audiences were thrilled to see arrows and spears being aimed straight at them, and ducking the imaginary missiles being thrown at them. Their popularity has however waxed and wane over the decades. Lately, 3D movies were given a boost after the successful release of Avatar in 3D. Avatar has gone on to become the biggest blockbuster of all times and spawned a slew of 3D movies in its wake.

Presently you can get to watch many movies in 3D. One film which is making its rounds in the local cinema circuit is a dance movie called Step Up 3D which is actually also the third part of the movie of the same name. The storyline is about a group of guys training to become world hip hop champions. You of course get to see a lot of hip hop action in this movie. The directors have also included an Argentine Tango and a Broadway dance in the script. The plot and the acting is average and you may 'see' the dancers' hands jabbing you or a leg being kicked in your face. Nothing out of the extraordinary actually.

In spite of the publicity, I think 3D movies are over-rated. You basically get to see the movie in greater depth and clarity but you usually have to pay a hefty price for the tickets. The tickets for Step Up 3D costs RM21 each (in Kuala Lumpur) which is twice what you would pay for a normal ticket. Furthermore, the 3D glasses that you have to wear, tend to become coated with moisture from your breath and you have to wipe the lenses on and off. Many more films in 3D will be hitting our cinemas. Who knows, there might even be a release of the mega hit dance movie Saturday Night Fever in 3D!

Dance For Your Dream

2010-08-23T00:18:00.003+08:00

A dance competition called "Dance For Your Dream" will be held nationwide next month. This 'freestyle' competition in which all genres of dance are allowed, is open to individuals aged 18 to 28. Contestants will have to put up two performances in two rounds during the competition. The first is a solo performance whilst in the second round, the contestant must team up with one or more dance mates to give a team performance (eg. ballet, hip hop, belly). The contestant must however take the leading role in the team performance.

The preliminary rounds for this competition will commence in September at eight locations: George Town, Butterworth, Ipoh, Seremban, Melaka, Johor Baru and in two venues in Kuala Lumpur. One finalist will be selected from each location to compete in the grand finals to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October. The winner of the grand finals will be awarded prizes and a chance to attend a fully sponsored two-week dance course in Hong Kong with Sunny Wong, a well known choreographer who has worked with artistes like Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Kelly Chen.

Local recording artiste and dance enthusiast Aric Ho who conceived the idea for "Dance For Your Dream" will be one of the judges. He said that the winner will be the one who has the right aptitude and the right attitude for dancing. This event will be broadcast through online media such as Facebook. The closing date for entries is September 8. Those who are interested in taking part in this competition can register at facebook.com/danceforyourdream. For more information, please call 019-2556274.

How Often Do You Dance?

2010-08-19T10:03:00.008+08:00

How many dance classes do you attend in a week and how often do you practise your dance routine? I remembered when I took up Ballroom and Latin American dancing many many years ago I would attend classes three times a week and go out to practise at least twice a week. My classmates and I would train at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers Association (KLDA), YMCA, Royal Selangor Club and Royal Lake Club amongst others. We were so crazy about dancing then that we would often adjourn to the Royal Selangor Club for another round of dancing just after our lessons were over. It was as though we lived to dance!

The dancesport section of the Royal Selangor Club was very active back then and they used to organize many dinner and dance events at affordable prices. These events were very popular and members were allowed to bring several of their friends to these functions. The food, wine, ambiance and music was good. You would often see students from the different dance schools there. There would also be impromptu dance competitions involving representatives from the different schools and token prizes would be given to the winners. These events were kind of fun but unfortunately, are not that well received anymore.

The Royal Lake Club has embarked on a project this year to revive interest in dancing. In March, a dinner and dance cum Rumba workshop by Amy Lee of Amy Dancesport Centre was held. A couple of months ago, another dinner and dance featuring top ballroom and Latin American dancers from China was organized. The KLDA is also doing its part to promote interest in dancing. As an incentive, members who perform commendably well in competitions will be considered for scholarships and monetary rewards. A potluck and dance performance which is open to members of the public is held on the last Sunday of every month.

Where Have All The Men Gone?

2010-08-09T00:18:00.002+08:00

Some of my female friends in the Klang Valley and visitors to my blog often inform me that they would like to take up ballroom dancing and ask where they can learn ballroom dancing. I would usually provide them with a list of the well known dance studios in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya where they can pursue their interest. For those without partners, their enthusiasm can quickly turn to disappointment when they find that there is generally a scarcity of male ballroom dancers. Which means they have to share someone else's partner which of course has its drawbacks and problems.

Why is it that women are so crazy while the men seem to be blase about ballroom dancing? Do men have two left feet or are they just too lazy to learn the steps? Or are they afraid of intimacy? I really don't have the answers. I read a recent science report which says that women are usually attracted to men who can dance well. Scientists opined that this could be due to the fact that dancing is quite a strenuous exercise and that men who can dance well are generally seen to be fit and healthy and therefore carry better genes. For women, it's all about the mating game and having healthy offspring.

In their search for dance partners, some Malaysian women have resorted to advertising on the internet. Unless both partners stay in the same city or nearby each other, meeting up for classes and practices can be a hassle. I know of one lady who is even willing to relocate to another country just to pursue her love of dance if she can find the right partner there. Another alternative is to pay to engage the services of a professional dancer to dance with you. I heard that in Hong Kong, professional dancers there charge a fee of between HK$500 to HK$2000 for a 3-hour dance session.

Movement And Balance In Ballroom Dancing

2010-08-02T00:18:00.003+08:00

Some 50 dance enthusiasts turned up at a ballroom dance workshop conducted by Dmitry Novikov and Marina Gaevskaya of Russia at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association on July 29. The lovely couple of Novikov and Gaevskaya who stand at 194 cm and 181 cm respectively have been dancing together since 1988 and compete regularly in the Blackpool Dance Festival, European and Asian circuits. Novikov and Marina started the session by dancing a simple waltz routine using strong techniques. Novikov compared dancing with the building of a house and went on to stress that the foundation of a house must be strong in order for it to stand firm. Similarly in dancing, dancers have to work from the feet up and the legs have to be strong to provide the body movement and balance, he said.

According to Novikov there are three types of body movements in ballroom dancing. They are 1) frontal movement, 2) lateral movement and 3) rotary movement. Novikov and Gaevskaya then danced a natural turn and demonstrated how these different movements are used when dancing the natural turn. Novikov next talked about balance. He said there are three types of balance namely 1) personal balance, 2) moving balance and 3) couple balance. Rotation and turn were also discussed. Novikov explained that rotation is in relation to the body and showed the different 'angles' in which a body can be rotated while a turn is done on and with the feet. Novikov emphasized that when executing a turn the dancer must not rotate his/her body or else the dancer will lose his/her balance.

