Fascinating Rhythm

A classically trained pianist, Debbie’s love for jazz sent her on a journey to New Orleans, where she lived for two years and had the privilege of studying under jazz cats like Victor Atkins III, Ed Petersen, and Brian Seeger. She counts pianists like Hank Jones, Fred Hersch and the late Ellis Marsalis as her major influences. As a music educator, her interest in bringing jazz to young people saw her learning about the Orff approach and teaching jazz with Doug Goodkin. One of her favourite ensemble combinations include playing two-piano jazz.

Alicia has been a versatile stalwart of the regional dance scene for over 30 years. She has danced in several productions, including Coppelia and The Nutcracker with the Singapore Dance Theatre, the feature film That's The Way I Like It by Glen Goei, National Day Parade, SEA Jam Lindy Hop festival and Flamenco Festival. She also showcased tap dance in Destination: Dance on MediaCorp. Since tap dance is her most loved dance form, she has been actively promoting it through teaching in many local events such as Got to Move (National Arts Council) and the first Kuala Lumpur Tap Festival. She is constantly inspired by both the historical greats Fred Astaire, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Eleanor Powell and the Nicholas Brothers, as well as contemporary masters such as Gregory Hines and Dianne Walker. Alicia aspires to bring the love of tap dance to others and build a bigger supportive community for tap dancers who want to share and exchange ideas not just with other tap dancers but with those who enjoy conversing through rhythm and percussive talk.