Young but Mighty! Talking with Hong Kong’s Homegrown Dance Talent, Wing Lam

Witnessing the leaps and bounds made by our talented dancers right here in Hong Kong, we sit down with an up-and-coming young dancer from Dream Dance and Art Studio.

At just 13 years old, dancer Siu Wing Lam has devoted her life to dance! Having participated in multiple dance competitions, Wing Lam received 1st place at The Dance World Cup Asia 2021 and also claimed a title as The Best Female Dancer. She also received 1st place at The Asian Grand Prix 2020 (Hong Kong Regional).

Her first introduction to ballet was at the age of six, where she learned from the founder of Dream Dance and Art Studio (DDAS), Miss Fong. Encouraged by Miss Fong’s interactive teaching style, Wing Lam not only learned ballet through practice, but by truly understanding the movement mechanics and technique through observing her peers and providing constructive feedback within the class.

With a focus on pre-professional ballet training, DDAS has been following the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus while applying their own unique teaching methods and philosophies to guide their students towards a professional dance

career. Emphasising the importance of a solid dance foundation, Dream Dance and Art Studio’s training program incorporates stretching, strengthening, and physical training to provide students with the framework to advance their dance technique.

Sharing her experience as a student at DDAS, Wing Lam tells us all about what she’s learned, the performance opportunities she’s had, and how she plans to reach her goals in dance. Let’s catch a glimpse of what it’s like to be a dance student training in Hong Kong at a preprofessional level!

How have you grown as a dancer and an artist since you first began at DDAS?

Our teacher always reminds us to open our eyes and recognise all that we can learn from one another. She doesn’t place many restrictions, but rather she gives me the room to dance how I want, but of course she’ll be there to correct the mistakes that I’ve made. She also encourages me to join competitions and acquire as much stage experience as I can. This has given me more exposure on an international level and has prepared me for my future career as a dancer.

What was it like performing with Hong Kong Ballet in The Nutcracker, and how did your teacher prepare you for this opportunity?

I think it is so rare to have the opportunity to share the stage with professional dancers. I am aspiring to become one of them in the future. My teacher advised me to enjoy the show, which relieved a lot of pressure off my shoulders and allowed me to fully immerse myself in the joy of performance.

What has been your biggest achievement as a dancer?

My greatest achievement has been putting my mother at ease about my future, because I believe I can sustain and support myself as a dancer.

What is your next big goal as a dance student?

I’d like to study at a vocational dance school abroad as a full-time student, as there aren't any full-time dance schools for students my age here in Hong Kong. Further down the road, I’d like to join a ballet company as a professional dancer.

What makes Dream Dance and Art Studio so special to you?

There are no rivalries among us. We are all great friends, almost like family members. The teaching method is also different from other studios as our teacher gives us space to think and create, and our classes are always full of laughter. She never places any pressure on us, and she’ll openly talk about the challenges that she faced as a dance student so that we can learn from them. Because of her, we are genuinely in love with ballet. She told us that as long as we are doing something we love, we can achieve so much and that nothing is impossible. She is a great teacher and a great friend, which makes the studio our second home. The school really gives us a sense of belonging.

Setting her sights high, Wing Lam is well on her way towards a successful dance career! If there’s one thing that we can all learn from her story, it’s to dream big! But of course, you can’t forget to break a sweat and werrrk it!