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Julia Cheng Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Cheng

Julia Cheng
Born
Julia Gar Yun Cheng[1]

September 1984
Luton, England
Alma mater
Years active2007–present
Websitewww.juliachengarts.com

Julia Gar Yun Cheng (born September 1984) is an English choreographer, dance artist, and creative director. She has received a number of accolades, including two Laurence Olivier Award nominations.

Early life and education

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Cheng was born in Luton to Chinese parents. She was first introduced to dance through a ballet performance when she was 3 and re-discovered it as a teenager, participating in local hip-hop clubs.[2] Cheng graduated with a degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Surrey in 2007.[3] She also studied French and spent a year abroad at Lumière University Lyon 2.[4] She then trained in the Graham, Horton and jazz techniques.

Career

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Cheng starting competing in 2007 and won her first hip-hop competition in 2009. She was a 2010 Associate Artist of The Hat Factory in Luton.[3] She taught at the University of Roehampton and applied for a Step Out Arts commission.[5]

In 2014, Cheng founded and became creative director of the performance company House of Absolute.[6] She also founded Kolesk Dance.[2] In 2019 and 2022, Cheng was a BBC Four Young Dancer.[7]

Cheng made her West End debut choreographing the revival of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre (rebranded as the Kit Kat Club).[8][9] For her work, Cheng won Best Creative West End Debut at The Stage Debut Awards and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. Cheng's choreography carried over when the production transferred to New York's August Wilson Theatre in 2024, marking her Broadway debut.[2]

Also in 2022, Cheng created the show Warrior Queens for her company House of Absolute, which was staged at the Sadler's Wells Theatre alongside Shades of Blue by Matsena Productions.[10]

Cheng choreographed Fiddler on the Roof at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2024, for which she received Laurence Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award nominations. The production transferred to the Barbican Centre the following year.[11] She was also choreographer and movement director for Much Ado About Nothing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.[12] As of 2025, Cheng is an Associate Artist of the Southbank Centre.[13]

Stage credits

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Year Title Notes
2021 Cabaret Kit Kat Club at Playhouse Theatre, London
2022 Warrior Queens Sadler's Wells Theatre, London
2024 Cabaret August Wilson Theatre, New York
2024 Fiddler on the Roof Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London
2025 Much Ado About Nothing Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
2025 Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

Accolades

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Theatre Choreographer Cabaret Nominated
The Stage Debut Awards Best Creative West End Debut Won [14]
2025 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Choreography Fiddler on the Roof Nominated
Laurence Olivier Awards Best Theatre Choreographer Nominated
Chita Rivera Awards Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Cabaret Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Abbott, Ian (11 January 2022). "Julia Cheng". Hip Hop Dance Almanac. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Felicia (29 March 2024). "Choreographer Julia Cheng on Building the World of Cabaret". Broadway Direct. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Jessica (4 April 2016). "Julia Cheng – Waacking across the world". Dance Direct. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  4. ^ Ouro-Gnao, Isaac (4 May 2022). "Julia Cheng: 'Getting inspired and learning from others – that's what nourishes me'". The Stage. Retrieved 16 March 2025.(subscription required)
  5. ^ "Move Be Moved 40 Stories: Julia Cheng". DanceEast. 17 November 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  6. ^ "Skin Deep meets Julia Cheng". Skin Deep. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  7. ^ "Julia Cheng". BBC Four. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  8. ^ Winship, Lyndsey (28 March 2022). "Fishnets out, waacking in! Julia Cheng on how she transformed Cabaret". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  9. ^ Jays, David (1 May 2022). "Julia Cheng on Cabaret: I taught Eddie Redmayne to dance". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  10. ^ Crompton, Sarah (15 May 2022). "Shades of Blue/ Warrior Queens review – compelling and contemporary". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  11. ^ Wood, Alex (4 June 2025). "Fiddler on the Roof at the Barbican Theatre – review". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  12. ^ Naylor, Gary (29 April 2025). "Much Ado About Nothing, RSC, Stratford - Messina FC scores on the bardic football field". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Julia Cheng". Southbank Centre. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  14. ^ Wood, Alex (18 September 2022). "The Stage Debut Awards winners announced including Jodie Comer". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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