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Get Up And Dance – Suhaili
by: Dinnis Chua, New Straits Times
 (From left) Pat, Aishah, Lam, Hernandez and 8TV chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar at the recent launch of So You Think You Can Dance? Season Two in KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur. |
Tone up that body and get ready to twirl your way to fame. So You Think You Can Dance? is back for its second season and is looking to make dance stars out of Malaysians. DENNIS CHUA writes
THE country’s popular dance reality show will be back in May, promising more excitement as dance enthusiasts unravel their talent on the floor.
So You Think You Can Dance? saw its first winner last year in 8TV’s B-Boy Muhamad Haslam Abdul Rahman (or Alam) from Muar.
Auditions for Season Two were held on Sunday in Kota Kinabalu’s Imperial Hotel. On March 18, hopefuls should head to Panggung Bandaraya in Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur for the next session of auditions from 10am to 5pm, and Malaysians aged 18 to 30 are welcome to try their luck at getting selected.
8TV’s business development general manager Lam Swee Kim (the producer) said the show’s first season had succeeded in getting more Malaysians interested in dance and also educated Malaysians on what it takes to be a successful dancer.
“So You Think You Can Dance? has been one of our popular shows.
“Hopefully, we will discover world class dancers amongst Malaysians, including those from Sabah and Sarawak, where we are conducting auditions for the first time,” Lam said.
She said the television station was confident that the second season of So You Think You Can Dance? would enjoy similar success.
Alam, she said, was currently shooting a drama series about his journey as a dancer. The series is expected to be screened on 8TV in July or August.
“Alam amazed us with his dancing skills and touched our hearts with his struggles to make it as a successful dancer.
“I am sure there are many more Malaysians who are extremely talented in dance and need a platform to demonstrate their talents and have a shot at stardom,” she said.
Lam said 100 shortlisted participants would undergo three to four days’ training at a “dance boot camp” where they would learn various dances such as hip-hop, ballroom, traditional and modern contemporary. Only those who master each dance will move on to the next round.
“Live performances will kick off after the Top 20 dancers, (male and female in equal numbers) are selected. One male and one female gets eliminated every week until the 16th and final episode,” she said.
As in the first season, the winner will receive RM50,000.
The performances will take place at Ruums in Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.
Lam said the first season saw viewership of 300,000 to 500,000 a week and this was expected to rise by 20 per cent this year.
Dance instructors Ramli Ibrahim, Pat Ibrahim and Judimar Hernandez return as the show’s distinguished judges.
However, first season’s host Juliana Ibrahim is not returning, and her replacement is popular television personality Aishah Sinclair, formerly of 8TV Quickie.
Among the choreographers in the second season are Bilqis Hijjas and first season finalist Suhaili Ahmad Kamil. Bilqis said she decided to support the reality show as it was a great avenue to unearth new talents in Malaysian dance.
Suhaili, who is a part-time dance instructor with the National Arts, Culture and Heritage Academy or Aswara, said: “This year I hope to give back to a show which helped me realise my dreams.”
Judimar advises contestants to “be themselves, and to dance from the heart and not imitate others.”
Tranz, the jewellery brand of Poh Kong, is once again the official partner for the show.
Suhaili While Still Student
Malaysian Ministry of Art, Heritage and Culture Scholarship recipient
(Bachelor of Dance: Honours – University of Melbourne, Australia)
I have been dancing since I was four years old. That’s what happens when your mother owns a dance school. Being a ballet teacher, my mother had dreams for me to become a prima ballerina. As such, I was initially trained in classical ballet but I have since chosen to major in contemporary dance instead.
My parents chose to send me to Australia to pursue dance studies because its only an 8 hour flight from Malaysia. After careful surveying, I enrolled in the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS) as it offered a part dance and part academic education. I was the first Malaysian international student ever enrolled at VCASS. Upon graduation, I then enrolled in the Bachelor of Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Initially it was hard to leave my family to study in Australia. I had quite a big culture shock when I first got here but it has since subsided. It is a challenge to attend a university where one is not spoon fed. At the VCA, no one forces you to do anything. This has taught me to set goals and make things happen. However, that is not to say that dance studies at the VCA are easy. It is actually quite full on and requires a lot of dedication.
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Besides that, my studies here at the VCA have given me the opportunity to be more creative as we are encouraged to use the craziest things as inspiration for our dancing. I have also learnt to be more articulate in expressing my opinions and giving critiques. I would say that the VCA pushes you do the things you want to do and gives you the confidence to do it. In addition, Melbourne is a very encouraging place for young, independent artists.
In my free time, I do some commercial dancing for KAMI Performing Arts to earn some extra money. I am also involved with the Chunky Move Dance Company, the Bangarra Dance Company and the Odyssey Dance Company. As a dancer, it is important to be toned, so I do Pilates whenever I can to strengthen my back.
