Ballerina, mannequin, designer, educator, coach: Sweet Tong has completed all of it. Initially from San Francisco, Tong skilled at San Francisco Ballet College and English Nationwide Ballet College earlier than getting her BFA in dance efficiency from the College of California, Irvine. She danced with Complexions Modern Ballet from 2018–24, the place her expansive motion and lovely, lengthy traces stuffed the stage within the firm’s modern ballet repertoire. A signed mannequin, she’s the proprietor of her personal dancewear line, Sweet Tong Assortment.
Final yr, Tong dived into the world of superstar teaching. She based her Pilates and strength-training program, Sweet Tong Motion, in 2025, and he or she’s presently on tour with the Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey as her private coach. Comply with Tong at @candytong12 on Instagram and TikTok. —Kyra Laubacher
Expensive teen Sweet,
That is you, greater than a decade older, trying again on the younger, naive woman you’re.
Oh, how I want you could possibly see the life you’re dwelling now. Nothing turned out the way in which you thought it might—and in some way, it turned much more lovely than you ever envisioned.
You dream of changing into a prima ballerina in a serious ballet firm. As you pursue that dream, you’ll face challenges you’ll be able to’t but think about, each mentally and bodily. You’ll really feel defeated by rejection after rejection, continuously being instructed that you just don’t match the mildew. You’ll hear that you just’re “too tall” or “big-boned.” Please don’t let these phrases diminish your confidence. At some point, you’ll study to see these very options as a few of your biggest strengths—and use them to your benefit.
Regardless of all of the rejection, all of the doubt, and all of the moments you surprise for those who’ll ever be sufficient, you’ll reside out the dream you’ve labored so arduous to realize. You’ll construct an unbelievable profession in one of many hardest cities on the planet—the Huge Apple, New York Metropolis—and dance with Complexions Modern Ballet for seven seasons. Alongside the way in which, you’ll signal with a high modeling company, construct your personal dancewear line, and ultimately make the tough choice to step away from the stage.
However that received’t be the top of your story. It is going to be the start of a completely new chapter.
I do know you’ve all the time seen your self as only a dancer, however you’re a lot extra. You’ve got abilities you haven’t even found but. Discover them. Get away of your consolation zone and provides your self permission to change into greater than the identification you’ve recognized your whole life.
And, Sweet, would you consider that nearly instantly after retiring from the stage, you’ll change into a star coach?
After showing in a music video with Laufey throughout your closing months of dancing, you’ll change into her private coach, touring the world on tour for her Grammy-winning album, A Matter of Time. You’ll then work with different celebrities (like Suki Waterhouse, to call one) to assist them put together for high-energy live shows, TV collection, and films. Inside your first yr, you’ll construct your personal strength-training and Pilates enterprise, Sweet Tong Motion, serving to dancers and different performers change into stronger, more healthy, and extra assured of their our bodies.
If there’s something your future self might inform you, it’s this:
Something is feasible…simply belief the method.
There isn’t a single, direct path to a profitable or fulfilling life. Your future received’t unfold precisely the way in which you think about it’s going to. The truth is, it could look nothing just like the life you wished for upon all these taking pictures stars you watched out of your yard, over the lagoon, in California.
However each world you enter, you’ll pour your coronary heart and soul into. You’ll study, you’ll develop, you’ll reinvent your self, and you’ll proceed changing into greater than you ever thought you could possibly be.
And that, little Sweet, is your superpower.
