KLDA Holds 29th AGM

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

Big Turnout At KLDA Open House

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

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

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

KLDA Open House

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

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

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

Power And Energy In Ballroom Dancing

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.

"Advance Tango Techniques" Workshop By Novikov And Gaevskaya

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.

Related Post

>Movement And Balance In Ballroom Dancing

How Often Do You Dance?

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.

Movement And Balance In Ballroom Dancing

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.

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

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.

Results Of The KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010

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)

Meet The KLDA Idols!

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.

Related Post

> Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

KLDA To Organize "Rising Star Championship 2010"

The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) of Level 2, Indoor Sports Complex, Wisma OCM, Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur is organizing the KLDA Rising Star Championship 2010. Further information regarding this competition is as follows:-

Date: April 11 2009 (Sunday)

Venue: Level 3, Indoor Sports Complex, Wisma OCM, Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur

Events: Ballroom ~ Standard & Latin - Amateur, Rising Star Under 21, Pre-Amateur, Novice, Senior Over 40, Senior Over 50, Grand Senior Over 60, Junior Under 16, Juvenile Under 12, Ladies Under 16, Beginners 1 Dance

Participation: Open To All Malaysians

Closing Date For Entries: March 11 2010

Tickets: RM130 and RM100 per person (inclusive of dinner) for evening events. RM30 for day events

This is the first time the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association is organizing a dancesport competition since its inception in 1982. The KLDA is sparing no efforts to ensure that this inaugural championship will be a success. Alan Liew, the organizing chairman, as well as the Vice President of the KLDA said in an interview - "The objective of this competition is to foster friendship, peace and harmony among dancers through dancesport, and promote unity in the ballroom dance community. I extend my invitations to and encourage all aspiring dancers to participate in this competition". For more information regarding this event, kindly contact Alan Liew at 017-2829321, email: alanpritanis@yahoo.com; Kelly Cheah at 016-2319998, email: kelly_cheahss@yahoo.com or Chew Su Fen at 012-9116682, email: sufen_sufen_sufen_@hotmail.com.

The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association was founded in 1982 by a group of dance enthusiasts in 1982 and had its initial headquarters at the Eastern Hotel & Nite Club in Jalan Ampang (where Capital Square is now). Over the years, the KLDA has shifted several times: to Jalan Galloway, Jalan Ipoh, Jalan Sungai Besi and Cheras Utama before relocating to its present premises in Wisma OCM in 2008. The KLDA is situated directly behind the YWCA, adjacent to the Olympic Sports Hotel and is about 600 metres or a 10-minute stroll from the Hang Tuah LRT and monorail stations. It is also a stone's throw away from Petaling Street and Chinatown. The KLDA is open for dance practices from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm every Sundays and from 8.00 pm to 10.30 pm every Mondays to Fridays. It is closed on Saturdays and certain public holidays.

Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association Hosts Year-End Open House

Some 200 people attended the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) Year-End Open House held at its premises in Wisma OCM along Jalan Hang Jebat on December 27. Among those present were Datuk Sieh Kok Chi - Honorary Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Datuk Cheong Siew Kai - Patron of the KLDA, Datuk Dr Lim Teong Wah - President of the Royal Selangor Club and Teh Keng Hong - President of the Kuantan Dancing Association. C C Lai, the President of the KLDA and ever-gracious host, was at the door to welcome the guests and chat with them. Everyone present had a wonderful time enjoying the company of friends, dancing and watching the performances.

Members of the KLDA entertained the audience with Ballroom, Latin American, Salsa, Hip Hop, Zouk and Argentine Tango performances. Among the performers was Cecilia Yong (pic), the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Malaysia 2008. Dancing a Samba with Alfred Choo, the couple moved effortlessly around the dance floor to wild applause from the audience. South Korean dance instructor Dean Craig Kim who coaches at the KLDA, and his wife Justin mesmerized the crowd with their slick and sultry Argentine Tango routine. Their performance was so electrifying that one of Justin's high kicks accidentally hit a lamp shade overhanging the dance floor! Fortunately, no one was hurt or anything broken.

In spite of the economic slowdown, the year 2009 had surprisingly been a good one for the KLDA. There was a marked increase in the youth membership with many of the youth coming regularly to the KLDA to practise and take dance lessons. More dance classes are being offered at the KLDA now and a few well-known teachers from overseas had also been invited to conduct classes and workshops there. Social events like the potlucks and performances held on the last Sunday of every month attracted big crowds. There was also the spectacular KLDA Gala Ball 2009 where the members put up a dazzling and very entertaining show. The KLDA has in plan, many interesting and exciting events for year 2010.

Groove To The Hip Hop Beat At "Tha Groove Session Party"

Urban Groove Dance Network is organizing a "Tha Groove Session Party" this Saturday, November 7 at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA). Do not miss this opportunity to indulge yourself in raw hip hop and funky styles. Watch the dance showcases and performances by students and teachers of Urban Groove.There will also be solo battle sessions for 4 different dance styles: popping, locking, breaking and freestyle hip hop. It will be a fun and exhilirating party for everyone. So spread the word around and make sure you get all your friends to be there! Further details regarding the party is as follows:-

Date: November 7 2009 (Saturday)

Time: 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm

Venue: Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association

Level 2 Indoor Sport Complex, Wisma OCM,

Jalan Hang Jebat,

50150 Kuala Lumpur

Tickets: RM30 for UG students, RM40 for Non-UG students. Avail yourself to free drinks and snacks. There will be no additional charges for battle participants.Tickets are available at all 3 Urban Groove dance studios at:-

1) 45-3 Jalan PJS11/28B, Bandar Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya

2) 7, 2nd Floor, Jalan 10USJ/1C, 47620 Subang Jaya

3) 31-1 Jalan Prima 7, Pusat Niaga Metro Prima, Kepong, 52100 Kuala Lumpur

For more information regarding this event, kindly call/sms Joel at 012-3896588 or Alyssa at 016-5584466. To know more about Urban Groove, check out their website at www.urbangrooveugdn.wordpress.com.

Those who attended the KLDA potluck last Sunday on October 25 were privileged to catch a preview of the hip hop performances by dancers from Urban Groove. Sidney, Ezwan, Joo Neng, Amanda & Lydia from Urban Groove dazzled the crowd with a beautiful hip hop routine. The five hip hoppers had the audience spellbound with their popping, locking and breaking moves. There were some jaw-dropping and eye-popping moments when they executed a couple of somersaults and splits! For those who wish to perform at the potluck Sundays or hold events at the KLDA, kindly contact the president, C C Lai at 012-2029991.

Related Posts

> Fun Days At The KLDA Potluck Sundays

> Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

Magical Merengue Moments

It's been quite a while since I last danced the Merengue so when Eric Tan of Classic Dancesport said that he was starting a Merengue class at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) on Friday evenings, I took the opportunity to join the class as a sort of refresher and also for the fun of it. The Merengue is a happy and lively dance and is one of the easiest social dances to learn. Because of its simple rhythmic structure, the Merengue is a dance you can dance immediately the first time you learn it. It is the national dance of both the Dominican Republic and Haiti and is very popular in the Caribbean and South America. Dominican immigrants to the United States in the early twentieth century also helped to spread the popularity of the dance in the USA.

The commonly used time signature for the Meringue is 4/4, meaning there are 4 beats in a bar of music. The tempo can be very fast, up to 40 bars per minute but it is normally played at 29 - 32 bars per minute. Depending on the figures, the Merengue can be danced in closed position with the man's right leg in between the lady's legs, or in open position. A dance step is taken on each beat of music. Although the tempo may be fast, the upper body is kept upright and stately and figures are usually danced to four-beat counts. Partners may walk sideways, forward & back or circle each other in small steps. Variations include body drops, underarm turns, alternate underarm turns and the more advanced and intricate moves like the double-hand turns & pretzels.

The main characteristic of the Merengue is the Merengue action which is a movement of the hips due to the weight change from one foot to the other when stepping on alternate feet. Often described as being seductively attractive, the Merengue action should however be natural and not appear exaggerated. The Merengue action is also used in some figures in the Latin American dances, like for example in the Chicken Walks in the Jive and the Plait in the Samba. In both these figures the man walks back with a Merengue action while the lady does the Chicken Walks or Plait moving forward. The next time you organize a social event, remember to play some Merengue music and listen to the squeals of delight as the couples Merengue on the dance floor!

Related Post

> Eric Tan See Meng And His Passion For Dancing

A Discourse On The Foxtrot By Aleksandr And Irina

On August 31 2009, which was the 52nd National Day of Malaysia, some fifteen dance enthusiasts gathered at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) in Wisma OCM at Jalan Hang Jebat, KL to attend a dance workshop conducted by Aleksandr Zhiratkov and Irina Novozhilova of Russia. Aleksandr and Irina who were semi-finalists in the Ballroom Professional event at the Blackpool Dance Festival 2009; had on the evening before, won the Ballroom Professional title at the 7th Crystal Dancesport Championships 2009 held at the Shangri-la Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. There at this championship they swept aside the competition and mesmerized the audience with their dance artistry, dazzling power and fantastic floorcraft.

Aleksandr introduced us to the beauty of the Foxtrot and started off by discussing the character of the Foxtrot and contrasting it with the character of the other ballroom dances. He said the Foxtrot is an exquisite dance and has a happy and carefree character. As a comparison, Aleksandr likened the Foxtrot to a Rolls Royce - a car par excellence. He then mentioned the timing of the Foxtrot. Although the 'standard' timing for the Foxtrot is 1 2 3 4, Aleksandr said he preferred the 2 3 4 1 timing as it gives the dance a better rhythmic interpretation. (I'll have to agree with Aleksandr that the 2 3 4 1 timing gives a more rhythmic expression and I believe many advance dancers use the 2 3 4 1 timing when dancing the foxtrot).

The Feather Step, Reverse Turn and Three Step were demonstrated by Aleksandr. For the Feather Step, the first step on the right foot is taken on count 2. Aleksandr also mentioned the left side lead when taking the second and third steps and when and how to 'square' the body when preparing to dance the next figure. Irina demonstrated to the ladies the footwork of the Feather Step and Three Step. She emphasised the there should be a toe release and that the heel should be 'dragged' along the dance floor when moving back. Irina revealed that a common problem among lady dancers is that they tend to 'fall back' when doing the Three Step. She then proceeded to teach the ladies how to overcome this problem.

Aleksandr and Irina then showed us the posture, hold, shaping and the connection between the partners. They also touched on the topic of lead and follow. Both stressed that the man always leads and the lady always follows. Even in the Reverse Wave (which is basically a Three Step and Feather Step) where the lady moves forward and the man back, it is still the man who does the leading, they emphasised. The above were some of the pointers and gems of wisdom that Aleksandr and Irina imparted to us during the two-hour workshop. As a finale we were treated to a superb performance of the foxtrot by Aleksandr and Irina. It was an afternoon well spent for we learned so much about the foxtrot at this workshop.

Related Post

> Dancing The Foxtrot - Mastering the Feather Step And Three Step

Fun Days At The KLDA Potluck Sundays

The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) organizes a potluck at its premises in Wisma OCM at Jalan Hang Jebat, KL on the last Sunday of every month. The aim of this event which is open to members and non-members is to promote a sense of camaraderie among fellow dancers. These events are well attended by many who come to join in the merriment, partake of the smorgasbord of culinary delights and enjoy themselves on the dance floor. At these afternoon gatherings there will also be dance demonstrations by members and guest performers. The guests who had performed at these gatherings included some well known dance instructors from among the many dance schools in the Klang Valley.

Ming Pang and her group of swingers from KL Swing! introduced us to the American swing dances by showcasing the lindy hop and shim sham at one potluck this year. Timothy Low and his associates from SACAsia Sdn Bhd performed a salsa and promoted their "Salsa Cruise Asia 2009" during one recent event. Last month, we were entertained to bachatango and zouk performances by Jenni Tan and her team from New Star Studio. At this coming potluck on September 27, Sai Mun and his crew from SMASH Studio will be putting up a new jazz dance routine. For those who are interested to perform at the monthly potluck events, please contact C C Lai, the president of the KLDA at 012-2029991.

And talking of performances, the showtime at the "KLDA Gala Ball 2009" which was held at the KLDA on August 8 is the talk of the town amongst the dance fraternity. Due to repeated requests for an encore from those who missed the show, there will be a repeat of the show on September 26 at the same venue. The performances will basically be the same except for a couple of minor changes. This time it will be a no-frills event in which finger food will be served, with free flow of mineral water. As usual, there will be general dancing from 7.00 pm till 12.00 midnight. Tickets priced at RM40 each are available from the KLDA or at the door. For more information kindly call 012-2029991, 016-3226168 or 012-3061051.

Related Post

> Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

Eric Tan See Meng And His Passion For Dancing

Eric Tan See Meng, AISTD BB (shown on the winner's rostrum in image) may come across as an affable and easy going guy, but behind the unassuming demeanour and 163 cm stature lies a person with a deep passion for dancing and a strong determination to succeed, first as a dancer and later as an instructor. Eric took up and fell in love with ballroom and Latin American dancing in Kuala Lumpur about 20 years ago. He was soon hooked on dancing and began to compete in dancesport competitions locally and internationally. His love for dancing has taken him to Austria, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Australia to compete and perform or to learn from the masters there.

