Siye Tao is a dancer, choreographer, and dance filmmaker. She is also Associate Area Head of Performing Arts and an Associate Arts Professor of Dance at New York University Shanghai. Tao holds a Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA) in Dance Performance, and a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Dance Education from Minzu University of China College of Dance, Beijing.
Siye Tao began her rigorous professional dance training at a young age and has continued for over twenty-eight years. She trained in ballet, contemporary dance, Chinese classical dance (integrating elements of martial arts and traditional opera), and Chinese folk dances in Beijing. Her studies were guided by prominent dance educators, many of whom are founding figures in the development of dance in the People’s Republic of China.
Since 2015, Tao has worked as a director, choreographer, performing artist on stage and on screen. Tao was the prize winner in choreography at the 15th Beijing Dance Competition (at the national level). She was also the dance director and choreographer of the music and dance gala ‘The Poetry of China (2015-2017)’.
Tao’s recent dance films and choreographic works ‘Floating Dust’, ‘Corralling of Circles’, ‘Shattered Ripples’, and ‘Watch, and Being Watched’ have received international recognition and have been presented in more than twenty countries. These venues include Beijing Tian-Qiao Performing Arts Center, Nanshan Culture and Sport Center in Shenzhen, Shanghai Film Art Center, Glór Theater in Ireland, Dansmuseet in Stockholm, Glorya Kaufman Performing Arts Center, Sophia Gordon Center for Performing Arts, Théâtre du Marais in Val-Morin, Detroit Film Theater of Detroit Institute of Arts, etc.
Tao considers dance a vital means of connection and expression. Recently, she has focused on improvisational research, exploring the subtle creativity that emerges between holding on and letting go. At the same time, she is developing dance education initiatives for the general public in China. She believes that everyone can dance, anywhere and at any time.
