Minorities have never been big in the ballet industry. In 2010, only 14 percent of the New York City Ballet identified as an ethnic minority. In modern times, the dance industry looking to change that. With increasing pressure to diversify comes new faces and new styles from around the world. One example particular is the story of Chun Wai Chan, the first Chinese principal dancer of the New York City Ballet Company and the famed “prince of ballet”.
Growing up in Huizhou, China, an industrial city, he was pressured to become a swimmer. When he witnessed ballet for the first time, however, his mind was changed. His parents were doubtful, and he was one of the only boys in his class. At 12, he was sent to a boarding school in Guangzhou to focus on his dance. Chan’s first appearance in the ballet world was when he was 18, when he won a scholarship to study at the Houston Ballet.
Chan found fame as a confident, yet sensitive performer, but he wasn’t done with his expanding his artistic career. His dream was to join the New York City Ballet, but tragedy struck when the pandemic put the world on hold. Chan had started to teach online classes and record with friends, but it still wasn’t the same as the big stage.
When he returned, however, he felt more out of place than ever in the New York City Ballet. Not only did he look different, but he also danced different. “It felt like everything I had learned was questionable — that it meant nothing,” Chan said. “They broke me into many pieces and rebuilt me.” However, the City Ballet artistic director, Jonathan Stafford stated that he adapted to the new style of dance quickly.
This doesn’t mean that he forgot his roots—in fact, he embraced them more than ever. As a Chinese dancer in the mainstream, he did his best to incorporate Chinese elements into his moves, such as being humble or tentative. “I’m not only performing in a way that Western people do,” he said. “I also bring some of my Asian culture and Asian values to my body language as well.”
He’s not only changing the face of American ballet, but also Chinese ballet as well. Ballet isn’t as well known or appreciated in China, and Chan wants to change that. His legacy is already showing in our world too—we come to see more and more Asians playing lead roles in performances. “I used to think I danced just for myself,” Chan said. “Now I’m dancing for my family, for the audience, for the whole dance community.”
Article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659268072695x897317192666606600/New%20York%20City%20Ballet%E2%80%99s%20Chun%20Wai%20Chan%20Is%20Breaking%20Barriers%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
Growing up in Huizhou, China, an industrial city, he was pressured to become a swimmer. When he witnessed ballet for the first time, however, his mind was changed. His parents were doubtful, and he was one of the only boys in his class. At 12, he was sent to a boarding school in Guangzhou to focus on his dance. Chan’s first appearance in the ballet world was when he was 18, when he won a scholarship to study at the Houston Ballet.
Chan found fame as a confident, yet sensitive performer, but he wasn’t done with his expanding his artistic career. His dream was to join the New York City Ballet, but tragedy struck when the pandemic put the world on hold. Chan had started to teach online classes and record with friends, but it still wasn’t the same as the big stage.
When he returned, however, he felt more out of place than ever in the New York City Ballet. Not only did he look different, but he also danced different. “It felt like everything I had learned was questionable — that it meant nothing,” Chan said. “They broke me into many pieces and rebuilt me.” However, the City Ballet artistic director, Jonathan Stafford stated that he adapted to the new style of dance quickly.
This doesn’t mean that he forgot his roots—in fact, he embraced them more than ever. As a Chinese dancer in the mainstream, he did his best to incorporate Chinese elements into his moves, such as being humble or tentative. “I’m not only performing in a way that Western people do,” he said. “I also bring some of my Asian culture and Asian values to my body language as well.”
He’s not only changing the face of American ballet, but also Chinese ballet as well. Ballet isn’t as well known or appreciated in China, and Chan wants to change that. His legacy is already showing in our world too—we come to see more and more Asians playing lead roles in performances. “I used to think I danced just for myself,” Chan said. “Now I’m dancing for my family, for the audience, for the whole dance community.”
Article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1659268072695x897317192666606600/New%20York%20City%20Ballet%E2%80%99s%20Chun%20Wai%20Chan%20Is%20Breaking%20Barriers%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf
