It’s a truly commendable achievement – one that almost never happened. Several months before the festival, the 18-year-old Yeo contemplated retiring from solo dancing to focus more on couple dance events.
“However, since the opportunity to join this competition came by, I decided to just take my chances and go for it,” Yeo told FMT Lifestyle.
Thank goodness she did! The talented Yeo emerged as Champion in the World Dancesport Federation (WDSF) Solo Female Adult Latin; WDSF Solo Female Youth Latin; and Mallorca Dance Festival (MDF) Open Solo Female Youth Latin competitions.
Held from Nov 10-12, the second edition of the annual MDF brought together the best sport dancers from all over the world, to test their skills in a variety of competitions.
Including Yeo, a total of 10 Malaysian dancers participated in the festival that culminated in Tay Xin Yee winning a silver medal, Ee Jia Xuan winning two bronzes, and Madeleine Lau Yu Xuan and Lim Le Wei winning one bronze each.
For each competition, Yeo had to participate in five rounds, each comprising five dance segments: samba, cha-cha, rumba, pasodoble and jive. This meant she had to perform 25 dances to win.
“Samba is my favourite. Its rhythms are more unique, there are more beats, and you can really play around with it,” said Yeo.
“Jive is the most challenging. It’s the fastest dance, and the last, so you need to use all your stamina and strength for it.”
Representing the country on an international level may sound intimidating, but Yeo chose to keep her cool.
“It wasn’t that nerve-wracking for me, because I didn’t set a lot of expectations. This was my first-ever solo competition I’d ever participated in overseas, so I was mostly there to have fun and see what the standard of dancing in other countries was like.”
Hearing the judges announce her win, however, was indescribable.
“When they finally announced my name… I didn’t know how to feel! But I definitely think I made the country proud. Seeing my name and the Malaysian flag up there… it was really a new feeling for me.”
A student currently on a gap year, Petaling Jaya-born Yeo has been dancing since she was six. She also practised rhythmic gymnastics from the age of seven to 17.
How did the bubbly lass start dancing? Yeo remembers watching a dance competition in a shopping mall as a kid.
“All the girls in it were so pretty, and I aspired to be like them. So I took up dance. At first, I didn’t like it at all! But my mum told me to stick to it. And I’m glad I did, or I wouldn’t be here now,” she said.
Owing to her age, this is the last year Yeo can dance in the Youth category. Her next competition takes place next month in Hong Kong, where she is participating in various couple dance categories.
After her achievements in Mallorca, though, does she still intend to retire from solo dancing? “I’m keeping my options open,” Yeo replied with a laugh.
Yeo’s performance was praised by coach and MY DanceSport Academy principal Chua Zjen Fong, who has been coaching her since she was 11 alongside partner Evon Chong.
“The consistency and stamina of her performance were the main keys leading her to victory. Her flexibility also, given she is a former gymnast. All these definitely captured the eyes of the judges and the audience,” said Chua, a 15-time Malaysia Latin dance champion.
This success, he added, illustrates the high level of talent in the Malaysian dancesport scene.
“I hope more Malaysian dancers will be given more chances to go abroad and be exposed to international standards of dancesport. Hopefully, there will be more support from the government and corporate sectors to help all our great dancers improve their talent,” Chua concluded.
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