BELLY DANCING @ SUN YOGA

 

 

Sherlyn is a passionate dancer and has been dancing since she was 12 years old. She has the easy grace of one who was born to be a dance artist. Her background includes Jazz, Modern Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Ballet, Chinese dance, Flamenco dance, Salsa and Merengue.

"... (Sherlyn's) positive attitude attracts many students from all over Kuala Lumpur... Her own students are obviously inspired by her skill as a teacher and performer. Her enthusiasm for the dance is contagious...!" — Tara Harper on Sherlyn as a teacher

Sherlyn was a part time performer in Singapore from 1995 to 1997 for the TCS (Television Corporation of Singapore), and has also performed at many grand events in Malaysia. She fell in love with Middle Eastern dance in 2003, and was inspired to take up bellydancing as a profession. She took to the dance
like fish to water, and has since found that bellydancing is THE dance for her, one that enables her to express her every emotion, one that completes her. And now, Sherlyn is fulfilling her desire to share this sensual dance with everyone as the first raks sharki instructor in Malaysia.

"....I call her "The Organizational Goddess"...! Sherlyn is one of the most capable and intuitive event co-ordinators I've ever worked for. She was always alert to what was needed to help the workshops flow smoothly..." — Tara Harper on Sherlyn as an events/workshops organiser

She is a certified Malaysian teacher who has attained an intensive teaching certificate from the most acclaimed master, Raqia Hassan, in Cairo. Sherlyn constantly seeks to learn new aspects of the dance by attending workshops and classes with famous masters and visiting choreographers from abroad. She's been instructed by teachers from all over the world, including Malaysia, Australia, Brazil, Cuba, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore and the US.

"I would like to work with you again and again. You are very professional in your attitude and approach and you have class, which is needed in the belly dance world to get respect for the dance. I think you can go a long way... (with) time and experience." — Tamalyn Dallal, in a letter to Sherlyn after her Feb 2005 stint in KL

Besides Raqia Hassan, Sherlyn has studied with the following choreographers: the internationally renowned Hossam and Serena Ramzy, Mahmoud Reda, Nagwa Fouad, Yousry Sharif and Tamalyn Dallal. Sherlyn's dance and teaching style is greatly influenced and inspired by Serena Ramzy, Samia Gamal, Yousry Sharif, Tamalyn Dallal, Ansuya and Jillina. She continues to enrich her knowledge and skill by exploring the many innovations in bellydance choreography, such as Andaluzi, a fusion of belly dance and flamenco. She is currently taking up Flamenco, which is a contrast to bellydance; the latter being soft and fluid whereas the former is strong and arrogant. Yoga also helps Sherlyn to further improve her flexibility and add a new dimension of control to her movements.

"Thank you to dance instructor Sherlyn Koh for introducing belly dancing to her students... More and more women around the world are belly dancing for aesthetic rather than erotic reasons. Belly dancing, it would seem, is a good form of exercise."— A Kadir Jassin in an article on the stymied Selangor PAC trip to Cairoz (Malaysia Business magazine)

Sherlyn teaches both group and private classes, and travels nationally and internationally to conduct workshops. Her teaching focuses on strong foundations in dance techniques and transitions, grace and good posture. She encourages each student to express their personality through dance and develop their own individual style. Sirocco Secrets, the Middle Eastern dance troupe of which Sherlyn is the director, features Sherlyn's outstanding students who have been dancing, learning and growing with her, allowing her to expand her skills as a teacher. These students are currently performing with Sherlyn in most of her events.

As one of the driving forces in the local bellydance community, Sherlyn organises master workshops by international dancers, exchange programmes, haflas (dance parties) and other events, thus helping the Malaysian bellydance scene grow and develop from strength to strength and raising the standards of the dance locally.

The most memorable event organised by Sherlyn to date was the Secret Garden hafla, where she had the honour of performing with Bellydance Superstar Tamalyn Dallal and other international performers.

"Thanks again (to Sherlyn) for hosting a great workshop and show. I am so glad I made the trip from Bangkok to attend, it was worth it. Tamalyn is a wonderful teacher and performer, and I so enjoyed the beautiful dancing of yours and your troupe as well." — Catherine Kustelski, American belly dancer, on Tamalyn Dallal's KL workshops and the Secret Garden hafla, both organized by Sherlyn

She has performed for events organized by Shell, MAS, NTV7, Astro, Marie Claire magazine and the Selangor Lake Club, among many others. Among her most illustrious audiences were the King and Queen of Malaysia, and the Egyptian ambassador. She is one of the royal family's favourite dancers, and one of the most sought-after performers in Malaysia. Sherlyn and Sirocco Secrets are available for private and public performances.

For more information of classes at Sun Yoga, contact us at hello@sunyoga.com