Other topics covered were centre balance position, supporting leg and transfer of weight and the connection between partners. The dancers were shown how to do the transfer of weight from one leg to another; which looked liked taiqi moves! Novikov reiterated that the connection between the partners should be at the rib cage area and not at the pelvis or thighs. He also discussed about the technique on how to take the first step when dancing a figure. Novikov emphasized that the knees should be bend and the weight pressed on to the floor before taking the first step. This will give the dancer the power to execute the other steps. There was of course the oft-repeated 'mantra' "The man leads and the lady follows". The workshop ended with a scintillating waltz performance by Novikov and Gaevskaya.

Letdown At The Final Showdown

2010-07-26T00:18:00.001+08:00

Three street dance crews competed in the grand finals of Showdown 2010 aptly called the Final Showdown held on July 14 at KL Live in Kuala Lumpur. They were Wakaka Crew, Giller Battle Crew and Floor Fever. Comprising of seven members each, the three crews were the survivors from the original twelve finalists at the start of the competition which premiered over 8TV on March 31. The host of the Final Showdown which was telecast live was Hafiz Hatim while the panel of judges comprised of Maple Loo, Boudeng Edonce, B-Boy Choco and Joe Flizzow. The winner of the competition got to take home a prize money of RM50,000.

At the grand finals, each crew had to perform two routines each. After their performances, the audience and TV viewers at home were urged to sms their votes for their favourite teams. The team with the least votes would be eliminated and the remaining two teams would then battle it out to determine the winner, also through sms votes. All three crews were in their elements and gave their all. I quite liked Floor Fever's performance and interesting choreography. However sad to say, they received the least votes in the first round and were eliminated. In my opinion, Floor Fever should have made it to the battle with Wakaka Crew.

In what looked like an anti-climax, Wakaka Crew went on to slay Giller Battle Crew in the battle to emerge champions. The problem with these TV reality dance shows is that the viewers would often vote for their favourite dancers rather than for the best dancers. It happened during the Strictly Come Dancing Season 6 shows in the UK in 2008, so much so that the judges had to remind the TV viewers to vote for the best dancers and not for their favourite dancers. In Malaysia, the grand finals of So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 in 2008 caused a hue and cry when it appeared that the favourite and not the best dancer had won the competition.

Shake It Like Shakira

2010-07-19T00:18:00.003+08:00

When the world was introduced to Colombian singer Shakira, what struck everyone was her amazing hip gyrations. Who knew the human form could move like that? Her agility and breath breaking style got people talking and hoping that they too (or their wives), could shake their booty the way she does. So if you've always wanted to learn how to belly dance, but never got around to enrolling in a class, perhaps its time you got cracking. Or visit FemmeCity in Kuala Lumpur on July 31 and better, get acquainted with the dance.

Veteran belly dancer and tutor Nancy Bakhshy (pic) will be conducting a workshop entitled Belly Dancing for Great Physique at noon, to show what it's all about. "I will teach participants to use all the different muscles in their bodies", says Bakhshy who has been teaching the art form in Malaysia since 2002. Bakhshy has an academy in Kuala Lumpur with students from as young as 7 to as old as 75, so it doesn't matter how old you are. Born in Tehran to Turkish parents, Bakhshy grew up steeped in Turkish and Iranian traditions and cultures. She learnt to dance from her mother (also a dancer) and an Egyptian teacher. Her performance style is infused with folkloric and cultural elements which are woven into her choreography.

Bakhshy is a pioneer of belly dance here and she credits Shakira for getting people curious and interested about the art form. "In the beginning, not many people knew what belly dancing was about. Then Shakira showed them in her music videos. I remember when the ladies came to enrol, they would say I want to dance like Shakira." In fact, Bakhshy uses the sultry Colombian singer's songs for her classes including the catchy hit Hips Don't Lie. She believes that belly dancing can bring diverse benefits and is not really that difficult to learn. "Belly dancing is really an easy workout for ladies. As it uses mainly the abdominal muscles, women can tone their bodies. Some of them have even said it is easier than doing sit-ups."

At the FemmeCity workshop, Bakhshy will go all out to inspire women to feel good about themselves through the dance. She hopes that by the end of her session, they will enrol (for belly dance lessons) and come out dancing. For more on FemmeCity (www.clovetwo/femmecity), make your way to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 30 to August 1. Admission is free. This article by Olivia Lee appeared in the Starmag section of Sunday Star on July 11 and has been republished with the kind permission of Star Publications (M) Berhad.

Holograms And Home Entertainment

2010-07-12T00:18:00.004+08:00

The 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa comes to an official close today after a month of soccer mania. Football fans all over the world were able to watch the games live at giant screens set up in their city parks or squares. In Kuala Lumpur, two jumbo screens were installed at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) and fans were able to catch the matches at 7.30 pm, 10.00 pm and 2.30 am local time. Those following the games at home could avail themselves to the latest 50 inch, light emitting diode, high definition, 3 dimension TV or what is known simply as a LED, HD, 3D TV. That's quite a mouthful, isn't it? But nothing beats the thrill of watching the matches live at the stadiums, notwithstanding the cacophony caused by the incessant blaring of the vuvuzelas!

Recently I read in a science journal article that scientists are working on a holographic projection system whereby people would be able to watch holograms of any events around the world live. Let's take for example the 2014 FIFA World Cup which will be held in Brazil. If all goes well with this system, scientists would be able to transmit holographic images of a football match being played in a stadium in Brazil live to another stadium elsewhere; let's say the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. Spectators in KL will be able to see holograms of the World Cup football players playing in the Bukit Jalil Stadium. The players will appear life-like in three dimension and the spectators in the Bukit Jalil Stadium will feel as though they are watching the games live in the stadium in Brazil.

This holographic projection system has got many people all excited. Imagine being able to watch the Olympic Games or All England badminton finals here in Malaysia. Or feel the excitement of the Blackpool Dance Festival. Other possibilities include watching concerts, operas and shows. It is in home entertainment that the holographic projection system offers the greatest potential. Scientists are also working on a home video entertainment system whereby you can watch holograms of your favourite entertainers right in your living room. Wouldn't it be great to be able to see Lady Gaga perform 'live' before your very eyes, watch Michael Malitowski & Joanna Leunis dance a cha cha cha or gape at Michael Jackson moonwalk across the floor? That, would be simply awesome!

