Yin Yue Dance Company

Yin Yue is a versatile performer and choreographer. Born and raised in China, she studied classical ballet technique, Chinese classical and folk dance at Shanghai Dance School, where she received rigorous training in all aspects of the technically demanding and highly structured Chinese dance. She continued her education at Shanghai Normal University and by the end of her university training she had appeared in many festivals and dance competitions throughout China. In 2005, she was ranked among the top ten performers in the National Dance Competition in Yunnan. Frustrated with rigidity of Chinese dance education system and told that with her petite frame she could never be a professional dancer, she moved to New York City to pursue MFA in contemporary dance at New York University’s Tisch School of The Arts. After graduating with a MFA in dance in 2008, she quickly started to gained attention as a highly original performer and choreographer among peers. Besides the sensual and controlled contemporary movement quality, Yin recently became fascinated with Mongolia and Tibet folk dance styles – two regions with ancient dance traditions virtually unknown to the West. Elements such as “horse riding” steps from Mongolian dance, “prayer” body posture from Tibetan dance with its signature arm flipping, tilting and dragging movement styles made way into her contemporary choreography. Transformed by Yin’s individual sensitivity and expressive approach, these elements became the inspiration and root material for her own, very personal style, in which she strives to achieve combination of grace, and effortless and strong physical power in which she finds harmony and balance. You don't dance to be able to find out how you feel, you dance when there is so much power and feeling in you, you just have to stand up and move. – says Yin about her approach. The main themes of her work are emotional experiences, conflicts and relationships in all their complexity (as recognized and awarded by such organizations as Northwest Dance Project 5th Annual Pretty Creatives International Choreographic Competition in 2013 and finalist at The A.W.A.R.D. Show 2010!, presented by New York’s The Joyce Theater Foundation)

Yin Yue is also Artistic Director of Jiangxi Zhongshan Dance School. Founded in 1996 and located in Nanchang in Jiangxi province in China, the school is the only private-run educational organization ranked among top Chinese professional dance schools. Its curriculum includes a 6- year Chinese dance and ballet program. In 2014, the school has joined forces with YYDC and presented an evening length dance production in which contemporary dance shared stage with Chinese traditional dance.