Crystal Wong
Classical Ballet & Pilates
RAD Examiner, RAD CBTS PTS, RAD RTS, LRAD, ARAD,
BA (Hons) in the Art and Teaching of Ballet RAD London (University of Durham), Grad. Dip Choreography VCA (University of Melbourne), Certified Pilates Instructor (DMA)
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Crystal has taught extensively in Australia, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. Students range from Grades to Professional level. Her teaching strongly combines the application of feedback provided from Pilates System, Progressive Ballet Technique System and physio exercises devised by dance physiotherapists including Lisa Howell to build one’s body awareness. Her dance training aims to educate youngster about the importance of body conditioning and the ability to allow feedback from body awareness to excel dance technique in the class context.
Crystal received her early ballet training at Jean M Wong Ballet School in Hong Kong, where she completed all her RAD examinations and received scholarships in their International Summer Dance School. She then pursues full time training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Crystal has obtained her BA (Hons) in the Art and Teaching of Ballet at the College of the Royal Academy of Dance London Headquarters, graduated under University of Durham. After graduated in 1999, she moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she further pursue her study in Graduate Diploma in Choreography at the Victorian College of the Arts and obtained her post-graduate diploma under University of Melbourne. Trained and worked under Craig Phillips, she became a certified Pilates Instructor at Dance Medicine Australia (DMA) since 2000 and has worked closely with dancers in Australia.
Crystal has performed various independent projects in London; she was invited by Choreographer Yuri Ng to guest in his award-winning piece “Le Beau” (Boy Story) for City Contemporary Dance Company while they were touring in London. Television credits include appearances on Hong Kong Television Broadcasting, BBC UK and Channel 4 UK.
Her teaching journey in Australia embarked in Melbourne in 2000, where she taught for various schools, including Dance World Studios (Dance World 301), working closely with Gelsey Kirkland. Gelsey has played a profound role in inspiring her methods of teaching. Upon moving to Sydney, Crystal joined Ecole Ballet & Dance Theatre in 2005 under directorships of Ashley and Jane Killar, closely working with Pre-Professional, Vocational, Grades and HSC students regularly. Her HSC choreographies and coaching helped students to receive Call Back Nominations for their yearly showcases.
Recent years, Crystal has also been involved in guest teaching and adjudicating interstate, including Canberra Dance Festival and Scholarship Audition Classes at Betsy Sawers Grades & Vocational Awards hosted by RAD ACT Panel. She has toured to Perth and Melbourne with International Ballet Workshops (IBW) to guest teach alongside with Ken Ludden from Margot Fonteyn Academy of Ballet and with Dusty Button in Auckland and Sydney. She has also completed the prestige RAD examiner’s training program under the guidance of former Artistic Director Paula Hunt and has joined the RAD examiner’s panel. She now travels regularly for RAD examination tours.