Chun Wai Chan

Chun Wai Chan is a principal ballet dancer with New York City Ballet. Chan is a former principal dancer with Houston Ballet.

Early life and education
Chun Wai Chan was born in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. He began taking ballet classes at age six and continued his ballet education at Guangzhou Art School from 2004 to 2010. Chan was a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne 2010. As a finalist, he earned a full scholarship to study at Houston Ballet Academy from 2010 to 2012.

Career
Chan joined Houston Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2012. He was promoted to principal dancer with Houston Ballet in 2017.

In 2020, he was a competitor on the television program Dance Smash; he was eliminated after making it to the final four dancers in the competition.

Chan joined New York City Ballet as a soloist in August 2021. Chan got promoted to principal dancer with New York City Ballet on May 20, 2022, becoming the first Chinese principal at the company.