XIANG XU
Assistant Professor of Dance at Temple Dance Department
Choreographer

Xiang Xu is an internationally acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and instructor based in Philadelphia and New York City. With a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, he currently serves as an esteemed professor of dance at Temple University's Department of Dance in the USA.

Originally from Ningbo, China, Xiang's exceptional talent blossomed at an early age. He honed his skills at the renowned Beijing Dance Academy, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Xiang's artistic prowess has garnered numerous accolades, including the coveted "Gold Lion" top prize at the Singapore World Music & Dance Competition and a national grant to choreograph the premiere of the grand opus "The Soul of Water," performed at Beijing's prestigious Great Hall of the People.

Known for his groundbreaking choreography, Xiang has redefined contemporary dance through his exploration of new Asian bodily aesthetics. His collaborations span across 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, Xiang founded Xiang Xu Dance, and his scholarly work "Exploration of the Foot-Binding in Chinese Classical Dance" was published in bilingual editions.

Selected by The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Xiang premiered his latest work at the esteemed Winning Works Choreographic Competition in March 2019. He was also appointed as a Next Generation Leader (NGL) for the 2022 cohort in the Committee of 100, an esteemed organization in New York City and Washington DC.

Xiang's extraordinary talent as a soloist and featured dancer has graced renowned venues such as UCLA Royce Hall, The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, the Jewish Community Center Manhattan, and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens, New York. His repertoire encompasses contemporary and traditional Chinese dance styles, and he has also studied and performed Thai, Indian, and West African dances. As a Chinese American choreographer and professor, Xiang has dedicated years to researching and comparing traditional and contemporary dances. His artistic vision seamlessly integrates traditional Asian kinetic aesthetics with Western contemporary dance techniques, Chinese classical dance, martial arts, and folk dance, resulting in a profound reflection of Chinese body aesthetics.

Xiang has developed Sino-Contemporary, a groundbreaking dance training system that draws upon Chinese Han and Tang classical dance, martial arts, and other Asian dance aesthetics. This system seamlessly combines techniques from Western traditional modern dance and contemporary dance, incorporating the latest animal flow movement patterns. Sino-Contemporary emphasizes the three curves of the body, a low center of gravity, and the cultivation of internal energy, Qi. Dancers learn to utilize inner breathing to control their bodies and project their movements into space. Xiang's ultimate aspiration is to elevate Chinese traditional body aesthetics to the forefront of the globalized world in the 21st century.

CHOREOGRAPHY

Choreographic Residency at Boris Eifman Dance Academy St. Petersburg City, Russia

Commissioned dance creation with SinoContemporary research teaching (July 2023)

Choreographic Residency at Beijing Dance Academy Beijing City, China

Commissioned dance creation with master classes, workshops, and performance (June 2023)

Dance Residency at Dance Department in University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia

Commissioned choreography, workshops, and performance (May 2023)

Choreographic Residency at School of Dance & Theatre in LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore

Commissioned dance work Akashic Records with master classes (March 2023)

Dance Residency in Aakash Odedra Dance Company Leicester, United Kingdom

Commissioned dance master classes, workshops, and performance (Jan 2023)

2022-23 Choreographer Career Development Initiative & Performance Series Atlanta City, GA

Commissioned dance work XY for Dance Canvas (2022-2023)

Choreographic Collaboration with J Chen Project in the Museum of Modern Art New York City, NY

Commissioned dance work Nu Wa for New York Fashion Week (September 2022)

Artist-in-Residency in Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) New York City, NY

Incubation dance project collaborating with J Chen Project NYC (2022)

Residency in Towson University Dance Company Towson, MD

Commissioned dance work Monkey Mind (Feb 2022)

Residency in James Madison University, The Virginia Repertory Dance Company Harrisonburg, VA

Commissioned dance work The Bardo (September 2021)

Residency in J Chen Project, Choreography Competition Winer New York City, NY

Commissioned dance work Dantian (August 2021)

