XIANG XU DANCE
Choreographic Residency at Shandong Oprea and Dance Theater 2024 - 2025
I am deeply honored to have been invited by the Shandong Opera and Dance Theatre (山东省歌舞剧院) to lead a 20-day training program on SinoContemporary dance technique and the creation of a new contemporary dance piece. This intensive course is designed to refine the dancers’ foundational technique while unlocking the multidimensional potential of their bodies. My heartfelt gratitude to Xin Xin and Hai Feng for their generous invitation and unwavering support!
CHOREOGRAPHY SESSION 2023
TOPIC OF THE PROJECT: CREATIVITY UNITES
The major subject of the School is the value selection between the internal own values and what affects a man from the outside, such as mass media, Internet, and common stereotypes. How does a modern man pass through such value conflict? What contradictory values do people face? What value dilemmas do they solve? How to save global values and avoid instantaneous influences?
Participants will have to reflect the struggle inside a modern man between eternal true global principles and aggressively imposed inane temptations of the modern world.
SESSION PROGRAM INCLUDES:
Three weeks filled with an effective program:
Classical Russian ballet lessons - 20 h
Contemporary dance technique - 20 h
Hours of rehearsals - 45 h
For the third year, the choreography session of the Innopraktika School will be held at The Boris Eifman Dance Academy. The purpose and mission of the session are cultural exchange. Foreign choreographers and foreign dancers come to the Academy to practice classical and contemporary dance. Also, for three weeks, foreign dancers work with Russian choreographers, at the same time, foreign choreographers stage their choreography with the students of the Academy. Academy students are dancers 16-18 years old professionally trained in classical and contemporary dance.
For the graduation concert at the end of the session, we will invite a lighting and media designer. Also, the Academy provides the staging with costumes and props. Purchases of costumes are discussed individually. It could be completely professional performances with the use of stage machinery, make-up artists, etc. The beautiful finale of the session is a joint performance of the School participants and students of the Academy. It will be performed as part of the III Festival of Innopraktika School "Global Values".
Furthermore, the School prepares a rich cultural program: visits to ballet theatres in St.Petersburg, exhibitions and museums. The entire program is completely free for participants.
ABOUT BORIS EIFMAN DANCE ACADEMY
The Dance Academy was founded with the initiative of the world-famous choreographer Boris Eifman.
This is a state choreographic school with an innovative program for the dancer of the 21st century.
The Students of The Eifman Dance Academy study Russian classic ballet and contemporary dance techniques and become world's most demanded artists.
BORIS EIFMAN
Artistic Director of St. Petersburg Eifman Ballet
President of the Boris Eifman Dance Academy
Artistic Director of the Choreographic Session
People’s Artist of Russia, the Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation, the laureate of the Golden Mask and the Golden Soffit awards, the holder of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st class.
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER AND DANCE PROFESSOR
Xiang Xu is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and instructor based in Philadelphia and New York City.
He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He is a respected dance professor at Temple University's Department of Dance in the USA.
Originally from Ningbo, China, Xiang's talent blossomed at an early age. He earned his bachelor's degree from the renowned Beijing Dance Academy. Xiang's artistic prowess has been recognized with several accolades, including the prestigious "Gold Lion" top prize at the Singapore World Music & Dance Competition and a national grant to choreograph the grand opus "The Soul of Water," performed at Beijing's esteemed Great Hall of the People.
Known for his groundbreaking choreography, Xiang has collaborated with prominent dance companies worldwide, including the Boris Eifman Dance Academy (Russia), Aakash Odedra Dance Company (UK), Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Merce Cunningham Trust, Palestinian Diyar Theater, The Joffrey Academy of Dance, and the Cambodian National Arts Center. In 2015, he founded Xiang Xu Dance, and his scholarly work on the exploration of foot-binding in Chinese classical dance was published in bilingual editions.
Xiang's ultimate aspiration is to elevate Chinese traditional body aesthetics to the forefront of the globalized world in the 21st century.
Сян Сюй — всемирно известный хореограф, танцовщик и преподаватель, работающий в Филадельфии и Нью-Йорке.
