Wanting Zhao
My name is Wanting Zhao. It’s a mouthful for non-Chinese speakers, but they soon learn it’s better to call me by my English name, “Wendy.” For many, it's a better fit with the persona I inhabit onstage. I'm a dancer, you see. Not just any dancer. I'm a ballerina. A dancer of classical ballet, where every gesture is etched with meticulous precision, every pirouette spun with an elegant grace that requires years of relentless discipline. I can remember as far back as five years old, the day I first discovered this world. I was with my family, in the provincial city of Suzhou, watching the visiting Shenyang Ballet perform at the Grand Theatre. My tiny hands clutched onto my mother’s dress, her own eyes mirroring my awe as the dancers spun like twirling silk. In that moment, I knew this was my destiny.
The Suzhou Conservatory of Dance
In the hallowed halls of the Suzhou Conservatory of Dance, I honed my skill, sweating out each arduous exercise. Every muscle, every ligament, sculpted into the perfect instrument for this art form. I was immersed in a world of discipline. Hours spent in the studio, with relentless practice perfecting leaps, turns, and port de bras. Each session was a test of will, a push for improvement.
The teachers at the conservatory weren’t just instructors; they were artisans shaping young lives. Their guidance was stringent, their expectations high. It wasn’t always easy. There were times when tears flowed from frustration, when exhaustion gnawed at my bones. Yet, the allure of this dance, of this storytelling through movement, was too captivating to surrender.
At 16, I achieved what seemed unimaginable, a coveted spot in the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy. Here, in the capital, I immersed myself in a melting pot of talented young dancers. Each day was a dance with pressure and ambition. In every performance, we poured out our hearts, etching a masterpiece in movement, under the watchful gaze of esteemed faculty members.
From Beijing to Paris: A Cultural Awakening
When the opportunity arose to join the esteemed Paris Opera Ballet, I seized it with both hands. Paris, the City of Lights, held an aura of romance and history, the very air vibrating with artistic spirit. My world broadened. I tasted the exquisite pain au chocolat from a boulangerie on a crisp morning, strolled down cobblestone streets, marveling at the gothic grandeur of Notre Dame. This wasn’t just a new stage; it was a cultural renaissance. It was a world of museums teeming with history, cafes overflowing with intellectual chatter, and galleries showcasing art that spoke in vibrant strokes. This new landscape added a different dimension to my interpretation of ballet, infusing a sense of worldliness and artistic depth to my performances.
The Dance that Captured My Heart: Giselle
My journey through the ballet world had brought me to many grand stages, from the Forbidden City's exquisite opera house in Beijing to the grand Palais Garnier in Paris, but nothing could compare to the debut that ignited my career – Giselle.
The ethereal, heart-wrenching story resonated deeply within me. Giselle, a young, innocent village girl consumed by her love for a deceptive nobleman, embodies the timeless human emotions of love, betrayal, and grief. To inhabit her role on stage required a transformation; channeling emotions into every gesture, every leap, every poignant step. Her dance spoke of loss, vulnerability, and ultimate sacrifice, a narrative so profound that it captivated audiences in ways that mere technical prowess never could.
With Giselle, my passion found a home. With each performance, I poured out every bit of my spirit. My body was my canvas, my emotions my paint, and each gesture a brushstroke bringing the character to life.
Beyond the Stage: Choreography and Collaboration
Being a ballerina isn’t merely a job; it’s a way of life. I found myself gravitating towards choreography, an avenue to create stories in motion, to explore the intricate dance between sound and movement. Collaborating with other artists, choreographers, and composers sparked something within me. It wasn't just about replicating movements but pushing boundaries, adding a personal touch to classic choreography, weaving stories through the medium of ballet.
This exploration opened a new world, bringing me closer to other art forms. The symphony of music, the grandeur of opera, the vibrant world of visual art – all became part of my journey. This cross-pollination broadened my understanding of the artistic universe. The ballet world ceased to be a single discipline but became a rich tapestry, interwoven with every artistic form.
Beyond the Stage: Finding My Voice
Beyond the ethereal beauty of dance, I felt a strong urge to share my experiences and perspective, to engage with audiences on a deeper level. Writing was a natural next step, a way to express the complex thoughts and emotions that dance awakened within me. It was another language to explore the world, to unveil the human tapestry, the beauty and the anguish, all woven through the story of ballet.
The Ballet of Life
This journey has taken me across continents, from the hushed corridors of dance academies to the brightly-lit stage under the applause of thousands. But the real lesson, the profound knowledge, came not from applause but from the unwavering commitment to the discipline. It was the long hours in the studio, the persistent aches in my muscles, the countless hours honing technique. It was about overcoming setbacks, learning from mistakes, and continually pushing the boundaries of what was possible. The art of dance is an analogy for life. We all strive for elegance, poise, and precision in navigating life's complexities.
The beauty of this dance, though fleeting, holds an enduring magic. A perfect arabesque, the soaring leaps, the delicate movements — they all transcend time. The legacy of ballet lives on, each performance a fresh interpretation, an ever-evolving story that resonates within us. This is my story, the story of Wanting Zhao, the ballerina.