Hong Kong ballet dancer Sun Jia has become a social media sensation both in China and internationally, gaining popularity on platforms like Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Instagram.
Born in Shandong, China, Sun Jia trained for many years in China, Germany, and the United States before officially becoming a professional dancer with the Hong Kong Ballet in 2022.
Her social media videos provide a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes life of ballet dancers, attracting significant attention from online audiences, according to the SCMP.
A Rising Star in the Digital World
Sun began documenting her life as a ballet dancer on social media during the Covid-19 pandemic while living in Dresden, Germany. In 2023, she started to create content more professionally in Hong Kong.
After receiving enthusiastic support for her initial videos, she continued to produce content, mentioning that she only edits her videos on her phone using the CapCut app.
Before filming, she plans and writes detailed scripts. However, she finds editing the most challenging part of the process. This ballet dancer has self-taught herself these skills and continuously improved over the past two years.
Among her most popular videos on Instagram, the clip titled “Ballet Dancer’s Thoughts While Practicing on the Bar” garnered 10.4 million views, while “Ballet Dancer’s Body Insecurities” received 6.7 million views.
Sun’s training schedule is quite demanding, especially in the weeks leading up to performances, leaving her with only about 30 minutes to film during her lunch break or after practice.
“Creating content is very exciting but requires a lot of energy. I can’t do this alone without my colleagues in the ballet company,” Sun shared.
Real settings, including rehearsal spaces and backstage moments, along with appearances by top international dancers, enhance the appeal of her videos. Sun isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself, occasionally portraying a clumsy ballet dancer to create humorous scenarios in her clips.
A Dancer’s Journey
Sun Jia began dancing at the age of 5. While her parents encouraged her to practice and perform, they never expected her to become a professional dancer.
As Sun’s talent became evident, her father enrolled her in the Liaoning Ballet School. She started at a young age, a few years younger than her peers, living and studying there from ages 7 to 12.
At 12, she received a full scholarship to live and study at the Harid Conservatory, a ballet school for high school students in Florida, USA.
By 17, she was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet’s trainee program in Chicago, preparing for her professional career.
That same year, she was discovered by the artistic director of the Semperoper Ballett in Dresden, Germany. Soon after, Sun moved to Germany, where she lived for nine years before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
In 2022, after 15 years in North America and Europe, Sun Jia returned home to join the Hong Kong Ballet. She plans to continue developing her digital content to serve her growing audience.
By Linh Vu