Eric was a former ten-times Malaysian Ballroom Amateur champion, and his competition partners included Yokiko Hori, Jasmine Wang and Ivy Por. After "retiring" from competitive dancing, Eric established Classic Dancesport Studio in 1999 to coach students and to impart his knowledge and skills. Eric presently is based at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) at Level 2, Indoor Sports Complex, Wisma OCM in Jalan Hang Jebat, 50150 Kuala Lumpur where he teaches, ballroom, Latin American, salsa, merengue and bachata. Other than the KLDA, Eric also teaches at the Royal Selangor Club, Royal Lake Club, Royal Selangor Golf Club and some other places. His classes are known to be fun and lively.

As a council member of the Malaysian Dancesport Berhad (MDSB), Eric is actively involved in helping to promote and raise the standard of dancesport in Malaysia. He is often called upon to adjudicate at dancesport competitions and also help out at charity events. Eric confessed to me that the desire to compete still burns strongly inside of him and he misses the thrill of taking part in dancesport competitions. He is presently looking for a partner to compete in the Ballroom Professional or Pro-Am events. The Pro-Am or what is known as the Professional Amateur event is one in which one of the partners is a professional (usually a teacher) whilst the other is an amateur (usually a student). Eric can be contacted at 012-3213083, email: eric223@streamyx.com.

Best Wishes As Usual,

Dance Aficionado
Dancesport Malaysia

A Serendipitous Encounter With Felicia

I started this blog in May 2008 partly to promote dancing in Malaysia and partly because I enjoy dancing and blogging. This blog has enabled me to make acquaintances with many dance enthusiasts from around the world. About sixty five percent of the visitors to my blog are from Malaysia and the remaining thirty five percent from overseas, mainly North America, Europe, Australia and South East Asia. Among the regular visitors from overseas are some Malaysians who are working or studying abroad. A few of them have informed me that they follow my blog to keep abreast of the dance scene in Malaysia. Through my blog I had the pleasure of getting to know Dr Felicia Yap, originally from Kuala Lumpur and now domiciled in England.

Felicia, who is a lecturer in history at Wolfson College in the University of Cambridge is an avid ballroom dancer. Sometime last year, Felicia emailed me to inform that she would be back in Malaysia for a holiday in December and enquired about the places in Kuala Lumpur she could go to for some ballroom dancing. I recommended her the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) which has a big dance hall at the Wisma OCM in Jalan Hang Jebat. Unfortunately I was unable to meet up with her at the KLDA then due to some pressing matters I had to attend to. After returning to England, Felicia emailed me to let me know me she had a great time dancing at the KLDA with her partner, Alexander Plekhanov, an economist with a European bank in London.

Sometime in July of this year, Felicia informed me that Alexander and she will be arriving in Kuala Lumpur on August 15 for a holiday and also to compete in the 7th Crystal Dancesport Championship 2009 to be held at the Shangrila Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on August 3oth. She said they will be going to the KLDA on August 16 for a practice session and whether I would be free to meet up with them that day. I did meet up with them this time and we had a cordial tete-a-tete. Felicia and Alexander (image) come across as a tall, matching and attractive dance couple. I kept them posted about the local dance scene, the activities organized by the KLDA, etc. whilst they told me about the dance happenings in the UK, the Blackpool Dance Festival and so on.

Felicia and Alexander have been dancing together since 2004 and they compete regularly in the UK and USA. Both were in the Cambridge Dancesport Team and which recently defeated the Oxford Dancesport Team in the universities' annual dance competition. Felicia and Alexander who were also voted the best couple in the competition are thinking of competing in the Amateur Ballroom event in the Blackpool Dance Festival next year. We at the KLDA were delighted when they performed for us a waltz followed by a foxtrot. We wish Felicia and Alexander all the best and hope they will visit us more often at the KLDA and compete in local dance competitions whenever they are back in Malaysia for a holiday.