Asian Heritage Month International Dance Festival Canada, Toronto

Auld Lang Syne (May 2021)

Digital ChoreoLab Residency in Danceworks Chicago Chicago, IL

Commissioned online dance workshop (August 2020)

CUNY Dance Initiative Residency New York City, NY

Commissioned dance work XY (2019 – 2020)

Residency in Cambodian National Arts Center with Prumsodun Ok Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Gone to the Unseen (August 2019)

Residency in Palestinian Diyar Theatre Bethlehem, Palestinian West Bank Territory

In Between (Jun 2019)

Residency in Joffrey Ballet, Museum of Contemporary Art Edlis Neeson Theater Chicago, IL

Commissioned dance work Vessels Bearing (Mar 2019)

XY Motion New York City, NY

Safe Room (Jun 2018) | Oneness (Nov 2017)

Jewel of Art Dance Studio New York City, NY

Bird’s Eye View (2018)

Columbia University New York City, NY

The Bacchae (2018)

New York LIC Arts Open Gallery Motion New York City, NY

Unidentity (May 2017) | Musing in the Eye (May 2017) | Above (May 2017)

Community Garden Dance Festival New York City, NY

Awakening (Aug 2016)

NYU Tisch School of the Arts New York City, NY

Being or Non-Being (May 2017) | Breathing in Subway (May 2017)

Residency in Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, David Logan Center for the Arts Chicago, IL

Unbounded World (Jun 2016)

NYU Tisch School of the Arts New York City, NY

Re-Becoming (May 2016) | Humans Are Telephones (2016 film)

Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance New York City, NY

Dawn Undersea (Nov 2015)

Beijing Dance Festival Beijing, China

Chaos (Jul 2015)

Jewish Community Center Manhattan New York City, NY

Daven (Feb 2015)

Jack Crystal Theater New York City, NY

Kaleidoscope Concerto (Dec 2014)

The Broad Stage Theater Santa Monica, CA

Spring Awakening (May 2014)

UCLA Royce Hall Los Angeles, CA

Dragon Drum (Feb 2014)

UCLA Glorya Kaufman Hall Los Angeles, CA

Rainbow (Feb 2013)

Beijing Sports University Beijing, China

Musical Dance for Cuju (Apr 2011)

Shanghai Oriental Art Center Shanghai, China

Grey Woods (Jan 2011)

Great Hall of the People Beijing, China

The Soul of Water (Mar 2011)

Grant Award from Zichen Changtian International Culture Media Company

National Grand Theater Beijing, China

Swan Goose Returns to the East Our (Oct 2011) | Yellow River (Oct 2011)
Why the Flowers are that Red (Oct 2011)

Beijing Dance Academy Beijing, China

Metaphysical Fugue (Aug 2010) | Naga (Aug 2010)
Girl, Wolf, Hunter (Jun 2009) | Wenchuan in Remembrance (Apr 2009)

PUBLICATIONS

Xu, Xiang. Exploration of the Foot-Binding in Chinese Classical Dance. LAP: Saarbrücken, Germany, 2016.

Xu, Xiang. Exploration of the Historical and Cultural Aspects of “Yuanchangbu” in Chinese Dance. Asian Journal of Humanity, Art and Literature, 2016, 3, 91-98.
Xu, Xiang. Historical Study on “Tilting” Style in Chinese Classic Dance. Journal of Beijing Dance. 2010, 2, 64-68.

