NUS Dance Synergy

NUS Dance Synergy
Genres	Modern Contemporary Jazz Ballet
Years active	1978–present
Website	[1]

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.^[1]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Resident Choreographer: Fan Dong Kai

Fan Dong Kai obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Choreography 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.^[2]

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 ExxonMobil 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 Festival 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

See also

• National University of Singapore

References

1. ^ NUS: Center For The Arts - Dance: NUS Dance Synergy
2. ^ Dance Synergy!

External links

• NUS Dance Synergy Official Website
• National University of Singapore Official Website