NUS Dance Synergy
Encyclopedia
The NUS Dance Synergy is a dance company
at the National University of Singapore
(NUS). It was formed in 1978 under the name of Jazz Ballet Group. The group strives to promote dance as a modern art form that incorporates jazz, modern and contemporary dance elements. The group won 1st Prize in the first Asia Pacific Dance Competition in 1999, and 2nd Prize the following year.
The group has been under the artistic direction of their Resident Choreographer, Fan Dong Kai, since 1997, and the tutelage of their Technique Tutor, Gillian Tan, since 2000. Under the artistic direction of Fan Dong Kai and Gillian Tan, Synergy's dancers have showcased challenging and interesting dance pieces.
from the Beijing Dance Academy
in 1989. He was subsequently selected to study choreography under the tutelage of Mr Ben Stevenson
, Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet
in the United States in 1988, and was engaged as a Guest Choreographer by the Houston Ballet Academy in 1991. He joined the Peoples Association Dance Company as a Senior Choreographer in 1994 and is currently the Artistic Producer of the Singapore Chingay & Events Network. He has been the tutor/choreographer of the NUS Dance Synergy since 1997.
Over a span of 20 years, Fan Dong Kai has choreographed numerous works, including dances featured at festivals held in France, Philippines, Taipei and Singapore. He has also received many awards for his works which were featured at competitions held in China. His major productions for the Peoples Association Dance Company include New Journey I, New Journey II (Monologue) and New Journey III (Longings), which was presented in conjunction with the 1997 Festival of Asian Performing Arts. His other achievements include his choreographed works for the Singapore Dance Theatre
, Chingay, National Day Parade Mass Display and the official launch of Singapore Chingay & Events Network (SCENE) held at Suntec City
.
Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, a concert that serves as a platform for members and alumni to explore their choreographic potential. In September, there is the Dance Reflections series. Held biennially, this is traditionally major concert. In the years between, as with the Hybrid Moves concert in 2007, they have collaborated with the other six dance groups in NUS for a combined concert.
Aside from these two shows, Dance Synergy also participates in external competitions, events and functions. Some of these include:
Dance company
A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment.-Members:*Artistic Director*Choreographers*Dancers*Board of Directors*Education administrator...
at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
(NUS). It was formed in 1978 under the name of Jazz Ballet Group. The group strives to promote dance as a modern art form that incorporates jazz, modern and contemporary dance elements. The group won 1st Prize in the first Asia Pacific Dance Competition in 1999, and 2nd Prize the following year.
The group has been under the artistic direction of their Resident Choreographer, Fan Dong Kai, since 1997, and the tutelage of their Technique Tutor, Gillian Tan, since 2000. Under the artistic direction of Fan Dong Kai and Gillian Tan, Synergy's dancers have showcased challenging and interesting dance pieces.
Resident Choreographer: Fan Dong Kai
Fan Dong Kai obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in ChoreographyChoreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements in which motion, form, or both are specified. Choreography may also refer to the design itself, which is sometimes expressed by means of dance notation. The word choreography literally means "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" ...
from the Beijing Dance Academy
Beijing Dance Academy
Beijing Dance Academy , also known as Beijing Dance Institute, is the only institution of higher education in dance in China. There are three specialties: performance, choreography and dance studies. It offers Master's degrees and Bachelor's degrees....
in 1989. He was subsequently selected to study choreography under the tutelage of Mr Ben Stevenson
Ben Stevenson
Ben Stevenson, OBE , is a former ballet dancer with Britain's Royal Ballet and English National Ballet, co-director of National Ballet in Washington, D.C...
, Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet
Houston Ballet
The Houston Ballet, operated by the Houston Ballet Foundation, is the fourth-largest professional ballet company in the United States, based in Houston, Texas. The foundation also maintains a ballet academy, the Ben Stevenson Academy, which trains more than half of the company's dancers...
in the United States in 1988, and was engaged as a Guest Choreographer by the Houston Ballet Academy in 1991. He joined the Peoples Association Dance Company as a Senior Choreographer in 1994 and is currently the Artistic Producer of the Singapore Chingay & Events Network. He has been the tutor/choreographer of the NUS Dance Synergy since 1997.
Over a span of 20 years, Fan Dong Kai has choreographed numerous works, including dances featured at festivals held in France, Philippines, Taipei and Singapore. He has also received many awards for his works which were featured at competitions held in China. His major productions for the Peoples Association Dance Company include New Journey I, New Journey II (Monologue) and New Journey III (Longings), which was presented in conjunction with the 1997 Festival of Asian Performing Arts. His other achievements include his choreographed works for the Singapore Dance Theatre
Singapore Dance Theatre
The Singapore Dance Theatre is Singapore's national dance company, founded in 1988 by the late Anthony Then and Goh Soo Khim. It made its debut in June 1988 at the Singapore Festival of The Arts and received its first arts patronage by the then-Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Ong Teng Cheong.Its humble...
, Chingay, National Day Parade Mass Display and the official launch of Singapore Chingay & Events Network (SCENE) held at Suntec City
Suntec City
Suntec City is a major multi-use development located in Marina Centre, a subzone of the Downtown Core Planning Area in Singapore.- Design :Suntec City was designed by Tsao & McKown Architects with emphasis on Chinese geomancy . The five buildings and the convention center are arranged so that they...
.
Performances
Each year, Dance Synergy participates in two concerts held under the auspices of NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA). For the NUS Arts Festival in February, there is Terpsichore, an annual feature sponsored by ExxonMobilExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, a concert that serves as a platform for members and alumni to explore their choreographic potential. In September, there is the Dance Reflections series. Held biennially, this is traditionally major concert. In the years between, as with the Hybrid Moves concert in 2007, they have collaborated with the other six dance groups in NUS for a combined concert.
Aside from these two shows, Dance Synergy also participates in external competitions, events and functions. Some of these include:
- Aberdeen International Youth FestivalAberdeen International Youth FestivalAberdeen International Youth Festival is a leading Festival of Youth Arts, and one of Scotland's major international cultural events.Every year Aberdeen International Youth Festival attracts over 1000 of the most talented young people in performing arts companies and music groups from across the...
at Aberdeen, Scotland (2004) - National Day Parade (2004)
- ExxonMobil Campus Concerts
- NUS Homecoming Concert at University Cultural Centre Foyer
- NUS Centennial Challenge Evening at Suntec Ballroom
- NUS Centennial Roving Exhibition at Jurong Point Shopping Centre