History


1983

Sri Wilayah Ballet Centre opened its doors on 6th June.
By year end, the 1st RAD candidates were entered in for examinations.

1983-1988

Held classes at Taman Melawati on Fridays, and accepted students from Malacca.
1987: Students auditioned for Korea’s Universal Ballet and danced in The Nutcracker.
Students began participating in dance competitions organised by The Dance Society of Malaysia (TDS).

1989-1993

A few students left for London, USA and Hong Kong to further their dance education.
Took in a partner and employed 2 advanced students as part-time teachers.
October 1989: Held our 1st concert at MPPJ Civic Centre.
Students performed in the 1st Visit Malaysia Year official opening ceremony.
August 1991: Student teacher Wong Lee Foon won first prize in 1st TDS Solo Ballet Competition.

1994-1998

Students entered Eon talent competition 2 years running.
✲ 1st year: Made it to semi-finals
✲ 2nd year: Teacher Chua Meei Sien’s choreography won 1st prize in under-12 dance category
SWBC performed in inaugural programme in conjunction with the launch of MEASAT1 satellite.

1999-2003

Premises expanded to 2 floors, with 3 studios.
SWBC participated in dance performances in conjunction with Malaysia Fest celebrations.
Tri-annual concerts at MPPJ Civic hall, then at Securities Commission
✲ Concert repertoire included Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty
2001: TDS Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Nur Hidaya Zakuan won 1st in 15-17 years category
✲ Chia Tsu Wen won 3rd in 18-23 years category
2003: SWBC contributed 3 items to TDS Dance Festival VI
2003: TDS Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Ashvini Pandian won 1st in the 11-14 years category, and received the President’s Award, a 1 week scholarship to the Cecchetti International Summer School in Melbourne, Australia

2004-2007

Living Heritage Malaysian Dance Festival 2005
✲ SWBC restaged Eclectic Moods, choreographed by Lee Yupin
“Enchanted Garden” Concert held at Securities Commission
✲ Programme included Peter and the Wolf, and Les Sylphide
2007: launched 1-year scholarship for top students in RAD Graded and Vocational examinations. 1st scholars Alison Lee and Rachel Chew respectively

2008

1st SWBC Dance Day Camp in August drew 36 participants from KL, Klang, Malacca, Terengganu, Kelantan and Penang.
SWBC celebrated 25 years of great achievements and results with ‘Stars in Silver’ 25th Anniversary Concert held at Eastin Hotel on the 26th of October.

2009

Full scholarship recipients: Melissa Ong Yin Yin and Jemima Vaya.

2010

Full scholarship recipients: Chloe Choo and Jemima Vaya.
TDS Solo Ballet Competition: Nur Batrisyia won 3rd prize in the 11-15yrs Category.
4 days Dance Day Camp in November with 45 dancers mainly from KL and Kelantan.

2011

Full scholarship recipients: Jemima Vaya and Nur Batrisyia.
TDS 14th Solo Ballet Competition: Nur Batrisyia won 2nd prize in 11-15yrs Category.
RAD Graded examination results: 40 students (over 50%) obtained Distinctions.
“Timeless, Once More” Concert held on 22nd and 23rd Oct 2011:
✲ Students performed to Disney musical songs, Act 2 Swan Lake and Masquerade
100% passes with 5 Distinctions for RAD Vocational examinations.

2012

Full scholarship recipients: Regina Chow, Jemima Vaya.
4 months (Jan-April) scholarship recipient: Alison Lee.
RAD Graded examination results: 67 candidates with 26 Distinctions.
12 students in RAD Vocational examinations: 100% passes with Merits and Distinctions.

2013

Full scholarship recipients: Cheyenne Lok, Elysha Khan, Nur Batrisyia.
4 months (Jan-April) scholarship recipient: Jemima Vaya.
RAD Graded examination results: 59 candidates with 48 Distinctions (81%).
100% passes for RAD Vocational examinations.
Celebrated 30th Anniversary with an adaptation of the full length ballet, ‘The Nutcracker”, 30th November at Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.

2014

Full scholarship recipients: Angelina Choong, Jason Yap.
4 months (Jan-April) scholarship recipient: Nur Batrisyia.
RAD Graded examination results: 64 candidates with 45% Distinctions.
Hosted Malaysia Hong Kong Dance Exchange program, 21st-26th July.
RAD Vocational examinations: 20 students with Distinctions (35%) and Merits (65%).

