Born in Hunan, China, Xuan Cheng trained at Guangzhou Arts School and Xinghai Conservatory of Music. She joined Guangzhou Ballet in 2000 and later become a Principal Dancer. She was invited to join La La La Human Steps, Canadian contemporary dance company, and later danced with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens and Oregon Ballet Theatre before joining Hong Kong Ballet (HKB) in 2022 as a Principal Dancer and Ballet Mistress.

Cheng’s notable principal roles include Odette/Odile in Christopher Stowell’s and Kevin Irving’s Swan Lake, and she was the first Chinese dancer to perform the role of Teresina in August Bournonville’s full-length Napoli. Additionally, she has performed almost all the lead roles in classical ballets like La Sylphide, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Cinderella, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet, La Bayadere and ALICE (in wonderland) and has danced leading and original roles created by world class choreographers, including George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Jiří Kylián, Édouard Lock, Nicolo Fonte, Trey McIntyre and Val Caniparoli. With HKB, Cheng has danced the principal role of Nikiya in Vladimir Malakhov’s La Bayadere, Juliet in Webre’s Romeo + Juliet, the leading role in Webre’s Carmina Burana and HKB Presents American Ballet Theatre Studio Company Ballet Superstars of The Future. With La La La Human Steps, she toured 20 countries across Europe, Asia and North America. Cheng also guest performed with Barak Ballet and HKB and in the International Ballet Gala IX with Ballett Dortmund in 2009.

Her accolades include being the silver medalist in the 3^rd Shanghai International Ballet Competition in 2004, the finalist in the 8^th New York International Ballet Competition in 2005 and the gold medalist in the 2006 Taoli Cup Dance Competition. 

Cheng is a guest faculty member of Guangzhou Arts School and the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. In 2015, she co-founded Oregon International Ballet Academy with her husband Ye Li and served as the Artistic Director, overseeing ballet education programmes and full-length productions.

 

Dancer Q&A
1.Why do you dance?
I dance, not only to use my body as a language to tell a story and to connect with the audience, but also to interpret my soul.

2.What does ballet mean to you?
Ballet is part of my life; it is my belief.

3.What’s the most challenging ballet you have danced and what made it so challenging?
Every ballet has a unique style and different challenges. Even with the same ballet, every show is different. Personally, I think The Sleeping Beauty is the most challenging full-length ballet and the most iconicly pure classical ballet. Especially the Rose Adagio - it is so long and has to be perfect. The audience see everything, and there is nothing you can hide.

4.How do you unwind after a show?
Grab a drink with family and friends.

5.What is the Attribute you most like about yourself?
Optimistic, positive energy

6. What is the Place where you feel most yourself?
In the studio, on stage

7. What’s your favourite food?
Chinese hot pot

8. Where is the most interesting place you have ever visited or want to visit?
I’ve always wanted to go to Greece.

9. What is the coolest thing about being a dancer?
I can be different characters and experience many different lives on stage.

10. If you can have a super power, what would it be?
To fly