Yuan Yuan Tan

“I can be very hard on myself, very demanding.”

“I like walking in Golden Gate Park.”

“I have never gotten my nails done.”

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

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

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

“I have learned to be patient.”

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

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

“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.”

“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.”

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

“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.”