1920's Jazz with Rad

Originally from Malaysia, Radhanath Thialan (Rad) had been dancing all around the world since he was 10. He studied dance at Dua Space Dance Theatre Academy and studied with Anthony Meh, Aman Yap, Gan Yee Fen, and Yap Pui Mun. Recently, Rad was nominated and earned his membership as a Member of the International Dance Council (CID). He holds an MFA in Dance - Choreography at University of California, Irvine. Rad is currently the Associates Artistic Director and Education Director at Yaya Dance Academy. Rad performed at Segerstrom’s Renée & Henry Concert Hall in 2017, now choreographer for Pacific Symphony’s Spring Festival Concert, “Love Banquet”, for 3 consecutive years when he  collaborated with the renowned conductor Mr. Carl St. Clair. The “Love Banquet” Spring Gala launched at the Segerstrom Concert Hall, becoming Pacific Symphony’s best banquet concert of the year. His students at Yaya Dance Academy were published in the Los Angeles Times. In 2021, Rad and Yaya’s choreography – Happy Valley, was invited by the prestigious Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) to perform at their finals in May 2021 in Florida. In 2020, with some of Rad’s choreography, Yaya Dance Academy was ranked first overall at the mainstream dance competition, Kids Artistic Revue, in the US and also received the “Best Studio of 2020” award. Currently, Rad is also working on a dance documentary project highlighting Dance Artists of Malaysia with award winning director Ee Theng, and writer Fang-Ning Lim along with a group of artists here in California. The documentary is planned to submitted to the Oscars by the end of 2022 and hopefully be aired on Netflix. During his school years, Rad graduated with honors and outstanding choreographer award at the University of California, Irvine, earning a BFA in Choreography, he also earned the highest honors award at Scottsdale Community College with three associates degrees in two years where he danced and toured with Instinct Dance Corps. He was lucky to have worked with Lar Lubovitch, Amir Kolben, Noa Wertheim, SiZheng Wang, Betsy Fisher just to name a few. While in UCI, he was also offered several scholarships and was chosen as the only student choreographer to premier a work in 2017 in Shanghai. He was also fortunate to be selected to spend a month in Israel learning methodology and reps from artistic directors of Kolben Dance Company, Vertigo Dance Company and Gaga technique at Batsheva. He’s main choreographic style is contemporary concert dance, often inspired by relatable human matters and his Malaysian Identity. His thought provoking works tends to encourage viewers to think beyond the works but reflect upon society.