Your S’pore Story: ‘We wore red and white so people would know what Singapore’s colours are’

Spotlights swept across the stage. The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Then came the booming voice of the French emcee: “Ceekay et Chunky de Singapour!” His announcement echoed through the stadium.

Dressed in red and white, Mr Ian Poh – also known by his stage name Chunky – stepped into the light with his partner Ceekay. His heart pounded as they prepared to battle on one of street dance’s biggest stages, the Juste Debout World Final in Paris. It was the first time a Singaporean duo had made it that far in the competition – a moment that he will never forget.

Watch his video here.

Today, the 38-year-old is a teacher who introduces lower secondary school students to creative movement. Unlike his students, dance was not part of his school curriculum.

Mr Poh discovered it as a teenager in 2002, relying on grainy VCDs and low-resolution music videos for inspiration. When he saw dancers performing locking – an upbeat, funk-driven street dance style with sharp, controlled movements and dramatic pauses – something clicked.

The rise of YouTube in 2005 opened up a world of dance tutorials and eventually led him to meet his first mentor.

That encounter marked the start of his dance development and, in 2011, he and his partner won the South-east Asian qualifiers of Juste Debout – earning them a spot on the global stage in Paris.

He shares more about the moment he made history, and how he is now helping to shape the next generation of dancers in Singapore.

“I landed in Paris three days before the competition. I still remember how I felt: young, fresh out of

NS (national service)

and frankly, quite broke. Everything was so expensive. I couldn’t even afford two meals a day. I missed prata, cai png and the kindness of fellow Singaporeans.

When competition day came, I wasn’t just dancing for myself anymore. I was dancing for home, releasing all the homesickness I had bottled up. We wore red and white so people would know what Singapore’s colours are.

At that time, no one in Europe had really heard of Singaporean street dancers, and I thought – this might be the only chance that a Singaporean gets to be on that stage. So why not? My dance partner Ceekay and I decided to be more patriotic. When the emcee called out “Singapour”, I felt a surge of pride that’s hard to describe.

Ceekay and I faced Sweden in the Top 16 round. The battle was quick – two rounds of freestyle, each taking turns. We were knocked out and it was easy to see why: Our opponents were dynamic – flying all over the place, on the floor, then bouncing back up again. Street dance is mostly improvisation. You never know what song will come on. We had a few choreographed sequences prepared, but most of it was from heart and instinct.

That experience made the world feel smaller for me. I spoke with dancers from everywhere – dancers I admired. We shared stories about the struggle to survive as dancers. It didn’t matter if you were from Europe, Asia or the US – our battles were the same. That realisation, that connection, was priceless.

These days, I get to introduce this urban art form to a new generation, especially youth-at-risk. I believe these skills can help to engage them in a positive way. My biggest love is in teaching, mentoring and sharing – that’s where I feel I can make the most impact, rather than just by competing.

I’m still active in the scene though. Right now, I’m organising dance battles like Lock City Singapore, giving young dancers the chance to step onto international stages – just like how myself, this kid from Yishun, once did.”

For generations, The Straits Times has told The Singapore Story. To celebrate our 180th anniversary, we’re putting the spotlight on our communities – for you to tell us yours, from all around Singapore. Discover the stories from your neighbourhood as the series continues at

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