Meet Your Judges 2026
Ms. Chika Tatsumi
Styles: Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Improvisation / Freestyle
Started classical ballet at the age of 3 in Japan and later began studying theatre jazz, tap dance, and musicals. In 2005, at the age of 13, entered Shenyang Dance Academy (boarding school) in China, where she studied classical ballet at professional level, graduating in 2009. In the same year, she enrolled in the Codarts Rotterdam Dance Academy in the Netherlands, where she received a bachelor's degree in 2013. After graduation, she worked as a freelance dancer based in Europe and was the main dancer at Lonneke Van Leth Production in Den Haag, the Netherlands for three years.
In 2015, she joined the Arabesque Dance Company in Vietnam. Chicka was the main dancer in Arabesque Dance Company until the end of 2023. Besides playing the main role in "The Mist" at Saigon Opera House, performed most of the important art shows and event shows in Vietnam, Japan, Italy, and Korea with the company. In the winter of 2023, the 50th anniversary of Japan-Vietnam relations, performed in a joint performance with world-famous taiko drummer Kensaku Sato in the company's production of "Sen&Zen" at Saigon Opera House.
Chicka is currently a freelance dancer, working as a main dancer and trainer at Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) and also coaching mainly in Ho Chi Minh City. One of the important shows she recently performed was Black Swan Role for "Swan Lake (choreography by Johanne Jakhelln Constant)" in August 2026.
Mr. Lâm Vinh Hải
Styles: Street Dance, Kpop, Improvisation / Freestyle
Lâm Vinh Hải is an acclaimed Vietnamese dancer, choreographer, and actor with over a decade of dedicated artistry. He first shot to national fame as the grand champion of So You Think You Can Dance Vietnam Season 1 (2012). Building on this success, he led the M.T.E dance troupe, served as a core member of the prestigious UDG (Urban Dance Group), and gained widespread recognition for choreographing iconic music videos, including Tóc Tiên’s viral hit "Vũ Điệu Cồng Chiêng".
Beyond his work on stage, screen, and major television productions, he actively mentors aspiring talent as a trusted competition judge and instructor, remaining passionately committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers. With experience working on many stages and in competitions both domestically and internationally, he is always eager to spread his passion with growing dancers.
Ms. Pakhamon Much
Style: Lyrical, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Street Dance, Kpop, Improvisation / Freestyle
Pakhamon (Much) Hemachandra is a Thai independent dance artist, movement educator, and the founder of ‘Movenbodies’. Shaped by an international perspective and a dedication to cross-cultural exchange, her artistic practice sits at the intersection of somatic awareness, body-mind connection, and contemporary performance. As a performing artist, she investigates how internal, personal experiences intersect with external environments and identity. Pakhamon holds a Bachelor of Dance from the Victorian College of the Arts (Australia) and a Master of Arts in Contemporary Dance Performance from the London Contemporary Dance School (UK), where she also performed with EDge Postgraduate Dance Company.
Since returning to Thailand in 2015, Pakhamon has been an active force in the regional arts ecosystem, creating her own work and collaborating with numerous artists across local and international festivals. Her expertise and influence in the dance community are highlighted by her role as a judge for World of Dance Thailand. Driven by a passion for movement longevity and physical awareness, she translates her creative experience into her initiative, Movenbodies. Through this platform, she guides other movers to develop a deeper understanding of their own bodies; focusing on the natural flow, weight, and groove of movement, while bridging an artist's internal landscape with their external reality.
Ms. Tisha Nusbaum
Styles: Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Contemporary, Improvisation / Freestyle
Tisha Nusbaum is the dedicated owner and director of Pacific Arts Complex in Santa Cruz, California. With a deep passion for dance and community mentorship, Tisha has spent years cultivating a vibrant, supportive, and high-caliber environment where dancers of all ages and levels can thrive.
Under her guidance, Pacific Arts Complex has grown into a highly respected and award-winning competitive institution. Tisha's leadership has propelled her students to outstanding heights, earning numerous Grand National Championships, top-tier choreography honors, and the prestigious National Studio of Excellence Award at prestigious competitions in the United States such as Kids Artistic Review, Ihollywood, Radix, Ultra, and Hollywood Vibe, Showbiz, Starpower, Revolution, Monsters, and Velocity.
Beyond the competitive stage, Tisha is fiercely committed to making dance accessible to everyone. As a proud board member of the non-profit organization Carrie’s Dream, she actively helps provide dance scholarships to youth throughout Santa Cruz County, ensuring that financial barriers never stand in the way of a child's artistic passion. Through her leadership, artistry, and heart, Tisha continues to shape the next generation of dancers both on and off the stage.
Mr. Son Clown
Styles: Street Dance, Improvisation / Freestyle
Hoàng Cao Sơn, widely known as Son Clown, is a pioneering figure in Vietnam's street dance community, celebrated internationally as one of the first two Vietnamese Hip-Hop dancers to perform at the prestigious Juste Debout World Finals in Paris. As the founder of Destiny Family Crew and BREATH Studio, plus, a dedicated instructor at Mar Studio and UC Spaces, he plays an instrumental role in training and mentoring the next generation of dancers in Hip-Hop and House. With over a decade of leadership as the Head of the HCMC Labor Culture Palace Street Dance Club and a fixture as the head judge for the Vietnam University Games (VUG), he has deeply shaped the local scene. Alongside his elite international competitive achievements and guest performances across France and Singapore, Son Clown is also a seasoned event host and MC for major brands like Red Bull and Radikal Forze Jam, seamlessly bridging high-energy performance, professional adjudication, and cultural mentorship.