Juna Koo

Artistic Director & Principal

  • Master of Fine Arts Degree (MFA)SLC
  • First Class Honours (BFA)(Hons)HKAPA
  • LIMS’ Certified Movement Analysts (CMA)
  • LSSI Certificate of Movement Analysis & Body Mind Practice
  • Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Diploma (RAD TD)
  • Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher (RAD RTS)

Miss Koo is a professional dance artist, choreographer, dance educator, somatic practitioner and a registered movement analyst. She steps into the world of dance as a graduate from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (First Class Honours).  A year after, Juna obtained her Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dancing. In recognition of these accomplishments, she was awarded twice the Hong Kong Jockey Club Overseas Music and Dance Fund Scholarship, which offered the opportunity for her to complete the Master of Fine Arts Degree with noted artists – Ms. Viola Farber and Ms. Sara Rudner – at Sarah Lawrence College in New York.

Miss Koo has also been actively participated in Hong Kong Arts Festival and other productions. Apart from performing in Hong Kong, she has performed internationally, including in Taiwan, Japan, New York, France and the United Kingdom etc.   During the time in Hong Kong, Juna contributed her talent and knowledge being a dance educator and choreographer towards contemporary dance and ballet.  She was the former guest lecturer at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts teaching the full-time Bachelor Program, Junior Dance Program, Gifted Young Dancer Program, Applied Learning Course with courses include Contemporary and Ballet Technique, Choreological Studies, Laban Movement Analysis and Repertory etc.

Upon her achievement in education and training, Miss Koo is also committed to the development of dance for the community.  She was the choreographer for Arts in the Parks hosted by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation to inspire young people for dancing.  Besides, she was invited as the adjudicator for the Jean Wong Ballet School’s Choreography Competition and Hong Kong School Dance Competition, the external examiner of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts – Master Program Thesis Presentation, the movement coach for Hong Kong Handbell Academy and the choreographer for numerous musical productions.

Miss Koo’s passion for dance did not ease and she continued to upgrade her professional knowledge. As a firm believer of Laban Movement Analysis, Ms Koo understands movement to be a consequential manifestation of the bond between body-mind and movement; thus, she became one of the few qualified practitioners of Laban/ Bartenieff Movement Analyst internationally.

Chen Guo TingBallet
Mr. Chen is a founding member of the Chinese Dances Association, Vice-secretary of the Association of Ballet, Board Member of Chinese Dancers Association Shanghai Chapter, and Ballet Subject Panel Head of City of Shanghai Dance School. Since 1966, starting as a ballet dancer, Mr. Chen has been extensively involved in dance production and teaching for over 50 years. A lot of his students are now holding significant roles in Shanghai art and culture associations. Among them, many are leading directors, choreographers, and instructors. After he came to Canada, Mr. Chen continued his teaching in various dance schools and dance groups, and is well praised by his students.
Wendy HoltBallet
Examiner & Tutor of the Royal Academy of Dance

Wendy trained at the Royal Ballet School in London, England. She holds the Royal Ballet School Teaching Diploma, Registered Teacher and Associate status of the Royal Academy of Dance and also Advanced 2 Ballet in R.A.D., I.S.T.D. and Cecchetti Syllabi. In addition she also attained Associates in Cecchetti Ballet and National Dance and the Benesh Notation Teaching Diploma. She is currently an Examiner and Tutor of the Royal Academy of Dance and has worked extensively across Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Great Britain. Former students of Wendy have been accepted to the National Ballet School, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Quinte Ballet School.

Sally ChoiBallet & Contemporary
• BFA York University
• NBS Teacher Training Program
• RAD Registered Teacher

Miss Choi is a graduate of the Teacher Training Program at Canada’s National Ballet School and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from York University. She has danced in South Korea and Canada and holds Registered Teacher Status with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Vivian TanBallet & Contemporary
• Certified Beijing Dance Academy Teacher, CSTD – Jazz

Vivian began dancing at the young age of 4. She trained and performed in many forms of dance including Chinese dance, ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. She is a certified Beijing Dance Academy teacher and is a member of the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (Jazz).

Sabrina JuanContemporary & Choreography
Sabrina trained in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and Chinese dance from the age of 5 at DancingSoma. She found her interest in contemporary and modern when dancing in the DancingSoma competitive team. Sabrina teaches and creates weekly contemporary classes for students from the ages of 12 to 16 and has choreographed pieces for notable competitions such as Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP). One of which original compositions placed in the ‘Top 12 Finalist Category’ for Canada’s Semi-Final YAGP 2021. In the coming years, Sabrina hopes to expand both her and her student’s dance styles through her teaching.
Jessica TanBallet & Contemporary
Jessica’s passion for dance started at a young age. Performing her first leisure Chinese Folk Dance at the age of three, her pursuit in the art of Dance began. Her interest and curiosity kept her learning and practicing many different styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. She has completed all of Beijing Dance Academy (BDA), British Association of Teachers of Dancing for Jazz (BATD), and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Grade and Vocational Examinations; finishing her RAD Advance 2 exam with a distinction. She is also experienced and knowledgeable on the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD) syllabus.

Jessica teaches students from the age 3-16 and choreograph dances for competitions with a wide range of style including Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Lyrical and Musical Theatre. She has created many winning dances at competitions such as the RAD Dance Challenge. She hopes to utilize her experience and knowledge to continue helping students at Dancing Soma evolve.

Certifications:
• Certified Acrobatic Arts Teacher
• Certified BDA (Beijing Dance Academy) Chinese Dance Grading Examination Instructor
• Certified BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dancing) for Jazz