In terms of future plans, one of my goals is to get a position in the dance department of the Malaysian government and help establish a formal dance education for local dance students. There is little or no dance education available in Malaysia and even less of a dance scene. I would like to create a performing arts school in Malaysia and help Malaysians develop a higher appreciation for dance.
My advice for prospective dance students is if you really know this is what you want to do with your life then just go for it and have no regrets. In life, every little thing counts so make it worthwhile.
SUHAILI MICHELINE – SYTYCD Malaysia
Bachelor of Dance (Honours), University of Melbourne
Born: 3rd December 1984
Place of Birth: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
EDUCATION
1997- 2001 Obtained high school academic certificate at Sri Cempaka School, Kuala Lumpur
2002 Obtained VCE Dance Year 12 Certificate at Victorian College of The Arts Secondary School (VCASS)
2003-2005 Completed a Bachelor Degree in Dance at The Victorian College of The Arts (VCA) School of Dance.
2006 Completed the Honours program in Dance at the VCA under the guidance of Helen Herbertson and Head of Dance, Prof. Jenny Kinder.
DANCE EXPERIENCES
(Danced at the age of four under Aurora Ballet School, Malaysia)Performed for Post Graduate Choreographic Season ( 23rd-25th Nov 2006) in ‘Shared Presence’ , choreographed by Christophe Le Tellier, at the School of Dance,VCA.
Performed for ‘Dance Moves 2005’ of the VCA. Pieces choreographed by Paulina Quinteros, Neil Adams, Anna Smith and Rebecca Hilton.
Performed for Master Graduate, Feng Feng of the VCA in a contemporary piece, ‘Xing’ in Studio 1 VCA. (2005)
Performed for choreographer Neil Adams based on his PHD Research in a work called ‘Vapour Trail’ in conjunction with the ‘Incarna’ Season at the Drama Theatre, VCA (2005)
Performed a contemporary piece by Sandra Parker called ‘Patti’ , for the VCA at Gasworks Theatre. (2005)
Performed for ‘Dancescape 2004’ of the VCA in a contemporary piece, choreographed by Neil Adams (2004)
Performed for ‘Dance Menu 2003” of the VCA in November, choreograohed by Brett Daffy(2003)
Participated in the RAD Solo Seal Awards in Melbourne (2003)
Won The Dance Society of Malaysia ‘s 7th Solo Classical Ballet Competition (Senior Category)
Participated the RAD Genee International Ballet Competition, Sydney (2002)
Performed at the Student Union of Melbourne University in the gala season of ‘Star Crossed-Lovers’ of VCASS (2002)
Participated in the 9th International Ballet Competition and Contest for Choreographers, Moscow, Russia (Semi-finalist, 2001)
1990- 2006
Completed all classical ballet examinations of the Imperial Society Teacher’s of Dancing (ISTD) syllabus with distinctions
Completed all modern theatre branch examinations of the ISTD syllabus with Distinctions.
Completed all major ballet examinations of the Royal Academy of Dancing (RAD) syllabus .
Summary of Employment History
2004- Current
Teach and conduct at the Aurora Ballet School, Malaysia in classical ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop and contemporary.
July 2006, Performed in ‘Xing’ performance, choreographed by Feng Feng Wang under Red Span Dance Company. This project was fully funded by the Victoria Arts Centre in conjunction with the ‘Full Tilt Funding’. Currently a performer with Red Span Dance Company.
In July 2006, initiated the Honours’ Group Devised Project to Malaysia for the ‘Malaysian Choreographic Workshop 2006’ – organized by National Arts Academy (KL).
Recently (June- Sep 2006) invited by Sri Cempaka Performing Arts to choreograph past of the musical ‘We Will Rock You’
2005
Hired by KAMI Performing Arts (Melbourne) to do commercial dancing for RACV Company Dinner at Crown Convention, Melbourne
Hired by Sri Cempaka to choreograph a couple of extracts for their performing season of the musical ‘Lion King’
2004 and 2005
Hired and choreographed contemporary and hip hop pieces for the Opening ceremony of the International Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week
Hired by Malaysian telecommunications company, DIGI to choreograph commercial dances for the ‘Annual Appreciation Dinner’ in several states in the country.
2003
Danced in Neil Adams’s winning contemporary work called ‘Vapour Trail’ in the Australian Choreographers Competition at the National Theatre, Melbourne
Choreographed and performed a ballet contemporary piece for ‘Heart beat’ of the TDS Malaysia.
Hired by Sri Cempaka to choreograph jazz pieces for the Annual Commencement Dinner.
Awards
At the School of Dance, Victorian College of the Arts:
- De Gruchy Award’ (Most Potential Dance,r 2004)
- ‘Elfie Blake Award'( Most Achievement Award, 2005)
- Most Outstanding Dancer of the VCA Graduate 2005′
Currently
– Preparing with a group of dancers to compete in the International Grand Prix Dance, Bologna, Italy
– Runner Up for “So You Think You Can Dance” Competition in 8TV.
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