Meet Zhihan Yang

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zhihan Yang a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zhihan, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

As a dance choreographer, I understand the profound impact self-care has on both my creative work and overall life. To maintain depth and continuity in my creations, I am particularly mindful of the information I consume. I limit my exposure to short videos and instant updates because these brief snippets can erode my patience, making it difficult to deeply consider the complexity and nuances of events. Overreliance on quick information can fragment my thinking and scatter my attention. By reducing my intake of such content, I can focus more on my work and maintain a coherent and deep thought process.

In my daily life, I have several specific practices to sustain this focus. First, I constantly observe and record. I jot down everyday occurrences and details in my notebook, which helps me stay attentive and provides rich material for my creations. Writing is also crucial as it helps me organize my thoughts and deepen my reflections.

Reading significantly aids my creative process. It exposes me to a wide range of ideas and emotions, with many of my inspirations and profound feelings originating from books. Stories and characters within them often spark my imagination, helping me find new ways to express myself in my choreography.

Given that my art is closely related to the body and dance, maintaining physical flexibility and health is essential. I attend classes by other teachers and choreographers to explore the diversity and possibilities in body movement. Exercising not only keeps my mind clear but also enables me to perform better on stage.

Keeping both the mind and body healthy is crucial for continuously producing deep and impactful work. Observing life, recording thoughts, consistently reading, and exercising are practices I find very effective. I hope everyone can find their own rhythm and maintain their passion and drive for creation.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I am a choreographer, dancer, and educator based in Los Angeles. I received my MFA from the California Institute of the Arts and my BFA from the Beijing Dance Academy. I am dedicated to researching the relationship between movement, installation, and multimedia, as well as exploring the diverse embodiment of the body in the language of the camera and the reflection of identity across different communities and contexts.

In recent years, I have been active in theater, media, film, and education, collaborating with organizations such as the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, the Yaya Dance Academy, and the San Musae Cultural Center. My accolades include the Double Platinum Award and Overall First Placing in the Showstopper Dance Competition, the Oniros Film Awards for Best Dance Choreography, a Top 10 Finalist at the Festigious International Film Festival, Best Dance Film at the Experimental Film & Music Video Festival, Short Dance Film Finalist at the Vesuvius International Film Festival, and Outstanding Official Selection at the 92Y Mobile Dance Film Festival.

My recent works encompass a variety of styles and forms, including the quintet Core (2024), the solo environmental piece Underground (2024) with Heidi Duckler Dance, the solo work Bounces of the Wild (2024), the environmental piece Metam. (2023) with Heidi Duckler Dance, the orchestral trio choreography THEA MUSGRAVE: Pierrot (2023) with the Pacific Symphony, the dance theater Am I Susan (2022), the physical theater XXX (2022), and the quintet Gladiola (2021). My dance films include As a Girl (2023), Question (2022), Rush (2021), Refresh (2021), and Retrospect (2021).

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Dance has always captivated and inspired me with its boundless nature, transcending physical movements and drawing inspiration from the complexity and diversity of life itself. Reflecting on my journey, three key qualities and skills have been most impactful: learning to communicate with oneself, embracing experimentation and risk-taking, and gaining interdisciplinary knowledge. Self-dialogue is crucial for understanding one’s passions and energy, enabling authentic expression. During my graduate studies, I realized the importance of constantly trying new things, taking risks, and learning from mistakes. This continuous process of trial and error is essential for growth and innovation. Additionally, having a broad base of interdisciplinary knowledge enriches creative thinking and offers new dimensions to artistic expression. For those early in their journey, my advice is to spend time understanding your motivations, embrace experimentation, and actively seek knowledge beyond your primary field. Expand your social network and professional connections through personal art websites and social media, and collaborate with different organizations to foster personal and professional development. This approach will enhance your creativity, build resilience, and facilitate a continual process of self-discovery and artistic evolution.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

I am currently facing career-related challenges. My specialization is in choreography, with a focus on contemporary and modern dance. However, this field does not provide me with a sustainable income, and I often have to use other financial sources to fund my creative projects. Consequently, I have to sacrifice time for activities that are less interesting and fulfilling to me. This is a common issue for many freelance dance artists—we appear to have more choices, but we often feel uncertain and lost amid these options.

Reflecting on this situation, I’ve come to realize a few important points. Firstly, the instability and financial challenges of pursuing a career in dance require a great deal of resilience and passion. It’s essential to stay connected to the core of why we chose this path in the first place—our love for dance and the unique expression it offers. Secondly, diversifying our skills and income sources can be a practical approach to navigating these challenges. This might involve teaching, offering workshops, or exploring interdisciplinary projects that combine dance with other art forms or media.

Moreover, building a strong professional network and seeking collaborations can open up new opportunities and provide support. Engaging with the broader artistic community can help us feel less isolated and more empowered to pursue our creative goals. Lastly, it’s important to remain adaptable and open to new directions, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones. Balancing practical considerations with our artistic ambitions is key to finding a sustainable and fulfilling path forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zhihanyangdance.com
• Instagram: @_zhihanyang_

Image Credits

Jingya Zhou, Guanting Du, Nicolas Savignano,@k.ing_original, Shiqing Ban, The ForeFront Forever, Zhihan Yang, Sean Deckert