Fangqi Li, American Ballet Theatre Soloist — On Confidence & Belonging | Pushing Over the Box
About this episode
Fangqi Li shares her journey as a soloist at American Ballet Theatre, discussing her challenges and growth in the world of ballet.
Fangqi Li had just gone back to China after an injury during her first months in American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company, certain her time there was over, when her director asked for a Zoom call. She'd already started planning to find a new company at home. Instead, he told her she was being promoted into the main company. In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Fangqi Li — soloist at American Ballet Theatre, originally from China, and one of only a few Chinese dancers to reach soloist rank at ABT. They talk about being discovered by Beijing Dance Academy at ten years old and turning them down before saying yes the second time, moving to New York with no English and no idea what to expect, an injury she danced through in China without even realizing it was a fracture, and the advice she'd give her younger self about comparison and finding her own voice. TIMESTAMPS: [10:06] The Zoom Call She Thought Would End Her Career [14:25] The Injury She Didn't Know She Had [22:17] Advice to Her 13-Year-Old Self ABOUT THE GUEST: Fangqi Li is a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. Born in China, she trained at the Beijing Dance Academy before advancing as a…
People in this episode
Host: Jasmine Jain
Guest: Fangqi Li
Topics covered
- ballet
- confidence
- belonging
- injury
- personal growth
- cultural transition
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: American Ballet Theatre, Beijing Dance Academy
Places: China, New York
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