Chan Hon Goh has spent four decades chasing a single standard: excellence that never stops moving. Long before her recent appointment, she was a child in a Vancouver studio, absorbing correction after correction with a focus that set her apart even then. “When I reflect on what it means to become Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance, I find myself thinking back to the young dancer I once was, and to the moments when the RAD gave me both a foundation and a wider sense of possibility,” she says. That foundation now carries her onto one of the most influential stages in global dance, not as a performer but as a steward of the art form itself.
Chan Hon Goh | Kharen Hill Photography
Goh’s story reads like a masterclass in reinvention without ever losing the thread of who she is. She rose to become Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, the first dancer of Chinese heritage to hold that rank within the company, performing leading roles across the classical repertoire and touring internationally to acclaim for more than twenty years. When she retired from the stage in 2009, she did not step away from ballet. She stepped into building it for others, taking the helm of Goh Ballet Academy Canada as General and Artistic Director, with locations in Vancouver and Toronto that now send graduates into leading companies around the world.
In Her Words
Goh’s connection to this new role is personal as much as professional. Her hope for what comes next is clear: “I hope I can bring that experience forward for the next generation, helping young dancers see that excellent training is not simply about what they achieve in the studio. It is about developing confidence, curiosity, resilience and the courage to discover the artist and person they may become.”
The Appointment
Goh has been named Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance, joining RAD President Dame Darcey Bussell and a distinguished group of Vice Presidents in guiding the organization’s international mission. The RAD’s global headquarters are based in London, and its reach extends to more than eighty-five countries, where roughly two hundred and fifty thousand dancers learn its syllabus and sit its examinations each year, alongside more than one thousand students enrolled in its teacher training programmes. As Vice President, Goh will serve on the RAD’s Advisory Council, supporting the Board in guiding its global operations at a moment when the organization’s influence continues to expand. It is a significant Canadian presence at the centre of an institution that shapes how dance is taught worldwide.
A Foundation Few Can Match
The polish Goh brings to this role was forged early. She earned the highest standing in every Royal Academy of Dance vocational examination she sat and was awarded the Solo Seal, a distinction given only to dancers who demonstrate exceptional artistry alongside technical command. In 1988, she was named Silver Medallist at the Genée International Ballet Competition and was recognized at the Prix de Lausanne, two of the most demanding proving grounds a young dancer can face. That foundation of discipline has never left her, whether on stage, in the studio or now, in the boardroom.
Beyond the Studio
Goh’s influence extends well past ballet itself. She is Executive Producer of Goh Ballet’s beloved annual production of The Nutcracker and hosts the Canadian Masterclass Series, and she is a founding member of the Vancouver Arts and Culture Policy Council, where she contributes to long-term thinking on arts infrastructure, access and sustainability. She is also a sought-after voice on international competition juries, helping uphold artistic standards on a global scale. Her commitment to community runs equally deep. She has served on the Canadian Cancer Society‘s national board since 2019, and in 2024, she sat on the gala committee for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation‘s For Children We Care gala, which raised more than two million dollars for clinical trials.
Recognition that Follows Impact
The honours Goh has received tell their own story. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, recognized for her achievements as both an artist and a leader and for her sustained commitment to developing future generations of dancers. She holds an Honorary Doctorate from the University of British Columbia and has received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum and Diamond Jubilee Medals. Together, these distinctions reflect a career built on service as much as on artistry, a life spent giving as generously as she once performed.
The Goh Ballet | Emily Cooper Photography
A Legacy Still Unfolding
From a determined young dancer in a Vancouver studio to a Principal Dancer breaking new ground, to an academy director shaping the next generation, Goh’s path has always moved in one direction: forward, and always in service of something larger than herself. Her appointment as Vice President of the Royal Academy of Dance is not an ending point but an extension of everything she has already built, now given a global stage. For Vancouver, and for Canadian ballet, it is a moment to celebrate a woman who has never stopped chasing the next standard to meet, and who is now positioned to raise that standard for dancers around the world.
Author Profile
- Helen Siwak is the founder of EcoLuxLuv Communications & Marketing Inc and publisher of Folio.YVR Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and PORTFOLIOY.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine. She is a prolific content creator, consultant, and marketing and media strategist within the ecoluxury and luxury lifestyle niches. Helen is the west coast correspondent to Canada’s top-read business magazine Retail-Insider, holds a vast freelance portfolio, and is an EIC for Hire. Connect with her here: [email protected].
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