{{Short description|English choreographer}} {{Infobox person | image = | caption = | birth_name = Julia Gar Yun Cheng<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiphopdancealmanac.com/post/julia-cheng-2|title=Julia Cheng|work=Hip Hop Dance Almanac|first=Ian|last=Abbott|date=11 January 2022|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> | birth_date = September 1984 | birth_place = Luton, England | alma_mater = {{Plainlist| * University of Surrey }} | occupation = | years_active = 2007–present | website = {{url|https://www.juliachengarts.com/}} }} '''Julia Gar Yun Cheng''' (born September 1984) is a choreographer, dance artist, and creative director. She has received a number of accolades, including two Laurence Olivier Award nominations.
==Early life and education== 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.<ref name="bd mar 24">{{Cite web|url=https://broadwaydirect.com/choreographer-julia-cheng-on-building-the-world-of-cabaret/|title=Choreographer Julia Cheng on Building the World of Cabaret|work=Broadway Direct|first=Felicia|last=Fitzpatrick|date=29 March 2024|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> Cheng graduated with a degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Surrey in 2007.<ref name="dd apr 16">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.dancedirect.com/2016/04/04/julia-cheng-waacking-across-world/|title=Julia Cheng – Waacking across the world|work=Dance Direct|first=Jessica|last=Wilson|date=4 April 2016|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> She also studied French and spent a year abroad at Lumière University Lyon 2.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/julia-cheng-getting-inspired-and-learning-from-others--thats-what-nourishes-me|title=Julia Cheng: 'Getting inspired and learning from others – that's what nourishes me'|work=The Stage|first=Isaac|last=Ouro-Gnao|date=4 May 2022|accessdate=16 March 2025}}{{subscription required}}</ref> She then trained in the Graham, Horton and jazz techniques.
==Career== 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.<ref name="dd apr 16"/> She taught at the University of Roehampton and applied for a Step Out Arts commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.danceeast.co.uk/news/move-be-moved-40-stories-julia-cheng/|title=Move Be Moved 40 Stories: Julia Cheng|work=DanceEast|date=17 November 2023|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref>
In 2014, Cheng founded and became creative director of the performance company House of Absolute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://skindeepmag.com/articles/skin-deep-meets-julia-cheng/|title=Skin Deep meets Julia Cheng|work=Skin Deep|date=29 March 2018|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> She also founded Kolesk Dance.<ref name="bd mar 24"/> In 2019 and 2022, Cheng was a BBC Four Young Dancer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/5lhqhS4zvJWMZHRKXLMF56j/julia-cheng|title=Julia Cheng|work=BBC Four|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref>
Cheng made her West End debut choreographing the revival of ''Cabaret'' at the Playhouse Theatre (rebranded as the Kit Kat Club).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/mar/28/fishnets-waacking-julia-cheng-transformed-cabaret-olivier|title=Fishnets out, waacking in! Julia Cheng on how she transformed Cabaret|work=The Guardian|first=Lyndsey|last=Winship|date=28 March 2022|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/article/julia-cheng-on-cabaret-i-taught-eddie-redmayne-to-dance-z2n7f0jwl?region=global|title=Julia Cheng on Cabaret: I taught Eddie Redmayne to dance|work=The Sunday Times|first=David|last=Jays|date=1 May 2022|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref> 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.<ref name="bd mar 24"/>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/may/15/shades-of-blue-anthony-and-kel-matsena-brothers-review-warrior-queens-julia-cheng-sadlers-wells|title=Shades of Blue/ Warrior Queens review – compelling and contemporary|work=The Guardian|first=Sarah|last=Crompton|date=15 May 2022|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/fiddler-on-the-roof-at-the-barbican-theatre-review_1681196/|title=Fiddler on the Roof at the Barbican Theatre – review|work=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=4 June 2025|accessdate=4 June 2025}}</ref> She was also choreographer and movement director for ''Much Ado About Nothing'' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theartsdesk.com/theatre/much-ado-about-nothing-rsc-stratford-messina-fc-scores-bardic-football-field|title=Much Ado About Nothing, RSC, Stratford - Messina FC scores on the bardic football field|work=The Arts Desk|first=Gary|last=Naylor|date=29 April 2025|accessdate=4 June 2025}}</ref> As of 2025, Cheng is an Associate Artist of the Southbank Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/bio/julia-cheng/|title=Julia Cheng|work=Southbank Centre|accessdate=16 March 2025}}</ref>
==Stage credits== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2021 | ''Cabaret'' | Kit Kat Club at Playhouse Theatre, London |- | 2022 | ''Warrior Queens'' | Sadler's Wells Theatre, London |- | 2023 | ''Macbeth'' | Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |- | 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== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |- ! Year ! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |- | rowspan="2" | 2022 | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Theatre Choreographer | rowspan="2" | ''Cabaret'' | {{nom}} | |- | ''The Stage'' Debut Awards | Best Creative West End Debut | {{won}} | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/the-stage-debut-awards-winners-announced-including-jodie-comer_57392/|title=The Stage Debut Awards winners announced including Jodie Comer|work=WhatsOnStage|first=Alex|last=Wood|date=18 September 2022|accessdate=8 August 2023}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3" | 2025 | WhatsOnStage Awards | Best Choreography | rowspan="2" | ''Fiddler on the Roof'' | {{nom}} | |- | Laurence Olivier Awards | Best Theatre Choreographer | {{nom}} | |- | Chita Rivera Awards | Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show | ''Cabaret'' | {{nom}} | |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.houseofabsolute.com/ House of Absolute]
{{DEFAULTSORT:cheng, julia}} Category:Living people Category:1984 births Category:Alumni of the University of Surrey Category:Creative directors Category:English people of Chinese descent Category:English women choreographers Category:English choreographers Category:Musical theatre choreographers Category:People from Luton