By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, April 14: Sarawak’s performing arts community has received a major boost on the global stage, as Chan Tyng Tyng—founder of Tyng Dance Academy and President of the Kuching Performing Arts Association—has been awarded the prestigious Fellowship qualification in Latin Dance by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), United Kingdom (UK).
The ISTD Fellowship is the highest professional teaching qualification within the internationally respected ISTD system, recognised in more than 75 countries.
According to a press release, Chan’s exceptional performance in the assessment earned her high praise from UK examiners, who described her as “a most competent and experienced teacher who will be an asset to the profession.”
This milestone positions Chan among the world’s elite dance educators and sets a new benchmark for Sarawak’s arts education scene.
The Fellowship qualification represents mastery in both technical and theoretical aspects of dance, as well as excellence in training future educators.
Adding to this achievement, Chan’s protégé Winnie Chong also earned her ISTD Licentiate qualification with a Highly Commended rating, reflecting the strength and continuity of Chan’s education system—one grounded in discipline, excellence, and ethical teaching.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Chan’s students secured 33 medals in national and international dance competitions, continuing a longstanding tradition of success and raising Sarawak’s profile in the global arts and sports arena.
As the Borneo Open International DanceSport Championship (BOIDC) gears up for its third edition in October 2025, Chan and her team remain focused on growing Sarawak’s global footprint—developing a local system of dance education rooted in cultural values, yet benchmarked against international standards. – DayakDaily
