Artistic director and chief choreographer
Derek Seong, 37, is the Founder & Artistic Director of Dancescape (Singapore). Previously a company sergeant major, he decided to leave his prospective career for the artistic path of dance. He started his full time dance education career in 2007. His long term goal is to have his own dance school with the vision of providing a dance development platform for every individual.
His journey into dance education was not a smooth sailing one. Having suffered multiple leg injuries, he underwent a few major surgeries and was medically certified unfit for any strenuous physical activity. But with his will and determination, he never once stop dancing and teaching thus inspired many people. |
Apart from his achieving distinction awards for Jazz & Hip Hop from Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD), he was the first in Asian to obtain a Honours with Distinction for Contemporary Dance level 5 in 2014. In the aspect of Martial Arts, Master Derek is also an official Judge and Coach from Singapore Wushu Federation. Which gave him another skill to infuse martial arts elements to some of his art work.
He started Dancescape (Singapore), a non-profit dance troupe, to provide a platform and opportunity for passionate youths to develop a foundation in dance and for them to train on their ability to perform and showcase their dance talent professionally. He strongly believes that dance is only complete with a good learning attitude, apart from good dance technique and a strong foundation. With this belief, he places great emphasis on responsibility, discipline, respect and integrity among his students and during dance training. He pushes his dancers beyond boundaries not only in terms of dancing but as a person with good characteristics.
"First comes a PERSON, then a DANCER" - Master Derek Seong
This year, Dancescape (Singapore) is proud to present iCANcer-Vive Too, a dance production filled with questions, uncertainty, exploration and emotions. Master Derek lost his mum, Mdm Helen Thng to cancer in 2016 which dealt a huge blow to him and his family members. Till now, this hard fact of their mum's departure is still unbearable. Going through all odds, Master Derek hopes to pay a tribute to his mum using what he is best at, that is dance. His mum had always been very proud and supportive of his dance endeavours and never missing a single performance and show that he danced, directed and choreographed. This dance production is the first and the last time Master Derek will be sharing the stage with his beloved mum.
He started Dancescape (Singapore), a non-profit dance troupe, to provide a platform and opportunity for passionate youths to develop a foundation in dance and for them to train on their ability to perform and showcase their dance talent professionally. He strongly believes that dance is only complete with a good learning attitude, apart from good dance technique and a strong foundation. With this belief, he places great emphasis on responsibility, discipline, respect and integrity among his students and during dance training. He pushes his dancers beyond boundaries not only in terms of dancing but as a person with good characteristics.
"First comes a PERSON, then a DANCER" - Master Derek Seong
This year, Dancescape (Singapore) is proud to present iCANcer-Vive Too, a dance production filled with questions, uncertainty, exploration and emotions. Master Derek lost his mum, Mdm Helen Thng to cancer in 2016 which dealt a huge blow to him and his family members. Till now, this hard fact of their mum's departure is still unbearable. Going through all odds, Master Derek hopes to pay a tribute to his mum using what he is best at, that is dance. His mum had always been very proud and supportive of his dance endeavours and never missing a single performance and show that he danced, directed and choreographed. This dance production is the first and the last time Master Derek will be sharing the stage with his beloved mum.
Guest Choreographer
Peter Gn – Contemporary Dance Choreographer
Peter’s choreography actively encourages a personal, passionate and experimental approach to dancing. An advocate of synergistic collaborations with disciplines such as art and music, his creative methodology is based on the belief that dance should be learned and performed in a positive and energetic environment with the confluence of personal movement, emotion, group dynamics and music. This environment has enabled him to challenge his dancers while inspiring them to enjoy boldly moving. Peter’s body of work for theatres, sports arenas and national events has moved between spectacle and interdisciplinary art. Versatile and an educator at heart, Peter has led performance projects and workshops for professional dancers and students locally and abroad. |
Locally, his works have involved the Ministry of Education, Singapore Art Museum, Maya Dance Theatre, Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre, Dance Horizon Troupe (Singapore), Dancescape Singapore, NUS Dance Synergy, Waseda Shibuya Senior High School, LASALLE College of the Arts and the Philharmonic Youth Winds. Recently, he conceptualised, directed and choreographed for Intensi-5, An Evening of Contemporary Dance at the University Cultural Centre Theatre in 2016, as well as Intensi-5: Dancer at the Intersections(2017) and Intensi-5: Dancing Left of Centre (2018) at the Esplanade Library. He also contributed a dance work at the 5th Asia Arts Festival 2017 held at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Peter has conducted seminars and workshops for the Esplanade, LASALLE College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, NUS Dance Synergy, O School, Dance Ensemble Singapore, M1 CONTACT Contemporary Dance Festival and the 6th Singapore International Dance Festival 2015. He recently staged works and presented at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the New Zealand School of Dance and the 2017 World Dance Alliance Global Dance Summit in Canada. A graduate in Dance and Choreography from London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and the University of Roehampton, Peter received the Trinity Laban Award and Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship respectively. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne), with Choreography as research focus.
