The Jin Xing Dance Theater’s tour of the stage play Sunrise faced cancellation across multiple Chinese cities in 2024, an event that effectively cemented a national ban on her troupe. This development marked a significant escalation in the visibility challenges Jin has navigated as a public figure in China since governmental scrutiny of her work intensified in 2021.
Military Training and Early Dance Career
Born in Shenyang in 1967 into a Chosŏnjok family, Jin entered the People’s Liberation Army at age nine to pursue dance. She attended the College of Military Culture at the PLA National Defense University, graduating in 1984. During her tenure with the military dance troupe, she achieved the rank of colonel and secured victories in national dance competitions. In 1989, she relocated to New York on a scholarship, studying modern dance techniques under Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham before performing throughout Europe.
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Following a return to China in 1993, Jin underwent sex reassignment surgery in 1995, an experience that left her temporarily paralyzed. In 1999, she established the Jin Xing Dance Theater, the first independent troupe of its kind in the country. Her choreography, noted for its provocative style, includes works such as The Imperial Concubine Has Been Drunk for Ages and Cross Border–Crossing the Line, the latter produced in collaboration with pianist Joanna MacGregor.
Television and Media Presence
Jin moved into television in 2013 as a judge on the Chinese iteration of So You Think You Can Dance, where she garnered attention for her opposition to the exploitation of contestant trauma. Between 2015 and 2017, she hosted The Jin Xing Show on Dragon TV and subsequently the dating program Chinese Dating with the Parents. Her career has also included appearances on The Amazing Race China 3 and an advertising campaign for Dior in 2021.
Film and Recognition
Her acting credits include the 2002 film Resurrection of the Little Match Girl, the 2005 production Tom-Yum-Goong, and Birth of the Dragon in 2016. International recognition for her contributions includes being named to the BBC 100 Women list in 2017 and receiving the Crystal Award in 2020. Fluent in several languages including Chinese, Korean, English, Japanese, Italian, and French, Jin currently resides in Shanghai with her husband, Heinz Gerd Oidtmann, and her three adopted children.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 August 1967, Shenyang
- Military Rank: Shang Xiao
- Education: College of Military Culture at the PLA National Defense University
- Marriage: Heinz Gerd Oidtmann (2005)
- Independent Dance Troupe Founded: 1999
- Major Awards: Crystal Award (2020), BBC 100 Women (2017)
Questions readers ask
What is Jin Xing's professional background?
She is a dancer, choreographer, and film actor who trained in both modern dance and traditional military dance techniques.
Has Jin Xing faced censorship?
Yes, since 2021, she has reported the cancellation of her shows, the erasure of her credits, and the banning of her dance theater's performances.
