Dr Zhi Xu

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Zhi Xu is a choreographer, dancer, researcher and Senior Lecturer in Dance at Bath Spa University. He completed a PhD focusing on dance technology and cultural identity at Brunel University of London in 2021. As a choreographer and dancer, he has created over 20 works that have toured worldwide, including in China, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Belgium, Malaysia and Israel. From 2010 to 2016, as an independent artist, he collaborated with renowned Chinese film directors such as Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang and Lu Chuan. His works encompass dance drama, dance theatre, site-specific dance, exhibitions and large-scale projects, including Being River (2024), X-Body (2019), Kun.Peng (2017) and Chasing The Dream (2014). He joined one of China's most prestigious events as an independent director at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. His creation X-Body was selected for performance at The Place in London during Resolution 2019.

Zhi graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Beijing Dance Academy in 2008 and a Master's degree from the University of Roehampton in 2017. He joined Beijing Modern Dance Company in 2008 and became an independent artist in 2012. He has been awarded the British Academy ECRN Seed Funding in 2024, the Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Doctoral Research in 2021, the Vice-Chancellor's Travel Prize in 2020, the Vice-Chancellor's Prize of Poster Conference at Brunel University of London in 2019, the Prize for Most Promising Researcher at the University of Roehampton in 2017, and was recognised as an Excellent Director by the 2nd Summer Olympic Games Committee in 2014.