Chan Hon Goh
Encyclopedia
Chan-hon Goh born in 1969 in Beijing, China, was a principal dancer
with the National Ballet of Canada
.
Both of her parents (Choo-chiat Goh and Lin-yee Goh) were principal dancers in the National Ballet of China
. In 1976, during the height of political unrest, they left China for Vancouver, British Columbia, where they established the Goh Ballet Academy. Goh's uncle, Choo San Goh
, was an American
choreographer.
in 1988, and was appointed Second Soloist
in 1990 and First Soloist in 1992. She became a principal dancer in 1994.
She has performed with various ballet companies, including:
Goh is a winner of the Prix de Lausanne
(1986) and a silver medalist in the Genée International Ballet Competition
(1988).
She received training from British dancer/choreographer Anton Dolin
as well as her husband Chun Che (a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of China
).
In 2002, Goh's autobiography (co-written with Cary Fagan
) entitled Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina's Life was released by Tundra Books
. The book was a finalist for the Norma Fleck Award
for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction.
Goh is currently the director of the Goh Ballet Academy.
Principal dancer
A principal dancer is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company....
with the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
.
Both of her parents (Choo-chiat Goh and Lin-yee Goh) were principal dancers in the National Ballet of China
National Ballet of China
The National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
. In 1976, during the height of political unrest, they left China for Vancouver, British Columbia, where they established the Goh Ballet Academy. Goh's uncle, Choo San Goh
Choo San Goh
GOH Choo San , choreographer, was son of Kim Lok Goh, a merchant, and Siew Han Ch’ng.-Childhood:He was the youngest of ten children. His Chinese parents spoke Mandarin and the family was brought up with very traditional values. Goh was influenced by and followed in the path of three of his older...
, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
choreographer.
Career
Chan-hon Goh began her career in 1978 at the Goh Ballet Academy. She entered the National Ballet of CanadaNational Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
in 1988, and was appointed Second Soloist
Solo (dance)
A solo dance is danced by an individual dancing alone, as opposed to couples dancing together but independently of others dancing at the same time, if any, and as opposed to groups of people dancing simultaneously in a coordinated manner. Solo dancers are usually the best dancers in a group or...
in 1990 and First Soloist in 1992. She became a principal dancer in 1994.
She has performed with various ballet companies, including:
- Royal Danish BalletRoyal Danish BalletThe Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
- American Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet TheatreAmerican Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
- Pacific Northwest BalletPacific Northwest BalletPacific Northwest Ballet is a ballet company based in Seattle, Washington in the United States. Founded in 1972 as part of the Seattle Opera and named the Pacific Northwest Dance Association, it broke away from the Opera in 1977 and took its current name in 1978. It is said to have the highest per...
- National Ballet of ChinaNational Ballet of ChinaThe National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
- The Suzanne Farrell Ballet
- American Pacific Ballet Company
- Ballet Arts, Inc.
- New York City BalletNew York City BalletNew York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein. Leon Barzin was the company's first music director. Balanchine and Jerome Robbins are considered the founding choreographers of the company...
- Singapore Dance TheatreSingapore Dance TheatreThe Singapore Dance Theatre is Singapore's national dance company, founded in 1988 by the late Anthony Then and Goh Soo Khim. It made its debut in June 1988 at the Singapore Festival of The Arts and received its first arts patronage by the then-Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Ong Teng Cheong.Its humble...
- Hong Kong BalletHong Kong BalletThe Hong Kong Ballet is Hong Kong's leading professional ballet company, and also the famous group for Classical Ballet, since it founded in 1979....
- Washington BalletWashington BalletThe Washington Ballet is an ensemble of professional athletic classical ballet dancers. It was founded in 1976 by American ballet pioneer Mary Day, and has been under the artistic directorship of Septime Webre since 1999.-The Mary Day years :...
- Queensland BalletQueensland BalletThe Queensland Ballet, founded in 1960 by Charles Lisner OBE, is the premier ballet company of Queensland, Australia, and is based in Brisbane.- About Queensland Ballet :...
Goh is a winner of the Prix de Lausanne
Prix de Lausanne
The Prix de Lausanne is an International dance competition held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland. The competition is for young dancers seeking to pursue a professional career in classical ballet, and many former prize winners of the competition are now leading stars with major ballet companies...
(1986) and a silver medalist in the Genée International Ballet Competition
Genée International Ballet Competition
The Genée International Ballet Competition is one of the world's most prestigious classical ballet competitions. Organised and promoted by the Royal Academy of Dance, the competition is held annually, and is named in memorial to Dame Adeline Genée, one of the founders of the Academy.-Overview:The...
(1988).
She received training from British dancer/choreographer Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin
Sir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
as well as her husband Chun Che (a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of China
National Ballet of China
The National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
).
In 2002, Goh's autobiography (co-written with Cary Fagan
Cary Fagan
Cary Fagan is a Canadian writer who has published novels, short stories and books for children. His most recent adult novel, Valentine's Fall, was nominated for the 2010 Toronto Book Award. Since publishing his first original children's book in 2001, he has published 12 children's...
) entitled Beyond the Dance: A Ballerina's Life was released by Tundra Books
Tundra Books
Tundra Books is the oldest children's book publisher in Canada.Tundra Books was founded in 1967 by May Cutler, a Montreal-based writer and editor. Cutler established the publishing company in the basement of her home, becoming the first woman to publish children's books in Canada. The U.S...
. The book was a finalist for the Norma Fleck Award
Norma Fleck Award
The Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction is a lucrative literary award founded in May 1999 by the Fleck Family Foundation and the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and presented to the year's best non-fiction book for a youth audience...
for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction.
Goh is currently the director of the Goh Ballet Academy.