In 2010, the idea of setting up a Contemporary and Jazz club came to the founder, Foo Tee Yien, following an opportunity presented by SIM Student Life Division to organize a modern dance item for the opening performance of SIM Student Week 2010. A team was assembled to provide a platform for interested members of the SIM Student body. Dance courses were conducted to expose them to, and train them in, the two genres of dance. They also performed in flash mobs during SIM events, as part of the probation requirements in the formation of the club.
In 2011, we welcomed a new instructor, Mr Peter Teo. Working hand in hand with him, we continued to build Dance Art (DA) by conducting dance courses. A Performance Team consisting of the founding batch was also formed. The club’s debut during that year’s Open House and Student Week featured two choreographies: a Contemporary piece titled “Viva La Vida” and a Jazz piece titled “Black and Gold”.
The club turned official on 28 July 2011. It underwent a transformation in its direction and the dance courses system was abolished, changing DA into a full Performance Team based club, where members have to audition in order to enter. The very first audition was conducted and the club welcomed its first official batch of Performance Team dancers.
Under the leadership of Mr Peter Teo as our Artistic Director/Resident Choreographer, along with the subsequent Presidents of the Club and its committee members, Dance Art strives to train our dancers in perfecting their techniques in Contemporary and Jazz dance, and to aim for a higher standard of performance as well as to be recognized in the local dance scene.
The club has been performing annually for SIM Open Houses and Student Week. We have also participated in the productions of other clubs, such as Salsa En Soul’s Union de Ritmos; spearheaded a 1st ever collaborated SIM production - SIM Combined Arts Concert — and took part in “The Royal Dance Off" (TRDO) Contemporary dance competition, emerging as finalists for two consecutive years.
We also conducted our own Master class series known as “Ecube”, and produced our own annual showcase known as “ALLtitude”, bringing more opportunities for passionate dancers in SIM.