Shahrin Johry
Shahrin Johry is a dancer, choreographer, dance educator and a founding member and assistant choreographer of Maya Dance Theatre (MDT). He has been with MDT for the past 10 years from 2007, playing a vital role in the company as a valuable contributor towards MDT’s stylistic expression and creations for both local and international works. Shahrin also engages in administration and management of the company with artistic director, Kavitha Krishnan and company manager, Imran Manaff. As a senior dance member, he works with young dancers nurturing them in mastering the stylistic expression of MDT and working towards the vision of the company. |
A recipient of various awards including ‘Most Promising Award’ in Sprouts All-star 2012 by the National Arts Council, Singapore/ Frontier Danceland, ‘Singapore Dancing Star’ in Dance Singapore Dance 2015(Zee TV) and ‘Best choreography and Artistic merit award’, Dance Works 2009 (National Council Against Drug Abuse/Central Narcotics Bureau), he has also served as a grant assessment panel for ‘Young Change Maker’ under National Youth Council and currently serving as dance assessor under National Arts Council, Singapore.
Shahrin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in dance from Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore. With MDT Shahrin is trained in Asian dance forms namely, Bharathanatyam under Kavitha Krishnan, Ajith Bhaskaran Dass and Nirmala Seshadri; Balinese dance at the Tri Pusaka Foundation (Bali, Indonesia); Javanese dance under Danang Pamungkas (Solo, Indonesia) and contemporary dance training with Ezekiel Oliveira.
He attended various residencies: Choreographers and Directors Lab (Tuscany, Italy) organized by IUGTE, art universe led by Sergei Ostrenko from Russia; choreo-Lab organized by Rimbun Dahan, KL Malaysia led by Janis Claxton UK/Australia, with MDT training with Jayachandran Palazhy, artistic director of Attakalari (Banglore, India) and Janis Brenner lecturer in Julliard School (New York City, USA).
As a performer, Shahrin commands the stage with his presence and is known for his intriguing choreographies. He employs his Asian dance and contemporary training into his body of work. His works usually creates awareness of social issues, or to share a story to inspire and to push boundaries to further discover new dimensions for contemporary dance with Asian Identity.
Shahrin’s artistic works includes Sweet Lips (2012), (in)elegance (2012), Small Steps (2013), Sense Senseless Gap (2013), Unspeakable (2014), Embrace (2014), Path (2012 – 2015 ), The Conference (2015 – 2016), KA (2016), Empty Space (2016) . In 2017, he created a new work, Re:Path for Release 6.0 by MDT, inspired from his previous work, PATH. As an assistant choreographer of MDT, Shahrin has worked on Gra-vi-tate, Anwesha-The Quest, Legend, The Journey Begins and GREY.
Starting as a volunteer and now the dance program leader, with mentorship from Kavitha Krishnan, Shahrin works with Down Syndrome Association since 2005. He has been pivotal in providing them an avenue for inclusive arts practice. In 2015, Canberra Dance Theatre, Australia and choreographer Liz Lea invited Shahrin to work with special needs youth from their programme; he choreographed a piece that was performed in ‘Australia’s International Disability Day’. This year, his previous work Small Steps will be featured in the upcoming Bold Festival in Canberra, Australia. As part of MDT’s outreach programmes, Shahrin works with ‘Youth at Risk’ from 10sq and local schools through arts education programmes. With Kavitha, he also engages in bringing dance/movement to elderly in aged and nursing homes. As an independent choreographer, Shahrin conducts dance/choreographic workshops both locally and internationally.
Shahrin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in dance from Lasalle College of the Arts, Singapore. With MDT Shahrin is trained in Asian dance forms namely, Bharathanatyam under Kavitha Krishnan, Ajith Bhaskaran Dass and Nirmala Seshadri; Balinese dance at the Tri Pusaka Foundation (Bali, Indonesia); Javanese dance under Danang Pamungkas (Solo, Indonesia) and contemporary dance training with Ezekiel Oliveira.
He attended various residencies: Choreographers and Directors Lab (Tuscany, Italy) organized by IUGTE, art universe led by Sergei Ostrenko from Russia; choreo-Lab organized by Rimbun Dahan, KL Malaysia led by Janis Claxton UK/Australia, with MDT training with Jayachandran Palazhy, artistic director of Attakalari (Banglore, India) and Janis Brenner lecturer in Julliard School (New York City, USA).
