Choo Chiat Goh

Artistic Director

A Co-Founder of Goh Ballet Academy, Choo Chiat Goh is an ambassador in the art of classical ballet. Under his leadership, the Goh Ballet Academy has flourished to become an internationally renowned institution, with alumni dancers advancing professionally worldwide and winning prestigious competitions. The Academy has collaborated with ballet luminaries, such as Anna–Marie Holmes, Evelyn Hart, and Rex Harrington, and has toured and arranged collaborative productions with other ballet companies in Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United States.

Mr. Goh began his training as a dancer on a scholarship at London’s Royal Ballet, where he studied with the great pioneers of ballet, Harold Turner and Madame Legat. At age 16, he was invited to join the London Festival Ballet, but declined in favour of studying in Beijing with the Russian ballet master, Pyotr Gusiev. He graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 1959 and immediately joined the Central Ballet of China, becoming Principal Dancer. His dancing repertoire includes leading roles in Le Corsaire, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardee, Les Sylphides, Sleeping Beauty, The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Swan Lake and many other classics. During the Cultural Revolution, Mr. Goh broke new group by creating lead roles in The Red Detachment of Women and The White Haired Girl.

In 1976, Mr. Goh immigrated to Canada with a dream of starting his own ballet company. In 1977, while also serving as Ballet Master with the Anna Wyman Dance Company, he started the Goh Ballet Academy with his wife, Mrs. Lin Yee Goh. They embarked on a mission to establish a ballet academy of the highest standards, recognized all over the world. Through passion, talent, faith and hard work, this was achieved, cementing the school as one of the best in the world.

Mr. Goh’s celebrated choreographic works include Earth/River, and Lost Love. Both he and Mrs. Goh were presented with the 2003 City of Vancouver Civic Merit Award and the 2006 BC Community Achievement Award.

Anna-Marie Holmes Choreographer
Adonis Daukaev Drosselmeyer

Right from the curtain rising through the following two hours of the outstanding production, surprise and delight followed one after another.

Vancouver Sun

Frequently Asked Questions

When do tickets go on sale for The Nutcracker?

Tickets usually go on sale in the late Summer each year for the following December. You can check the homepage of this website to check if they are currently on sale.

Are there discounted tickets for Seniors, Children, Students or large groups?

There are discounted tickets for Seniors (65 years and up) and Children (0-12 years old) available on the Ticketmaster.ca site. Group discounts are available for groups of 20 or more, please contact us via Nutcracker@GohBallet.com for details.

What is the policy on late seating?

Show policy is latecomers will not be seated until Intermission. Exceptions will be considered in cases of inclement weather, parking issues and/or box office delays. Please try your best to be on time.

Can a small child sit on my lap during the performance?

For fire and building safety reasons the theatre does not allow children in laps, and each person in the theatre must have a ticket. We recommend the show for children 3 years old and up.

I am bringing a child to the ballet and I am afraid that they will have trouble seeing over people’s heads. Is there anything that I can do?

Yes – Booster cushions are available at the theatre for free to help children view the ballet without obstruction.

What should I wear?

Although there is no dress code, it is recommended that you dress out of respect for the dancers. Most patrons wear “business attire” (men: coat and tie, women: dresses or dress pants) or “dressy casual”.

Does the theatre have an elevator?

Yes — the theatre has an elevator and ushers are happy to assist you in finding your section and seats.

Is handicap-accessible seating available?

Yes. There is handicap and wheelchair accessible seating at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre. For more information contact Ticketmaster 1.855.985.5000 for more information and to purchase your tickets.