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XIANG XU 
Assistant Professor of Dance at Temple Dance Department 
Choreographer

Xiang Xu is an international choreographer, dance professor and dancer based in Philadelphia and New York City. Xiang holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and currently as an assistant professor of dance at Department of Dance in Temple University, USA. 

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Xiang grew up in Ningbo, China and trained at its most prestigious dance institution, the Beijing Dance Academy, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and won numerous awards, including the “Gold Lion” top prize at the Singapore World Music & Dance Competition as well as a national grant to choreograph the premiere of the epic work “The Soul of Water” performed in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Xiang's choreography has been highly recognized for discovering new Asian bodily aesthetics as a new definition in contemporary dance. He has collaborated with the Aakash Odedra Dance Company UK, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Merce Cunningham Trust, Palestinian Diyar Theater, The Joffrey Academy of Dance and Cambodian National Arts Center. In 2015 he established Xiang Xu Dance and his academic book “Exploration of the Foot-Binding in Chinese Classical Dance” has been published in both Chinese and English language editions. The Joffrey Academy of Dance selected Xiang to premiere his latest work at its 9th annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition in March 2019. Xiang was serving as a Next Generation Leader (NGL) for the 2022 cohort in Committee of 100 in New York City and Washington DC.  

 

Xiang has performed as a solo or featured dancer at UCLA Royce Hall, The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, the Jewish Community Center Manhattan, and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Queens, New York. Xiang performs both contemporary and traditional classical Chinese dance styles, and has also studied and performed Thai, Indian, and West African dances. Xiang incorporates traditional Asian movement aesthetics into his contemporary choreography, and sees dance as a physical form of philosophy. 

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CHOREOGRAPHY

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, workshops, and performance (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)

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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.

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AWARDS

  • 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

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