Mandy Kwan is dancing down her own path

Mandy Kwan's parents encouraged her not to give up when dance became challenging. Now, at 21, she performs as the Butterfly in "The Phantom of the Opera" as part of its 40th anniversary cast at His Majesty’s Theatre in London. Every night, she dances in elaborate costumes and dramatic settings. Despite the applause, Kwan values the interactions with Malaysian audience members who come to see the show.

Her favorite part is the Butterfly solo, which reminds her of her Malaysian roots. Growing up between Hong Kong and Malaysia, Kwan started ballet at four, but found her true passion in high school when she realized she could express herself through dance. She worked hard to master the fundamentals at Elmhurst Ballet School, understanding that technique alone is not enough.

At one point, Kwan felt like she was falling behind her peers in university, but her mother's encouragement and the realization that everyone's paths differ kept her going. In 2018, she became the first Malaysian dancer to reach the finals at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York. Now, Kwan is eager to expand her skills in singing, acting, and musical theatre, and eventually bring her experiences back to Malaysia.