Spinning back to the heart of dance: An interview with DanceSport Champion Jessie Lee
Try your best - no regrets, and never forget why you started.
DanceSport athlete Jessie Lee Yan-man (Psychology, Year 1), a recipient of the Lingnan University Entrance Scholarship for Elite Athletes 2025/26, shone at the Thang Long International Open DanceSport Championships 2025 in Vietnam. She stood out in the quickstep, waltz, tango, and foxtrot, and won a remarkable total of eight medals: two golds, four silvers, and two bronzes. Behind this stellar achievement lie countless sweat-drenched nights and a decade of sustained effort. Cheered on by her teammates from the Hong Kong, China team, Jessie has successfully challenged all comers time and again in the gruelling ten-dance events.
Having discovered Latin dance at the age of seven, Jessie knows she had a later start than many of her peers, so to make up for lost time her life has been almost entirely consumed by rehearsals. "I head to the dance studio to practise in the morning, attend classes, and then resume training in the evening," she confesses. Despite her demanding schedule and with competitions almost every week, what keeps her going is a pure sense of fulfilment. "When you start seeing results, that satisfaction drives you to keep dancing and delve even deeper into the art."
Yan-man (third left) has been dancing since childhood. She currently focuses on Latin and Ballroom dance training, and has extensive competition experience. (Photo courtesy: Jessie Lee Yan-man)
Photo courtesy: Jessie Lee Yan-man
Photo courtesy: Jessie Lee Yan-man
Recollecting the moment she learnt she had received the Lingnan University Entrance Scholarship for Elite Athletes, Jessie says “I was so happy I almost cried. Dancesport has always been very expensive, and weekly lessons can easily cost thousands of Hong Kong dollars. I am incredibly grateful to Lingnan University for this full scholarship; it has helped me a lot. By alleviating the heavy financial burden, it allows me to focus wholeheartedly on my competitions."
However, an athlete’s journey is rarely smooth. In this fiercely competitive arena, Jessie inevitably finds herself caught up in the relentless pressure to win. She recalls one unforgettable setback: "When I lost to an opponent I usually beat, I had an instant emotional breakdown and hid backstage crying." It served as a wake-up call though, prompting her to re-evaluate the true meaning of sportsmanship.
"Later, I gradually learned to let go, as I understood that winning and losing are just part of the game. If someone else wins, there must be a reason, so it's better to learn from their strengths," she reflects. This shift in mindset has broadened her horizons, and enabled her to appreciate outstanding athletes from all over the world.
Photo courtesy: Jessie Lee Yan-man
After such emotional highs and lows, Jessie has learnt the importance of mental resilience, which is exactly why she chose to major in psychology. "Athletes genuinely need psychological support. Even now, I sometimes hit a bottleneck or feel frustrated to the point of wanting to give up. I’m studying psychology to help myself, with the hope of eventually using my professional knowledge to assist other athletes."
Off the dance floor, Jessie is a vibrant student keen to experience campus life to the fullest. If she had to describe her university experience in three words, they would be "exciting, fulfilling, and stimulating." She is also grateful for Lingnan's hostel life, which is not only convenient for her busy schedule but has also allowed her to make a close-knit group of friends, enriching her university life.
"Try your best - no regrets, and never forget why you started" is Jessie’s motto. She constantly reminds herself to recapture the pure joy she felt when she first fell in love with dancing. "Remembering why I love dancing, and not just competing to win, will perhaps help me go further.
For Jessie, every spin on her toes is not merely an attempt to outdo her rivals, but a heartfelt response to her genuine passion. The road ahead is long, but if she dances to her own rhythm with the courage of her original convictions she is bound to perform most confidently and thrillingly on any stage she graces.