Our Faculty

Lisa, an Indonesian-born Chinese, founded YDA in 2009 to promote the art of dance and provide quality dance education. She trained full-time at West Australia Conservatoire of Classical Ballet, before pursuing dance teaching as her chosen career. Besides hold a double bachelor degree in commerce and arts, Lisa also hold an RAD Certificate in Higher Education in Dance Teaching validated by the University of Durham. She is a registered teacher with both the RAD and CSTD and teaches both syllabi and is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) teacher. Lisa has been teaching since 2002. Her passion is to spread the love for dance, and to nurture talented students to their full potential. Under her guidance, many of her students have won awards, scholarships local and international competitions. Lisa has trained dance teachers and some of her students have successfully become dance teachers themselves.

Trained in both the CSTD and RAD syllabi, Cheryl has completed the Advanced 2 RAD syllabus and the Advanced CSTD syllabus. She is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD) with Registered Teacher Status (RTS) and holds the CSTD Teaching Diploma. She also has a Masters in Education (Dance Teaching) and is an official CSTD Mentor for CSTD  Classical TC and TD candidates. Her other accolades include a BA (Hons) in Dance Education, B.Soc.Sci. (Hons) degree in Political Science from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Institute of Education (NIE). Cheryl has been teaching since 2007 and joined YDA in 2012. She is experienced in preparing YDA students for both CSTD and RAD Examinations. She has also trained students in group, duos/trios and solo competitions. Her students have received 1st places, and numerous awards and scholarships in numerous local and overseas competitions. Cheryl has also been awarded the Outstanding Choreography Award in the Youth Arts Festival (2021), and the Outstanding Teacher Award in the Star of Canaan Online Ballet Competition (2021), Youth Arts Festival (2021) and International Arts Festival (2023).

Rydell trained in Classical Ballet under Ms Lisa Latip from the age of 9. She has completed the CSTD Elementary and RAD Advanced 2 syllabi and is also a certified Pilates instructor. In 2009 and 2012, Rydell joined YDA on a dance study trip to Perth in which she attended a week-long full-time ballet training at the West Australian Conservatoire of Classical Ballet. She has numerous stage performance and competition experiences, including the lead role of Clara in YDA’s Nutcracker in 2012 and have participated in the CSTD Dance Competition in 2013. In March 2014, Rydell assisted in leading YDA students in the ballet segments of the Chingay Parade. Rydell is experienced in preparing students for both the CSTD and RAD examinations and has also trained students for local and overseas competitions for groups, duos/trios and solo categories, achieving remarkable results. Her students have received 1st places and numerous awards in local competitions. Rydell is well-versed in anatomy and conditioning and aims share her knowledge with her students, honing their techniques and abilities in dance.

Esene is a Registered Teacher with RAD holding the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD). She has completed both the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) syllabi and her teaching experience spans from Pre-Primary in Dance to Advanced 2 level. Esene also has over twenty years of performing experience in Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore in various dance productions and has also choreographed numerous dance items. As a trained Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Instructor, Esene is a passionate and dedicated teacher of dance who is committed to Continuing Professional Development, keeping her abreast in latest dance developments. Esene’s knowledge in the Gyrotonic method also assists her in dance teaching, addressing energy pathways in improving strength and movement efficiency in dancers. Apart from dance, Esene is also trained in Music Theory and Pianoforte under The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). She also holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce, majoring in Accountancy.

