reviewvancouver:Choo Chiat Goh:Interview by Ross Pink

Choo Chiat Goh, together with his charming wife and partner, Lin Yee Goh, are the founders of the notable Goh Ballet School in Vancouver, now celebrating its 30th anniversary.

The Goh’s have contributed mightily to the dance community in Vancouver and Canada. Their origins began in China where both served as principal dancers with major ballet companies.

Choo Chiat Goh is a true champion of ballet. One only has to spend a few minutes with Mr. Goh to feel his intense sincerity and enthusiasm for dance. He is ballets best ambassador.

After arriving in Vancouver, the Goh’s started their modest dance school in a basement space. Today, 30 years later, they occupy a historic building in Vancouver and guide one of the most renowned dance schools in the Asia Pacific.

Many students have won coveted international dance awards such as the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland.

“I am very proud of our dance academy” says Choo Chiat. “The many awards in international competitions are gratifying. We also received great support from people. I am very grateful and want to contribute my life to Canada and to this beautiful society.”

“The dancers are the treasures. We want to show them to the public. It makes me cry to see these great students succeed and reach their dance dreams. One student, for example, Alex Wong, won first prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 2006,” says Goh with pride.

“The Goh Ballet now has an international reputation. We have students from all over the world who go on to perform all over the world.”

Current students at the Goh Ballet who show tremendous talent and promise include Yuka Ebihara, from Tokyo, Japan. She has completed three years at the Goh Ballet Academy and is set to join the Norwegian Ballet in June 2008. “Ballet is my life,” says Ebihara, “ the training is intense but when I am performing it is wonderful and I no longer feel nervous.”

Reid Cuming started at the Goh Ballet Academy in 2006. The talented dancer is set to enter a one year professional finishing program before embarking upon a professional career. His favorite ballet is Giselle.

Stephanie Pedlow has been with the Goh Ballet Academy for three years. She plans to audition for dance companies in Europe next year.

Both Cuming and Pedlow will be performing at the June 24th Dance My Dreams event on June 24th along with the other talented ballet artists which will feature the choreographic works of George Balanchine, Marius Petipa and Toru Shimazaki.

Giving back to the community is a value that the Goh's strongly endorse. The Dance My Dreams performance is a benefit in support of the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.