Zhang Jinhao is an accidental dancer

Zhang Jinhao performs Dying Swan during the English National Ballet's emerging dancer competition in 2015. Photos by Arnaud Stephenson/For China Daily

A ballet performer from Northeast China is winning fans in Britain, but the journey started by chance. Cecily Liu reports in London.

Zhang Jinhao finds himself onstage, living out his love of ballet－and that passion shows.

To the 20-year-old rising star of the English National Ballet, it is about "feeling the details" of the gestures, emotions and the personalities of the characters he plays.

Zhang, who started studying ballet at the age of 4, has earned international acclaim, including winning the English National Ballet's emerging dancer award last year.

But he started studying ballet by accident while growing up in Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning province.

"When I was young, I was very thin and did not eat meals properly, so my mother wanted me to do more exercise. She took me to a kung fu class, but sadly the class was full," he recalls.

The teacher in charge of registration told Zhang's mother that the difference between kung fu and ballet is small, and urged Zhang to try ballet instead.

Zhang joined the London-based ballet company in 2014.

Onstage, he wins audiences over with his technique and ability to create believable characters－be it a wealthy boss, a loyal helper or a beautiful swan.

His youthful liveliness and passion for ballet comes through strongly when he speaks.