Nexe, trained in classical ballet under Ms Lisa Latip, has been dancing for more than 10 years and has achieved Distinction in her CSTD Majors and RAD Vocational Grades examinations and is currently pursuing her Teaching Certificate. Nexe has also taken part in various competitions with laudable achievements. These include receiving a Gold Award in the 2016 Hong Kong Challenge Cup Dance Competition (2016), a Silver Award in the 6th International Youth Dance Festival Singapore Dance Competition (2016), Honorable Mention in the CSTD 18th Singapore Regional Competition (2016), 2nd Place in the Get the Beat Competition (2017) and a Bronze Award in the CSTD Born to Perform Competition (2018). Nexe has also performed in Young Dancers Academy’s dance concerts, the Nutcracker (2012) and Cinderella (2014) and has also attended a week of dance classes at the West Australian Conservatoire of Classical Ballet in Perth. Furthering her passion in dance and displaying her versatility, Nexe is also exposed to Contemporary, Hip Hop, participating in ROOTS: The Human Mind Annual Recital (2018) and performances for Singapore Polytechnic’s Open House (2019) and CCA Carnival (2019).

Tiffany is a passionate and ardent dancer. Her natural ability in dancing, coupled with her ardent discipline and determination is reflected in her outstanding accomplishments. Tiffany has also participated in competitions with YDA’s Senior Scholars Team. In 2020, she achieved Gold in the Youth Arts Festival Contemporary Ensemble (15 & Under) and 3rd place in Get The Beat Asia Teen Contemporary Group. In 2021, she was awarded Gold in the Youth Arts Festival Ballet Ensemble (15-17 years). She also led her school’s dance team and represented her school in the Singapore Youth Festival in 2021. Tiffany is a patient and kind teacher who loves teaching young children. With her strong passion for dance, Tiffany aims to share it with the students she teaches through building good rapport with them.

Joey is an experienced dancer holding qualifications from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She is a versatile dancer with experience in classical ballet, contemporary dance, lyrical dance and Latin – Tango and has performed in YDA’s biennial concerts. Joey has also been selected for T.H.E. Dance Company’s Training Initiative where she immersed in the training and creative processes of T.H.E. Dance Company. As a student, Joey was the Dance President of Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) Dance CCA, leading the club in the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation, and numerous school and public performances. She was also the main choreographer of ACJC Dance’s annual dance concert, Bailamos, choreographing contemporary and classical pieces. Joey’s passion for dance and performing also extends into competitions where she showcased her independence and creativity in a self-choreographed contemporary item in the Get the Beat International Competition 2023. Joey is currently pursuing her Bachelors Degree in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and is an active member of NTU’s Dance Club. Joey aspires to inspire young dancers with her strong performative ability and accomplishments. She advocates for societal inclusivity and equality through the performing arts as an emotive and empathetic medium.

Cher Rou’s passion and dedication as a dancer is reflected in her dance accomplishments. She has completed the RAD Advanced 2 Examination and represented YDA in the 2024 Get the Beat Competition for ballet, achieving 2nd Place for a ballet duo. Apart from ballet, Cher Rou demonstrates her versatility in dance as she was part of YDA’s Contemporary Troupe, which represented YDA in the 2022 Get the Beat Competition and attained 3rd Place. She has also helped YDA with backstage administration during the school’s biennial concert in 2019 and performed in numerous items in YDA’s 2022 year-end production. Cher Rou was also a member of Nanyang Junior College’s Dance Society and her experience as a dancer is further showcased as she choreographed contemporary pieces that were showcased during the college’s Open House and CCA Bazaars; and participated in the Singapore Youth Festival in 2023. With her determination and discipline, Cher Rou hopes to share her love for ballet and inspire students to persevere in their dance pursuits.

Graduating with a Bachelor in Dance Studies (Honours) from the University of Auckland, Amelia Chong has participated in numerous projects and had opportunities teaching, performing and choreographing in Singapore and abroad. These include teaching contemporary technique and creative processes of dance at the University of Auckland Dance Studies Programme and serving as the dance instructor at schools across Singapore. Amelia is also involved in choreography and performance and her works have been featured and presented at the Tempo Dance Festival (New Zealand), SUPERCELL Festival of Contemporary Dance (Australia), M1 Contact Contemporary Dance Festival (Singapore), BODY.RADICAL International Performing Arts Biennale (Hungary) and Interplay Festival Internationale Di Danza Contemporanea 2020 (Italy). As Amelia continues to venture into the wider dance community in Singapore, she hopes to instill a critical and reflexive mindset in her students, where they start to question and appreciate the wonders of dance as an art form that goes beyond the physicality of it.

