Timeline Journal

 

 

 

December 2006

• Albert Chung first came to Singapore on December 2006 to attend the Singapore Salsa Congress as an avid social dancer.  It was during his 3-week stay in Singapore that his social dancing skills in Salsa and Argentine Tango was first recognized by Justin Ong from Xenbar (located in Chinatown) who later asked him to teach an Argentine Tango workshop at the event.  Before Albert left Singapore to return to the USA, he also taught a free Salsa workshop to students and staff members of Xenbar.

December 2007 – February 2008

• Albert was invited by Justin Ong  to teach and perform at the Salsa Congress as well as teach at Xenbar during his 3 month stay.  At the Salsa Congress, he conducted workshops on Salsa and Argentine Tango as well as introduced Hustle and Night Club 2-Step (NC2S) for the first time in Singapore.  It was also at this time that he pitched the idea to Justin about promoting West Coast Swing (WCS) as a new dance to be offered for the first time at Xenbar.
• One of Albert’s first students was Melody Yeo who help organized the first group of 14 students (consisting of friends from the Line Dance Community) to learn WCS.  Albert left Singapore on February 2008 while Melody and Xenbar kept WCS alive during his absence.

November 2008 – March 2009

• Albert returned to Singapore on a more permanent basis and taught at Xenbar (now located in Redhill).  Not only did he take over the Argentine Tango and WCS classes, but he also started introducing NC2S.  On the first week of teaching WCS, he started with only a few students which grew quickly in size to just over 15 students after only a few weeks.  Some of these students went on to become instructors and/or organizers of WCS socials & events in Singapore.
• The first batch of students included former students Ryan Tang (member of the West Coast Swing Singapore and a former member of Torchiere) & Yen-ling (member of both Torchiere and West Coast Swing Singapore) while the third batch included former student Kim New (member of Danceblaze and Secret Base).

April 2009 – December 2009

• Albert ventured off with Melody to open a new studio S&A DanzX’pressio Pte Ltd on Macpherson Road with 2 other partners (which included Irene Lee).  Albert started offering a variety of dance courses which included Argentine Tango, Bachata, Country 2-Step, Hustle, NC2S, Salsa, Street Cha Cha and West Coast Swing.
• During this time, Melody started teaching WCS to The Sizzlers DanzXpressio.  The Sizzlers DanzXpressio is a group of Line Dance Enthusiasts whose mission is to support and promote Line Dancing and WCS .
• Former students from this period included Francis Teo (member of the West Coast Swing Singapore), David Liem (member of Torchiere), Samantha Wong (member of Torchiere) and Jing Yang Chen (member of Torchiere).
• Kim New started teaching her first WCS class at Xenbar and later at Studio UP.
• Torchiere was formed by David Liem & Samantha Wong in mid-2009.  It is the first performance group  to showcase WCS to the general public at the DANS Festival 2009 and Salsa Cruise Asia Grand Opening Concert on October 2009.
• Melody organized the first WCS workshop conducted by  Jordan Frisbee and Tatiana Mollman while they were on tour for the Salsa Cruise Asia.

January 2010 – November 2010

• Albert, Melody and Irene Lee separated from S&A DanzX’pressio Ptd Ltd in May 2010 and opened a new studio MIA Dance on Selegie Rd.
• In early summer of 2009, Melody becomes recognized and authorized by the People’s Association as the only instructor qualified to teach West Coast Swing at community centres/clubs.  It has engaged Melody’s services to start offering WCS and NC2S classes at its facilities.
• Melody traveled to Los Angeles in the summer of 2010 and attended the first West Coast 101 certification course held in Los Angeles from 14~17 September and conducted by Skippy Blair with assistance from Mary Ann Nunez, Sharlott Bott and Sarah Grusmarck.  On 28 September 2010, she passed the West Coast 101 certification exam administered by the World Swing Dance Council and became the first Singaporean certified and authorized by the Golden State Dance Teachers Association (GSDTA) to teach West Coast Swing anywhere around the world.
• Yen-ling organized the Liberty Swingapore 2010 event at MIA Dance and conducted WCS workshops on Sunday, 15 August 2010 after returning from the Liberty Swing 2010 event that she attended in New Jersey, USA.
• Melody Yeo attended the Palm Springs Swing Dance Classic 2010 from 13~15 August and participated in the following contests: WCS Jack & Jill Novice Level and Night Club 2-Step Open Level.
• Four Swing enthusiasts (Yen-Ling Lee, Ryan Tang, Francis Teo, Eunice Wong) formed West Coast Swing Singapore on September 2010 and started hosting weekly West Coast Swing Jam Sessions as well as organized Swing dance events.  Eunice is also a member of Torchiere.
• Yen-ling Lee started teaching her first WCS class on October 2010 at Bellydance Extraordinaire and now teaching at Studio UP as well.
• Melody Yeo attended Paradise Country Dance Festival 2010  from 13~15 October.
• Melody Yeo attended Halloween Swingthing 2010 from 28~31 October and participated in the following contests: WCS ProAm Novice (with Ben Morris), WCS Jack & Jill Novice, WCS Jack & Jill All American, 3rd Place in Hustle ProAm Novice (with Kevin Cruz), 3rd Place in Hustle Strictly Open (with Jessie Casteneda) and 5th Place in Hustle Jack & Jill All American (with Kevin Cruz).
• Kim New organized the first event Let’s Swing 2010 on November 2010 featuring Demetre Souliotes.
• On December 2010, Albert and Melody no longer manages a physical studio but is still with MIA Dance as they start collaborating with JJSalsaRengue and People’s Association to try to reach a wider audience by offering WCS as well as other new dances like Hustle and NC2S throughout Singapore.
• Albert is recognized and authorized by the People’s Association in December 2010 as a guest PA trainer registered and qualified to teach social partner dances at its facilities such as WCS, NC2S and Argentine Tango.
• The first WCS Flash Mob routine to “DJ Got Us Fallin in Love Again” by Usher was organized by Samantha Wong and held at the Marina Barrage on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2010.