Dancesport To Debut In 2010 Asian Games Guangzhou

2010-07-05T00:18:00.008+08:00

The 16th Asian Games 2010 will be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27. Some 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions in this part of the world (stretching from East to West Asia) will be competing in 476 events in 42 sports during the Games. Of the 42 sports, 28 are Olympic sports while the other 14 are sports which are popular in Asia. The 14 non-Olympic sports include dragon boat racing, kabaddi, sepak takraw and dancesport. This is the second time that China is hosting the Asian games, the first being the 11th Asiad in Beijing in 1990.

Dancesport is being introduced for the first time in this Games and hopefully will feature in future Games as well. Individual medals will be awarded for the 5 ballroom (Waltz, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Tango & Viennese Waltz) and 5 Latin American (Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Jive, Samba & Paso Doble) dances. China is expected to win the lion's share of the 30 medals at stake. Other strong medal contenders are Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The last three countries are Asian dancesport rising stars and are expected to spring some surprises.

Malaysia will most likely be taking part in the dancesport events at the 16th Asian Games 2010 in Guangzhou. I understand the selection of dancers is in process and hope that the best will be chosen to represent Malaysia. The Games is only four months away and the dancesport events will be closely watched and followed by the dance fraternity in Asia as the best dancesport athletes from Asia will be competing at this Games. It would be great if Malaysia can win at least one bronze medal in the dancesport events. That's not asking too much, is it?

> Kazakhstan - A Rising Star In Dancesport

Dancesport In A Tight Spot?

2010-06-28T00:18:00.002+08:00

The International DanceSport Federation, IDSF refers to dancesport as - "Dancesport is a team sport. It is generally defined as partner dancing between a man and a woman combining as a couple (or group of couples combining as a team) and using the required technique or floor craft and artistic interpretation to produce a highly disciplined dance performance. Dancesport developed out of the narrow confines of competition ballroom dancing but today includes any dance style which has achieved an internationally recognized competitive structure and has adopted a sports based culture. The currently recognized sections or disciplines in international style dancesport are: 1) Standard, 2) Latin American, 3) Ten Dance and 4) Rock 'n' Roll".

Recently while browsing through the website dancesport.info.net, I happened to read an interesting forum topic titled "What Is Happening To English Dancesport?" The discussion at this forum which started in June 2007 is on-going. Basically this forum discusses the 'declining' popularity of dancesport in England vis-a-vis the other popular dances like Salsa, Hip Hop, Argentine Tango and Swing. The contributors to this forum aired their disappointments over this issue and gave their views on how this problem can be resolved. All this while I had thought that dancesport is still going strong in England. The forum debate certainly was an eye opener for me. Which kept me pondering. What about the dancesport scene here in Malaysia?

Ballroom and Latin American dances were popular in Malaysia during the 1960s and 1970s when the first few dance schools were opened. When Salsa was introduced here in the late 1970s it caught on quickly. The dance became a hit and many Salsa dance schools and clubs were soon in business. Other popular dances like Hip Hop, Belly and Line Dance also made their way here and their novelty plus the fact that they could be danced without a partner helped to supplant the popularity of Ballroom and Latin American. As was and is now, ladies often complain about the dearth of male partners. Presently, Ballroom is danced mainly by the more matured crowd while Latin American still manages to attract a sizeable following among the youngsters.

Going Gaga Over Waka Waka

2010-06-21T00:18:00.004+08:00

Watched by 85,000 spectators and more than 100 million TV viewers worldwide, the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on June 11 went off with a bang. Thirty two countries from all the continents are competing in this month-long football tournament. A day earlier, a kick-off concert was held at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, with performances by international headliners amongst them Shakira, Alicia Keys and Black Eyed Peas. Colombian diva Shakira rocked the stage with her songs Hips Don't Lie, She Wolf and Waka Waka (This Time For Africa).

The song Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), composed by El Mundial is the official anthem of the World Cup 2010. It has a rhythmic and infectious beat to it and really gets your feet tapping. I especially liked the dance routine performed by Shakira and her backup dancers. The choreography which is simple yet beautiful and meaningful contains elements of hip hop, African tribal, Indian classical and belly dance. This is what I would call a 1World Dance - a dance for world peace and harmony. It would be great if someone here could organize a flash mob dance based on this song and dance routine.

There is also an official dance created by South Africa Tourism specially for this World Cup. Known as the Diski which is South African township slang for soccer, the dance is intended to capture 'the rhythm of African football'. During the International Friendly Football Match held between South Africa and Jamaica on November 17 2009 in Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, the spectators were taught the Diski during half-time. The Diski looks like a mix of line dance, shuffle and football moves. You can learn how to do the Diski at SouthAfrica.info. Just feel the rhythm, boet (Afrikaans for brother)!

Related Post

> Flash Mob Dance Craze Hits Malaysia

Flash Mob Dance Craze Hits Malaysia

2010-06-14T00:18:00.002+08:00

A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual or pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse. The term flash mob is generally applied only to gatherings organized via telecommunications, social media or viral email. It is generally not applied to events organized by public relations firms, protests and publicity stunts. The first flash mob was created in Manhattan, USA in May 2003 by Bill Wasik, senior editor of Harper's Magazine (source: Wikipedia). A flash mob dance is thus an event where a group of people gather in a public location to perform a pre-choreographed dance routine. The biggest flash mob dance ever held was at The Oprah Winfrey Show's 24th Season Kickoff Party in Chicago on September 10 2009. At this celebration, the crowd of more than 20,000 people performed a choreographed piece to I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas.

The first flash mob to be held in Malaysia was the "KL Freeze In Unison" on April 13 2009. This gathering attracted well over a thousand participants who had to remain 'frozen' or still for four minutes at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. On August 14, a flash mob dance was held at Suria KLCC where the participants had a swell time dancing to songs by Pitbull, Michael Jackson, Vanilla Ice, The Beatles and various artistes. It was however the song Joget Berhibur by Siti Nurhaliza which had the crowd thrilled and raring to dance. More than 100 of them, including some 'aunties' took to the floor at the centre court of the shopping mall to dance the joget, a popular Malay traditional dance. Last month, Glee Flash Mobs (pic) dancing to the songs Bust A Move, Rehab and Don't Stop Believin' were seen at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur Sentral and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur to publicize the screening of the TV dance show, Glee.