Он получил степень магистра изящных искусств в области танца в Школе искусств Тиш при Нью-Йоркском университете. Сян является авторитетным профессором кафедры танца Университета Темпл (США).
Сян родился в Нинбо (Китай), и его талант проявился уже в раннем возрасте. Он получил степень бакалавра в знаменитой Пекинской академии танца. Артистическое мастерство Сяна было отмечено многими наградами, в том числе престижным призом «Золотой лев» на Всемирном конкурсе музыки и танца в Сингапуре и национальным грантом на постановку грандиозного опуса «Душа воды», который был исполнен в Пекине в знаменитом Большом народном зале.
Сян, получивший известность благодаря своей новаторской хореографии, сотрудничал с известными танцевальными коллективами по всему миру, среди которых Академия танца Бориса Эйфмана (Россия), Aakash Odedra Dance Company (Великобритания), Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Merce Cunningham Trust, Palestinian Diyar Theater, The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Камбоджийский национальный центр искусств. В 2015 году он основал труппу Xiang Xu Dance, а его научная работа, посвященная исследованию влияния бинтования ног на китайский классический танец, была опубликована в двуязычных изданиях.
Своим главным стремлением Сян считает выведение китайской традиционной эстетики тела на передовые международные позиции в XXI веке.
REHEARSAL SESSION ONE 2023
Human Relations
"Human Relations" is an evocative dance work that delves into the complex nature of social encounters. Drawing inspiration from Sartre's philosophical masterpiece, "Being and Nothingness," the performance explores how human relations can often lead to a sense of self- alienation. However, the work challenges the notion that philosophy is solely subjective, emphasizing that truth can be found in the natural laws governing our existence— interconnection, altruism, harmony, balance, interdependence, and unity. Through mesmerizing choreography, the dancers illuminate the implications of these principles, offering a template for genuine and fulfilling relationships. From the varying dynamics of human interactions in different cultural and religious contexts to the rich tapestry of history's stories, "Human Relations" unveils the profound philosophies embedded within our actions and invites audiences to reflect on their own role in the interconnected dance of life.
Commissioned Piece for Boris Eifman Dance Academy and Innopraktika school
Choreography I Xiang Xu
Lighting Design I Jay Herzog
Costume Design I Leigh Targaryen
Cast I Boris Eifman Dance Academy
REHEARSAL SESSION TWO 2023
"Ой, цветёт калина"
"Ой, цветет калина" is a mesmerizing contemporary ballet that beckons the audience into a world infused with timeless romance. It transcends the boundaries of time, seamlessly weaving together the past, present, and future, where the delicate threads of human connection intertwine with the enigmatic allure of machines. Amidst this enchanting tapestry, a pure love story unfolds, an emblematic tale that may be the very cornerstone of our human civilization.
As we contemplate the passage of time and the cyclical nature of our collective history, we find solace in the profound significance of an ordinary love story between two souls. It is the essence of our shared humanity, a vital thread that weaves through the fabric of generations. With each passing era, as we pass down the cherished love song, "Ой, цветет калина" to our successors, we question whether the future will hold dear the remembrance of that age-old romance. Will this treasured opus endure, transcending the boundaries of time, echoing into the very depths of our human civilization?
In the twilight of our existence, as we ponder the inevitable rise of robots and their ascension to prominence, we find solace in the notion that even they, with their cold steel and circuitry, might carry within them the echoes of "Ой, цветет калина." For in the grand tapestry of our shared experiences, this dance work stands as a testament to the eternal power of love. And perhaps, as the recorder faithfully captures the essence of this timeless ballet, it will serve as an everlasting vessel, preserving "Ой, цветет калина" for a thousand years and beyond, ensuring that our most precious tales endure through the ages.
Commissioned Piece for Boris Eifman Dance Academy and Innopraktika school
Choreography I Xiang Xu
Lighting Design I Jay Herzog
Costume Design I Leigh Targaryen
Cast I Boris Eifman Dance Academy
PERFORMANCES JULY 28,28 2023
Alexandrinsky Theater
The first concert of the Third Summer Festival of the Global Values on the main stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater The festival is integrated into The Russia-Africa Summit structure as a reliable basis for a constructive dialogue between peoples and a basis for developing common humanitarian values
Congratulations to all the participants of the Choreography Session 2023 and the students of the Boris Eifman Dance Academy for their successful performance on the main stage of the Alexandrinsky Theatre as part of the III Global Values Summer Festival!
