By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 19: Tyng Dance Academy (TDA) was named Best School at the 7th Asia Open Dance Championship 2026 after its 22-member Sarawak delegation took home 30 awards, including three Diamond, five Gold, 16 Silver and six Bronze awards.
The six-day championship was held from Sept 11 to 16 at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), Selangor.
Led by founder and principal Chan Tyng Tyng, the TDA delegation also secured the Best Troupe, Best Duo & Trio and Top Scorer honours, while three scholarship awards were presented to its dancers.
The Best School award recognised TDA’s overall performance across various age groups and categories, with its dancers competing in solo, duo, ensemble and troupe events.
Among the delegation’s major wins was the Best Troupe Award in the Classical Adult Division, secured by an 11-member TDA ensemble comprising Calla Roa Tayan Salang, Teo Wei Tien, Christabelle Renata Lim Lien Na, Irelene Chan Eng Xi, Jasmine Kho Jing Tong, Jocelyn Yap Tai Xii, Liu Yun Ling, Maekayla Chung, Mevanise Chai Xiao Qi, Sylvia Ho Anak Jimmy and Tryna Wong E Qin.
The troupe also received a Diamond Award, with each of the 11 dancers awarded an individual Diamond medal.
In the Junior Modern Division, nine-year-olds Ariella Tang Chen Xin and Jovanna Goh Yi Xian won the Best Duo & Trio Award, along with a Diamond Award for their Modern Jazz Junior Duo performance.
The pair also received a 100 per cent scholarship to the Taiwan International Open Dance Championship 2027.
Another individual highlight came from Calla, who was named Top Scorer in New Ballet Creation Senior Age 13.
She also received a 50 per cent scholarship to the Malaysia Grand Prix and, together with Teo, won a Gold Award for their Ballet Repertoire Fragment performance.
A second 50 per cent Malaysia Grand Prix scholarship went to the Demi Character Junior Ensemble comprising Ariella, Anya Valerie Inja Baring, Jessie Chee Yi Wen, Jovanna, Ng Sze Yun and Olivia Lee En-Xi.
Chan said the breadth of recognition was more significant than the medal tally alone.
“We are proud of the 30 competition awards, but what means even more to us is seeing Anak Sarawak recognised across so many different areas — as individuals, as duos, as a troupe, through scholarships and through the overall Best School Award.
“For us, this is never only about medals. It is about what our dancers become through the process — disciplined, confident, resilient and ready to stand on larger stages,” she said in a statement.
Chan said the scholarships were particularly meaningful as they gave the dancers opportunities for further training, exposure and competition.
“The most meaningful achievement is when one success creates the next opportunity. A scholarship, a new stage, another competition — that is how young dancers continue to grow,” she said.
The academy’s teaching team was also recognised, with Chai Sin Yee receiving the Excellent Choreographer Award for the Classical Division and Winnie Chong Yee Tze receiving the Excellent Choreographer Award for the Modern Jazz Division.
The TDA delegation was led by Chan, together with Chai and Winnie.
Chan said the results reflected the academy’s longer-term approach to developing dancers rather than preparing solely for individual competitions.
“A strong result should never be an isolated moment. It should come from a system that develops dancers over time, gives them exposure, challenges them and prepares them for what comes next,” she said.
The Asia Open 2026 results saw TDA secure Best School, Best Troupe, Best Duo & Trio, Top Scorer, three scholarships and two choreography awards, alongside its 30 competition awards.
For the 22-member delegation, the championship ended with another international stage for Sarawak-grown dance talent to carry the name of Sarawak beyond the State. — DayakDaily
