Chun Wai Chan
Chun Wai Chan
 | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992 (age 33–34) |
| Education | Guangzhou Art School 2004-2010, Houston Ballet Academy 2010-2012 |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Years active | 2012 - present |
| Career | |
| Current group | New York City Ballet |
| Former groups | Houston Ballet |
| Chun Wai Chan | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 陳鎮威 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 陈镇威[1] | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Chun Wai Chan is a principal ballet dancer with New York City Ballet.[2] Chan is a former principal dancer with Houston Ballet.[2][3]
Early life and education
Chun Wai Chan was born in Huizhou, Guangdong Province,[4] China. He began taking ballet classes at age six[4] and continued his ballet education at Guangzhou Art School from 2004 to 2010. Chan was a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne 2010. As a finalist, he earned a full scholarship to study at Houston Ballet Academy from 2010 to 2012.[2]
Career
Chan joined Houston Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2012. He was promoted to principal dancer with Houston Ballet in 2017.[2][5]
In 2020, he was a competitor on the television program Dance Smash;[6] he was eliminated after making it to the final four dancers in the competition.[4]
Chan received an introduction to New York City Ballet following a collaboration with choreographer Justin Peck, himself a former NYCB dancer.[5][7] Chan joined the company as a soloist in August 2021.[2][8] He was promoted to principal dancer with New York City Ballet on May 20, 2022, becoming the first Chinese principal at the company. [2][5]
Personal life
Chan resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.[9]
References
- ^ Hernandez, Javier (2022-08-11). ""王子也可以是亚裔"：打破纽约芭蕾舞界天花板的陈镇威". New York Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Sherman, Rachel (May 20, 2022). "Chun Wai Chan Promoted to Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet". New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ Wozny, Nancy (November 10, 2020). "Chun Wai Chan Gets Candid About His Recent Career Move to New York City Ballet". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ a b c Hernández, Javier C. (2022-07-28). "'Princes Can Be Asian, Too': A Dancer Breaks Barriers in Ballet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ a b c Fuhrer, Margaret (18 April 2023). "Chun Wai Chan, New York City Ballet's First Chinese Principal, Brings Hunger and Humility to His Multinational Career". Dance Magazine. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ "纯享：首席巅峰对决！依力凡演绎无拘无束阳光男孩 陈镇威返璞归真舞出人生态度-Variety-HD video online viewing-MangoTV". w.mgtv.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Suddarth, Emma Love (9 May 2025). "Why Chun Wai Chan Sees Onstage Mistakes as a Fun Challenge". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ DeSantis, Marissa (January 4, 2022). "New York City Ballet's Chun Wai Chan Is Making Moves". Dance Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
- ^ Herring, Sophia (18 September 2025). "This Ballet Dancer's Cleverly Designed 345-Square-Foot NYC Studio Still Leaves Room for Stretching". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 26 October 2025.