Syukie Zhang is a choreographer, movement artist, and practice-based PhD researcher at London Contemporary Dance School and the University of the Arts London. Her research explores choreography as embodied knowledge and intellectual labour, particularly through street-rooted and hybrid practices. She is interested in how choreographic knowledge is generated, transmitted, and recognised, and how it can become more visible and legible beyond dance communities. Drawing on Practice as Research, philosophy, and long-term engagement with street and contemporary dance communities across London, Los Angeles, and Beijing, her work examines authorship, creative labour, and the social and institutional conditions that shape choreographic practice. Before beginning her PhD, she worked in product management, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective to questions of creativity, knowledge production, and artistic practice. Alongside her research, Syukie maintains an active choreographic practice through creative projects, performance, and sustained training with international dance communities. Her choreographic work has been presented in London, Los Angeles, and Beijing.
Recent Academic Activity:
Dance Studies Association (DSA) Annual Conference 2026(Accepted Individual Paper Presentation)
From Body-to-Body to Brain–Body: Rethinking Choreographic Knowledge in Street and Hybrid Practices
Working title of research project:
Choreography as Embodied Knowledge and Intellectual Labour: Toward Sustainable Recognition and Policy Support
Syukie's supervisors are:
Dr Dave Beech (UAL)
