Fong fong | Professional dancer & stand-up-paddleboard enthusiast
Other than dancing, she also has a love for water sports!
Known for her unique dancing style, she has captivated countless audiences. Other than dancing, she also has a love for water sports! As a child, she lived in Sai Kung and frequently went kayaking with friends. Water sports did not gain widespread popularity until a few years ago, although they were always part of Fongfong’s childhood. What sparked her interest in water sports? And how does she feel about rekindling her childhood passion?
Fong Fong
25-year-old Fong Tsz Yan has 7 years of experience as a professional dancer. Known for her unique dancing style, she has captivated countless audiences. Other than dancing, she also has a love for water sports!
How did you become a dancer? Did you ever think about giving up in the process?
My school grades were average, so I didn’t continue my studies after secondary school. At that time I only had one goal in mind – to make a career out of dancing. I had a fairly smooth run. The most difficult part is at the beginning, before you become a full-time dancer, because work can be quite sporadic – you don’t know when your next performance will be. Meanwhile, you still have to pay for your studies, and there’s no guarantee that your hard work will pay off, which can be quite demoralising.
Although it was tough, my family supported me all the way and didn’t have many complaints about my unorthodox choice of career – instead, they were happy that I’d found something I enjoyed. To begin with, my mum was worried that I wouldn’t be able to earn enough, but as I became more successful, my family could see that I enjoyed what I was doing and stopped expressing their doubts.
At first, I couldn’t rely on dancing alone to support myself, so I had to find a part-time job. All the decisions I made revolved around dancing – when I encountered difficulties, I found a solution rather than giving up.
What does dancing mean to you as a professional dancer?
Dancing is a high-intensity, fast-paced sport, especially in the days running up to a performance. If you get injured, you can’t afford to rest, and it’s not uncommon to get aches and pains. As a dancer, I also do stretch exercises and resistance training to maintain my strength and flexibility. The biggest difference between dancing and other sports is that dancing features musical accompaniment – it’s an art form that requires both strength and flexibility so that you can express emotions through your body. It’s also a very subjective sport that requires a lot of thought – if you don’t choreograph your performance thoughtfully, people are likely to find the performance soulless, even if all your moves are perfect with the music.
Do you do any other sports apart from dancing?
Around 4-5 years ago I got into kayaking, standup paddle boarding and other water sports. It wasn’t the first time I did water sports, though, because I often went kayaking and camping with friends when I was little. My parents were chill about us going out with friends, and I was always keen to go exploring. We even organised a trip with a big group of friends to climb Kowloon Peak at midnight and watch the sunrise. I tried lots of challenging outdoor sports as a child. I wasn’t interested in showing off or competing with others – I just enjoyed doing outdoor activities with friends.
What was it that rekindled your interest in water sports?
I was going through a tough period and finding it difficult to motivate myself. A friend of mine was worried and asked me to go kayaking with him. Kayaking is a rather individual sport, because you’re on your own for a long time. Even if you go together with a group of friends, it’s still only you in the boat. Being in the middle of the sea and the repetitive action of rowing help me relax and release negative feelings. Also, when you’re surrounded by the mountains and the sea you feel at one with nature, which makes a welcome contrast from city life. I haven’t stopped ever since, because it gives me the chance to spend time alone.
What’s your ‘strength’
Refusal to accept defeat and give up easily. I’ve got the classic Aquarius traits – impulsive but persevering. Whether in my dance career or that thrilling trip to the small island, when I’ve set myself a goal I don’t stop until I’ve reached the destination. When you choose to do something different, there are bound to be people who express doubts or disapproval, and I always ignore what other people say. When you persevere, you will eventually discover that things which previously seemed impossible will gradually become within reach.
Regardless of the sport you do, perseverance is the only route to success.
What was your most memorable water sports experience?
When I was on one of my usual paddle boarding trips in Sai Kung, I saw a small island in the distance and decided to head in that direction. But the island turned out to be much further than it seemed! To make things worse, the sea was quite choppy – it wasn’t really suitable for water sports, and there were lots of cargo ships, so it was a real challenge. At one point I considered turning back, because the island still seemed a long way off, but my heart told me to carry on. I finally reached the island after 2 and a half hours, although it took another 2 and half hours to get back – 5 hours in total! When I got back I checked the map and saw that I had been to Port Island – it looks like a long journey even on the map! It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised how dangerous the trip was, but I didn’t stop to think at the time – I just wanted to reach the island as quickly as possible. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to others, and always remember to do plenty of preparation before setting off!
What are the biggest differences between dancing and water sports? Which do you prefer?
When I started dancing I knew straight away that I wanted to become a dancer. Water sports, on the other hand, have a special place in my childhood memories – I always loved going out to sea. When I rediscovered my passion for kayaking as an adult, I realised that it gave me the freedom to relax and spend time by myself. Whether standup paddleboarding or kayaking, being in open water helps me escape from the stress of city life and experience a sense of ‘freedom’.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re into dancing, water sports or other sports – the most important thing is to persevere. You can either choose to stay in your comfort zone, or challenge yourself and achieve new goals (provided you take the necessary safety precautions). Perseverance is particularly important in dancing – you have to keep working hard until you succeed.
It was my adventurous spirit as a child that gave me the courage to pursue my dancing dream and reach where I am today. Dancing is my great passion in life, but water sports have gradually become part of my routine. Rediscovering water sports during a difficult period of my life helped me get back on track, so both are very important to me.
What are your favourite Decathlon products?
My favourite product is the inflatable kayak. It can be folded into a backpack so that you can take it with you wherever you go – perfect for adventurous types like me! It’s also very stable and doesn’t capsize easily, so it’s great for chilling out with a friend.
INFLATABLE STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD
A stable and easy-to-handle generously sized inflatable Stand Up Paddle (SUP)
ADJUSTABLE CARBON SHAFT
Fibreglass and carbon fibre tube for an ideal compromise between flexibility and efficiency.
2-PERSON TOURING KAYAK
For beginners for solo or tandem touring for 2 to 3 hours in calm water
INFLATABLE STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD
A stable and easy-to-handle generously sized inflatable Stand Up Paddle (SUP)
ADJUSTABLE CARBON SHAFT
Fibreglass and carbon fibre tube for an ideal compromise between flexibility and efficiency.
2-PERSON TOURING KAYAK
For beginners for solo or tandem touring for 2 to 3 hours in calm water
If dancing is Fongfong’s passion, then kayaking is her way to escape from the stress of everyday life and enjoy some time alone. Standup paddle boarding, on the other hand, helps her recharge the batteries and gather her thoughts for the next challenge. If you’re going through a difficult time, why not take a break and try something different? All water sports, whether kayaking, stand-up-paddleboarding or even swimming, are excellent ways to immerse yourself in nature. While they may not be able to solve all your problems, they can at least give you a moment to relax and look at things from a new perspective.