Meng Hooi
Baby Ballet , Primary Ballet and CSTD Syllabus Class Teacher

Meng Hooi began her dance training in ballet, completing her RAD grade and major examinations in Malaysia. She was awarded by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, a certificate of distinction in folk dance from grade one to intermediate. She started teaching RAD children’s grade after completing her intermediate examination in 2005. Upon receiving tuition grants from the Ministry of Education in Singapore, Meng Hooi started her contemporary dance training at LaSalle College of the Arts and received a Higher Diploma in Dance in September 2008.

Meng Hooi’s latest performances include “No String Attached”, a contemporary piece choreographed by Melissa Quek for the Singapore M1 Fringe Festival in January 2009. She has also worked with many local and international choreographers/dancers such as Loretta Livingston (U.S.A), Ming-Lung Yang (Taiwan), Mark Haim (U.S.A.), Jaime Redfern (Australia), Cheng Hsienfa (Singapore), Albert Tiong (Singapore) and Tammy L.Wong (Singapore). In the competitive arena, she represented Cheng Ballet Academy for the 10th Asia Pacific Dance Competition under the Classical Ballet Solo - Open category in 2008 .In the same year, Meng Hooi was chosen by guest artist, Mark Haim to dance in one of his solo pieces, “The Goldberg Variations.”

For Singapore Da:ns Festival 2007, Meng Hooi performed in “Four legs in the morning, two at noon, three at night”, choreographed by Loretta Livingston and “Lotto”, choreographed by Ming-Lung Yang. In the same year, she also represented LaSalle to perform in the TARI festival that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. And from 2007-2008, she performed with Cheng Ballet Academy in “Snow White” and “The New Nutcracker”. Meng Hooi has also worked as Assistant Stage Manager in the production,“Scream & Whisper” by LaSalle College of Arts in October 2006 for the Singapore da:ns festival, the same year which saw her receiving the title of the most outstanding student in RAD summer school in Singapore. In 2005, Meng Hooi performed in Swan Lake under the tutelage of Ravenna Tucker, ex-principal dancer of Royal Ballet.

I started ballet classes with Hsienfa in 2000 and his patient instruction inspired me to develop a passion for dance. I have never looked back since. Ballet gives me a new way to express myself and I also love the music. I really enjoy classes at Cheng Ballet and the stage exposure during productions helped to increase my confidence.

It is rare to find teachers like Hsienfa and Yaling who encourage and motivate students to reach their potential, no matter what their ability, experience, age, size, or body shape.