A ballet career is intense and deeply demanding. While caught up in the whirlwind of rehearsals and performances at the Opera, we often operate in a kind of survival mode — with little mental space to think, and even less energy to move forward on anything outside of the stage.
The unexpected downtime from my recent ankle injury has been both rare and precious. My first instinct was to catch up on all the projects that had been on hold. So instead of truly resting, I simply redirected my energy — and kept working, a lot.
Naturally, I focused on my wealth management firm, PerformanceS: updating the website, and exploring more efficient digital systems that might help me save time once I return to dancing full-time. In doing so, I came face-to-face with the next great challenge in our industry: the rise of artificial intelligence.
AI is bound to transform the way we work and live — radically. It’s becoming clear that many jobs, particularly in the field of advisory, may become obsolete. The pace of change is so fast that I often feel it’s either you’re on the train, or you’re left behind on the platform.
This injury gave me the time to feel that urgency — the need to understand and implement AI within my firm. Like it or not, those who don’t adapt may quickly be out of the game. Of course, there are real concerns: confidentiality, security, bias, ethics… But I believe fear and ignorance will only keep me stuck on the platform, watching the train speed away.
And what about Ballet?
In recent years, I’ve had the growing feeling that ballet is becoming more of a commodity. I have little doubt that AI will soon be able to produce high-quality live performances in one form or another. Yet I sincerely hope that ballet, performed live by human dancers with a full orchestra in a beautiful theatre, will endure — even if only as an even more niche art form.
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been experimenting with stepping away from Instagram. The impact has been revealing. I’ve felt better, more confident. Yet every time I return — just briefly, to post photos or videos from my recent solo roles at the Paris Opera Ballet — I end up feeling anxious and uneasy after scrolling. Still, I know that staying completely off platforms like Instagram means falling behind, too.
So I’ve come to believe: the key is not to avoid these tools, but to learn how to USE them — and not BE USED by them.
Now, as we reach mid-July, I remind myself to use the remaining free time wisely — and fruitfully.
(The cover photo is me having lunch in a a very good vietnamese restaurant called Bôl, near my office)
Tale of Chun 
i can see you have been working hard in addition to work with the company. I know almost nothing about AI which sometimes worries me. Yet the whole concept of AI also worries me. That such a unique experience as a superb performance of ballet might no longer be one of humans is worrying – as it is of other arts forms like opera and theatre.
And I am delighted that you have learned that you must not be a slave to social media. I have often called it “unsocial media” but that is unfair. Making use of it as a tool to hep you rather than letting it use you is something too many young people nowadays seem not to understand.
When I was working with an opera company, in the UK and later managing the Hong Kong Philharmonic and presenting a galaxy of artists in performance around Asia, social media only came to the fore towards the end ot my career. Learning how to work with more traditional PR and marketing tools could be fascinating and I beieve should continue alongside Facebook, Instagram etc.
Have a wonderful summer.
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Thank you for your comment John. Indeed, I’d be curious to learn more about traditional PR and marketing skills. I am thinking a lot about how to promote my wealth management firm at the moment. We feel lost easily in today’s world where internet presence seems inevitably important and social medias and AI indispensable tools to achieve that goal.
Have a wonderful summer too!
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Marketing when i started with the Hong Kong Philharmonic many decades ago involved basically only four elements: posters, flyers, placing stories in the media and paid advertising. Quickly we added subscription schemes. But these are now all dinosaurs. I know almost nothing about the financial management business but I suspect word of mouth is important. Do you ever have informal gatherings of your investors over drinks and elegant snacks? Maybe you could organise one and invite each investor to bring one friend/colleague. Perhaps you could invite a well-known investor/prominent citizen to give a small pep talk. I am sure you have printed materials. An elegantly designed company brochure does not always work because it is generally aimed at one key market. I guess you are looking for a series of different target market/s – (older wealthier citizens, perhaps young couples from wealthier families and even perhaps the upper teenagers again from wealthier families). I expect you have already thought of all this and hope it is not a waste of your time.
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Thank you so much for your ideas John. Yes, I did organise a few private gatherings with existing clients and proposing them to invite friends / colleagues. It worked pretty well and I think in general the guests really enjoyed it.
Now I am trying to organise more of these, hopefully I will have enough time to.
Chun
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i can see you have been working hard in addition to work with the company. I know almost nothing about AI which sometimes worries me. Yet the whole concept of AI also worries me. That such a unique experience as a superb performance of ballet might no longer be one of humans is worrying – as it is of other arts forms like opera and theatre.
And I am delighted that you have learned that you must not be a slave to social media. I have often called it “unsocial media” but that is unfair. Making use of it as a tool to hep you rather than letting it use you is something too many young people nowadays seem not to understand.
When I was working with an opera company, in the UK and later managing the Hong Kong Philharmonic and presenting a galaxy of artists in performance around Asia, social media only came to the fore towards the end ot my career. Learning how to work with more traditional PR and marketing tools could be fascinating and I beieve should continue alongside Facebook, Instagram etc.
Have a wonderful summer.
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Please note that the name allocated to me – unadulteratedrebel1b8ff8a302 – is rubbish! My name is JohnD from Hong Kong
Thank you
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No problem ! Well noted JohnD !
Chun Wing
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I love your reflection and also the style how you write…
Personally, I believe that real human handmade art and stuff is very important and needed, but yes, we cannot avoid living in the century of AI…
繼續戰鬥落去
Alex.
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How do I get my name changed from the stupid one worldpress allocated to my registered one – John Duffus?
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Hi John,
If you have a WordPress.com account, you can update your display name by logging in at wordpress.com/me, then editing the “Display Name” field under your profile settings. Give it a try and let me know.
If you posted the comment without a WordPress account (just as a guest), the name can’t be changed retroactively, unfortunately.
Either way, I’m very grateful for your thoughtful contributions here.
Warm regards,
Chun Wing
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