"Our dreams and aspirations don't have to materialize all at once, but with sincerity and authenticity in our work, we'll be well on our way to achieving them. By staying true to our craft and ourselves, we'll be surprised at how close we are to realizing our goals."
Goh Shou Yi is a movement artist, choreographer and educator whose artistic journey is deeply rooted in exploring the body's relationship with society. His curiosity about how sociocultural forces shape the body’s physical state has led him to explore the unique artistic language that navigates the nuances of embodiment and human connection.
Goh’s passion for dance began early, through the Young Artists Performers Project under Odyssey Dance Theatre (ODT). Early engagement with local and international artists sparked a commitment to professional training that continued at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) School of Dance, with the support of National Arts Council’s Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship. As a student, he joined and performed regularly with The Human Expression (T.H.E.) Second Company and later took part in “As It Fades” at the 2011 Singapore Arts Festival, deepening his engagement with contemporary dance.
With the support of a National Arts Council Arts Scholarship, Goh pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance at the State University of New York (SUNY) Purchase College. His training extended beyond New York to Europe, where he crossed paths with internationally renowned artists. From technique classes to artistic exchanges and conversations, these experiences broadened his perspective on global contemporary dance practices. Together, they were pivotal in shaping his voice as a dance artist. In recognition of Goh’s collaborative efforts both locally and abroad, Lianhe Zaobao named him the “Rising Star to Watch” (2015 艺术新星·照耀未来星空, 1 Jan 2015).
As a choreographer and performer, Goh’s works have toured regionally and internationally, including the Seoul Performing Arts Festival, Gothenburg Fringe Festival, New Dance for Asia International Festival, Esplanade’s da:ns Festival and cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival. His collaborations include “--:--” with Korean choreographer Kim Hwan Hee which premiered in Seoul and toured Singapore and Selangor, “Re: a Line” with Zhuo Zihao (Singapore) in Gothenburg and Seoul, “NAKA” with Mai Kubota (Japan) in Singapore and Seoul, “Moon Playlist” with Raymond Liew Jin Pin (Malaysia) and Eng Kai Er (Singapore) in Hamburg, and “Nuance” with Independent Thai Dancers in Bangkok. He has also created commissioned works for T.H.E Second Company, Deca Dance Co, and NAFA School of Dance and School of Interdisciplinary Arts.
Goh’s artistic exploration extends beyond dance into interdisciplinary collaborations across theatre, music, film, and fashion. He has collaborated with long-time creative partners Rei Poh and Ng Jing, as well as esteemed companies such as Drama Box, The Necessary Stage, Toy Factory and Siong Leng Musical Association, and artists including Liu Xiao Yi, Jalyn Han, Tan Ngiap Heng and Max Tan.
Since 2013, Goh has been lecturing at NAFA’s School of Dance. A dedicated educator, he also mentors young dancers and conducting workshops on multiple platforms. He contributes dance reviews to Lianhe Zaobao from time to time, sharing practitioner insights to the wider public.
For Goh, movement is a universal language—one that continues to drive his mission of fostering connection, empathy and trust through various artistic exchanges.