KUCHING: Tyng Dance Academy (TDA) has been named Best School at the 7th Asia Open Dance Championship 2026 after its 22-member ‘Anak Sarawak’ delegation secured 30 awards across classical, ballet and modern dance categories.
Held from Sept 11 to 16 at the Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC), Selangor, the six-day championship saw TDA secure three Diamond, five Gold, 16 Silver and six Bronze awards.
The delegation also claimed Best Troupe, Best Duo & Trio and Top Scorer honours, while three scholarships provided further opportunities for its dancers.
An 11-member TDA ensemble won the Best Troupe Award and a Diamond Award in the Classical Adult Division.
The troupe comprised 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 Jimmy and Tryna Wong E Qin.
Each dancer also received an individual Diamond medal for the performance.
In the Junior Modern Division, nine-year-olds Ariella Tang Chen Xin and Jovanna Goh Yi Xian won Best Duo & Trio and 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.
Calla was named Top Scorer in New Ballet Creation Senior Age 13 and received a 50 per cent scholarship to the Malaysia Grand Prix.
She was also part of the Best Troupe-winning ensemble and, together with Teo, won Gold in the Ballet Repertoire Fragment category.
The Demi Character Junior Ensemble comprising Ariella, Anya Valerie Inja Baring, Jessie Chee Yi Wen, Jovanna, Ng Sze Yun and Olivia Lee En-Xi received the other 50 per cent Malaysia Grand Prix scholarship.
TDA founder and principal Chan Tyng Tyng said in a statement issued recently that the results reflected the breadth of talent within the academy.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
The academy’s teaching team also received recognition, with Chai Sin Yee named Excellent Choreographer for the Classical Division and Winnie Chong Yee Tze receiving the award for Modern Jazz Division.
Chan said the achievement reflected the academy’s longer-term focus on developing young dancers.
“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.