Experienced in Jazz and Modern Dance, Jia Xuan is an established dancer and holds the CSTD Modern Jazz Teaching Diploma. She is experienced in teaching and choreography in Modern and Street Jazz, and have participated in various dance competitions. This includes achieving 1st Place in the SAFRA The Ultimate Talent Competition (2019), and 3rd Place in both Lyrical and Jazz Solos in the Singapore Regional Dance Competition (2018). Jia Xuan also boasts numerous performing experience, dancing for Chingay (2023), National Day Parade (2022),  NUS Ascen(dance!): Press Start (2019), Mediacorp Star Search Opening (2019), Converge Recitals (2018 & 2019), R! Recital Vol. 6: R!MA (2019), and Nanyang Polytechnic’s 25th Anniversary Production, Graduation Ceremony, and Open House (2017). Jia Xuan’s Jazz students enjoy her energetic and vibrant classes, and have attained remarkable results in their Jazz exams. She hopes to continue exposing her students to more dance opportunities and spread the enjoyment of dance.

Akira joined Singapore Ballet as an Artist in July 2024 and is an established dancer. He was accepted into the School of American Ballet where he was awarded the Jerome Robbins Foundation Scholarship and received a full scholarship to the San Francisco Ballet School. Akira first joined the Grand Rapids Ballet before going on to perform with the United Ballet Theatre and Ballet RI formerly Festival Ballet Providence. He then joined Artistic Director Roy Kaiser to dance with the Nevada Ballet Theatre. Some of the repertoire Akira has performed include, 3rd solo dancer (Jiri Kylian’s “Sarabande”), Men’s Regiment (George Balanchine’s “Stars and Stripes”), Solar (Rearranged by George Birkadze “La Bayadere”), Sugar Plum Cavalier (Marius Petipa “The Nutcracker), Frederick (Ben Stevenson’s “Dracula”), Tinman (Septime Weber’s “Wizard of Oz”), and Pas de trois (Ben Stevenson’s “Swan Lake”).

Rosa was a Principal Artist at Singapore Ballet. Under the guidance of Janek Schergen, she achieved significant recognition, even gracing the cover of Dance Europe Magazine. Through the years, she has received plaudits for her astute performance in classical ballet pieces such as Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote and many more. She also had the privilege of dancing in several pieces choreographed by the renowned Choo San Goh and Gorege Balanchine. Her versatility and artistry shone through as she worked with world-class choreographers such as Edwaard Liang, Nils Christe, Val Caniparoli, Stanton Welch, Ma Cong, Kinsun Chan and Natalie Weir, participating in premier works for the company. Rosa’s ballet journey began with six years of intensive training at Sunhwa Arts School, where she graduated as the top performer in her class. She furthered her academic pursuits, earning a Bachelor’s Degree from Ewha Woman’s University and later, a Master’s Degree from Sejong University. Committed to continuous personal growth, she completed a Certificate in Leadership Principles at Harvard Business School Online in 2022. Apart from her experience as a professional dancer, Rosa generously shares her passion and expertise with the next generation of dancers as an adjunct lecturer at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Chen Peng, former principal dancer at the Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT), was trained at the Beijing Dance Institute. He danced with the China Guangzhou Ballet Company and the China National Ballet before joining SDT in 2005. Chen Peng’s repertoire highlights include Franz in Coppélia, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, the Prince in Cinderella, Prince Florimund in Sleeping Beauty, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, the Prince in Paquita, and Snow King and the Cavalier in The Nutcracker. Chen Peng became YDA’s Artistic Director in 2014 and is currently YDA’s Artistic Consultant. He has successfully trained YDA students for competitions achieving outstanding results including Gold Awards in Hong Kong Challenge Cup.