Judges
Funka Prelims (17 Jan '09 @ NUS Sheares Hall MPH)
Judges:
Peter Teo from Dance Arts
Gin from O School
Andy Lee from Studio Wu
Kay Lee from Frontier Danceland
Funka Finals (31 Jan '09 @ City Hall Front)
Judges:
Patrick Loo from Danz People
Ryan Tan co-founder of O School
Carol Cheong from Studio Wu
Yiu from Hong Kong
Bo from Hong Kong
Profiles
Yiu
Areas of expertise:
Hip hop (freestyle), street jazz
Dance Training/Background:
The Edge Performing Arts Center, Los Angeles
Millennium Dance Studio, United States
Broadway Dance Centre, New York
Once a full-time dancer who performed on-stage with the likes of* Edison Chen, Coco Lee and Elva Hsiao, Yiu is now a full-time instructor and choreographer for numerous artists and institutes of higher learning#, handling their training programmes and choreography.
Personal Achievement
1999 |
Champion - BIG II Hong Kong Dance Competition |
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4th runner-up (Hong Kong representative) - Asia Dance Championships |
2003 |
1st runner-up – ‘Choreography’ category, Hong Kong Inter-Varsity Dance Invitational for Hong Kong University of Science & Technology’s “Beast” |
Judging Experience:
2004 |
Adidas Street Dance Competition with a special performance |
2005 |
“Power Performance” Youth Hip Hop Dance Competition |
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Hong Kong Inter-High School Dance Competition Finals |
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“Kangol” Street Dance Competition |
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Season 1 – “So You Think You Can Dance?” (Hong Kong Territory) International Street Dance Competition |
Instructing Experience and Choreography:
2002 |
Guest Dance Instructor – Beijing Dance Academy |
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Guest Dance Instructor – Youth Arts Day Workshop |
2003 |
Choreographer – SKY Tour |
2004 |
Choreographer – Hong Kong University Dance Club Anniversary Performance Gala, Opening & Finale |
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Choreographer – Hong Kong Baptist University Dance Club Anniversary Performance Gala |
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Instructor and Choreographer – SKY “1 vs 9”, “3-point Area”, “High” |
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Instructor and Choreographer – Singer Chen Hua for “You Can Call Me” |
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Choreographer – Miss World Princess |
2005 |
Choreographer – Hong Kong Float Parade “ Night of a Million Blossoms” |
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Choreographer – Hong Kong TV Network ‘Teen Power’ Anniversary Gala |
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Choreographer – Hong Kong TV Network ‘Teen Power’ “Eleven Tides” |
2005 |
Choreographer – Singer Yeh Man Fai for “Ai Qing Dao Zhuan” |
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Choreographer – Singer Cheung Gai Chong for “To Be Or Not To Be” |
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SONY 2005 DC Press Conference |
2006 |
Choreographer – “Love.Believe Yeh Man Fai” Concert |
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Choreographer – 2R Album Signing Concert |
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Choreographer – Stage Production “I Love U boyz” |
BO
Areas of expertise:
Hip hop (freestyle), pop jazz
Dance Training/Background:
Broadway Dance Centre, New York
As a full-time dancer-cum-instructor, Bo not only trains and choreographs for numerous high schools and tertiary institutions, he also counts Hsiao Zheng Nan, TWINS, Chen Hwa, JUNO, Edison Chen , Anita Mui, Elva Hsiao, Cecilia Cheung, Joey Yung, Cookies as only a handful of artists whose performances he has taken part in.
