My Chinese side comes out in my dancing. There's a certain in-the-moment sentimentality, an appreciation for the smallest details.

Yuan Yuan Tan

Categorized in : Out Side Appreciation Details

I have learned to be patient.

i-have-learned be-patient patient

If Shanghai wants to be an international cultural center, they have to do something about that. The reason I left is that I wanted to explore what ballet is all about, and if I had stayed put, that wouldn't have happened.

explore something left reason

I think ballet has influenced my personality a lot in the sense that I am very disciplined in all of my endeavours. I am always on time; I take things very seriously. I've built up my inner strength and self-esteem over time as I've improved as a dancer.

i-am strength personality time

I love wine tasting in Napa. I don't have a huge collection, but the bottles I do have are special.

collection wine special love

I love to watch old movies when I get time off.

old movies time love

I own the complete DVD set of all the Audrey Hepburn movies ever made.

complete movies own made

For me, dance is about the aesthetics and the hard work that goes into creating something so beautiful. Motivation and dedication to the craft is what pushes me to do my best, to always strive to do better, and the outcome is always worth it.

best hard-work work beautiful

I remember watching Audrey Hepburn dancing in movies, and I was inspired by how graceful she looked, though I understand it was no easy task.

movies understand easy remember

I think Hong Kong's ballet audience is very sophisticated in the sense that they are able to find the beauty in good performances.

find good think beauty

I like walking in Golden Gate Park.

gate like golden walking

My favorite shoe brand is Christian Louboutin - I don't have a favorite shoe store per se.

shoe brand favorite christian

I have never gotten my nails done.

gotten never nails done

My workout is ballet class and rehearsal - I've never belonged to a gym.

never gym rehearsal class

I can be very hard on myself, very demanding.

very myself hard i-can

I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100 percent concentration on every step.

step think i-can focus

I'm flying all around the world, and it's hard to be settled.

around hard flying world

Things don't always happen the way one wishes they would.

wishes things always way

I just don't do much social media. No, it is more important to strike a balance between ballet and real life.

social-media balance media life