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Yanik's career took him from auditions in Canada to prominent roles in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Ballet. Recognized for his precision and musicality, he became a key assistant to renowned choreographer Chang Cheng (Chan Goon), whose distinctive style and status as the first Asian choreographer in ballet had a transformative impact on him.
His collaboration with Chang eventually led him to Singapore, where he was invited to help establish Singapore Dance Theatre (SDT) in the late 1980s. His involvement was crucial from the start, driven by the founders’ vision of creating a local professional ballet company that could stand proudly alongside global standards.