Related Post

> Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

Aleksandr Zhiratkov & Irina Novozhilova To Conduct Workshop In Kuala Lumpur

Aleksandr Zhiratkov and Irina Novozhilova of Russia will be in Malaysia to conduct a workshop on ballroom dancing. Further information is as follows:-

Date: August 31 2009 (Monday)

Time: 3.30 to 5.30 pm (2 hours)

Venue: Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA)
Level 2, Indoor Sports Complex,
Wisma OCM,
Jalan Hang Jebat
50450 Kuala Lumpur

Tickets: RM150 (inclusive of refreshments) can be obtained at the door

For more details, please contact Janet Lim at 012-3233839

Aleksandr Zhiratkov and Irina Novozhilova have been dancing together in the Ballroom Professional category since 2008 and are registered as a couple in Hong Kong where they are ranked as number 1. They were semi-finalists in the Ballroom Professional event at the Blackpool Dance Festival held in England in May 2009. According to dancesportinfo.net, they are currently ranked number 15 in the world. Their best mark in their database is getting into number 2 in the Professional Rising Star Ballroom event in the 2009 Blackpool Dance Festival.

Best Wishes As Usual,

Dance Aficionado
Dancesport Malaysia

Spectacular Showdance Performances At KLDA Gala Ball 2009

More than 350 people turned up at the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) Gala Ball 2009 which was held at its premises at Wisma OCM in Kuala Lumpur on August 8. Among those who were present that evening were Datuk Sieh Kok Chi the Honorary Secretary of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, Datuk Cheong Siew Kai the patron of the KLDA, Barry Winters renowned ballroom dancer from England, and several well known dance teachers from among the many dance schools in Malaysia. While having their dinner at the Fame Hall, the guests were entertained to Chinese traditional music by the Dunhuang Ensemble. After dinner, the guests proceeded to the Superstar Hall for general dancing to ballroom, Latin American, salsa, merengue and bachata music.

In his welcome speech, C C Lai, the president of the KLDA thanked the guests for their patronage and continuous support. He said that the money collected from this event will be channeled to the KLDA Scholarship Project which was set up to assist young talented dancers who are members of the KLDA by way of subsidizing their dance lesson fees. With this intiative it is hoped that more youth would be encouraged to join the KLDA. After the speech, it was time for the show to begin. The show started with a Malay traditional dance by C K Lee and his wife Elayne. Dancing an inang to the tune of Inang Cina, the couple incorporated elements of ballroom and Latin American styles in their routine, in a dance meant to symbolize unity in diversity.

The next event was a wonderful Viennese waltz performance by Samuel Sum & Chew Su Fen. Samuel and Su Fen were one of five couples in the Viennese Ball 2008 Kuala Lumpur chosen to attend the Vienna Opera Ball in Austria in February 2009. Rising stars Johnston Lim & Nicole Tan then glided onto the dance floor to fascinate the audience with their foxtrot. It was then time for a ballroom formation dance. The five couples calling themselves "Happy Feet" performed a simple yet lovely medley of the waltz and tango with choreography by Eric Tan See Meng. The following two Latin American dances, a rumba by Alfred Choo & Carmen Choo and the jive by Vernon Choo & Cheah Yen Thing had by then raised the temperature in the dance hall by a few degrees!

Japanese expatriates, Mr and Mrs Osamu Sakai then mesmerized the audience with their beautiful waltz and tango performance. Lim Sae Min next took to the floor to sing Edleweiss while his partner Nathalee Owyang did a ballet routine and handed out roses to the ladies. Sae Min and Nathalee (image above) then executed a potpourri of dances such as the waltz, quickstep, Viennese waltz and polka to songs from The Sound of Music. Alfred, Carmen, Vernon and Yen Thing returned to sizzle the dance floor with a paso doble. Samuel & Su Fen also came back to delight the audience with a quickstep. This was followed by two line dance performances: one by the Dance Habitat Dancers led by the emcee Bronya Bishorek, and a solo by Sae Min.

David Chieng brought the house down with his slick impersonation of Michael Jackson. Dancing to Michael's hit Dangerous, David thrilled the crowd with the moves MJ was famous for: the slides, fast multiple swivels and of course the moonwalk. The finale to the show was an explosive Latin formation dance performance by five young couples known as the "KLDA Idols". The high energy routine which was choreographed by Dean Craig Kim of South Korea was an interesting mix of the cha cha cha, rumba, jive, samba and jazz. What an awesome show it was! One guest who enjoyed it so much suggested that the Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association rebrand the show as "KLDA - The Musical" and stage it at the Istana Budaya (National Theatre)!

Related Posts

> Join The Kuala Lumpur Dancers' Association (KLDA) Now!

> Viennese Ball Kuala Lumpur 2008 - 5 Couples To Attend Vienna Opera Ball