AWARDS

Associate Choreographer and Recipient of 2023 Bessies Nominee for Outstanding Choreographer/Creator, New York City, New York, 2023
Recipient of Funding from the Temple Global Engagement, Philadelphia, PA 2023
Recipient of Grant-in-Aid award from the Temple University Sabbatical Committee, Philadelphia, PA 2023
Recipient of Summer Research Award from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 2023
Recipient of Vice Provost for the Arts grant award from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 2023
Serving as a guest teacher for the National Dance Education Organization Conference, Atlanta, GA 2022
Recipient of Arts Educator Emergency Relief Fund from New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, New York City, New York, 2022
Serving as a panelist for the Bronx Recognizes Its Own Awards in Bronx Council on the Arts, 2022
Serving as a Next Generation Leader (NGL) for the 2022 cohort in Committee of 100, New York City and Washington DC, 2022
Recipient of grant award from the Rauschenberg Dance Emergency Grants Program, New York City, New York, 2022
Recipient of grant award from the City Artists Corps Grants New York Foundation for the Arts, New York City, New York, 2021
A winning choreographer for J Chen Project Choreography Competition, New York City, New York, 2021
Recipient of grant award from NY Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant, New York City, New York, 2020
Recipient of fund award from Dance/NYC Coronavirus Dance Relief Fund, New York City, New York, 2020
Serving as a panelist for the Choreography Fellowship Awards in Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, 2019
A winning choreographer for the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s 9th annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition, Chicago, IL 2019
Recipient of grant award from Zichen Changtian International Culture Media Company, Beijing, China, 2011
First Prize in Choreography and Performance for Musical Dance for Cuju, 12th Beijing Dance Competition, Beijing, China, 2011
Golden Lion Highest Award for Cuju, Ninth Singapore World Music Dance Competition, Singapore, Singapore, 2011
First Prize in Choreography for Metaphysical Fugue, 5th North China Dance, 2010
First Prize in Classical Dance Performance for Metaphysical Fugue, 5th North China Dance Competition, 2010
Third Prize Academic Paper for Historical Study on “Tilting” Style in Chinese Classic Dance, Beijing Dance Academy, Beijing, China, 2009
Second Prize in Choreography for Naga, Academy Award, Beijing Dance Academy, Beijing, China, 2009
First Prize in Choreography and Performance for Metaphysical Fugue, 11th Beijing Dance Competition, Beijing, China, 2009
Third Prize in Choreography and Performance for Girl, Wolf, Hunter, 11th Beijing Dance Competition, Beijing, China, 2009
Honor Roll for Metaphysical Fugue, Beijing Dance Academy’s Campus Dance Promotion, Beijing, China, 2008
First Prize in Choreography and Performance for Metaphysical Fugue, Beijing Dance Academy Competition, Beijing, China, 2008

REVIEWS & PROFILES

WTTW News Chicago Mar 2019

Joffrey Academy’s ‘Winning Works’ Program More Than Justifies its Title – Hedy Weiss

See Chicago Dance April 2019

Winning Works 2019: Tommie-Waheed Evans, Marissa Osato, Xiang Xu, and Edgar Zendejas
create premieres for Joffrey Academy – Jordan Kunkel

New Eastside News Mar 2019

The Joffrey Ballet’s Winning Works Showcases Diversity – Stephanie Racine

BTScelebs Mar 2019

Dance Review: The Joffrey Ballet’s “Winning Works 2019”

Broadway World Feb 2019

The Joffrey Academy of Dance Presents Four World Premieres – BWW NEW DESK

Windy City Times Nov 2019

Joffrey Ballet names winners of choreographic competition

The Joffrey Ballet Announces Winners of the Choreographic Competition Dec 2018

Winner 2019 Xiang Xu

Dance News in Tisch School of the Arts NYU Nov 2018

Spotlight: Xiang Xu, MFA ‘16

NAFSA Xiang Xu – Catherine Jul 2018

Notable Achievements Xiang Xu

World Journal – Ding, Charles Dec 2015

The Most Wonderful Thing Chinese Dance into the Mainstream Art World

SMC in Focus – Smith, Grace Singh Dec 2015

A Dream Born in the Middle Kingdom

Alumni Association – Smith, Grace Singh Jun 2014

Future Alumni Focus

The Corsair – Kashanian, Sarit May 2014

Synapse Dance Show Displays Power and Creativity

XIANG XU Assistant Professor of Dance at Temple Dance Department Choreographer