Dancers from different parts of the world gather in KL for competition

Posted Date: 26 May 2009 at 08:42:43 AM

TheStar, 2007 July 18 July.

By JADE CHAN

Asia Pacific Dance Masters Championship 2007.

PINT-SIZED Ashton Andrew De Silva may appear small, but the 10-year-old boy had dance moves and skills that could outrival most adults.

Ashton and his sister Ariel, 14, were among the dancers competing at the recent Asia Pacific Dance Masters Championship 2007 held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

The dancers competed in various levels and age categories for three types of dances – line, belly and hip hop.

About 600 participants from all over Malaysia, as well as from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Iran showed off their talents, in hopes of clinching a regional champion title and attractive cash prizes.

Sauce manufacturer Lee Kum Kee was the main sponsor of the event organised by Joyclub Dance Academy.

“Lee Kum Kee’s intention of sponsoring an event of this scale is not only as a gesture of appreciation to our loyal customers, but also to help promote the country and its culture by reaching out to participants and guests from the Asia Pacific region, in line with the country’s Visit Malaysia Year 2007 efforts,” said Lee Kum Kee general manager of Asia Baven Chin.

“On behalf of the ministry, it is my pleasure to greet everyone here with this special message – dance for peace, harmony and unity,” said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim, who was the guest of honour at the event.

“It’s a perfect cross-cultural platform that would help to unite and spread our message of peace, harmony and unity to the world that is being torn by widespread racial, religious and cultural wedge fuelling a global unrest,” Lim said.

Ashton’s efforts at the championship did not go unnoticed as he was declared champion twice – in the Line Dance Individual – Intermediate – Junior Teen and Line Dance Individual – Advanced – Junior Teen categories.

The Year Four student at Tanjong Katong Primary School in Singapore began dancing at the age of seven, and has since learnt various dance disciplines – Latin American ballroom, waltz, cha cha, hip hop and line dance.

“My favourite is the hip hop because it’s very fun, and Latin American ballroom because my father and sister dance that too,” he said.

Ashton comes from a family of dancers, as his parents were five-time Latin American ballroom dancing champions at both Singapore and South East Asia levels, while his grandparents are social dancers.

According to his father Andre, Ashton was a twelve-time Latin American ballroom dancing champion in the Under-9 and Under-12 categories at both Singapore and South East Asia levels since 2004, and three-time line dancing champion at Asia Pacific level since 2005.

“There is a friendly rivalry between Ashton and his sister, but they do help each other, like Ariel helping him with his choreography,” said his father Andre.

“Ashton is very competitive, and won't be happy if someone else besides Ariel wins if they’re both competing in the same categories!”.

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