From Guangzhou to New York, cramping on stage to commanding the spotlight, Chun Wai Chan shares the story of how grit, laughter, and letting go helped him become the first Chinese principal dancer at New York City Ballet.
In this episode of Grace & Form, Chun opens up about the physical and mental battles behind the curtain: from writing a letter to his parents to convince them to let him dance, to redefining success across continents. We talk training, injury, cultural expectations, building a personal brand, and the infamous Swan Lake performance that almost ended in disaster (hint: cramps, chaos, and a lot of heart). This one’s equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.