Yaling
Founder and Principal

Ms. Tan graduated from the National Taiwan University of Arts and started her career with The Atlanta Ballet upon winning the National Scholarship for training in 1990 and has since worked with The Metropolitan Ballet Theatre,Ballet Contemporaneode Caracas in Venezuela and Singapore Dance Theatre. She has danced numerous principal roles in many countries throughout South America, Europe and USA, including the 14th International Ballet Festival of Havana in Cuba, and has worked with many famous choreographers including  Balanchine,. Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, Natalie Weir , Stanton Welch, Richard Wherlock, Val Caniparoli, Thierry Malandain, Andre Prokosky, John Butler, Jean Paul Comelin, Graham Lustig, Goh Choo San and more.

She has guest performed with:
- Englevsky Ballet in New York
- Corpus Christi Ballet in Texas .USA
- Kaoshiung City Ballet

Ms. Tan founded Cheng Ballet Academy in 2006, and as the Principal, is one of the main guiding forces behind the ballet school. She is also part of the faculty at the LaSalle College of Arts and her vast experience has also led her to coach ballet outside the realm of dance – such as for the Singapore Gymnastics team.

In addition to maintaining her career as a teacher, Ms. Tan has also choreographed "Image" and "Mozart” for the Singapore Dance Theatre and is a highly skilled costume designer.

Her design portfolio includes:
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Graduation Fashion Show (Fashion design)
- Kuik Swee Boon’s "A Frame in Time" for Singapore Dance Theatre
- Jeffrey Tan’s "Memoire" for Singapore Dance Theatre
- Costume design for "Reds" for  their participation in a  Tokyo competition
- Cheng Hsienfa’s "La Bella", "Never More" , “Starlight”, ”MP-3”  and "The Wakening " in Taiwan
- Cheng Hsienfa’s "If" for Bangkok City Ballet
- Tan Yaling’s "Mozart" for Singapore Dance Theatre
- All costumes and dancewear for Cheng Ballet Academy

I started ballet classes with Hsienfa in 2000 and his patient instruction inspired me to develop a passion for dance. I have never looked back since. Ballet gives me a new way to express myself and I also love the music. I really enjoy classes at Cheng Ballet and the stage exposure during productions helped to increase my confidence.

It is rare to find teachers like Hsienfa and Yaling who encourage and motivate students to reach their potential, no matter what their ability, experience, age, size, or body shape.