Media group, Star Publications (M) Bhd is organizing a flash mob dance on June 22 at 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor in conjunction with The Star Online's 15th and In.Tech's 25th joint anniversary celebrations. The dance routine called Flash Mob Masala Dance, a Bollywood dance style performed to Pussycat Doll's Jai Ho will be conducted by fitness instructor Candi Soo. You can preview the routine at youtube.com/user/candisoofitness. For more information regarding this event, kindly contact Nerry at 03-23001574. Over in Sarawak, there will be an attempt to set a Malaysia flash mob dance record at the state-level youth assembly (Perhimpunan Belia 2010) which will be held at the Borneo Convention Centre in Kuching on July 24. The Ministry of Social Development and Urbanization Sarawak which is organizing this festival is hoping to attract more than 5000 youths to take part in this event.

Big Toe Gets A Leg Up

2010-06-07T00:18:00.007+08:00

Eight B-boy crews from seven countries in the region competed in the R16 South East Asia Finals 2010 held recently at Life Centre in Kuala Lumpur. They were Soulfresh (Taiwan), Laobangfai (Laos), Big Toe (Vietnam), 99 Flava (Thailand), Rebelz In Rhythym (Indonesia), Floor Techniques (Singapore) and Wakaka Fever and Giller Battle, both representing Malaysia. The panel of judges comprised of Bboy Free of Soul Shifters Crew from the United States and South Koreans Bboy Born of Rivers Crew and Bboy The End of Gamblerz Crew. Judging was based on 1) Creativity, 2) Execution, 3) Stage Presence, 4) Difficulty and 5) Overall Performance.

The MC Jazz Ivy and DJ Dust, two cool dudes from "The Land of the Morning Calm" endeared themselves to the 2000 strong audience who turned up at the bash. While waiting for the results of the competition to be announced, the crowd were entertained by guest artistes Dust and local rappers Altimet and Dose Two. Big Toe of Vietnam (pic) who got a leg up with the boisterous support of their fans, impressed the judges with their awesome performance to emerge winners. They will go on to compete against 15 teams from all across the world at the R16 Korea World B-boy Masters Championships 2010 which will be held in Seoul on July 3 and 4.

R16 and Urban Arts Festival was created in 2007 by the Korean Tourism Organization and the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to support grassroots youth culture such as Hip Hop and B-boy. The four-day celebrations which is held in South Korea every summer attracts famous artistes, musicians, dancers and promoters from all over the earth. It is a celebration of the creative energy behind urban youth culture. 'R' stands for Respect and '16' refers to the sixteen dance crews from fifteen countries who compete for the R16 Korea World B-boy Masters Championship titles in two categories: Best Crew Performance and Best Crew Battle.

Martha Stewart Captivated By Malaysia

2010-05-31T00:18:00.004+08:00

Martha Stewart, well-known American lifestyle guru, author, publisher and host of the popular TV talk show "The Martha Stewart Show" recently visited Malaysia at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism. Accompanying her on her first trip to Malaysia were her niece Sophie Herbert and good friend Memrie Lewis. While in Malaysia, Stewart tweeted about her experiences to her two million fans via Twitter. Stewart took the opportunity to try the local cuisine, visited many places of interest and watched how local handicrafts like pewter and songket were made. She had tea with Her Royal Highness, Queen Tuanku Nur Zahirah and brunch with Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Prime Minister.

In Kuala Lumpur, Stewart toured the Petronas Twin Towers, Islamic Arts Museum and Kuala Lumpur Bird Park where she had fun playing with the birds. She took a helicopter ride north of the city and was amazed by the sight of miles and miles of padi fields. Stewart also witnessed the "Colours of 1Malaysia" celebrations held at Dataran Merdeka on May 22. "Colours of 1Malaysia" is a collection of street performances which was first launched in 1999 by the Ministry of Tourism to highlight Malaysia's cultural heritage through music, song and dances. The finale of the evening was the Tarian Cuti Cuti Malaysia, a dance specially choreographed by the Ministry which was performed by the 5000 odd dancers.

Stewart had a walkabout in Melaka which she mentioned had a colourful history since the fifteenth century. She also visited the resort island of Pangkor Laut, Perak where she waxed lyrical about the beautiful beach at Emerald Bay. Sabah which lies on the island of Borneo was also on her itinerary. Stewart described Sabah as "the home of orang utans, tarsiers, slow lorises, elephants, wild boars, proboscis monkeys, 622 species of birds and more". Among the places she went to were the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary and Pulau Gaya where she watched a giant clam rehabilitation project. It's a pity she did not make a trip to Sipadan which is rated as one of the top five diving spots in the world.

I am surprised that Stewart did not visit the Agnes Keith House in Sandakan. Agnes Keith (1901-1982), was an American adventurer and author who was noted for her autobiographical accounts of North Borneo (now Sabah) before, during and after the Second World War. The three books about North Borneo written by Keith: Land Below the Wind, Three Came Home and White Man Returns, gives a vivid depiction of life in the region during those turbulent times. Agnes and her husband Harry left North Borneo in 1952. The house she and her husband lived in has been restored and turned into a museum. It contains displays about them as well as life in Sandakan during the first half of the twentieth century.

Proceedings Of The 28th AGM Of The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association

2010-05-24T00:18:00.001+08:00

The 28th annual general meeting of the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) held on May 16 at its premises in Wisma OCM, Kuala Lumpur was attended by some 70 of its members. The chairman C C Lai, in his address spoke of the achievements of the KLDA during the past year and plans for the future. Lai elaborated on the KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010 held on April 13. In spite of the challenges and difficulties in organizing the competition, the KLDA managed to overcome the problems and put up a great show. A nett profit of RM30,000 was realized from this event. Lai thanked the organizing committee and all those who had helped make this championship a success.

The chairman also paid tribute to the dance teachers at the KLDA, namely Eric Tan See Meng, Dean Craig Kim and Barry Winters for their dedication and hard work in coaching their students and turning them into champions. Two Latin American dance couples under the tutelage of Dean Craig Kim were mentioned and commended for their outstanding achievements. They were the pair of Alfred Choo & Cecilia Yong (pic) who are currently ranked number 1 in the National Ranking Grade A Latin category and rising stars Billy Yong & Carmen Choo who won the Amateur Open Latin event at the ADC Amateur League Open Dance Championship held recently in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Various social events were organized last year to promote the KLDA and help attract new members to its fold. These events included the KLDA Gala Ball 2009 on August 8, an open house on December 27, the monthly pot lucks, and performances by members and guests. The KLDA is embarking on a campaign to attract more social dancers especially the youngsters to join as members. Presently the KLDA has a scholarship fund which is used to subsidize the dance lesson fees of talented dancers. As an added incentive, it is considering giving cash awards to members who emerge champions in the Amateur Ballroom and Latin events in selected competitions in Malaysia.

