Meet our Jury of SCDIBC 2026 Singapore – Janis Liu
Ms. Janis began her ballet training at the age of 3 in Hong Kong. She continued her Pre-Professional full-time training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in U.S. and Coastal City Ballet in Canada after she achieved her RAD Solo Seal Award in 2012. She received her first Professional Contract offered by the Columbia Classical Ballet, U.S. at age of 18 as a Soloist and then joined Arts Ballet Theatre Of Florida, U.S. from 2016 to 2021.
Janis was the Principal Dancer of Arts Ballet Theatre Of Florida – a Professional Vaganova based ballet company in Miami, U.S. She has danced all the Principal and Main Roles, such as Sugar Plum of The Nutcracker, Farfalla of Le Papillon, Snake of Stone Flower, Harlequinade, Le Corsaire, Fairy Dolls, Chipolino, Paquita, Firebird, Danzon, Pentimento, Brown in Nuestro Valses, Flower Festival, among many others. She has toured Mexico, Malaysia, and Poland as a guest performer with Mr. Vladimir Issaev.
As a teacher, she has been training to obtain the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Teacher Certification Program in the Vaganova Method in New York. Her skills as a coach and teacher have made her students stand out in important competitions and professional performances. She was part of the faculty and Head of Mini Teams of Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet in U.S. in 2017-2021, the faculty of Arts Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program of Russian Technique in 2018-2020, the Master Class Guest Teacher of Miami International Ballet Competition, U.S. in 2020-2021 and the judge of Canaan Dance Virtual Ballet Challenge Competition in 2021.
Starting in 2024, she was honored to receive the Choreography Award at both the 60th and 61st School Dance Festivals. Additionally, she had the privilege of guiding her team to achieve the Honours Award, a true reflection of her deep passion and dedication to the art of dance.
Professional Working Experience:
Founder of Ballewear (2017- Present)
Taipei Junior Ballet Education Centre, Summer Intensive, Guest Teacher (2024)
L’Amore Ballet, Shenzhen, China, Summer Intensive, Guest Teacher (2023)
Alice Chow Ballet, Malaysia, Guest Teacher (2022)
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, FL, U.S., Principal Dancer (2016-2021)
Vladimir Issaev School Of Classical Ballet, FL, U.S., Head of Mini Team ( 2021)
Vladimir Issaev School Of Classical Ballet, FL, U.S., Ballet Teacher (2017- 2021)
Academia de Dans Ballet Arts- Romania, Romania, Guest Teacher (2020)
Miami International Ballet Competition, Master Class Guest Teacher (2020-2021)
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida Summer Intensive, Guest Teacher (2018-2020)
Hong Kong Ballet, Extra Dancer, Cygnets in Swan Lake (2019)
Arabesque Dance Arts Centre, Macau, Workshop, Guest Teacher (2019)
Asia Ballet Academy, Malaysia, Guest Teacher (2018)
Janis LiuSCDIBC Guest Principal Dancer (2015-2016,
Ballet Backstage Workshop Guest Teacher (2016-2018)
Taipei Youth Ballet Company Summer Course, Guest Teacher (2017)
Trans For Dancing Studio, Taiwan, Guest Teacher (2016)
Gulf Coast Ballet, MS, U.S., Guest Principal Dancer (2016)
Charleston Ballet, WV, U.S., Guest Principal Dancer (2015)
Columbia Classical Ballet, SC, U.S., Soloist (2014-2016)
Coastal City Ballet, Canada, Dancer (2013-2014)
Hong Kong International Youth Dance Summer Course, Guest Teacher (2013 & 2015)
Ballet Qualification:
Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Certified Teacher
Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Vaganova Syllabus Certified Teacher (All Level)
Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, USA – Pre-professional Ballet Training Program
Sarasota Ballet School, USA, Summer Intensive
RAD Solo Seal Award
Honorary Award:
2025 Choreography Award, 61st HK School Dance Festival
2024 The Outstanding Teacher Award, Asian Elite Dance Competition
2024 3 Choreography Awards, HK Professional Dance Competition
2024 Choreography Award, 60th HK School Dance Festival
2021 Power Of Dance Competition, U.S., Choreography Award
2021 Canaan Dance Virtual Ballet Challenge, Outstanding Teacher Award
2018 Miami International Ballet Competition, FL, U.S., 1st Place Gold Medal
2015 World Ballet Competition, Fl, U.S., Final, Professional Female Division, 4th Place
2014 Yi Lei Cei International Ballet Competition, Outstanding Female Dancer Award
2013 American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S., Pas De Deux, 3rd Place
2012 American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S., ADC Medallist Winner
