Dancer making strides in US ballet

When 25-year-old Chun Wai Chan was named principal dancer by the Houston Ballet late last year, a dream came true far sooner than he had expected.

"I was named first soloist in June 2017, and I thought it would take me a couple of years before I made it to a principal," said Chan.

Born in Huizhou, Guangdong province, Chan began dancing in elementary school at the local Children's Palace. Gifted, he was encouraged to apply to Guangzhou Arts School and was admitted in 2004 when he was 12. He later moved to Hong Kong with his family.