Goh Ballet Academy

Goh Ballet Academy is a school of classical ballet in Vancouver, British Columbia, founded in 1978 by Chan-hon Goh and Lin Yee Goh.

History

The Goh Ballet Academy was founded in 1978 by Choo Chiat Goh and Lin Yee Goh after they immigrated to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from China. Choo Chiat Goh trained on scholarship at London’s The Royal Ballet, the Beijing Dance Academy and in 1959 joined the National Ballet of China. His wife, Lin Yee Goh also trained at the Beijing Dance Academy and eventually became one of the National Ballet of China’s ballet mistresses. At the academy, she incorporated Royal Academy of Dance curriculum into the academy and studied and taught the Vaganova method, studying technique and teaching elements under Russian master Nikolai Romancheva.[1]

The Gohs' daughter, Chan-hon Goh, was principal dancer of the National Ballet of Canada for 20 years and is the current director of the academy. Chan Hon Goh was also a recipient of the Prix de Lausanne, an annual international competition for youth in Switzerland who seek to pursue professional careers. As the academy's director, Chan Hon Goh has introduced a master class series for aspiring dancers seeking to enhance professional training and receive coaching and provide opportunities for featured artists to mentor participants and focus on artistic elements not typically featured in standard ballet classes.[2]

Tours

Goh Ballet has toured Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, and the United States. In 1994, the youth company was the first Canadian institution to be asked to perform at Rencontres Internationales de la Danse Festival in La Baule, France. While at the festival, the performance received eight curtain calls.

Performances

Since 2009, the Goh Ballet has produced its own performance of The Nutcracker with commissioned choreography by Anna-Marie Holmes.[3] Executive producer of Vancouver's Nutcracker ballet, Chan-hon Goh described the show as "Its own entity...meant for the city."[4]

Awards
  • Outstanding School Award (Youth America Grand Prix 2008)
  • Outstanding Champion for the Arts (Arts and Culture Week 2008)
  • Solo Seal Award (Royal Academy of Dance) (20 students have achieved the highest examination honour)
  • Canadian Immigrant Top 25 Award 2017

Founders awards
  • YWCA Women of Distinction Award (2013)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013)
  • FMA Vancouver Art Achievement Award (2010)
  • National Association of Asian American Professionals 100 Award (NAAAP) (2010)
  • Genée International Ballet Competition – Silver Medal (1988)
  • Illustrious Prix de Lausanne – Prize (1986)

Notable alumni

References
  1. http://gohballet.com/pdf/January%2017,%202013,%20Two%20Generations%20Honoured%20with%20Diamond%20Jubilee%20Medal%20-%20Goh%20Ballet, Katie Weber, January 2013, Retrieved March 2014
  2. Writer at Large "A Moment with Chan Hon Goh, One of Canada's Most Prolific Prima Ballerinas", Vancouver Lifestyles, February 16, 2012
  3. Meyers, Deborah (16 December 2015). "Goh alumnus Frances Chung returns as Sugar Plum Fairy". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. Deborah Meyers "Sweet Nutcracker" Archived 2014-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, The Vancouver Sun, December 12, 2013

49°15′49″N 123°6′4″W

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