2011 American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S., ADC Medallist Winner
2012 Youth American Grand Prix, Dallas, U.S., Top 12
2012 14th Asia Pacific International Dance Competition, Betty Tilley Championship Cup, 1st Place
2012 14th Asia Pacific International Dance Competition, Demi-Character Dance, 2nd Place
2012 14th Asia Pacific International Dance Competition, Classical Ballet, 3rd Place
2012 The 40th Open Dance Contest, Ballet Open Division, Gold Award & Best Performance Award
2012 The 40th Open Dance Contest, Contemporary Open Division, Gold Award
2011 Hong Kong Kangaroo Cup Dance Competition, Classical Ballet Division, 1st Place
2011 The 39th Open Dance Contest, Ballet Youth Division, Gold Award & Best Performance Award
2010 The 38th Open Dance Contest, Ballet Youth Division, Gold Award & Best Performance Award
2009 CSTD’s Kangaroo Cup International Dance Competition, Australia, Classical Ballet Division, 1st
Place
2009 CSTD’s Kangaroo Cup International Dance Competition, Australia, Neo Classical Division, 2nd Place
2007 Hong Kong Ballet Group, Stars Award, Bronze Medal
Among others
Scholarships:
2015 Arizona Ballet Summer Intensive Full Scholarship by the World Ballet Competition, Fl, U.S.
2013 The Carreno Dance Festival Full Scholarship by the American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S.
2012 Louisville Ballet Summer Intensive Full Scholarship by the American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S.
2011 Sarasota Ballet Summer Intensive Full Scholarship by the American Dance IBC, Orlando, Fl, U.S.
2004-2008 Tsinforn C. Wong Memorial Scholarship by the Jean M Wong School Of Ballet
Meet our Jury of SCDIBC 2026 Singapore – Kenny Shim
Kenny Shim completed his BA in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and subsequently his Post Grad at London Contemporary Dance School (Masters in Contemporary Dance Performance). He joined the EDge Dance Company (London) 2016.
During his training in the U.K., Kenny has worked with choreographers and company’s members from around Europe such as Wayne McGregor, Tom Roden, Alexander Whitley, Phillipe Blanchard, Gary Lambert, Alison Curtis-Jones, Lea Anderson, Joseph Toonga, Jeanne Yasko and Fred Ghedrig.
With an aptitude in choreography, Kenny has crafted works that have toured Europe namely, ‘Within’ and ‘Rite. Recently, Kenny produced his debut production: TRIPLE BILL of Contemporary Dance Works, featuring two new choreographies – Winged Wolves and the Bamboo Mew and Pieces of Three Movements. He is also the commissioned choreographer for the 15th & 16th Boh Cameronian Arts Award (arts awards that has been devoted to recognising outstanding Malaysian art practitioners). Kenny has a strong interest in film and has collaborated with Chicago based NEON 35 MEDIA Company in choreographing the recent H&M advert. He is also the movement director of the acclaimed musical The Edge, 10th Anniversary production written by Nick Choo, directed by Christopher Ling.
Meet our Jury of SCDIBC 2026 Singapore – Claresta Alim
International judge and ballet teacher. Ms Claresta started her training at Marlupi Dance Academy (MDA), she joined Beijing Dance Academy in 2008, at the same time she received a scholarship from Joffrey Ballet School and was also accepted to American Ballet Theatre Summer Session in the USA.
She began her professional career with Washington Ballet School and Art Ballet Theatre of Florida. During the time she has performed in many roles including Issaev’s Harlequinade, Fairy Doll, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Little Mermaid in Ballet, Shostakovich (3 Movements), Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin and Edgar Anindo’s Fragmentos.
Ms Claresta has groomed many students to international recognition, including being the first Indonesian to be invited to Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and winning GOLD MEDAL at the YAGP New York Finals. Her students have not only won numerous awards in international competitions, but also received scholarships to the Royal Ballet School, The Australian Ballet School (full scholarship for the year programme), Princesse Grace Dance Academy, Houston Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Universal Ballet, The Rock School, etc.
Ms Claresta is also a well-known international ballet teacher, she has been invited to teach Master classes in the United States, Poland, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Many students from all over the world also came and took classes with Ms Claresta and benefited greatly from her coaching.