Serena Ballet School Conducts National Dance Classes

2010-05-17T00:18:00.002+08:00

The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), UK is formed into twelve faculties which cover many forms of theatrical, recreational and social dance. National Dance is one of the dance styles which comes under the Imperial Dance and Theatre Faculty. The other dance styles under this faculty are Classical Ballet, Classical Greek Dance, Modern Theatre, Tap Dance and South Asian Dance. The aim of the National Dance Faculty is to bring the joy of European Folk Dance to all age levels. Folk dance develops a sense of community and awareness of others. The dancers have the opportunity to study traditional dances, costumes, music and customs (information sourced from ISTD website www.istd.org).

Recently, an ISTD National Dance examination was held at Serena Ballet School in Klang, Selangor. Students taking the medal tests were not only required to perform the folk dances but also had to know something about the countries of origin of the dances. Models of the Eiffel Tower of France, Big Ben of England, the Parthenon of Greece, all made by the students were put on display. The students also prepared an Italian lunch made up of spaghetti bolognese, tiramisu, rosemary crackers, panettone (a type of bread) and expresso. The examiner, Barbara Simons of UK praised the students for their high standard of dancing and their efforts in preparing the projects.

The principal of Serena Ballet School is Serena Tan Suet Leng, a Licentiate in the National Branch of the ISTD. Serena was awarded the Helen Wingrave Scholarship by the ISTD in 1993 to enable her to pursue her love and passion for dance. Besides teaching ballet, Serena is the only dance teacher in Malaysia who trains and prepares students for the ISTD National Dance medal tests and examinations (from beginners to advanced levels and teacher qualifications). To know more about Serena Ballet School which is located at 94-D, Persiaran Raja Muda, Musa, 41100 Klang, Selangor, kindly contact Serena Tan at 012-2898127, email serena127@myjaring.net.

All About Aswara

2010-05-10T00:18:00.002+08:00

The National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (formerly known as the National Arts Academy) or Akademi Seni, Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) was set up in 1994 with the objective of producing creative performers, nurturing artistic talent and developing leaders in the arts. Aswara which comes under the auspices of the Ministry of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage is the only institution of higher learning offering formal training in the performing arts, which is fully supported by the government. It provides teaching, learning, research and consultancy services in the fields of arts, culture and heritage.

Aswara offers three-year degree or diploma programmes in theatre, dance, fine arts, film & video, music and writing at its campus in Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. The dance faculty has been credited with producing some of the country's well known contemporary dancers and choreographers. Joseph Gonzales, one of Malaysia's leading dance educationists and choreographers is the dean of the dance faculty. Gonzales studied dance and theatre at the London Studio Centre and Bush Davies School in England. He played the part of Simon of Legree in the West End musical "The King And I" and was the first Malaysian to perform in West End.

Events such as dance performances, dialogues and workshops in contemporary, traditional, hip hop and jazz are organized regularly by teachers and students of the dance faculty. A free dance performance and workshop by the students was held recently on April 29 to commemorate World Dance Day (also known as International Dance Day). To cater to the growing number of students in Aswara, a new academic building (artist's impression shown above) is currently being built near the present campus. The next intake for new students is in July 2010. To know more about Aswara, check out their website at www.aswara.edu.my.

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> World Dance Day Celebrations

World Dance Day Celebrations

2010-05-03T00:18:00.001+08:00

Every year on the 29th of April, World Dance Day, also known as International Dance Day is celebrated all over the world by the international community of dancers. Initiated in 1982 and co-ordinated by the International Dance Council (CID), World Dance Day is not linked to any particular form of dance. The date was chosen to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810), a French ballet master considered to be the creator of modern ballet. On this day, special events are held to celebrate the occasion. They include special performances, open-door classes, lectures, workshops, exhibitions, etc. The official purpose of these events is to attract the attention of the wider public to the art of dance.

The International Dance Council (Conseil International de la Danse - CID) is the official umbrella organization for all forms of dance in all countries of the world. It is a non-government, non-profit organization founded in 1973 within the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, where it is based. CID treats all forms of dance on an equal basis. It does not promote a particular view of dance, recognizing its universal character as an art form, as a means of education and as a research subject. Its purpose is to act as a worldwide forum bringing together international, national and local organizations as well as select individuals active in dance. Membership includes more than 400 institutions and over 3000 individuals in 150 countries.

In Malaysia, World Dance Day 2010 was celebrated at various locations around the country. In Kuala Lumpur, the National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage or Akademi Seni Budaya Dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) held an open-day event at its campus in Jalan Tun Ismail. The students of Aswara performed traditional Malay, Chinese, Indian, jazz and hip hop dances and also conducted free workshops. At the Black Box (theatre) @ MAP in Solaris Dutamas, the audience were treated to a performance by some of the country's top contemporary dancers. Among the outstanding performers was January Low (pic), an Indian classical dancer and protege of renowned Odissi and Bharata Natyam dancer, Ramli Ibrahim.

Dance Scene In Hong Kong

2010-04-26T00:18:00.010+08:00

Recently I visited www.istd.org, the website of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) to browse through the results of the Dance Teacher Examinations for 2009. I was interested to know the number of successful candidates from Asia in the Ballroom and Latin American dance styles. Last year, the three largest number of successful candidates from Asia in these dance styles came from Hong Kong, South Korea and China. The ISTD Dance Teacher Examinations seem to be getting very popular in Hong Kong, a former British colony and now a Special Administrative Region of China.

In status-conscious Hong Kong, dancing is a much sought after social skill. Hong Kongers are willing to pay good money to engage the services of top dancers to coach them and take part with them in Pro-Am events in dance competitions. A few years ago it was reported in the media that a female banker there had in 2004 agreed to pay a former world Latin champion and her husband a whopping HK $120 million for ten years of unlimited dance lessons and competitions. Apparently they had a falling out in 2006 and the banker then sued for the return of HK $62 million in advance payment.

Among the dance maestros who had teaching stints in Hong Kong are Gaynor Fairweather, who together with her previous partner Donnie Burns were 14-times winners of the Professional World Latin Championships, which is a world record and former 9-times Professional World Latin Champions Bryan Watson & Carmen Vincelj. The other recent notables include 2009 Blackpool Professional Ballroom semi-finalists Aleksandr Zhiratkov & Irina Novozhilova and Professional Latin American quarter-finalists Ilia Borovski & Veronika Klyushina. Both couples are now based in and dancing for Hong Kong.