Personal Achievements:
2001 |
Champion – New Year’s Eve Hip Hop Sparkle Dance Competition |
2002 |
Champion – Chen Jian Fei’s “Dance with Fei Fei” Dance Championships |
2004 |
Champion – China-Hong Kong-Macau Hip Hop Dance Championships |
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Overall Champion – Club Qing’s Hip Hop Dance Competition |
2005 |
Judge & Special Performing Guest – Budweiser Hip Hop Dance Competition |
Dance Experience:
2004 |
Advisor & Special Performing Guest – Adidas Street Dance Competition |
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SKY Mini Concert / Cookies “Eleven Balls of Fire” Concert |
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Vocal group Girls’ Hostel’s music video “Change of Topic” |
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Cookies’ music video “Party Animal” |
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Singer Guan Xin Yan’s music video “Issuance” |
2004/2005 |
In-house dancer – Deng Ying Zhi’s music videos |
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Kelly Chen’s “Flagrant” Concert Tour (Malaysia-Hong Kong-Australia) |
2005 |
Channel [V]’s 10-year Anniversary Awards Ceremony |
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Instructor – Television programme “Ayumi Hamasaki’s Dance Class” |
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Liu Hao Long’s “Shut Up U Baby” music video |
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Zhang Yao’s “Jump in Loneliness” music video |
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In-house dancer – Guo Xin Qi’s “Trend Sutra” |
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Special Performing Guest – Budweiser Hip Hop Dance Competition |
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Special Performing Guest – Hong Kong Inter-school Dance Competition |
Instructing Experience & Choreography:
2003/2004 |
Dance Development Instructor – Youth Society of Hong Kong |
2003-2005 |
Hip Hop Dance Instructor – Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Dance Club |
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Choreography – Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Dance Club’s Mass Dance |
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Choreography – Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Dance Club’s Performance Gala |
2005 |
Choreography – Hong Kong University Dance Club, Space’s Performance Gala |
Patrick Loo (Danz People)
Patrick Loo belongs to the select group of choreographers where his influence and mark is most strongly felt in the Hip-Hop scene in Singapore. He began dancing late in life but quickly carved out a career in dance performance where he was one of the members of now-defunct, Singapore Broadcasting Corporation’s Performance and Dance Company, for thirteen years. Since then, he has gone on to develop his natural gift of choreographing where his works include choreographing for major fashion shows (Nokia, Swaroski etc), various artists (Aaron Kwok, B.A.D etc) and concerts (Yellow Ribbon Project, Hoobastank etc).
An established teacher of hip-hop, Patrick brings out the versatility and performance quality in dancers and is lauded for the success of his many teams that have gone on to win national dance competitions (Funkamania, Suntec etc) as well as Asian dance competitions (Big Five etc). A testament to his dedication as a teacher, Patrick founded all girl team Platinum in 2000, which has since swept national dance competitions for years, got placed in Asian dance competitions and are now nationally recognized as a dance group.
Ryan Tan (O School)
Since discovering his gift in dance at the age of 23, Ryan quickly became a well known face in the local dance industry. Always one to continually challenge himself to progress with the times, his love for dance moved him to explore various dance forms in New York, Los Angeles, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. He has since expanded his vocabulary from hip hop and jazz to now include lyrical and contemporary styles.
Ryan is currently teaching at O School. He also teaches extensively at University, Polytechnic, Secondary, Primary School and overseas. His performing credits include concerts for Sandy Lam, Sammi Cheong, Jay Chou, Ho Yew Sun. As a choreographer he has also had the pleasure of working on musicals and concerts such as ‘Snow White’, Sun’s Asia Tour, SMU dance garage, Temasek Poly Gem, Singapaore Poly Wave.
His passion for dance is infectious and he inspires his students to grow as dancers. Audiences too, are often surprised as Ryan never fails to inject freshness and novelty into his choreography. With Ryan, expect the unexpected!
Carol Cheong (Studio Wu)
From the television screen to the stage, Carol has them all in her dance history. Carol’s “big break” came when the producer from MediaCorp Studios asked her to choreograph the Singapore’s 93.3 FM Hits Award 2001 show featuring renowned singers like A Mei (Taiwan), Jay Chou (Taiwan), Aaron Kwok (Hong Kong), etc. Since then, Carol choreographed SUPERBAND 2006, Hits Award 2001-2005, NKF Charity Show 2002-2005, President Star Charity Show and mini-concerts for various foreign artistes etc.
Carol’s teaching background is also extensive, including master classes at universities and junior colleges, and she had won dance awards for primary and secondary schools. She is the course director for Studio Wu’s Dance Performance Training Course (DPTC) and the current Girls Groove Garage (3G) course.
