At 17, Kira Chan is living the resumé most professional dancers dream of—all while fitting in her history homework. Attending dance competitions and performing industry gigs, she balances an intense dance schedule alongside her senior year of high school.

Chan, born and raised in Los Angeles, started her dance journey like many: baby ballet and tap classes. After adding jazz, contemporary, and hip hop, she began competing and joined Elements Dance Space and its Accelerated Mini Makers Program at age 8. There, she focused heavily on industry hip hop and entered the convention circuit. In 2023, at 15 years old, Chan took home the title of Radix Teen Elite Protégé. In 2025, she was named Senior Elite Protégé and Senior Top Soloist.

Aside from those national titles, you may have seen her on NBC’s Dancing with Myself or at the Billboard Music Festival, or even performing at the World Choreography Awards. And though Chan’s list of accomplishments goes on, what sets her apart is her work ethic.

Dance Spirit spoke with Chan to learn about her busy lifestyle, career aspirations, fashion sense, and more.

Kira Chan. Photo by Lindsay Rosenberg, courtesy Chan.

You’re balancing high school, competitions, classes, and professional gigs all at once. How do you manage that schedule?

Having a clear routine has helped me manage both school and dance. Every day, I wake up and go to school. Then I go straight to my dance studio, where I have a two-hour break to work on homework, and then I go to all my dance classes. I get home around 10 pm, finish up any homework, and repeat the cycle every day!

On the weekends, I typically have rehearsals at my studio, but when I don’t, I take classes at different L.A. studios. I also attend competitions and conventions.   

What style feels the most “you” as a dancer?

I would definitely say hip hop or jazz funk.

Describe your favorite combo you have ever learned.

That’s a hard question! I did a Sean Lew combo at Offstage [Dance Studio] recently, and it’s definitely a new favorite of mine. It was so different from what I’m used to. I do a lot of jazz funk and hard-hitting movements, and that combo really made me think about how to be softer.

Chan dancing Brian Friedman’s choreography at Radix Dance Convention. Photo by Johnny Axenov, courtesy Chan/Radix.

What is your go-to dance-class outfit?

I love baggy pants, especially for hip hop. The classic tight top and baggy bottom is my favorite outfit combo.

What school subjects do you enjoy, and what’s your least favorite?

It’s not everyone’s favorite, but I love math. It’s so satisfying that there is one answer to every question. My least favorite subject would have to be English.

After a long day of school and dance, what’s your comfort food?

I love sushi. So much.

What’s your funniest onstage or rehearsal blooper?

When I performed in Mark Ballas and Whitney Leavitt’s freestyle for the Call Her Daddy podcast, we had prop phones. One rehearsal, I fully chucked my phone out of my hand. It was completely out of the blue, and I don’t know—it just slipped out from my fingers!

What has competition dance taught you about yourself that everyday life never could?

Competition dance has taught me that you can’t compare yourself to other people, because everyone is so different. Comparison is a huge problem in the dance industry because it is so competitive. I have learned through being surrounded by so many amazing dancers to just focus on yourself and not compare.

Kira Chan performing choreography by Beau Fournier at Radix Dance Convention. Photo courtesy Chan/Radix.

What are your biggest dance goals right now?

My top goal right now is to tour with Tate McRae. I went to her concert recently, and it was the best thing that I’ve ever experienced. She is in her prime right now, so she’s definitely going to have another tour soon, and I want to experience that!

If you weren’t a dancer, what would you do instead?

If I weren’t a dancer, I would be a fashion designer. I actually plan to start my own fashion business later in life. Right now, I’m so focused on dance that merging the two worlds is difficult. Even so, through my partnership with Five The Label I’ve been able to pursue some of my fashion aspirations. Ideally, I would go even more into the fashion scene outside of just activewear.