Many VIPs in Hong Kong are well known for their prowess on the dance floor. One such personality is taipan Stanley Ho Hung Sun who is as famous for his moves in the boardroom as he is for his moves in the ballroom. An accomplished dancer and patron of the arts, Ho had in the past often been called upon to perform dances, especially the Argentine Tango at society events to help raise funds for charity. Ho met his fourth wife Angela Leong On Kei who was then a dance instructor in Macau and love blossomed for them on the dance floor. You could say he swept her off her feet, literally speaking!

> A Discourse On The Foxtrot By Aleksandr And Irina

Rumba At The Royal Lake Club

2010-04-19T00:18:00.005+08:00

More than 120 guests attended a dinner and dance cum workshop at the Royal Lake Club in Kuala Lumpur on March 27 2010. Organized by the dancesport section of the club, the function was held at the cosy Recreation Hall. The guest-of-honour was Dato' Abdullah Sani A Karim, the President of the club. George Lim, the President of Malaysian Dancesport Berhad, his wife Janet and many dance teachers from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were among those present. In his welcome speech, Dato' Abdullah said he was pleased with the good turnout and hoped that more of such events would be organized. Dato' Abdullah also regaled the guests with funny anecdotes of the ballroom dance activities of the club in the past.

The Rumba workshop was conducted by Amy Lee Ai Mei, principal of Amy Dancesport Centre, Kuala Lumpur and former South East Asia Professional Latin Champion. Amy explained to the participants the character and interpretation of the dance. She went on to elucidate the basic figures of the Rumba such as the Basic Movements, Progressive Walks Forward & Back, Side Steps, Cucarachas and Spot Turns. Amy also touched on the techniques of the dance, footwork, transfer of weight and the lateral and rotational hip movements. A simple dance routine was choreographed by Amy and the participants were then put through their paces. It was a fun-filled evening and a jolly good time was had by all.

The Royal Lake Club (founded 1890), Royal Selangor Golf Club (established 1893) and Royal Selangor Club (constituted 1884) were started by the British colonials and are probably the 3 oldest extant social clubs in KL. These clubs were where the British community gathered to socialise, dine or imbibe their stengahs. Stengah (from the Malay word setengah, meaning half), a concoction of whiskey and soda was a popular drink back then. What were the popular social dances during those days? Was it the English Old-Time, Polka and Mazurka? Unfortunately, most of the written records of the clubs in the then Malaya were destroyed during the Japanese Occupation from 1941 to 1945, so we are unable to know for sure.

Results Of The KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010

2010-04-12T00:18:00.005+08:00

Some 220 competitors from Malaysia participated in the inaugural KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010 held on April 11 at the OCM Indoor Sports Complex in Kuala Lumpur. Organized by the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA), this championship saw the contestants pitting against each other in the various Standard, Latin American, Salsa and Bachata events. This competition was organized by the KLDA to promote dancing in Malaysia and also to discover young talented dancers who can be groomed to become future champions.

Among those who turned up to watch the finals in the evening were Dato' Sieh Kok Chi, Honorary Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Dato' Cheong Siew Kai, Patron of the KLDA, C C Lai, President of the KLDA and George Lim, President of Malaysian Dancesport Berhad. Besides watching the many exciting events, the audience were also treated to some spectacular showdance performances: a Zouk Lambada by Jaxen & Cecilia, a Salsa by Gavin Chan & Sally Oh and a Latin formation by the KLDA Idols.

Here are the official results of the major events of the KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010:-

Standard Amateur

1 Johnston Lim & Nicole Tan (Selangor)

2 Wilson Chew Wei Sern & Hazel Swee Su Lyn (Kuala Lumpur)

3 Jimmy Yap & Sylvia Koh (Selangor)

Latin Amateur

1 Bernard Lim & Natalie Tan (Selangor)

2 Billy Yong Chun Haou & Carmen Choo Kar Mun (Kuala Lumpur)

3 Vernon Choo & Cheah Yen Thing (Kuala Lumpur)

Standard Pre-Amateur

1 Tan Kay Leong & Christina Lim Siew Wit (Kuala Lumpur)

2 Jason Wong & Rachel Wong (Kuala Lumpur)

3 Lee Keng Lek & Judy Hsu (Kuala Lumpur)

Latin Pre-Amateur

1 Kenneth Tan & Vanessa Low (Selangor)

2 Yong Chun Leong & Foo Wai Sum (Perak)

3 Siew Wai Lok & Joey Wong (Perak)

Standard Novice

1 Lee Keng Lek & Judy Hsu (Kuala Lumpur)

2 Stanley Lim & Adele Lim (Selangor)

3 Edmund Ngor & Michelle Ngor (Selangor)

Latin Novice

1 Yong Chun Leong & Foo Wai Sum (Perak)

2 Jackson Hor & Isabelle Liew (Negri Sembilan)

3 Siew Wai Lok & Joey Wong (Perak)

Latin - Junior Under 16

1 Vernon Choo & Cheah Yen Thing (Kuala Lumpur)

2 Siew Wai Lok & Joey Wong (Perak)

3 Jackson Hor & Isabelle Liew (Negri Sembilan)

Latin - Juvenile Under 12

1 Mok Win Kit & Cheow Lok Yu (Perak)

2 Chan Siang Chung & Kok Yiang Yao (Perak)

3 Harry Chuah Hong Teck & Kitty Chuah King Thi (Kuala Lumpur)

Salsa

1 Steven Seah Eng Hwa & Tracy Tan Tsuey Ling (Kuala Lumpur)

2 Sivanthirama Selvaindran & Asheila Anwar (Kuala Lumpur)

3 Kairul Kalifah & Christelle Loo (Kuala Lumpur)

Bachata

1 Harry Ng & Evelyn Ong (Kuala Lumpur)

2 Gary Theseira & Mavis Tan (Kuala Lumpur)

3 Chris Lim & Mazmi Bt Lamin (Kuala Lumpur)

Viva Vertical Launches Pole Stars Talent Showcase

2010-04-05T00:18:00.002+08:00

Pole dancing is a form of dancing cum gymnastics that requires muscular endurance, co-ordination and acrobatic feats of strength involving movements with a vertical pole. It also involves sensual dance moves executed with the polish of a performer. Pole dance is regarded by many as an art form and is now performed in various places such as theatres, cabarets and clubs. Celebrities who pole dance include Madonna, Paris Hilton, Jolin Tsai, The Pussycat Dolls and The Spice Girls.

