昨天我收到了15th 週年表演的檔案 我又再次的心裡激動了好久好久。 (第一次是在現場看表演時。）

真的很謝謝鄭芭蕾的團隊在這疫情這麼辛苦的期間 仍然舉辦了這個演出，給孩子們有舞台表演的機會。我自己以前工作是規劃event的，我知道這很不容易。從編舞、排舞、服裝、音樂、燈光音響到現場的場控等等...不論是硬體、軟體 都安排的非常棒。 這一切的一切，若不是有熱情和堅持，恐怕是很難做到的。

我曾經懷疑，Abby每週那麼多時間在練習芭蕾， 放棄了很多他喜歡 ：體操、戲劇、美術，這樣到底對不對？尤其是疫情的關係，家長也看不到小孩到底練得如何？但是我看到她的堅持。她願意花時間在芭蕾上，和大家一起練習、彩排 其中必有蹊蹺。（哈！）

尤其是參加Full Time Apprentice Program 以後，鄭芭蕾真真實實的成為她生活中很大的一部分，也讓我看到孩子的另一面 － 在班上是意見領袖、在學校參加學生會競選，樂觀自信爆棚的她 在鄭芭蕾是謹慎 、自律、謙虛、守規矩、害羞敏感的她， 但這都是她。

我們在家跟她一起又看了一次 15週年的表演。 媽媽我依舊為了這些孩子們而感動。 Abby希望以後能跳得跟姊姊們一樣棒！ 爸爸則表示投資有值得。 （爸爸學商的啦！）

鄭老師說得好 - 若是鑽石，站在哪裡都一樣耀眼。我不確定Abby是不是顆還沒開發的鑽石， 但我的確看到她在台上表演時，眼裡閃出的自信與光芒！

最終，仍是想說一句謝謝 － 謝謝你們對學生的認真。謝謝你們給孩子舞台。謝謝你們平常給孩子的指導與鼓勵。 老師們也是需要被鼓勵的， 這是我寫這封信的目的。 你們真的很棒！（熱烈鼓掌）

媽媽我會繼續認命的接送上課！（笑） Abby會繼續認真的上Full Time Apprentice Program 和在家模仿姊姊們的舞步。

祝福 一切平安, 順心，
Abby's Mum

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I received Cheng Ballet Academy's 15th Anniversary Gala video yesterday and once again, felt deeply moved for a long while. (The first was when we were watching the Gala live in Victoria Theatre.)

I really wish to thank the team from Cheng Ballet Academy. The epidemic has made normal challenges bigger than they should be and times have been difficult - and yet you have pushed on to put up a performance so as to give the students an opportunity and platform to dance on stage at a Live event.

I used to work in events management, so I know from first-hand experience that the Gala event would never have been easy or simple to set up. The evening's choreography, dancing, costume, music, lighting, sound, field control - all hardware and software components, were brought together so beautifully. All these elements, if not for everyone's passion and persistance, would have been difficult to coax together into fruition.

I used to harbour this niggling feeling that Abby was spending too much time pursuing ballet, causing her to cast aside her interest in other activities such as gymnastics, drama and the fine arts. It made me wonder if this was the right thing to do? This was especially so during this pandemic where parents have not been able to sit at the studio to watch their children train and see for ourselves how they are doing.

But, I saw Abby's focus and persistence and I also saw her willingness to plunge wholeheartedly into practicing ballet and rehearsing with everyone. This was novel and strange yet facinating to me. (Ha!)

Abby's involvement in ballet at Cheng Ballet Academy has opened up another side of her which I have never seen before. Especially since she became a member of the Full Time Apprentice Program. Abby is full of optimism and confidence and is now an opinion leader in the classroom, running for the student union in school. In Cheng Ballet Academy, she is a portrait of thoughtful restraint, self-discipline, modesty, responsiveness and shyness. BOTH of these, ARE my lovely Abby.

We watched the 15th Anniversary Gala performance video again, together as a family at home. The mother in me felt deeply moved by and on behalf of all the students. Abby says she hopes to jump and soar as high as the bigger sisters on stage while Dad says the investment in Abby's ballet training is well worth it. (But that is because Daddy studied business!)

I am reminded of the following which Mr Cheng had put across so aptly before - when our children become diamonds, no matter the surroundings or circumstances, they will always shine with unrestrained brilliance. I am not sure if Abby is an unpolished diamond, but when I see her dance up there on stage, all I see are confidence and light shining from her eyes.

Ultimately, I wish to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for your dedication to the students.
Thank you for giving our kids the stage and a platform.
Thank you for the constant guidance and encouragement.
All of the teachers and staff at the Academy deserve recognition and our encouragement too! And this is the main reason I am writing this letter to you. All of you are really fantastic! (Applause)
I will continue doggedly sending Abby and fetching her from ballet classes. (Laugh) And Abby will continue to commit to her time in the Full Time Apprentice Program and in the meantime, also imitate how her beautiful bigger sisters dance while at home!

Wishing you peace and heart,
Abby's mum