As a performer, Shahrin commands the stage with his presence and is known for his intriguing choreographies. He employs his Asian dance and contemporary training into his body of work. His works usually creates awareness of social issues, or to share a story to inspire and to push boundaries to further discover new dimensions for contemporary dance with Asian Identity.
Shahrin’s artistic works includes Sweet Lips (2012), (in)elegance (2012), Small Steps (2013), Sense Senseless Gap (2013), Unspeakable (2014), Embrace (2014), Path (2012 – 2015 ), The Conference (2015 – 2016), KA (2016), Empty Space (2016) . In 2017, he created a new work, Re:Path for Release 6.0 by MDT, inspired from his previous work, PATH. As an assistant choreographer of MDT, Shahrin has worked on Gra-vi-tate, Anwesha-The Quest, Legend, The Journey Begins and GREY.
Starting as a volunteer and now the dance program leader, with mentorship from Kavitha Krishnan, Shahrin works with Down Syndrome Association since 2005. He has been pivotal in providing them an avenue for inclusive arts practice. In 2015, Canberra Dance Theatre, Australia and choreographer Liz Lea invited Shahrin to work with special needs youth from their programme; he choreographed a piece that was performed in ‘Australia’s International Disability Day’. This year, his previous work Small Steps will be featured in the upcoming Bold Festival in Canberra, Australia. As part of MDT’s outreach programmes, Shahrin works with ‘Youth at Risk’ from 10sq and local schools through arts education programmes. With Kavitha, he also engages in bringing dance/movement to elderly in aged and nursing homes. As an independent choreographer, Shahrin conducts dance/choreographic workshops both locally and internationally.
Max Chen Guo Hui – Producer, Artist, Educator and Director of Inter-disciplinary Performing Arts Collective PARAGRAPH
Max graduated from Purchase College SUNY (USA) with B.F.A Dance. He danced professionally with Frontier Danceland, and through Royston Fan's choreographic work, "Alone", Max was awarded Best Dancer in national dance competition, SPROUTS 2010. Max's choreographic works has been showcased by NAFA, Frontier Danceland, Maya Dance Theatre, Odyssey Dance Theatre and Singapore Dance Theatre and has produced/ directed several artistic productions with dance collective, PARAGRAPH. A former part-time lecturer with NAFA Department of Dance, Max currently runs ArtsTree, a dance education and productions company. He also works as kids show director and producer with X System International and teaches contemporary dance with the Singapore Dance Theatre |
Benedict Soh
Benedict’s career as a performer, educator and choreographer spans more than twenty years. He holds a MFA with first class honours majoring in choreography from the University of Melbourne (Victorian college of the Arts). Benedict has had extensive training in both Chinese classical and contemporary dance since 1987 under the professional guidance of a renowned Singapore dance choreographer and educator -- Mr. Ng Chay Kuang. In recent years, under the tutelage and mentoring of highly experienced dance and arts practitioner - Helen Herbertson and Dr Don Asker (Australia), has allowed him to further develop and explore his choreographic skills. |
Choreographer
Yuki Lim
Yuki 34, starts dancing at the age of thirteen under her mentor, Mdm Yam Boon Fong where she develops her passion in Chinese dance. After which she continues her training under Mdm Ding Hong and Mr Zhou Lei in NUS Chinese Dance, Singapore Foochow Association and Theatrearts Troupe. Constantly training in Chinese dance, she is actively involved in annual performances.
As an active member of NUSCD, she was involved in choreography, stage managing, organizing and running events. She was nominated and awarded Alumni of the Year under Tan Ean Kiam Arts Award 2010, presented by NUS Centre for the Arts. She also attended several overseas performance and cultural exchanges during her years in schools such as overseas training at Beijing Dance Academy Mauritius‘s 60th Anniversary of Republic of China under NUS Chinese Dance, Korea Gyeongju World Performing Arts Festival 2007 and Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich's 150th Anniversary Celebrations.
In 2010, she completed the Beijing Dance Academy Chinese Dance Graded Examinations (Syllabus Grade 4 and 5). Apart from Chinese dance, she exposes herself to other dance styles and is certified as Jazz and Hop Hip trainer under Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD). Currently, she continues her training in modern dance under Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio.
With the motivation and desire to groom talents in dance, she starts her career as a trainer under Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio to teach in schools’ dance enrichment programmes and co-curriculum activities. She choreographed dances for many schools’ grand events.
