Choong Wan Chin, Malaysian, is Founder and Artistic Director of KL Dance Works. She is also the Co-founder and former Artistic Director of Ballet Theatre Malaysia.

A graduate of the Shanghai Dance School, she has danced with the Singapore Dance Theatre and Shanghai Ballet Company. Upon receiving her Master Degree of Fine Arts in Dance and Integrated Media at California Institute of the Arts, USA, she joined Ena Ballet Studio, Japan as Resident Choreographer and Principal teacher and co-founded Ena Ballet Studio Company.

From 2003-2010, Wan Chin worked in cooperation with the Staatsliche Ballet Schule Berlin, Germany on a pre-professional training program for talented Japanese students. In 2009, the program extended to include a partnership with Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, USA.

Wan Chin has been on the panel of adjudicators of The Dance Society of Malaysia’s Solo Classical Ballet Competition for 7 years (between 2004-2013). She was also a judge for the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards from 2020-2022 and Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix 2022.

Since 2010, Wan Chin has been invited to bring her choreographies back to Malaysia. She has staged 10 major productions, full-length ballet repertoires and International Ballet Galas at the National Theatre (Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur) and in 2015 collaborated with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in creating Carmen in Dance’ and Paquita Grand pas Classic. Wan Chin has been invited to guest teach and choreograph in the USA, Japan, Colombia, Thailand and Singapore.

Title: Dos-a-dos

Music: Karl Jenkins

Dance genres: contemporary ballet

Back to back, together we jive

Ballet Flats, colorful leotard and skirt (female), fitting top and shorts (male).

Professor Dr. Joseph Gonzales is a Malaysian dancer, choreographer, educator, and Artistic Director of ASK Dance Company. With over 40 years in the field, he has played a key role in shaping Malaysia’s dance landscape through performance, choreography, and education. He was formerly the Dean of Dance at ASWARA and MFA Programme Leader at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA).

Trained in ballet, contemporary and Malay dance traditions, Joseph holds a PhD in Dance, MA in Choreography, MA in Cultural Management and MA in Buddhist Studies. He has choreographed over 50 original works, including Seru and Becoming King, which explore cultural identity through contemporary and traditional forms.

His work emphasizes multicultural training, blending classical, folk, and contemporary genres. At ASWARA, he introduced a groundbreaking curriculum that nurtured cross-cultural fluency in dance, making space for diverse Malaysian voices in classical forms like Bharatanatyam and Malay court dance.
Joseph is also an advocate for Malaysian dance globally, having taught, performed, and presented research internationally. His accolades include multiple Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, the Kakiseni Game-Changer Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. Through ASK Dance Company, he continues to mentor and champion the next generation of dance artists.

Nurra is a short contemporary dance that emphasises the connection and response between music and movement choreographed by Nadhirah Rahmat. It is ideally suited to young dancers who enjoy the freedom of movement and expression. It combines elements of contemporary dance, jazz, hip hop, funk and Malay dance gestures.

Earth tone leotards with 3/4 sleeves. Brown/black Jazz pants and shoes.
*Costume details will be further advised closer to the performance date if necessary.