Pole dance which was introduced to Malaysia in 2007 seems to have garnered quite a following here. Not only is it popular with the girls, but the guys seem to have taken a fancy to this art form too. There are a number of dance studios and fitness centres in the Klang Valley and elsewhere which conduct pole dance classes. Several pole dance competitions, workshops and performances have also been organized in the past.

For the third year running, Viva Vertical, a leading pole dance academy and troupe in South East Asia is organizing the Pole Stars Talent Showcase Malaysia 2010. This online reality and fan based pole dance competition is open to guys and girls aged 18 and above. This year sees the addition of a 'Professional' category alongside the previous year's 'Fit Pole' and 'Exotic Pole' categories.

The semi-finals of the Pole Stars Talent Showcase Malaysia 2010 will be held on April 24 at Autumn Quattro in Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur while the grand finals on May 22 will take place at The Opera in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya. Prizes totalling RM5,000 are up for grabs and the champions will get the chance to represent the country at the International Pole Dance Fitness Championships 2010 to be held in Tokyo, Japan. For more information, visit www.mypolsestars.com.

Dancesport Competitions - The Great Debate

2010-03-29T00:18:00.002+08:00

In my Article 139 of March 8 2010 titled "China Tops Figure Skating Medal Tally At Vancouver Olympics", I talked about figure skating; a sport known for its grace, elegance and athleticism - attributes quite similar to those of dancesport. There are four disciplines in figure skating: singles (men & ladies), pairs and ice dance. In singles skating, skaters must complete a short programme of required steps, jumps, spins and combinations and a longer free skating programme, both set to music. The pairs events follows the same format as the singles. In this event, one male and one female skater work in unison incorporating lifts, throws and synchronized jumps, spins and spirals linked harmoniously by steps and other movements.

Ice dance is performed by a couple and is based on their rhythm, interpretation of music and precise steps. Unlike pairs skating, ice dance does not include overhead lifts and jumps. Ice dance is similar to ballroom dancing as the skaters remain in contact throughout most of the programme. An ice dance competition is made up of three parts: one compulsory dance, an original dance and a free dance. Compulsory dance is the skating of prescribed patterns to music incorporating pre-determined rhythm and tempo. Original dance and free dance are created by each couple to music of their own choice. There are also required elements such as lifts, spins, synchronized twizzles and step sequences that must be included in these programmes.

In figure skating competitions, the contestants perform their routines solo due to the likelihood of collisions if all of them were to perform together, unlike in dancesport competitions where all the couples usually dance together. In dancesport competitions, minor collisions and 'blockages' sometimes do happen. Figure skating competitions are entertaining to watch as you get to savour the thrill of seeing each individual or pair present the whole routine unhindered and unrestrained. This is unlike dancesport competitions where you have to dart your eyes to watch all the couples dance in a routine lasting about 2 minutes. Adjudicators meanwhile have to mark all the contestants within the short time frame. Everything seems so hurried and rushed.

There has been debates on whether the finals in the major events (eg Professional or Amateur) in dancesport competitions should be danced solo as in figure skating competitions. Recently I watched a DVD of a major dancesport competition held in Tokyo, Japan where the six finalists in the professional event had to perform together all the five dances a total of six times each. The contestants were basically dancing the same routine to the same music six times for each of the five dances, and they looked jaded at the end of the competition. Wouldn't it be better for all of the couples to perform solo? The competitors could have given a better presentation and the audience would have been entertained to a showdance performance just as well.

Meet The KLDA Idols!

2010-03-22T00:18:00.002+08:00

Meet the KLDA Idols who are a bunch of vivacious and gregarious youngsters who just love to dance and 'wanna' have fun. This dance troupe which was formed last year are trained by Dean Craig Kim from South Korea, the resident coach at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA). The KLDA Idols' first public appearance was at the KLDA Gala Ball 2009 on August 8 where they stole the show with a spectacular and very entertaining performance. Since then, the KLDA Idols have performed at a few other functions organized by the KLDA. The members meet up regularly at the KLDA to attend dance classes and to practise there. The present 4 couples of the KLDA Idols comprise the following:-

Vernon Choo (16) & Cheah Yen Thing (15)

This young couple has been dancing together for 5 years and they were the Malaysian Junior Latin Under 16 champions for many years. They have represented Malaysia in many dance competitions in Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan and won the South East Asia Latin Junior Under 16 Championship in 2008. The both of them are studying in Sri Garden School in Kuala Lumpur.

Alfred Choo (18) & Carmen Choo (21)

Alfred and Carmen have participated in many dance competitions in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They represented Malaysia in the dancesport Latin events at the Asian Indoor Games 2009 in Hanoi, Vietnam where they managed to make it to the semi-finals. Both are presently dancing with different competition partners now.

Kelvin Choo (20) & Villy Chai (27)

Kelvin & Villy were very active competition dancers with their previous partners and have won numerous championships before. A first year undergraduate at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus in Semenyih, Kelvin also teaches dancing during his free time. Villy, a business woman and part-time dance teacher, competes in Latin American Amateur events.

Lee Keng Lek (18) & Hazel Swee (21)

Standing at 180 cm, Keng Lek is the tallest in the group. Keng Lek and Hazel were former competition partners before splitting their partnership. The tallish Keng Lek who now competes in the Ballroom Amateur events is probably the youngest Malaysian competitor in this category. Both Keng Lek and Hazel are currently pursuing their tertiary education in Kuala Lumpur.

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> Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

Alex Lim Crowned Gatsby Styling Dance Champion

2010-03-15T00:18:00.005+08:00

Alex "Poppin' Rex" Lim (pic) has done Malaysia proud by winning the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Asia Finals in Tokyo, Japan on February 27 2010. At this street dance competition which was held at the chic Shibuya O-East Arena in Tokyo, Alex beat contestants from the other participating countries; Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore to grab 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. The joint first runners-up were 4C The Power of South Korea and Bloos Dynamite of Hong Kong. Both teams each won a cash prize of 100,000 Yen (RM3,800) and a dance exchange tour to any one of the participating countries.

The judges for the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Asia Finals were Karisma Kantaro, Fishboy, Dee, Miho Brown and a representative from each of the seven participating countries. As all the contestants were equally good, the judges initially had a problem deciding on the winner. Eventually they all agreed that the crown should be given to Alex "Poppin' Rex" Lim for his creative and fresh dance moves. Alex showcased an improvised and simple street dance routine without much of the thrills and frills. Dressed in a gold-coloured Chinese kungfu jacket and black jeans, he had the crowd in stitches with his funny antics and facial expressions. Besides winning The Greatest Gatsby Award, Alex also clinched a Gatsby Grooving Award.

The affable Alex, 21 who hails from the royal town of Klang in Selangor took up hip hop dancing when he was 18 and trained at the Royal Phantom Dance Studio in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya. He was soon taking part in local hip hop dance competitions and winning numerous championships along the way. Even though Alex knows that the job prospects for dancers are quite limited in Malaysia, he intends to further his studies in dance and pursue a career as a professional dancer. He hopes that with further exposure, the dance scene in Malaysia will grow to be as big as those in other countries like Japan. Hopefully, Alex's victory at the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Asia Finals in Tokyo will give a fillip to street dance in Malaysia.

China Tops Figure Skating Medal Tally At Vancouver Olympics

2010-03-08T00:18:00.003+08:00

The 21st Winter Olympic Games 2010 which was held in Vancouver, Canada beginning February 12, came to an official close on February 28. This Olympiad saw the participation of some 2600 athletes from 82 nations competing in 86 winter sports in 15 disciplines. Canada topped the medal tally with 14 golds, 7 silvers and 5 bronzes followed by Germany with 10 golds, 13 silvers & 7 bronzes and the United States of America with 9 golds, 15 silvers & 13 bronzes for the overall top 3 placings. It is the first time Canada have topped the medal standings at a Winter or Summer Olympic Games.

One of the most popular attractions at the Vancouver Olympics was figure skating, a sport known for its grace, elegance and athleticism - attributes quite similar to those of dancesport. In this event, China won first placing with 1 gold and 1 silver. The United States which also collected a gold and a silver was placed second whilst Canada came in third with 1 gold and 1 bronze. South Korea bagged the remaining gold to take fourth placing. The other medal winners were the Russian Federation and Japan with 1 silver and 1 bronze each, and Germany with a solitary bronze.

There are 4 disciplines in figure skating as explained in vancouver2010.com, the official website of the Games. They are singles (men and ladies), pairs and ice dance. In singles skating, skaters must complete both a short programme of required steps, jumps, spins and combinations and a longer free skating programme, both set to music. The pairs event follows the same format as the singles. In this event one male and one female skater work in unison incorporating lifts, throws and synchronized jumps, spins and spirals linked harmoniously by steps and other movements.

Ice dance is performed by a couple and is based on their rhythm, interpretation of music and precise steps. Unlike pairs skating, ice dance does not include overhead lifts and jumps. Ice dance is similar to ballroom dancing, as the skaters remain in contact throughout most of the programme. An ice dance competition is made up of three parts: one compulsory dance, an original dance and a free dance. Compulsory dance is the skating of prescribed patterns to music incorporating pre-determined rhythm and tempo. Original dance and free dance are created by each couple to music of their own choice.

For The Love Of Dance

2010-03-01T00:18:00.006+08:00

If you are taking dance lessons, how far would you be willing to travel from your home to your dance studio for your weekly classes? I remembered when I was taking regular dance lessons in Kuala Lumpur many, many years ago I knew of several dance aficionados from the other states travelling to the capital city to pursue their love of dance. In my class I became acquainted with some students from Klang, Selangor which is about 40 km from Kuala Lumpur. I also got to know a few students from Seremban, Negri Sembilan and Melaka City, Melaka situated 64km and 144 km respectively from Kuala Lumpur who would drive up to Kuala Lumpur for their weekly lessons. The journeys would take them approximately 1 hour and 2 hours respectively.

Then there was this retired doctor from Ipoh, Perak who would come down to Kuala Lumpur every week almost without fail to attend classes. He would hire a taxi for the 205 km journey to KL and would take 3 different group classes at one stretch from 8.00 pm to 11.00 pm while the taxi driver waited for him outside the studio. After finishing his lessons he would then take the almost 3 hour journey back home to Ipoh. For his age he was sprightly and I could see that he really enjoyed dancing. He told me that he looked forward to coming down to KL to dance every week. It was like a weekly 'fix' for him! As a doctor he certainly must have known the health benefits of dancing!

The one who really takes the cake for the love of dance must be this young couple from Alor Setar in Kedah, a town located 462 km north of Kuala Lumpur. This couple would take the bus from Alor Setar every week for the more than 6 hour trek to KL. Arriving at the Puduraya Bus Station in KL at about 7.00 pm they would hop on a cab to get them to one dance studio in Cheras to take their Latin American dance lesson. After the lesson was over they would proceed to another studio in Pudu to learn ballroom. When the class was over, they would rush to Puduraya Bus Station to take the bus for the long haul back home, arriving in Alor Setar at about 5.00 am the next morning!

Alex Lim Shines At Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Finals

2010-02-22T00:18:00.009+08:00

Alex Lim (pic), also known as Poppin' Rex was adjudged the winner of the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Malaysia Finals in Kuala Lumpur on January 27 2010. At the event held in Mist Club, Bangsar; Alex put up a solid performance that combined street dance with out-of-the-box moves to impress the judges and beat four other finalists for the crown. The five finalists were chosen through online voting from fifteen shortlisted entries. The judges for the competition were Karisma Kantaro of Anomaly Japan, Fellest Yan of Royal Phantom Crew and Bojae of Floor Fever. Guest performers KoRock from Japan; the winners of the Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Asia Finals in 2009 thrilled the crowd with their beautiful and adrenaline-pumping routine.

Besides winning a trophy and a cash prize of RM2000, Alex also grabbed a chance to represent Malaysia in the Asia Finals which will be held in Tokyo on February 27. Runners-up Chris Ooi, Dennis Yin and Billy Yap of Elecoldxhot walked away with a trophy and RM1000 while Chua Jack Son of Max Identity who came in third, bagged a trophy and RM500. At the finals in Tokyo, Alex will battle it out with the winners from six other countries/regions namely Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Singapore. The champion will receive a 300,000 Yen (RM11,400) prize money and an all-expense-paid trip to participate in the Asian Dance Interchange Tour to any two of the seven Gatsby Styling Dance Contest participating Asian countries/regions.

The Gatsby Styling Dance Contest is organized by Mandom Corporation of Japan, the manufacturer and distributor of Gatsby personal care and hair styling products. This contest is specially for high school, college or university students who love to dance. The official theme of this competition is 'styling' and contestants are required to define 'styling' in their performances. Style dancing, a new genre created by Gatsby is based on street dance like hip hop, breaking and free style that incorporates styling moves in their routines. Elecoldxhot, who were the winners of the inaugural Gatsby Styling Dance Contest Malaysia Finals last year went on to compete in the Asia Finals in Tokyo where they managed to win a "Grooving Award".