With the interest in developing dance programmes to introduce dance to the mass and also to instill fun in learning dance suitable for different age groups, she specializes herself in designing and managing dance programmes for schools. Currently, she is one of the pioneers in teaching and designing MOE’s initiative, Programme for Active Learning. Not only that, she also teaches students in special schools with the belief that dance is for everyone and anyone. Recently, she designs programme to encourage parents to participate with these students in dance. This not fosters the family bonding but also open up the minds of parents to spend and enjoy more time with their kids.
She goes into planning, organizing and producing dance events and concerts for various groups such as “Dancescape” organized by Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio in 2008, 2010 and 2012, “SPROUTS” organized by National Arts Council and Frontier Danceland in 2009 and 2010, stage manager for NUSCD EMCC dance concert in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Yuki 34, starts dancing at the age of thirteen under her mentor, Mdm Yam Boon Fong where she develops her passion in Chinese dance. After which she continues her training under Mdm Ding Hong and Mr Zhou Lei in NUS Chinese Dance, Singapore Foochow Association and Theatrearts Troupe. Constantly training in Chinese dance, she is actively involved in annual performances.
As an active member of NUSCD, she was involved in choreography, stage managing, organizing and running events. She was nominated and awarded Alumni of the Year under Tan Ean Kiam Arts Award 2010, presented by NUS Centre for the Arts. She also attended several overseas performance and cultural exchanges during her years in schools such as overseas training at Beijing Dance Academy Mauritius‘s 60th Anniversary of Republic of China under NUS Chinese Dance, Korea Gyeongju World Performing Arts Festival 2007 and Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich's 150th Anniversary Celebrations.
In 2010, she completed the Beijing Dance Academy Chinese Dance Graded Examinations (Syllabus Grade 4 and 5). Apart from Chinese dance, she exposes herself to other dance styles and is certified as Jazz and Hop Hip trainer under Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD). Currently, she continues her training in modern dance under Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio.
With the motivation and desire to groom talents in dance, she starts her career as a trainer under Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio to teach in schools’ dance enrichment programmes and co-curriculum activities. She choreographed dances for many schools’ grand events.
With the interest in developing dance programmes to introduce dance to the mass and also to instill fun in learning dance suitable for different age groups, she specializes herself in designing and managing dance programmes for schools. Currently, she is one of the pioneers in teaching and designing MOE’s initiative, Programme for Active Learning. Not only that, she also teaches students in special schools with the belief that dance is for everyone and anyone. Recently, she designs programme to encourage parents to participate with these students in dance. This not fosters the family bonding but also open up the minds of parents to spend and enjoy more time with their kids.
She goes into planning, organizing and producing dance events and concerts for various groups such as “Dancescape” organized by Rhythm ‘N’ Moves Studio in 2008, 2010 and 2012, “SPROUTS” organized by National Arts Council and Frontier Danceland in 2009 and 2010, stage manager for NUSCD EMCC dance concert in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Lisa Chan
Lisa is the President of Dancescape (Singapore) performing troupe and an active member since 2013. Started dancing when she was only 4 years old, Lisa is cross trained in many dance genre such as Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. Attended master classes in Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and Australian Teachers of Dancing. She was the leading dancer in various Dancescape’s production; City(E)scape in 2014, Inheritance in 2015 and iCANcer-Vive in 2016. She did many dance performances and competition as well on National TV since 2013 and assisted in choreography for many shows with Mediacorp such as Chinese New Year countdown, Chinese drama and Music Video. She obtained distinction awards in dance examination with Australian Teachers of Dancing International (ATODI) for dance genre; Contemporary, Jazz and even street beatz tap dancing. She’s also a dance instructor in various schools and government organizations. She has just graduated from RMIT University (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University) |
Cheryl Him
Cheryl Him started contemporary dance at the age of 13 and ballet at the age of 17. She was also trained on Hip Hop, Jazz and attained dance certificates from Australian Teachers of Dancing International (ATODI). She has been an active member of Dancescape Singapore since 2013. Graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a Diploma in Dance, she has been involved in several dance productions, working with choreographers such as Dr Filomar Cortezano Tariao and Shahrin Johry. She is also a frequent performer at different platforms working with choreographer Derek Seong and Max Chen. She was the leading dancer in various Dancescape’s production; Labyrinth in 2012, City(E)scape in 2014, Inheritance in 2015 and iCANcer-Vive in 2016. Similarly, she did many dance performances and competition as well on National TV since 2013 and assisted in choreography for many shows with Mediacorp such as Chinese New Year countdown, Chinese drama and Music Video. Moving ahead, Cheryl has been experimenting with her own ideas to depict greater clarity in her work as well as discovering more possibilities to shape her choreography. |