Like mother, like daughter.
There is a Chinese saying: “前人栽树，后人乘凉” (qiánrén zāishù, hòurén chéngliáng), which translates as: Those who came before planted the trees so those who come after can enjoy the shade. This expression beautifully captures the spirit of this story, which celebrates a young woman who devoted herself to sharing the beauty of Chinese cultural dance. Through her determination and vision, she created a legacy that continues to grow and inspire.
Annemarie, now studying towards a bachelor’s degree, has always held a deep passion for traditional Chinese dance. Although the cultural dance group at Mount Albert Grammar School was established several years before her arrival, it had lost momentum over time. When she joined the school, Annemarie took it upon herself to breathe new life into the group, reviving it, strengthening its foundations, and reimagining what it could become.
She first joined the group at thirteen, reconnected with it at fifteen, and by sixteen had taken on a leadership role as co-leader. At seventeen, she became co-captain. Despite having no formal dance training and facing a lack of institutional support — including no qualified tutor, limited funding for costumes, and little guidance on running the group — Annemarie stepped up to lead. The annual Unity Concert, which had been running since 2011, provided a platform, but little else. What she undertook was nothing short of an uphill battle.
Taking on this role required more than passion — it demanded persistence, resilience, and a willingness to lead without being asked. She encountered limited trust from adults who could have mentored her and little recognition for her efforts. Yet she stayed the course, driven by her belief in the power of cultural expression and her desire to provide Chinese students with a platform to connect to their identity.
Leading the dance group involved recruiting members, encouraging punctuality, fostering teamwork, and building trust. She choreographed performances, selected music, sourced traditional costumes, and navigated logistical and financial challenges — all while learning on the go. With the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the group went into hiatus, and performances were paused for two years. During this time, there was no formal tutor and no dedicated support, so the students had to figure things out together just to keep the group alive.
By drawing on the support of her mother, committed teachers, and peers, Annemarie modelled authentic leadership. She even learnt how to fundraise — though the pandemic made it incredibly difficult in 2022. Slowly, the group began to gain momentum. Eventually, with the support of the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, they secured funding for three consecutive years. This enabled them to purchase costumes, bring in a tutor, and grow their membership to over seventy students.