2015

RAD Graded examination results: 62 candidates with 58 Distinctions.
Full scholarship recipients: Jason Yap and Audrey Chua.
TDS 18th Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Nisha Lor won 6th prize in 11-15yrs Category
✲ Dominic Lor won 4th prize in 15-17yrs Category
RAD Vocational examinations: 22 students with Distinctions (45.5%) and Merits (55.5%).
RAD Dance Challenge (Singapore) in November
✲ Students Jaime Teoh (Level 1) and Audrey Chua (Level 4) advanced to the finals
✲ Jaime received a scholarship to the RAD Summer School 2016, Singapore

2016

Full scholarship recipients: Caeley Heong, Audrey Chua.
Dance Prix Indonesia 2016: Jaime Teoh, Junior A – Finalist.
1st Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix (MIBGP):
✲ Jaime Teoh: 9th place in Primary 2
– Full 1-week scholarship to Cheng Ballet Academy, Singapore
– Direct entry certificate to Kirov Academy of Ballet 2017 Summer School
– 50% scholarship to The School of Cadence Ballet 2017 International Summer School
– 25% scholarship Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2017
 
✲ Eleanor Inn Rei Shuen: 5th place in Primary 1
– Full Scholarship to The School of Cadence Ballet 2017 International Summer Intensive
– 50% Scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2017

✲ Caeley Heong: 1st place in Primary 1
– Full 1-week scholarship to Cheng Ballet Academy, Singapore
– Chacott and Freed of London (M) award
– Full scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2017
– Full scholarship to Hong Kong International Youth Dance Festival Summer Course 2017

Director Ms Lee Yupin was in the Panel of Judges for MIBGP

2017

Full scholarship recipients: Caeley Heong and Eleanor Inn, Audrey Chua
2nd Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix
✲ Jaime Teoh: Finalist in Junior 1 (Top 14th)
– Full Tuition Scholarship to Indonesian Intensive Ballet Training 2018
– 10% Scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2018

✲ Christina Ong: Finalist in Primary 2
– 10% Scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2018 
Star Of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition 2017:
✲ Jaime Teoh: Finalist, 2-week scholarship to Cheng Ballet Academy
RAD Graded and Vocational examinations with 37% obtaining Distinctions.
Scholars program began from June onwards:
✲ Junior Scholars (Grade 2 – Inter-found)
✲ Senior Scholars (Inter – Adv 2)
Celebrated 34 years of assistance with “Ballet Classics” Concert:
✲ Excerpts of Cinderella, Don  Quixote, Alice’s Adventures of Wonderland, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, held at Temple of Fine Arts
✲ Invited the participation of Wesley School of Arts (which was started as a reaching out program by the Wesley Methodist Church, KL, in order to give children of lower income families an opportunity to study dance and music)
Ms Lee Yupin was again invited to be part of the panel of judges in MIBGP.

2018

Full scholarship recipients: Caeley Heong and Eleanor Inn, Nisha Lor
Asian Grand Prix Regionals (Thailand)
✲ Jaime Teoh: 1st prize – Advanced to the Asian Grand Prix Finals, Hong Kong
– Awarded Summer School scholarship to Universal Ballet, Korea
TDS 21st Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Category 3 Cheyenne Lok – Finalist
6th Taiwan Grand Prix International Ballet Competition 2018
✲ Cheyenne Lok, Junior Category: 4th prize
– Awarded scholarships to Moscow State Academy of Choreography, 100% tuition fees for 2019 Taiwan Grand Prix International Ballet Competition Workshop, Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive program, Full Tuition scholarship for Harid Conservatory 2019 Summer Intensive
Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training: Tey Ye Tyng and Sophia Ong awarded scholarship to Indonesian Intensive Ballet Training in Marlupi Dance Academy, Jakarta
Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix 2018
✲ Tey Ye Tyng, Junior 1: Finalist
✲ Christina Ong, Primary 2: Finalist
✲ Senior Ensemble – Finalist
✲ Junior Ensemble – Finalist
✲ Jamie Teoh, Junior 1: Finalist
– Awarded 50% scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2019
– Full 2 week scholarship for Cheng Ballet Academy, Singapore

✲ Cheyenne Lok, Junior 1: Silver Medal
– Awarded 100% scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2019
– Invited for full time 3 week training at Marlupi Dance Academy, Indonesia
– Full scholarship to Asian Grand Prix Summer Intensive 2019

