Young Hong Kong dancer makes history joining renowned Paris Opera Ballet

Young Hong Kong dancer Lam Chun-wing has made history by becoming the first Chinese to join the world-renowned Paris Opera Ballet.

The 18-year-old, from a Tsuen Wan family, started learning ballet at Jean M. Wong School of Ballet at the age of seven and has dreamed of becoming a professional dancer in a world-class company since he was eleven.

He was offered the permanent position earlier this month in the centuries-old Paris institution after a audition involving more than 100 competitors, including classmates from the Paris Opera Ballet School – where he has studied since 2011 – and dancers from other institutes.

“It is such an honour to be admitted to the company which is one of the best in the world, with its internationally renowned performances,” said Lam, whose father is an engineer and mother is a school teacher.

“It’s like a dream come true,” he said, describing how he slept very little after he won his place, and becoming a professional ballet dancer “all of a sudden”.

Jean Wong school director Liat Chen said both she and the school’s founder Jean Wong did not expect that the prestigious Paris school, with students mostly from France and other European countries, would accept Lam’s application.

“The chance was 50-50, but we saw that he had the potential and encouraged him to apply,” Chen said, adding “his parents were very supportive”.