Father's Day Feature — In Conversation with Timothy Ng
Soloist, Singapore Ballet. Father. Son of the man who first brought him to class.
Timothy Ng
Timothy Ng has spent most of his life in a ballet studio. He started at six years old — brought by his father to a class he would never quite leave. Today, he is a Soloist with Singapore Ballet, a husband, and a young father himself.
His path was not obvious. He grew up in an all-boys school, danced quietly alongside his studies, and did not see himself in a professional company until YouTube opened up the world to him at seventeen. He completed National Service before pursuing dance in any serious way. And when he finally did, he moved through Singapore Dance Theatre's Scholars Programme, graduated from university, and joined Singapore Ballet in 2016.
What makes Timothy's story worth telling — especially now, on Father's Day — is not just the journey from student to soloist. It is the quiet thread that runs through it: that the people who love us shape where we end up, more than we realise at the time.
We spoke with Timothy about growing up as a male dancer in Singapore, what fatherhood has added to his understanding of the art, and why — on Father's Day — he wants to celebrate his children more than himself.
Growing up in dance
Can you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey in dance so far?
Hi, my name is Timothy. I am a Soloist with Singapore Ballet. I joined the company in 2016 as an Apprentice, but before that I trained in SDT's Scholars Programme for about five years while concurrently studying at university. I actually started ballet when I was about six years old, with Ms Sylvia McCully — and it was my dad who brought me to my very first ballet class.
Courtesy of Singapore Ballet
Photography: Bernie Ng | Choreography: Double Contrasts by Choo-San Goh
Growing up as a dancer in Singapore, what was that experience like?
Growing up, ballet was something I did once a week. Even though I enjoyed it, I didn't see it as more than a hobby. There wasn't much exposure to competitions or the internet back then, so I never really got to know that there was a big world of ballet outside of Ms McCully's studio. But I was happy. Her studio always felt like a second home.
Did you always know this was the path you wanted to pursue?
The thought of dancing professionally never really entered my mind until YouTube happened, and I saw the world of ballet for what it truly was. That was around when I was seventeen. Watching what male ballet dancers could do — it was inspiring in a way I hadn't experienced before. The seed was planted then. But it wasn't until I finished National Service that I thought: maybe I really want to pursue this as a career, if the chance ever presented itself.
Courtesy of Singapore Ballet
Photography: Bernie Ng | Choreography: Double Contrasts by Choo-San Goh
Finding your own path
As a male dancer, were there moments growing up where you felt different from others your age?
There were many moments — especially since I came from an all-boys school. There was naturally some teasing when my friends found out I danced ballet. But I never felt different in a bad way. I felt special. I knew I was doing something unique, something that was my passion and my choice.
Looking back now, what lessons from your training years still stay with you today?
My teacher always said that when you dance, you have to dance with personality. That has stayed with me, especially as a professional.
On fatherhood
Dance requires discipline, patience, and resilience. Has becoming a father changed the way you see those qualities?
Not changed — reinforced. Having young children means I have to be even more disciplined with my time. As any parent of young children knows, we barely have time for ourselves. Being disciplined about sleep is so important to me now, both as a parent and as a dancer. And resilience — I have to press on in rehearsals and performances even when I'm tired after taking care of the kids. Fatherhood has only deepened my respect for those qualities.
How has fatherhood influenced the way you approach your career and life as a dancer?
After having children, I started thinking more deeply about dance — its meaning in life and in society. I want my children to see dance as an art form. To genuinely enjoy it for the art that it is, not just as a showcase of technique, or as something everyone does. That shift in how I think about dance has made me a more intentional performer.
Balancing rehearsals, performances, and family life can't be easy. What has that experience been like?
It's been tiring. But I find the strength somehow. It takes discipline and resilience to uphold the standards I set for myself — and parenthood has only raised the bar for both.
The people who shape us
Has becoming a parent changed the way you think about support systems — the role parents play in a dancer's journey?
Not so much yet, because my children are still too young for me to introduce them to dance as an art form. But the question stays with me. I think about the role my own father played — simply bringing me to that first class — and how everything that followed traces back to that one quiet act.
Growing up, was there something your own father or family taught you that you carry into parenthood yourself?
Always act in love, and you will do the right thing.
What do you hope your children learn from seeing your journey in dance?
I hope they will see the beauty of dance, and the deep meaning it can hold for you as a person — and the meaning it can offer audiences when it is authentically conveyed. I hope they will also know that it is possible to pursue your dreams, even in the face of many difficulties. That if you set your heart and mind to something, you can really do it.
On Singapore, and Sonata
Sonata has been part of the Singapore dance community for many years. Do you have any memories of Sonata growing up?
I remember buying my first pair of tights on my own, back when Sonata was still a small shop in Orchard Plaza. Uncle Tai and his wife were running the shop, and I have fond memories chatting with him and picking up dance gear. As I grew up and Sonata expanded, they have always been very supportive of the local dance scene — whether by sponsoring dancers or simply blessing us with dancewear. Sonata has always felt sincere about wanting to reach out and give back to the community.
What advice would you give to young dancers — and young dance parents — navigating the pressures of training today?
Find love in what you do, and you will find the strength to see through the hard times.
Father's Day
Lastly — what does Father's Day mean to you now?
I know Father's Day is supposed to celebrate fathers. But really, all I want to do is celebrate my children. They are the reason I am a father. They are the best things that have ever happened to me.
Timothy Ng is a Soloist with Singapore Ballet. He has been with the company since 2016.
Photography: Amander
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