For two evenings, July 28 and 29, dancers and choreographers from around the world introduced the audience to contemporary choreographic works. The festival's performances received an enthusiastic response from the audience and made a strong impression on the residents and guests of the northern capital, not to mention the high-ranking officials who came to the festival directly from the venue of the Russia-Africa Summit.
The festival was the culmination of the choreography session of the Innopraktika School 2023, which this year received a record number of applications from 50 countries around the world, including 17 from the African continent.
Choreographic Residency at LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore 2023
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New Dance Work during the studio run-through trailer
2022-23 Choreographer Career Development Initiative (CCDI)
It’s time to ANNOUNCE our 2022-23 Choreographer Career Development Initiative (CCDI) Choreographers! We are thrilled to share the work of these talented artists for our 15th Anniversary Season:
Jacquelyn Pritz (ATL)
Akeem Edwards (ATL)
Andre D. Lumpkin (ATL)
Lashonda Johnson (PA/ATL)
Whitney Jackson (ATL/LA)
Gwynn Root Wolford (ATL)
Xiang Xu (NYC/PA)
Billy James Hawkains III (ATL/NC)
The season is just getting started! Stay tuned as we introduce the work of these artists! And…Mark your calendars for March 24th & 25th 2023 for the premiere of pieces at the Ferst Center for the Arts…as Dance Canvas celebrates 15 years of World Premieres!!
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Choreographic Collaboration with J Chen Project
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NuWa (女媧) a new dance by J CHEN PROJECT
Program A: August 19 + 20 Program B: August 26 + 27
* NuWa (女媧) is performed as part of We Belong Here: AAPI Festival, a fully presented opportunity for choreographers that identify with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, hosted by Arts On Site as part of their ARTS IN SITE, a performance series bringing underrepresented artists into view.
* This work is made possible through the Dance/NYC Dance Advancement Fund, Amerivision Inc, and an ongoing residency at the Museum of Chinese in America.
NuWa (女媧) is the mother goddess of Chinese mythology who repaired the Pillars of Heaven. She felt an indescribable loneliness and created the first human inspired by her own image reflected in the water.
Choreographer: Jessica Chen
Associate Choreographer: Xiang Xu
Dancers: Chieh Hsiung and Sumire Ishige
Composer: PaprTape
Costume Designer: Lui Konno
NuWa (女媧) August 19, 2022 at 6:30pm EST (Premiere)
Arts on Site; 12 St Marks Place, Studio 3R; New York, New York 10003
Friday 8/19/22 at 6:30pm EST (Premiere) Friday 8/19/22 at 8:30pm EST Saturday 8/20/22 at 6:30pm EST Saturday 8/20/22 at 8:30pm EST
Friday 8/26/22 at 6:30pm EST
Friday 8/26/22 at 8:30pm EST Saturday 8/27/22 at 6:30pm EST Saturday 8/27/22 at 8:30pm EST
https://www.artsonsite.org/shows
ticketed performances, open to the public
Nominated for Outstanding Choreographer/Creator for the 2023 The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies!!!
Thank you to the Bessies selection committee for this incredible recognition
Choreographic Residency in the Department of Dance Towson University 2022
Commissioned Piece for the Department of Dance Towson University
Choreography I Xiang Xu
Lighting Design I Jay Herzog
Costume Design I Leigh Targaryen
Cast I Towson University Dance Company
Monkey Mind
Each day our minds are abuzz with thousands of thoughts that compete for our attention and demand that we act. An ego-driven “Monkey Mind” constantly flickers between impulses rooted in love or fear.
According to Buddhist teachings, the monkey mind refers to a state of being unsettled, restless, or confused. It emanates from the part of our brains that become easily distracted. The path to happiness and enlightened requires quieting our monkey minds.
