Dr Zhi Xu

Personal statement

Zhi Xu is a choreographer, dancer, researcher and Senior Lecturer in Dance at Bath Spa University, teaching on the BA Dance and MA Dance courses amongst others. 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 and Malaysia. He joined the Beijing Modern Dance Company in 2008 and became an independent artist in 2012.

His works include digital performance, dance theatre, site-specific dance, exhibition-performance and large-scale projects, such as Being River (2024), Unexpected Bodies (2020), Mourning for a dead moon (2019), X-Body (2018) and Chasing the Dream (2014). He joined one of China's most prestigious events as an independent director at the Summer Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in 2014. His creation X-Body was selected for performance at The Place in London during Resolution 2019.

Prior to joining the Dance Department at Bath Spa University in 2022, Zhi was a Guest Lecturer in the Dance Department at the University of Roehampton and a Visiting Lecturer at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London.

Zhi has been awarded the British Academy ECRN Seed Funding in 2024, the Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Doctoral Research at Brunel University of London in 2021, the Prize for Most Promising Researcher at the University of Roehampton in 2017, and was recognised as an Excellent Director by the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games Committee in 2014.

Academic qualifications

• PhD Dance and Technology, Brunel University of London
• MA Dance Philosophy and History, University of Roehampton
• BA Choreography, Beijing Dance Academy

Professional qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• Personal Development for External Examiners, Advance HE

Professional memberships

• Theatre and Performance Research Association (TaPRA)
• Dance Studies Association (DSA)
• Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries (CCCI)
• Creative Practice and Embodied Knowledge (CPEK)

Other external roles

• External Examiner for MA Dance: Performance, London Contemporary Dance School, UAL (2024-present)
• External Examiner for MA/MFA Movement: Directing and Teaching, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London (2024-present) 
• Link Tutor for BA (Hons) Dance (Commercial/Contemporary), The Scottish Institute (2024-present)
• Link Tutor for BA (Hons) Professional Dance, The Brighton Academy (2022-present)

Teaching specialism

• Choreography
• Contemporary Dance Technique
• Dance and Cultural Identity
• Dance and Interactive Technology
• Dance and Virtual Reality
• Dance and Motion Capture.