• On February 2011, People’s Association showcased WCS at the Chingay Carnival 2011 with over 60 volunteers from MIA Dance, The Sizzlers DanzXpressio, Danz Fever, River Valley High School, Singapore Dance Club (Meetup) and West Coast Swing Singapore participating and helping to make this a success.
• The People’s Association engages the services of Albert & Melody to offer WCS classes at the Community Centres/Clubs.  Clementi CC is the first community centre to offer WCS taught by Melody and now includes Hougang CC, Senja-Cashew CC, Tampines West CC and Tanglin CC.
• West Coast Swing Singapore organized the event Swing It On! 2011 on 31 March 2011 featuring Parker Dearborn & Stacey Chiang. The first night had over 100 attendees for the Thursday night Welcome Party.  And the first-ever Jack & Jill WCS Contest (with 12 couples) was held on Saturday night in Singapore.
• In April 2011, Kim New traveled to Los Angeles and attended the West Coast 101 certification conducted by Skippy Blair.  She passed the West Coast 101 certification exam on 23 April 2011 and became the first Malaysian to be certified by GSTDA on 24 April 2011.
• Eunice Wong went on a WCS Pilgrimage to the USA and attended the following events: Reno Dance Sensation event (14~17 April 2011), Seattle Easter Swing event (21~24 April 2011) where she competed in Novice Jack & Jill contest and made it to the semi-finals, SwingDiego 2011 event (5~8 May 2011) where she competed in the Novice Jack & Jill contest and made it to the semi-finals, and the 10th and last GSDTA Intensive in Kona, Hawaii (12~15 May 2011) conducted by Skippy Blair, Sarah Grusmark, Kevin Cruz, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman, Sharlot Bott and Mark the Marine.
• Barry Goh attended the SwingDiego 2011 event from 5~8 May 2011 and competed in the Novice Jack & Jill contest where he made it to the semi-finals.
• Wee Tse Yi (aka Zee) attended the SwingDiego 2011 event from 5~8 May 2011 and competed in the Pro-Am Novice Male  division with Tatiana Mollman as the Pro and placed 5th.  His formal training was back in October 2009 when he started learning WCS from  Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman when he attended the Salsa Asia Cruise back in October 2009.
• In early June 2011, Zee opens a new dance studio Mosaic Dance and starts offering classes for WCS.
• Barry Goh attended the Liberty Swing 2011 event from 23~26 June 2011 and competed in the Pro-Am Novice Male division with Sarah Van Drake as the Pro and came in 1st place winning his division.
• On 30 June 2011, Kim opened a new dance studio Secret Base (first dance studio in Singapore to become a Professional Member (July 2011 – June 2012) under the World Swing Dance Council and member of  GSDTA).

• West Coast Swing Singapore becomes an Associate Professional Member (July 2011 – June 2012) of the World Swing Dance Council .
• Beginning August, West Coast Swing Singapore collaborates with Mosaic Dance as they move their WCS social from Studio UP to Mosaic Dance Studio.
• Barry Goh joins Mosaic Dance Studio as one of the staff members to teach WCS
• On 1~4 September 2011, Kim New organized the 2nd Annual Let’s Swing 2011 – Dancing With the Champion featuring Chuck Brown as the guest instructor from the USA.
• David Liem attended The Endless Summer Swing Dance Camp 2011 in San Diego from 16~18 September.
• Over the Columbus Day weekend of 2011, several people from Singapore traveled overseas and attended the Boogie By the Bay 2011 event in San Francisco, California USA from 6~9 October.  Bernard Phua and Marianne Low made it to Finals of Strictly Swing Novice, Dalena Lee and Wee Tze Yi placed 2nd in Strictly Swing Novice.  Dalena and Wee Tze Ming also made Semi-finals in J&J Novice. Wee Tze won J&J Novice, and also took home the ‘Social Dancer Award’ for the event.
• On 13~16 October 2011, West Coast Swing Singapore organized the Swing It On! 2011 event featuring Arjay Centeno & Melina Ramirez as the overseas guest instructors from USA.  Demetre Souliotes was also at the event as a guest pro to dance, perform and judge.  In the Newcomer J&J Division (those who started dancing in 2011), the results were 1st place (Eugene Wong & Sueanne Teo), 2nd place (Stuart Chan & Tama Chan), 3rd place (Philbert Tan & Elaine Chin) and 4th place (Greg Chin & Wu Qianyi).  In the Novice J&J Division (those who started dancing before 2011), the results were 1st place (Wee Tze Yi & Kim Nanlim), 2nd place (Barry Goh & Dalena Lee), 3rd place (Richard Chung & Joanne Yu) and 4th place (Chen Yi Chia & Marianne Low).

 

Tags: Hustle, Night Club 2-Step, West Coast Swing