Choreographic Residency in The School of Theatre and Dance James Madison University 2021
Commissioned piece for The School of Theatre and Dance, JMU
Choreography | Xiang Xu
Music Composition | Yo Yo Ma and Laurie Anderson
Lighting Design | Steven P Spera
Costume Design | Elizabeth Powell Wislar
Cast | The School of Theatre and Dance, JMU
The Bardo
In the space between past and future, having and losing, knowing and not knowing, lies an opportunity for awakening.
Bardo is a Tibetan word that simply means a “transition” or a gap between the completion of one situation and the onset of another. Bar means “in between,” and do means “suspended” or “thrown.” Bardo is a word made famous by the popularity of the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
I think of a bardo as being like a moment when you step toward the edge of a precipice; such a moment, for example, is when a master introduces a disciple to the essential, original, and innermost nature of his or her mind. The greatest and most charged of these moments, however, is the moment of death.
Sogyal Rinpoche
2020-2021 #C3 CORE CHOREOGRAPHY COMPETITION
WINNER ANNOUNCED
J CHEN PROJECT’s CORE Choreography Competition #C3 identifies one emerging to mid-career choreographer who will have an opportunity to create and develop an original choreographic work on JCP dancers. The winning choreographer receives a creative honorarium and a 20-hour commission residency with JCP dancers. JCP's Artistic Director Jessica Chen guides the residency.
20120-2021 #C3 winner: Xiang Xu Xiang Xu creates a new work on J CHEN PROJECT!
Arts on Site (Studio 3R Theater)
SAVE THE DATES!
August 20, 2021 at 6:30pm
August 20, 2021 at 8:30pm
August 21, 2021 at 7:30pm
Digital ChoreoLab Residency in Danceworks Chicago August 2020
CUNY Dance Initiative Residency 2019-2020
Residency in Palestinian Diyar Theatre Bethlehem, Palestine 2019
Unity
Rehearsal Clips
Choreographer: Xiang Xu
It had been five weeks since working with these amazing human beings. Life teaches us how to be strong in this severe environment. I believe one day you all will see the hope of making your great nation prosperous in this land. Never give up Never step back you have given me life-changing experiences more than anything. Thank you, Palestine
2019 Winners of its Winning Works Choreographic Competition
The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, is thrilled to announce the recipients of the ninth annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition: Tommie-Waheed Evans, Marissa Osato, Xiang Xu and Edgar Zendejas.
This announcement follows a national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications, which began in June. The choreographers’ world premiere works will be showcased on the members of the Joffrey Studio Company and the Joffrey Academy Trainee Program at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s Edlis Neeson Theater this March.
The Winning Works Choreographic Competition was created to recognize talented and emerging ALAANA choreographers and to provide them with a platform to showcase their original and innovative work. The winning choreographers are awarded a $5,000 stipend and are given the opportunity to seek guidance from The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet, Ashley Wheater, and Head of Studio Company and Trainee Program Raymond Rodriguez.
“This year’s applicants surpassed our expectations, opening our eyes to the future of Winning Works and the development of emerging choreographers,” said Wheater. “Enthusiasm for this competition is growing and that is exciting for everyone, especially the artists who participate each season.”
“In addition to receiving a record number of applications, the range of talent and innovation was some of the strongest we’ve seen over the last nine years,” added Rodriguez. “It is a wonderful indication of where we are and where we hope to be as we approach our tenth anniversary of Winning Works in 2020.”
VESSELS BEARING
Commission piece for Joffery Ballet
Choreography | XIANG XU
Music Composition | ADRIANO FONTANA
Lighting Design | CLAIRE CHRZAN
Costume Design | LUIS RAZO
Rehearsal Assistant | LUIS VAZQUEZ
Cast | Faith Fasoldt, Mari Fujikura, Mika Hashitani, Shiori Ikedo, Michelle Kenyon, Daniela Maarraoui, Lauren Shaul, Miu Tanaka, Yumina Takamatsu, Saya Tomoda
Heading Rice is the lifeblood of Asian culture. When it lands on our table, the rice bowl holds its energy, maintains its warmth, and binds ten thousand grains into a cohesive entity. The bowl is a boundary that embodies the togetherness with all that is inside, and the separation from all that is outside.
Choreography Residency in Deeply Rooted Dance Theater Chicago 2016
