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Adapted from a story printed in the December, 2013 edition of The Westcoast Reader |
Angela (Qing Li) Wu performed a dance called Walking in Tibet for B.C. Lt. Gov. Judith Guichon. Photo: Heather Colpitts / Langley Advance
I’m Angela. I’m originally from China Wenzhou, Zhejiang. Wenzhou is a coastal city, it means “song and dance of the rural.” I’m a professional dancer and I used to dance in a troupe in Wenzhou. I was also a dance teacher in an art school in China. To become a professional dancer I went to the Provincial Art School in Hangzhou where I trained for 4 years. During 7 years after my training, I performed many times before coming to Canada.
In January 2010 my husband, my six-month-old daughter and I immigrated to Canada. In the beginning we felt comfortable and excited in a new country. But after a short time, I found I couldn’t understand English at all. So my friend helped me to apply for the ELSA program. At the same time I got a part-time job to teach Chinese folk dance in Surrey.
Constable Lenin Cruz , Adilia Tixal , Rasri Wood , Her Honour Judith Guichon, Thuy Chi Choi Nguyen, Angela (Qing Li) Wu, Kiran Sharma. Photo provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor
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October 11, it was a special day. B.C.’s Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon visited New Directions Elsa School. As a student of New Directions I was lucky to dance for Her Honour, my teachers and classmates. The Lieutenant Governor is very friendly and a down-to-earth lady. After her speech, a presentation about her duties, some students performed a short program of song, flute and dance. I performed a Chinese folk dance “Walk into Tibet”. All of the performers came from China, I was very proud of them. It was my first special experience in Canada.
I have a dream. I hope I’ll own a Dance Studio in Richmond and Vancouver one day. Although I think this is a very difficult thing to do, but I’m never giving up on my dream.
–Angela (Qing Li) Wu
Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon visited the New Directions ELSA class in Langley. Photo provided by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor