“It’s incredible. I never thought my dream would come true so soon,” Chinese ballet dancer Chun Wai Chan recalled the scene when he got the news that he was promoted to the principal dancer with New York City Ballet(NYCB), the company’s first Chinese and fourth Asian principal dancer in 74 years.

Born in Huizhou, Guangdong in 1992, Chan has become attached to dance since childhood. However, his parents preferred him to be a doctor or a lawyer in the future. The uncompromising boy then wrote a seven-page letter to his parents describing his resolution to study dance.

Thanks to the sincere letter, Chan finally gained the support of his family, and at the age of 12, he was admitted to Guangzhou Arts School, marking the start of his dream-seeking journey. Chan’s first turning point in life came at the age of 18, when he was a finalist in the 2010 Prix de Lausanne, which earned him a full scholarship to study with Houston Ballet II. Two years later, Chan joined Houston Ballet and became a principal in 2017. There, he gained a reputation as a confident and sensitive performer. In 2020, he appeared as a contestant on the Chinese television show Dance Smash, which gained him a large following.

Chan returned to New York last year, and was finally promoted to the principal dancer with the NYCB in May this year. He attributes his success to his passion, hard work, concentration, perseverance and the pursuit of excellence.

In China, Chan’s success has become a source of pride. News of his promotion to principal dancer was widely circulated, and he has been featured repeatedly in the Chinese media.

After performances, audience members sometimes tell Chan that they have never seen Asian dancers in leading roles. He has been moved to hear young dancers of color say his example has given them hope for their own careers. “I used to think I danced just for myself,” he said. “Now I’m dancing for my family, for the audience, for the whole dance community.”

The famous British writer Charles Dickens, who penned the letter that led the signatures of resistance to street music in 1864, would be pleased to hear that, to be a busker (街头艺人) in London today, one must pass a strict "interview" first. Each busker must go through a shortlist process and then perform live in one of underground stations in front of three judges. Each musician must perform two songs (one prepared by themselves and the other selected by judges from a submitted set list). The judging process reviews the musician's songs, musicality, technique skill and performance. If successful, the musician will receive a 12 - month license to perform in the street. Last year, more than 600 musicians attended the "interview" and only 70 got license.

The method of tipping buskers is changing. London is the first city in the world to introduce the electronic payment system (EPS). London mayor (市长) Sadiq Khan described London as “a powerhouse of music". “For London to keep its status as a global capital of music, it's vitally important that we support the stars of tomorrow," Khan said. "Busking helps them show their talent and gives them the chance to perform in front of huge numbers of people. The new method means more people will now be able to show their support for the capital city s many street performers because it's more convenient for them to do so."

Charlotte Campbell is one such busker who' s been helping to trial the project. After only two weeks, she said it had “already had a significant effect on the contributions I've received." She's noticed when one person taps the reader to donate, others who witness the act often follow suit, suggesting people are more than willing to adopt the new way of rewarding buskers.

I’ll always remember the first time I tried ballet. My mother was a dancer and I wanted nothing more than to be like her, but after making mistakes during my first class, I felt like I wanted to quit right away. However, I told my mom I couldn’t wait to dance again because it was only my first day.

Weeks passed and my dancing didn’t get any better. Then my dance teacher announced that we were going to perform in a show. I was scared of falling on my face in front of hundreds of people and disappointing my mom.

Even though I practiced hard for the show, I never quite got the hang of it. Finally, I went to my mom to tell her how I felt. She simply laughed and told me she would teach me all she knew about ballet.

My mom quickly discovered how bad at ballet I was, but she still taught me with the greatest patience, love and understanding. When I jumped and fell, she was there to catch me. When I lost my balance, she held me up. By the time the show arrived, I was as prepared as I could be.

The music began and my heart started to race. Breathing calmly, I began moving to the music without missing a step. When the music stopped, I ran off the stage and laughed in excitement.

My mom found me and gave me a huge hug, telling me how proud she was. I looked my mom in the eye and told her that there was no way this could have happened without her. Through this, I realized one important fact: My mom will always be there to catch me if I fall.