Live To Dance

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.

Charity Belly Dance Concert

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)

Dance National Association Officially Launched

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

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

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)

Project Dance Penang

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.

Hip Hop Fun & Thrills

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)

Into The Centre Of Dance

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

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

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)

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 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. 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. (Wikipedia)

MyDance Festival 2011

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.

Gatsby Dance Competition 2011 Auditions

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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)

Related Article

> Big Toe Gets A Leg Up

South Korea Hosts Argentine Tango Festival

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