Fangqi Li, American Ballet Theatre Soloist — On Confidence & Belonging | Pushing Over the Box

Fangqi Li had just gone back to China after an injury during her first months in American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company, certain her time there was over, when her director asked for a Zoom call. She'd already started planning to find a new company at home. Instead, he told her she was being promoted into the main company.In this episode of Pushing Over the Box, Jasmine Jain sits down with Fangqi Li — soloist at American Ballet Theatre, originally from China, and one of only a few Chinese dancers to reach soloist rank at ABT. They talk about being discovered by Beijing Dance Academy at ten years old and turning them down before saying yes the second time, moving to New York with no English and no idea what to expect, an injury she danced through in China without even realizing it was a fracture, and the advice she'd give her younger self about comparison and finding her own voice.TIMESTAMPS:[10:06] The Zoom Call She Thought Would End Her Career[14:25] The Injury She Didn't Know She Had[22:17] Advice to Her 13-Year-Old SelfABOUT THE GUEST: Fangqi Li is a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. Born in China, she trained at the Beijing Dance Academy before advancing as a finalist at Prix de Lausanne. She joined ABT's Studio Company in 2017, moved into the main company as an apprentice in 2018, and was later promoted to soloist — becoming one of only a few Chinese dancers to hold that rank at ABT. She began teaching during the pandemic and is now exploring choreography as well.ABOUT PUSHING OVER THE BOX: Pushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset, hosted by young dancer Jasmine Jain. Through interviews with leading ballet professionals, the podcast explores discipline, artistry, injury, resilience, and what it takes to pursue excellence.CONNECT:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pushingoverthebox/Website: https://pushingoverthebox.comSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1zHqK394AYtUjYxbB9FNZ1Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pushing-over-the-box/id1847970742#ballet #balletpodcast #balletmindset #dancepodcast #fangqili #americanballettheatre #abt #chineseballet #balletinterview #soloistTopics discussed: Fangqi Li interview, American Ballet Theatre, Chinese ballet dancers, ballet promotion story, ballet injury, confidence on stage, comparison and self-worth, advice for young dancersGuest: Fangqi Li — Soloist, American Ballet TheatrePushing Over the Box is a ballet podcast about the dancer's mindset. Listen at pushingoverthebox.com