LATIN dance aficionados around Kuala Lumpur are likely to be familiar with Sean Lim Chong Shian, a seasoned winner of numerous dance competitions locally and in the region.
Besides teaching at two dance schools three times a week, the multiple winner of numerous dance competitions of the last decade is also actively involved in choreographing dance routines for local television dramas on both RTM and ntv7.
The energetic and ever-cheerful Lim, 34, who hails from Rantau Panjang in Kelantan, has long made Kuala Lumpur his home, where he has set in place avenues to teach, nurture and indulge in his lifelong passion.
COLLABORATIVE DANCE PRODUCTION
His near-term goal is to hold a dance production in the city, a collaboration with some Argentinian tango dancers.
“It’s a three-pronged goal: Besides staging the dance production, it will get students involved and it will nurture a younger generation of dancers,” says Lim.
Towards this aim, Lim sees his classes as more than just a social activity, especially since such dance classes are often patronised by the older generation.
Many who join his classes are either pleasantly surprised or will groan in exhaustion at his preoccupation with technique rather than just going through basic steps and usual routines. In fact, many of his lessons often extend way beyond their allotted time as the perfectionist in Lim patiently guides his students until he is satisfied with the result.
Lim’s forte is Latin (rumba, cha cha, samba and jive, among them) as well as ballroom dance.
Incidentally, the whirl of competitions in which he won numerous accolades of varying positions include the 4th Malaysian Open Ballroom Dancesport Championship (2003), the 5th Stardust Dancesport Grand Prix (2003, Singapore), 1st International Ballroom Dancing Championship (2004, Malaysia), Penang International Dancesport Open Championships (2004-5), Merlion International Dancesport Championships (2004, Singapore), 3rd Malaysian International Dancesport Grand Prix (2005), 7th Stardust Dancesport Grand Prix (2005, Singapore), Sugar Club Latin (Open) Dance Competition 2005 (Malaysia), 4th Malaysian Amateur Closed Ballroom Dance Championships 2006, Penang International Open Ballroom Dancing Championships 2006 and Nuvo International Dance Sport Championship 2006 in Indonesia.
Lim is also an Associate in Latin (Highly Commended), awarded by the World Dance Council (UK) and the International Dance Teachers’ Association (UK).
With his then partner Sofia Ngadino, they were named the Top Three Malaysian Amateur couple from 2004 to 2006. He also won the Sugar Club Latin (Open) Dance Competition in 2005, earning a full scholarship, awarded by the Cuban embassy, to further his dance training in salsa. Unfortunately, that trip was cancelled due to the social unrest then.
LOVE FOR LATIN DANCE
Lim’s ernest desire is to pass on his love for dance to a whole new generation.
“We just need to get them started on it. Many men think it’s sissy to dance cha cha or rumba.
This is certainly not true. The male dancer has to exude strong masculinity on the dance floor,” says Lim.
Getting the younger set to take that first step, however, is a big challenge.
Lim admits that many youths are inclined towards salsa, bachata and meringue — the South American dances.
The Malaysian dance scene is a mishmash of different genres of dance forms from overseas.
There are clubs offering salsa, bachata and even meringue dance parties every weekend but, laments Lim, there are hardly any offering Latin.
No matter. Lim pushes on. Currently, he teaches at two locales — Aesthetic Dance Academy, located along Old Klang Road, and Fame Studio in Taman Desa, KL — offering beginner, advanced or advanced technique classes three times a week. For those with potential and who show promise, Lim promises to rope them in for his upcoming stage production. For more details, call 017-282 8886.