✲ Sophia Ong Primary 1, Winner: Silver Medal
✲ Sophia Goh Primary 1, Winner: Bronze Medal
RAD Graded and Vocational examination with 33% obtaining Distinctions

2019

Asian Grand Prix Regionals (Malaysia)
✲ Cheyenne Lok, Junior A Division: 1st Prize
– Awarded 100% scholarship to Asian Grand Prix Summer Intensive 2019
– Direct advancement to the Asian Grand Prix Finals, Hong Kong

✲ Christina Ong, Pre-competitive B Division: 5th Prize
– Awarded 25% scholarship to Asian Grand Prix Summer Intensive 2019
– Direct advancement to the Asian Grand Prix Finals, Hong Kong

TDS 22nd Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Caeley Heong, Category 4: 3rd Prize
✲ Eleanor Inn, Category 4: 1st Prize, awarded scholarship to the Singapore Ballet Academy Workshop in December
✲ Cheyenne Lok, Category 3: 5th Prize
International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore 2019 (IBGPS)
✲ Eleanor Inn, Youth 1, Repetto Encouragement Award
✲ Caeley Heong, 4th Prize, awarded direct entry to Central School of Ballet, UK Summer School 
✲ Cheyenne Lok, Youth 2: 1st Prize
– IBGPS Grand Award
– Awarded 2 weeks 100% scholarship to the New Zealand School of Dance
– Awarded 1 week 100% scholarship to The Australian Ballet School
– Awarded full scholarship to the Elmhurst Ballet School, UK 2020 Summer Program

RAD Vocational examination with 52% obtaining Distinctions.
Cheyenne Lok participated in the Harid Conservatory, Florida 2019 four week Summer Intensive on full scholarship, and was then awarded as a recipient of the “Isabella Boylston Scholarship”, a program to support her continued studies at the conservatory for the upcoming academic year.
Celebrated our 36th Anniversary by hosting a 2019 Dance Camp from 13th-17th August for students from both lower and upper grades.
6th World Ballet Art Competition – Canadian Grand Prix 2019 Semi-Finals, Taiwan
✲ Tey Ye Tyng was awarded 1st prize
Taiwan Grand Prix 2019
✲ Tey Ye Tyng awarded 4th place
– Received 1 week full tuition scholarship to A&A Ballet and 2020 Direct Entry to The Moscow State Academy of Choreography (The Bolshoi Ballet Academy)
Asian Grand Prix, Hong Kong 2019
✲ Cheyenne Lok, Junior A Division
– Awarded the Silver medal, and received 2 weeks scholarship and Direct Entry to Queensland Ballet Academy
Cheyenne Lok furthers her dance training abroad on scholarship at Harid Conservatory.
Ballet Manila Tour de Force: Eleanor Inn participated in the performance and received a scholarship for the Ballet Manila 2020 Intensive Summer Program.
Danceworks International Ballet Super Stars Gala 2019: Caeley Heong and Tey Ye Tyng participated in the opening performance, ‘Mazurka’.
Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix 2019
✲ Sophia Ong, Primary 2: 5th Place, and 50% scholarship Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2020
✲ Christina Ong, Primary 3: 9th Place, and 50% scholarship Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2020
Star Of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition 2019
✲ Eleanor Inn, Primary B: Bronze medal, and scholarship to the Urdang Academy, London 2020 Summer Course
Ballet Challenge 2020: Category 3 Finalists – Christina Ong, Eleanor Inn and Sophia Ong
EPIC Dance: Caeley Heong received a scholarship for the 2021 EPIC Dance workshop in Singapore
Celebrated our 36th Anniversary with an adaptation of the full length ballet, ‘Coppelia” on the 15th of December at Temple of Fine Arts.

2020

Full scholarship recipients: Caeley Heong and Christina Ong
SWBC danced in CHESS, The Musical, a collaboration brought to life by Bentley Music Malaysia, performed by over 90 musicians from Malaysia, the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and Orkestra RTM members, under Director Peter Cousens and Conductor Kevin Field, at the Bentley Music Academy from 17th-19th January.
RAD Vocational examination with 50% obtaining Distinctions.

