Ballet is a discipline that cannot be rushed because progress is only possible through patience and consistency, says Wang Yan. She began classical ballet training at the Shanghai Dance Academy at the age of 10 and later joined the Shanghai Ballet Company as a professional dancer.
She arrived on our shores as a guest dancer with Singapore Ballet and founded Yan Ballet Academy in 2018. The academy now has eight outlets here.
These big strides in expansion have only been possible due to a shift in her purpose, she continues. “Over time, I discovered a deep passion for nurturing the next generation of dancers—one that ultimately outweighed my desire to remain in the spotlight. To witness young dancers grow, develop confidence, and realise their potential is an indescribable and irreplaceable experience.”
Wang aims to empower the local ballet community by fostering a solid foundation, discipline, and artistry—an effort that has yielded impressive results. Over the past five years, her students have earned hundreds of gold medals across local and international competitions, and many have gone on to enter vocational ballet institutions both in Singapore and overseas.
In addition, she raised Singapore’s profile on the global ballet stage when two of her students became the first Singaporean to win Best Performance Award at the Asian Grand Prix, and the first Singaporean to qualify for Prix de Lausanne, a prestigious international ballet competition for young dancers.
Not that she attributes the value of competitions and performances to awards alone. As it stands, competitions also teach students to step outside their comfort zones, command a stage, and perform under pressure and uncertainty.
“This helps develop qualities such as resilience, self-assuredness, and emotional control, which serve the students not only in ballet, but in life beyond the studio.”
Yan Wang Reksten-Monsen on the traits ballet helps hone
Thus far, her greatest challenge in nurturing the next generation of ballet dancers lies in helping students balance their ballet training with their academic studies. She and her team address this with thoughtful teaching strategies and helping them adjust their expectations in a way that respects both their artistic development and academic obligations.
As a driving force behind our local ballet scene, Wang advocates for two things. Firstly, stronger connectivity between Singapore’s young dancers and the international ballet community. Secondly, making ballet education more inclusive and accessible.
Her role as a judge at more than a dozen international competitions helps give her access to up-to-date resources, insights, and networks. As a result, her students not only benefit from international perspectives and training without having to leave the country, but the academy also builds a more connected and future-ready ballet ecosystem.
An Orchard branch opens this month, a milestone Wang is particularly excited about because it has long been a “personal aspiration”. Her vision is to create an environment that supports students holistically, artistically, mentally, and physically so they will be ready to take on the world.
“While pursuing ballet as a career might not be their ultimate goal, the discipline can definitely provide a source of strength in their lives through values like resilience, focus, and grace. This is why I’m committed to teaching and sharing my knowledge.”
Photography Mun Kong
Art direction Ed Harland
Hair Jimmy Yap using Goldwell
Makeup Rina Sim using Armani Beauty
Grooming for Wang Yan Sophia Soh/The Suburbs Studio using Chanel Beauty & Kevin Murphy
Photography assistant Hizuan Zailani