Carol is also the first dance instructor to teach Girls Hip Hop in Singapore and her invigorating flava of girls’ style has attracted many female and some “daring and confident” male dance students to join her classes.
Carol is also the artistic director for Studio Wu’s dance team. The team comprises some of the most enthusiastic and hottest commercial dancers working today. Through dynamic choreographies, the team showcases jazz and street styles. Being a dedicated teacher, Carol believes that an instructor does not “perform” in class but teaches and commits to motivating the students in every lesson.
Gin (O School)
With 15 years of dance experience, Gin specializes in Hip Hop, MTV Dance, Street Jazz and Reggae. Gin is currently teaching at O’school. She has been dancing ballet from 6 to 15 years old and switched to Hip-hop after since. She joined numerous hip-hop dance competitions and performed for various artists including Jolin Tsai, JJ Lin, Landy, Sun Ho and etc.
Gin won Funkamania with Da Street Soulz in 2006 and bagged Best Female Dancer for 2006 & 2004. In 2004, she won the J8 Dance Competition and Honey Dance Competition. Gin also taught in some primary schools and Polytechnics and won a few competitions for them. Her passion for dancing is ever growing and changing and her hope is to impart her skills to the younger generation and let them have more exposure in dancing.
Peter Teo (Dance Arts)
Peter's dance career is one of numerous and diverse achievements indeed. After having graduated from NAFA with a Diploma in Dance, he received a Ballet Soloist Scholarship to study ballet at the renowned New York Ajkun Ballet Theatre. His constant efforts have seen him taking to the world stage with ease, performing in countries such as the USA, China, Japan, Korea and Malaysia, and with big names like Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, 5566, Jeff Chang and Xiao Xiao.
His relentless spirit and neverending fervour sees him pushing the limits on a daily basis and constantly seeking to improve himself. He has been trained in many genres of dances which his most adept include Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Salsa, Latin and Ballroom. At the same time, he has also choreographed for artistes such as Derrick Macdonald (UK), Xiao Xiao and Fan Ni Cheng amongst others.
Most laudable, however, are his efforts to develop the scene and the next generation through his activism and tutelage of numerous students. He also co-founded multi-award winning hip hop team 'Lil' White Ridin' Hoods' (World Cyber Game Dance Competition 2005 Champion, Dance Works 2005 Champion, Dance Works 2006 Runners Up, NTU Impresario Competition 2005 & 2006 Champions, Funkamania XI 2005 Runners Up) ; and founded Fast Forward Modern Jazz Group as well as La Ballroom En Masse (Social & Ballroom club). Amidst all his artistic and administrative commitments, he continues to participate in dance competitions locally and abroad and accumulating his long list of accolades in a wide variety of dance genres.
Kay Lee (Frontier Danceland)
Started contemporary dance training at the age of 13, Kay joined Frontier Danceland from 1994. Kay also performed at International Dance Festivals in Philadelphia USA, Korea and Malaysia. In 2005, she received the Arts Grant from the National Arts Council to train at the prestigous dance school Laban, in London.
Kay is also a member of the all-girl dance team – Platinum, who were the top 5 finalists in the local tv dance competition, The Dancefloor. Platinum is the Champion of Suntec Dance Competiton in 1999 and 2002. Platinum also represented Singapore to compete in Philippines in 2001 where they came in 3rd. Kay is also a member of Bantus Capoeira Singapore since 2005, a kind of Brazillain Martial Arts.
Andy Lee (Studio Wu)
Andy's passion in singing since young led to his foray into dance. Together with his crew, he won numerous dance competitions such as the Suntec Dance Competition and Funkamania. As a dancer, Andy has performed in several concerts and major events for companies like Adidas, MTV, Esprit and Samsung. Besides performances, Andy teaches at dance studios, schools and community centers. His choreography skills have been showcased in the 6th Global Chinese Music Awards and CLEO 50 Most Eligible Bachelors Finals 2007 amongst other corporate events.
Andy specializes in Hip-hop and inclines towards Popping, Wave, Locking and lately B-boying and Lyrical Hip-hop. Living out his dream as a performer and entertainer, Andy is also more than enthusiastic to support youths who want to pursue their dancer dreams and contribute positively to the local dance scene.