2025 World Dance Festival

LEADER: Chen Shan Shan(Tete) 

INTRODUCTION FROM SASPX DANCE DIRECTOR: Shan Shan represents the young generation of Contemporary dancers in Shanghai. They come from established dance companies like JinXing Dance Company or Xie Xin Company, but also explore their own artistic style different from the previous generation. Shan Shan’s Contemporary style is emblematic of the Contemporary Dance you will find specifically in China. It utilizes a constant flowing quality, although the movement language requires full body strength. Virtuosic movement appears weightless with this continuous flowing quality, as ancient Chinese practices harness the power of Qi, lots of Chinese Contemporary dance styles make maximum effort look effortless by feeling power from within. In general, Contemporary Dance is a style of dance that is an umbrella, encompassing many artists and their expressions, bringing technique, theatrical practices and their own original dance backgrounds to this style of dance. 

BIOGRAPHY: Chen Shan Shan has collaborated with artists in multiple cross-border performance. Shan Shan was a former dancer of the Jin Xing Dance Theater and North River Body Theatre. They graduated from the Dance Choreography Department of Nanjing Art Institute. Shan Shan has created original works and has participated in China Guangdong Modern Dance Week, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Dance Week, Shenzhen Nanshan Drama Festival, Wuzhen Drama Festival, etc. These creations combined dance, installation, image, drama, and performance.

LEADER: Hao Wang 

INTRODUCTION FROM SASPX DANCE DIRECTOR: Hao is a local artist who has trained in Ballet in China and Europe.He worked as a professional dancer in Spain, performing Contemporary works. In Shanghai, he is a master ballet teacher at Shanghai Ballet.In recent years, Hao has formed his own small Contemporary Ballet company.This is a rarity in China, as small, independently run groups are challenging to operate outside of the mainstream system. Hao has presented his company’s work at Shanghai International Dance Center experimental and grand theater. Contemporary Ballet is an evolution of Classical Ballet, after Neo-Classical. Contemporary Ballet allows for varying artistic expression using Ballet’s Classical technique, combined with more movement possibilities. 

BIOGRAPHY: Choreographer and instructor at the Shanghai Ballet Company, guest professor at the Xi'an Conservatory of Music, and former ballet teacher at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. In the course of an illustrious career, he served as lead dancer at the Guangzhou Ballet, principal dancer at the Singapore Dance Theatre, and solo dancer with the Victor UllateBallet Comunidad de Madrid in Spain. During the years, he assumed major roles in numerous well-known classical and contemporary ballet productions, touring internationally with dance companies. Asa choreographer, he has been commissioned by major national ballet companies, bringing notable works including Bach Concerto in G Minor, DoubleThink, Reaching the Night, Roles, The Call of Homeland, The Way Back, Jerusalem, The Stranger, The Game Falling into Darkness, and Polyphony.

LEADER: Yiki 

INTRODUCTION FROM SASPX DANCE DIRECTOR: The term ‘Hip-Hop’ is often used generally to describe styles of dance and pieces of choreography that actually have their own histories and cultures(such as: popping, locking, house, punking, waacking, krumping and evolutions such as poly swag). In general, we can think of an umbrella term of Street Dance to encompass these myriad of histories, styles and cultures in current dance choreographies and ‘Commercial Dance’ to understand styles of choreography for entertainment using creativity and inspiration from Hip-Hop and Street Dance styles. Hip-Hop is actually an older style of dance, which has in a way inspired a whole world of dance and expression. Hip-Hop was a movement in art, music, dance and culture that grew out of the Bronx in the 1970s, in an effort to rebuild a marginalized community. The dance that came out of this movement involved social dance that could be practiced by anyone in that community and more athletic movement like breaking, that could only be expressed by more skilled dancers. Today, we can incorporate this history, movement, and style with movement inspired by Hip-Hop’s bounces and rocks. 

BIOGRAPHY:

Education: Hubei Art Vocational College/ 9 years of dance experience, hip hop/ Junior/Adult Hip-hop dance teaching experience: 6 years/ Taught Hip-hop for 5km for 3 years, / 2021 Shanghai "Wake Up with the Rooster" hiphop competition 16-strong/ 32nd place in the 2021 Shanghai National Women's Hip Hop Competition/ 2019 Jiangxi psychedelic factory "party Christmas" 16 strong/ Participated in the 2018 Chengdu Arena camp training camp/ Participated in the 2017 Chengdu Arena camp training camp/ In 2017, Sichuan TV invited performance guests/ Represented at the 2015 Wuhan University Dance League

LEADER: Hao Lan 

INTRODUCTION FROM SASPX DANCE DIRECTOR: China has more than 50 ethnic minorities, many of which have a traditional folk dance linked to them. The minor dances of China offer a glimpse into the history and culture of each minority. Minzu University is a famous school for preserving these minority dances. The style of Mongolian ethnic minority dance references the movement of eagle’s wings, the gallop of horses, wide plains, hospitality and power. Although each minority cannot only be summed up by a few gestures and themes, we can begin to understand the values and perception of those minorities in China, providing a jumping off point for deeper investigation into the region and it’s people. Mongolian ethnic dance is a fun, full body, rhythmic style that will connect you with your own power while providing insights into another culture.

BIOGRAPHY: Lan Hao graduated from Shanghai Theater Academy with a major in Chinese Classical Dance. He joined the Shanghai Dance Theater Company in 2009, and is currently a soloist in the company. He received a high honor in Chinese art, receiving the Wenhua Award at 16th annual Chinese Culture and Government Awards.