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Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya- Proper accreditation to WeirdKaya and consent from the interviewee are required. While most people stick to the ‘safe’ route, i.e. graduate, land a steady job, and build a predictable future, Kelvin took the road less travelled. 

Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, he swapped his Bachelor of Economics for a shot at the competitive Latin dance world. 

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From local training grounds in Malaysia to gruelling years in Thailand and finally the bright lights of New York City, every chapter reflected his commitment to the art of dance. 

A passion that refused to fade

Kelvin first dipped his toes into competitive International Latin Dancing at 16, where he underwent training at William and Luisa Danceworld in Sri Petaling. 

However, after two years, he placed his dancing practice on hold to focus on his studies at HELP University.

I’ve always loved to dance and perform on stage, but there’s something about competitive Latin dancing that excites me,” he shared. 

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“After finishing my degree, I consulted my sisters, one of whom got a scholarship to study at Stanford University in California before working at Morgan Stanley, while the other is currently working at Procter & Gamble (P&G). 

“While they gave me their full support, they also warned me that the journey wouldn’t be easy.”

Despite their concerns, Kelvin packed his bags and moved to Bangkok to train under renowned dancing coach Uapan Snidvongs. 

After seven years of gruelling practices, my dance partner and I became the Asia Pacific Professional Latin Champions. But then, the Covid-19 pandemic hit.”

Image provided to WeirdKayaChanged by the pandemic

Just like how COVID-19 affected many people’s lives, Kelvin and his dance partner were inspired to take a step further in their dancing career.

COVID made us rethink our journey in dancing since we had already achieved so much in Thailand. Instead of backing down and settling for what we’ve achieved, we decided to push for improvement.” 

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Then came the opportunity of a lifetime—a chance to work at Dance With Me USA, a dance company owned by celebrity dancers Val & Maks Chmerkovskiy. 

Without hesitation, Kelvin and his partner took the leap and moved to New York City.

“Even though I don’t work there now, I still appreciate the opportunity given during that time.”

Image provided to WeirdKaya‘Let’s hear it for New York!’

Thankfully, Kelvin had supportive parents who knew America’s dancing industry has always been much more established than in Asia and expressed hope that he would one day be featured on TV shows and become famous. 

However, the transition wasn’t easy. 

It’s very difficult to stand out and make an impact in the dance industry here,” Kelvin admits. “You have to constantly refine your product—your dancing—to meet the market’s expectations.”

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But over time, his hard work paid off in the form of him winning the DSF National Professional Latin title and securing silver in the NDCA National Professional Latin Showdance Category.

It was also during that time when another unexpected opportunity arose. 

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We were invited to build a Competitive Latin Program at one of New York’s top Chinese cultural dance schools, which is home to over 500 dancers. It was a surprise and a huge honour!” 

Adapting to life in New York City wasn’t just about dance—it was also about survival. Kelvin had long learned the importance of resilience during the time where he supported himself in Thailand by working at WE FITNESS, the country’s largest gym chain. 

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“Resilience is key,” he said. “If the feedback is relevant, I take it as a lesson. If not, I focus on my own goals.”

Beyond technique, Kelvin also has something unique to offer. 

“Malaysia is such a happy place, and I always bring that positivity to the competitive dance scene. People can feel that energy in my performances.” 

Image provided to WeirdKayaShoot for the moon 

Kelvin isn’t slowing down and doesn’t plan on doing that anytime soon. “My partner and I plan to open our own dance school in the U.S. and hopefully franchise it to Malaysia. That way, we can build a solid structure for future dancers.”

His advice to aspiring Malaysian dancers? “Go for it. Even if you think it’s tough, it’s worth the sacrifice if you have a clear goal.”

Image provided to WeirdKaya

Kelvin’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the biggest risks lead to the most rewarding journeys.

Like what Norman Vincent Peale once said, “shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” 

Exclusive Story by WeirdKaya – If you wish to reproduce this story, please ensure that you obtain consent from the interviewee to maintain factual accuracy and avoid the potential spread of misleading information. If referencing or using any information from our story, we kindly ask that proper credit is given, along with a backlink to WeirdKaya, as acknowledgment of the efforts made by our editors in sourcing and conducting interviews.

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