Kate LEONG CHI LENG F5C Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College
I have been dancing since I was five. Although I cried almost every time I went to the dance studio, TDSM, as a child, I can wholeheartedly say that I have loved dancing all along. Dancing is my life. It teaches me to express myself through body language and gives me the confidence to stand in front of an audience. So far in my dancing journey, qualifying for the World of Dance (WOD) competition, an opportunity as monumental for dancers as the World Cup is for footballers, has been one of my greatest milestones.
When my dance teachers asked if we wanted to take part in WOD, I hesitated. The preliminary round fell right in the middle of my school test week. However, my teachers reassured me that this was a rare chance to step onto my dream stage and that I had enough ability to overcome the challenge. So I organised my schedule carefully and joined my teammates for practice every single night.
As the day arrived, we delivered a flawless performance and won first prize! This earned us a ticket to the Final Round in the US, where we would represent Macao and compete against elite teams from across the globe. It felt surreal! We would also attend masterclasses to sharpen our technique. Yet the stakes were higher this time. We needed longer practice hours, especially in the week before our trip, which coincided with my exam week. Travelling to the US without our parents also felt daunting. I was utterly overwhelmed.
I agonised over the decision for nearly a month. Fortunately, my teammates rallied around me. They reminded me of the late nights we had spent practising, cheering, and dancing together, and they asked, “Why not seize this precious chance to show the world the effort and power of Macao’s young dancers?” That was my moment of epiphany. I gave my teachers a resounding “yes” and threw myself into training.
We had less than three months to choreograph our piece. We practised day and night to make sure every transition was seamless and every movement perfectly synchronised. Obstacles were everywhere: building chemistry with new teammates, designing costumes, and pushing through injuries while mastering acrobatic tricks. To make matters worse, our teachers could not come to the US with us to rehearse and perform. We felt despondent and anxious.
After landing in the US, we had only one day to overcome severe jet lag while continuing our intense rehearsals. Predictably, our performance that day was a complete disaster. Devastated, almost all of us burst into tears. However, our teachers comforted us and reminded us to try our best without worrying about the result. We reset our mindset and pushed forward.
When the big day came, we were all trembling with nerves as we waited backstage. Yet the atmosphere was electric, with teams cheering each other on with warmth and respect. When I stepped onto my dream stage, my heart was practically beating out of my chest. But the moment the music played, a wave of confidence swept over me. My legs stopped shaking, and I became fully immersed in the joy of performing. Afterwards, the audience, crew, and teams from other countries showered us with heartfelt applause and praised Macao’s unique performance. Soon after, we discovered that we had placed in the Top 4 of the Junior Division in the semifinals, qualifying us for the Global Top 10 Finals the following day!
Having already achieved our goal, we felt far less pressure in the Final Round and simply poured our hearts into the stage. Unforgettably, at the end, dancers from around the world danced and cheered together on stage. Although we finished in 6th place, our teachers reminded us that we were already champions. We were not only among the best in the world, but also forever the best in their hearts.
Words cannot fully describe how I felt after the WOD Finals. It was a bittersweet mix of reluctance to leave, a touch of regret, and immense relief. Those few days showed me the true magic of dance. Dance is a language without boundaries, bound only by shared passion. I learnt that with enough determination and trust, nothing is impossible. I was deeply proud to represent Macao on the world stage.
Gratitude to my dedicated teachers, my incredible teammates, and all our supporters. Together, we achieved this remarkable result of ranking among the Worldwide Top 6. As our team’s slogan says, we strive for excellence and refuse to settle for mediocrity. I will continue to pursue dancing, and I look forward to returning to that dream stage once again.
Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College student Kate Leong Chi Leng poses with the MSAR flag during the World of Dance (WOD) competition in the US in July. – Photos courtesy of the Leong Chi Leng
