Honours for Sabah dance sport pioneer
Published on: Thursday, June 13, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Dancesport Association President John Chong became the first Sabahan to receive the 2018 Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Dancesport International Imperial Award at a ceremony held recently.
He was honoured and awarded the prestigious award for his outstanding overseas services and achievements at the Blackpool Hilton, Blackpool, United Kingdom on May 29.
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ISTD is one of the world’s leading dance examination boards in the world and the awards are not given annually.
He was presented the award by Christopher Hawkins, the Chairman of ISTD Dance & Dancesport Faculties’ Board in a ceremony attended by ISTD senior executives and officials, dance teachers and examiners from around the world.
John, who owned John’s Dance Academy since 1998, is an ISTD Fellow for Modern Ballroom and Latin American and World Dancesport Federation (WDSF) Licensed International Adjudicator A.
He has, over the past 20 years, trained hundreds of students for various ISTD levels of medal tests and professional examinations as well as training athletes for competitions held in the country.
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John in his capacity as Malaysia Dancesport Federation (MYDF) Sports Director has also been conducting Dancesport Adjudicator & Scrutineer Courses and Workshops in Sabah and Sarawak since 2014.
He said his aspirations for the future of Dancesport in Sabah is hoping for a harmonious and close cooperation among the many dancesport schools and studios in Sabah in an effort to promote and develop the sport in the state and also to counter the common misconception that dance is not a sport.
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“I am hoping that more younger generation in Sabah will be encouraged to take up dancesport as their sport of choice since it was recognised as “sport” by the International Olympic Council (IOC) and the Malaysian government way back in 1997.
“There are also many dancesport competitions held nationally and internationally yearly. Furthermore, it was featured as a medal sport in Asian Games and the SEA Games , and it has also been included as part of the school curriculum by the Ministry of Education as well,” he added.