2021

Full scholarship recipient: Caeley Heong
Fantastic World Dance Movement International Virtual Dance Competition:
✲ Senior Scholars received 6th place in the ensemble category with the piece ‘ICAO’ choreographed by Kenny Shim
International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore Online Competition 2021
✲ Christina Ong, Youth 2: Potential Award
✲ Sophia Ong, Junior 2: 9th Prize, 50% scholarship for IBGPS 2022 Competition
TDS 23rd Solo Ballet Competition
✲ Category 4 Finalists: Annabelle Wong, Sophia Ong
✲ Category 3 Finalist: Christina Ong
Hosted a Youtube Premiere on 26th September of our very first official virtual showcase, ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’.
RAD Vocational Examinations with 6 obtaining Distinctions.

2022

Full scholarship recipient: Melissa Wong
Invited Ben Cook and Yui Kyotani of Ballet Theatre Malaysia to teach a 3-day Pas de deux Workshop for Scholars Level 2 and 3.
International Ballet Grand Prix Singapore Online Competition 2022
✲ Sophia Ong, Youth 1: 9th Place
Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition 2022 Malaysia
✲ Emma Wong, Primary A2: 7th Place
‘Before We Turn To Stone’ choreographed by Kenny Shim and performed by Scholars Level 3 for Dancebox 2022
Ballet Theatre Malaysia International Ballet Gala 2022
✲ Level 2 Scholars Lily and Surin participated in the children’s performance in ‘Die Fledermaus’
Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition 2022 Singapore
✲ Christina Ong, JB Division: Potential Award
– 50% Scholarship to Marlupi Dance Academy Intensive Program
✲ Caeley Heong, JA Division: Silver Award
– CT1 Division: 4th Place
– 100% Scholarship for The School of Ballet Theatre, UK Summer Intensive
– 100% Scholarship for The Dang (Solange Urdang Collective) Summer Programme
– 100% Scholarship for Soki Ballet International Virtual Ballet Class 2022

✲ Jenelle Ho, PB Division: 10th Place
– 50% Scholarship to Marlupi Dance Academy Intensive Program
✲ Sophia Ong, PB Division: 8th Place
– 100% Scholarship for Russian Ballet Association 2023 Vaganova Workshop by Vladimir Issaev
✲ Caeley Heong and Christina Ong (Duo)
– DT Division: Gold Award
– 100% Scholarship to Youth Grand Prix (YGP) Indonesia

Invited Mr. Miao Zong from France to conduct a ballet class for our vocational grade students
Asian Grand Prix Regionals (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
✲ Sophia Ong, Performance B Category: Gold Award, invitation to AGP Finals in Thailand.
Held our 2nd in-house competition, ‘2022 Dance Star Competition II’.
Graduation of our Level 3 Scholars from the SWBC Scholars Program:
✲ Caeley Heong, Christina Ong, Eleanor Inn, Hayley Sze, Melissa Wong, Natalie Wong
Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix 2022
✲ Primary 3 Category:
– Emma Wong: 3rd Place, Full scholarship to Malaysian Summer Intensive Ballet Training 2023
– Adele Ng: Top 10 Award, Tuition scholarship to Indonesian Intensive Ballet Training by Marlupi Dance Academy
– Amelia Chin: Encouragement Award
SWBC danced in EVITA, The Musical, a collaboration brought to life by Bentley Music Malaysia, performed by musicians from Malaysia, the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and Orkestra RTM members, under Director Jason Langley and Conductor Kevin Field, at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) from 16th-18th December. Choreography by Kenny Shim, Ashvini Pandian, and dancers Audrey Chua, Eunice Tan, Hayley Sze, Melissa Wong, Natalie Wong, Tomiko Dylan Alex, Yap Wen Xing, and Chia Yi Xin.
RAD Graded and Vocational Examination: 71 candidates from Primary in Dance to Grade 5, 23 candidates from Intermediate Foundation to Advanced 2, with a total of 16 obtaining Distinctions.

2023

Full scholarship recipients: Emma Wong, Sophia Ong, Eleanor Inn
Malaysia Ballet Festival 2023
✲ Benjamin Peoh Kye Jun, Solo Repertoire Category C (10-12 Years): Gold
✲ Irina Alma Lim, Solo Repertoire Category D (13-15 Years): Gold
✲ Marissa Ling Deying, Solo Repertoire Category D (13-15 Years): Gold
TDS Festival of Dance VIII In Memory of Lee Lee Lan