Amplifying Voices: AAPI

MING MIN HUI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Explain your role as Executive Director. What does a “day in the life” look like?
As Executive Director, my role is to lead the organization’s strategic direction and management in partnership with Mikko Nissinen, the Artistic Director. I spend the most time with our Senior Leaders to advance their work, set priorities, and solve problems; and with our Board of Trustees and other key stakeholders of the organization to represent our activities and ensure we are collectively meeting our mission and objectives. As a result I spend most of my time in conversation and connection with other people: colleagues, advisors, supporters, partners, community and civic leaders, etc.

What part of your job are you most proud of?
There is a lot of visibility granted to the leader of any organization, but I am most proud of all the invisible work that goes into making these organizations successful. The impact of the collective Boston Ballet community is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

Who inspires you?
So many incredible people! But one constant for me is my late father, John Chee Kuen Hui, who among many things taught me to value eulogy virtues more than resume virtues.

What does your AAPI heritage mean to you?
It’s a source of both loneliness and community. I’ve felt caught between cultures—not accepted in America as American and not accepted in China as Chinese. And other times I’ve felt enrichened by access to more than one cultural reference, and to the family I find in other Asian-Americans with that unique shared experience.

Why do you think AAPI representation matters?
Diverse representation matters in all kinds of spaces because it influences who we collectively think belongs there. I was obsessed with the movie Mulan as a child because it was the first Disney “princess” who looked like me and derived from a culture I recognized, which somehow normalized and validated my existence as a Chinese girl in predominantly white communities.

I had a lot of resentment as a child for being a racial minority with immigrant parents, and then a lot of imposter syndrome as an adult for being the only Asian and/or the only woman in the room. It’s a privilege not to carry that anxiety with you at all times—a consciousness about how you are being perceived because of how you look. I had a really emotional reaction to the election of Mayor Michelle Wu recently, because up until that point most City of Boston leaders were male and Irish.

My hope is that if more people see what I’m doing and who I am, I can move the needle a little bit on the collective assumptions we subconsciously have about who is an Executive Director, and who can make decisions at a ballet company. And maybe a few more AAPI women will feel like they can see themselves in that kind of seat.

How does your Chinese culture influence you in your work as Executive Director?
Ballet has a white Eurocentric historical past, but I am a strong believer (as is Boston Ballet) that ballet is truly for everyone. Dance has enormous power to transcend cultural and racial divides because it’s a universal expression that speaks to a universal humanity beyond the constraints of language and culture. Fulfilling that mission is tremendously meaningful and motivating to me having grown up Chinese American in a largely white community and finding solace in ballet as a way to express and carry myself with grace, strength, and confidence.

What local AAPI businesses or organizations should we amplify?
Chinatown has really suffered in the wake of pandemic-fueled racism—something to consider when you’re thinking about your next pre-theater meal! I also wouldn’t be a good Chinese daughter if I wasn’t encouraging everyone to go eat…

JOHN LAM, PRINCIPAL DANCER

When did you know you wanted to be a professional dancer?
As a Vietnamese-American, I grew up in a household where dance was not viewed as a real profession. I remember being 4 years old, in my white ballet slippers, blue shorts, and white t-shirt, dancing to music. It made me feel alive and open to possibilities. I somehow felt free to just be, without judgment, and I was praised when I allowed dance to come through my limbs and body. I feel like being a professional dancer was already embodied in my soul, and all I needed to do was allow it to speak.

Are there specific types of ballet you really enjoy?
I love all types of ballet. There are so many amazing choreographers in our profession, and I have been fortunate to work with many of them during my 20-year tenure. But what makes a ballet truly special to me is the process of how it gets to the stage, and the storytelling within the choreography. I really enjoyed Jiri Kylian’s Bella Figura. His work is breathtaking in its simplicity, and reflects human connection and pure love through art.

What ballet are you most proud of performing?
I am most proud of tackling George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream as Oberon. This was my first major neo-classical role, and the ballet’s dynamic movement and speed were challenging. I remember being afraid of this ballet, but with the help of my rehearsal directors, I was able to get out there and enjoy this masterpiece.

Who inspires you?
Artists of all types, including painters, sculptors, musicians, and masters of all forms of intense human expression.

What does your AAPI heritage mean to you?
My AAPI heritage is particularly meaningful when I see myself in a profession without a lot of Asian-American male leads. Although these roles are scarce, I am honored to be part of an organization that values and amplifies our voices. Growing up in a Vietnamese family has shaped my values and enabled me to harness my work ethic as a dancer. Nothing was given to me without expectations when I was growing up, and working for my goals was instilled in me from a very young age.

Why do you think AAPI representation matters in the arts?
AAPI representation is essential in shining a light on Asian-Americans in the arts. Our impact and influence are marginalized when we are portrayed as just being “Asian” or “all the same.” Growing up Asian in America is a very different experience from those who are raised in their mother country. I’m proud to be an Asian-American in a major American ballet company.

What is your message for aspiring dancers who identify as AAPI?
Focus on your love for dance, embrace being different, and above all, celebrate what makes you beautiful and distinctive—no matter where you are from.