Weihong Tu was just three years old when she first learned to dance, after being sent to dancing school by her mum.
Fast forward a few decades and embracing that childhood love of dancing once more helped Weihong to rebuild her life after the devastating loss of her husband to cancer.
Now she's spreading the joy by teaching others traditional Chinese dance in weekly classes with the Chinese Welfare Association NI in South Belfast.
Read more: Meet some local faces featuring in new TV series 'The Chronicles of Belfast'
Weihong's story features in the second episode of the new BBC documentary series, The Chronicles of Belfast, which airs next week.
It explores the wilder side of life in Belfast and celebrates the spots that form the ‘lungs of this busy city’ where people and wildlife can breathe and thrive.
Narrated by acclaimed Northern Irish actor Colin Morgan, the four-part series looks at the people who work all year round with nature, protecting and monitoring the wildlife that share their city.
The programme follows Weihong as she prepares her Chinese dance class for Mela, the annual festival that celebrates Belfast’s diverse range of different cultures.
As the class practices in Lady Dixon Park, surrounded by roses, Weihong reveals how teaching traditional dance has helped her to come to terms with the loss of her Northern Irish husband Desmond Thompson..
Originally from Wuhan in mainland China, Weihong, 53, was working as a paediatric nurse in Saudi Arabia when she met Des. They were married for 16 years and came to live in Northern Ireland together ten years ago.
Tragically, Des was later diagnosed with cancer and Weihong nursed him at home but he sadly passed away four years ago.
Since then, heartbroken Weihong has gradually had to learn how to live independently, finding comfort in training up the dance troupe for the annual Belfast Mela celebrations.
The couple met in the Arab country when Des, originally from Castlewellan, was stationed there with the RAF. An invitation from nursing friends to a party led to his first meeting with Weihong and he instantly fell for her.
But with Weihong due to return home to her six-year-old daughter, Annie, in China just three weeks later, a whirlwind romance ensued and the couple married the following year.
“It was love at first sight. I thought he was a really lovely man and when he asked me for my phone number, I was quite happy to give it to him and after that he phoned me every morning and night,“ Weihong recalled.
A long distance romance followed and Des soon came to Wuhan to propose to Weihong, just three months after their first meeting.
The couple started their married life in Saudi Arabia with Annie and after Des' retirement from the RAF in 2012, they went to live in China before later deciding to make their home in Northern Ireland.
“Annie didn’t like going to school in China so she and Des persuaded me to come to Northern Ireland. I had visited once before to meet Des’s family and thought it was beautiful,” Weihong explained.
But when the family settled in Downpatrick, Annie faced racist abuse at school which led to a relocation to Belfast.
Sadly after 15 years together, their world came crashing down when Des was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer at just 57. Weihong nursed him at home until he died four years ago.
With Annie at university in England and now working and living in Saudi Arabia, Weihong had to create a new life for herself alone.
“When Des was alive he took care of everything and I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I couldn't drive so he brought me anywhere I needed to go,” she said.
“He became very ill and six months later, he passed away. I really thought I was going back to China after that because I felt I didn't have anybody.
“I decided to stay because I realised this was my home now and I feel that Des is up there watching over me.”
With the help of cultural organisations including ArtsEkta and the Chinese Welfare Association (CWA), Weihong has gradually begun to live independently and found comfort in training up her dance troupe, who perform every year at Belfast Mela.
She says going back to doing something she loved as a young girl has really helped: “When I dance, I feel like that little girl again. Life seems beautiful and everything so great.
“I feel more and more proud of myself because I can do a lot more things on my own. Every time I dance on stage, I always think about my husband and I think he would be so proud of me.”
The Chronicles of Belfast airs on Monday, February 6 at 8pm on BBC One NI and all four episodes are available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
READ NEXT:
Outpouring of support for BBC presenter Barra Best after death of beloved dog
BBC series to celebrate Northern Ireland’s growing food and drink scene
Pioneering NI photographer's family delve into her past and extraordinary legacy
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
