Artistic team
Choong Wan Chin
Artistic Director
Choong Wan Chin, Malaysian, is Founder and Artistic Director of Danceworks Production (now KL Dance Works) and Ballet Theatre Malaysia. A graduate of the Shanghai Dance School, she has danced with the Singapore Dance Theatre and Shanghai Ballet Company. Upon receiving her Master Degree of Fine Arts in Dance and Integrated Media at California Institute of the Arts, USA, she joined Ena Ballet Studio, Japan as Resident Choreographer and Principal teacher and co-founded Ena Ballet Studio Company.
From 2003-2010, Wan Chin worked in cooperation with the State Ballet School of Berlin (Staatsliche Ballet Schule Berlin) on a pre-professional training programme for talented Japanese students. In 2009, the program extended to include a partnership with Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy.
Wan Chin has been on the panel of adjudicator of The Dance Society of Malaysia’s Solo Classical Ballet Competition for 7 years (between 2004-2013). She also created the compulsory variations in Category 3 for the competition.
Since 2010, Wan Chin has been invited to bring her choreographies back to Malaysia. She has staged 10 major productions, full-length ballet repertoires and International Ballet Galas at the National Theatre (Istana Budaya Kuala Lumpur) and in 2015 collaborated with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in creating Carmen in Dance and Paquita Grand pas Classic.
During her tenure as the Artistic Director and choreographer at Ballet Theatre Malaysia, she presented ‘Impromptu’, ‘Bruch Violin Concerto’ (3 movements), ‘Carmen’ (full-length), ‘Traffic’, ‘Die Fledermaus’ (excerpts) and ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (full-length).
Wan Chin has been invited to guest teach and present her choreographies in USA, Japan, Colombia, Thailand and Singapore.
Rino Fujihashi
Principal
Classical ballet, repertoire
A graduate of Ena Ballet School’s Pre-professional Programme in Japan, Rino furthered her training at the State Ballet School of Berlin, Germany.
She has danced with Ena Ballet Studio Company and invited as guest artiste within Japan as well as Malaysia performing classical ballet roles such as Kitri/Kitri’s friend in ‘Don Quixote’, Aurora in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, Swanhilda’s friend in ‘Coppelia’, ‘Flames of Paris’ Grand pas de deux partnering Kevin Jackson of The Australian Ballet, ‘Grand Pas Classic’ Grand pas de deux partnering Charles-Louis Yoshiyama of The Houston Ballet.
In 2015, she performed as a Soloist dancer in ‘Carmen’ and ‘Paquita’, a production by KL Dance Works in collaboration with Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and also in ‘La Bayadere’a production by KL Dance Works and The Dance Society of Malaysia. In 2018, she performed the ‘Peasant Pas de deux’ in ‘Giselle’ by KL Dance Works Production.
Her most recent guest appearance is with Ballet Theatre Malaysia’s (BTM) International Ballet Gala performing ‘Diana and Actaeon’ Grand pas de deux partnering International Principal dancer Taras Domitro and ‘Talisman’ Grand pas de deux partnering BTM artiste Dominic Lor.
She was ballet and rehearsal mistress with Ballet Theatre Malaysia from 2021-2022.
Lee Hwey Ling
Teacher
Classical ballet, repertoire
Hwey Ling started dancing at the age of 2 under the tutelage of her mother, Wendy Eng. After receiving her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies under the R.A.D. in 2012, Hwey Ling continued to teach at Wendy’s Dance Centre. She has also completed her RAD Advanced 2 examination.
She performed as a corp de ballet in Danceworks Production’s World Ballet Superstars Gala, The Slave Princess (Tds), La Bayadere and Giselle by KLDW. She was also a guest dancer in KLDW annual showcase in 2016-2019. She recently performed in A Dance Memoir.
Casandra Chan
Teacher
Classical ballet
Casandra begin learning ballet at the age of 6 under the RAD syllabus.
In 2016, she transitioned to the Vaganova-based method at KL Dance Works and has since taken part in the ballet academy’s annual productions. She has completed the highest level in the academy – Level 5.
In 2019, Casandra was part of the opening piece at the International Ballet Superstars Gala, held at Istana Budaya. In 2022, she was awarded a scholarship by Ballet Theatre Malaysia (BTM), where she performed in the production of ‘Raymonda Grand Pas Classic’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
Alongside her ballet training, Casandra is pursuing a five-year course, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Ryan Chai Zhi Xuen
Teacher
Classical ballet
Ryan began his ballet training at the age of eight under the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus at Fingerstar Talents Malaysia. In 2016, he furthered his development at KL Dance Works, where he trained in the Vaganova-based method and successfully completed the academy’s highest level, Level 5.
In 2019, Ryan performed the opening item at the International Ballet Super Stars Gala held at Istana Budaya. In 2021, he was awarded a scholarship to Ballet Theatre Malaysia (BTM), where he gained extensive stage experience performing in major productions including ‘Don Quixote’, ‘Raymonda Grand Pas Classique’, ‘Carmen’ and ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
Since 2024, Ryan has been working as a freelance dancer, actively performing across the dance scene. He has collaborated in choreographed works by renowned choreographers such as Joseph Gonzales, Murni Omar, and Mew Chang Tsing. He was also invited to perform at Sarawak International Festival Music and Arts (SIFMA).
Founding Directors
Chen Wei
Sunny Chan Hean Kee
Choong Wan Chin
Managing Director
Vincent Choong