Chinese Dance Fiesta 2026: Kunwu Talk-Demonstration

Professor Ma Jiaqin is a first-class choreographer from China and the creator of kunwu. She has served as Vice Chairman of the Jiangsu Dance Association and as the Founding Dean of the Dance Academy at Nanjing University of the Arts. She is a distinguished professor in charge of kunwu, and has held leadership roles in Suzhou’s performing arts institutions. She has received numerous awards, including the China’s Wenhua Choreography and Scriptwriting Awards, National Choreography First and Special Awards and Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles Contributor and Model title. Her centre for kunwu research and practice, the Kunwu Inheritance and Innovation Centre, was listed by the UNESCO as one of China’s intangible cultural heritage.

Representative works include Gan Jiang Mo Ye 《干将莫邪》, Wu Gu Niang 《五姑娘》, Yu Mei Re 《虞美人》 , Hua Meng 《花梦》 , Wu Zhi Lian Hua Lan 《五指莲花兰》, You Shan Tang 《游山塘》, Qing Zui San Yue Tia 《情醉三月天》, Dao Cao Ren 《稻草人》, Gui Mei 《鬼妹》, Chun 《春》, Feng Xue Xing Ren 《风雪行人》, Xiao Chun Xiang 《小春香》 and Chuan Yao – Yue Er Gao 《船谣——月儿高》.

Publications include Kun Yun Liu Fang 《昆韵流芳》, Collection of Academic Papers on Kunwu, Kunwu Syllabus for Undergraduates, as well as Teaching and Research Achievements on The Emergence and Ontological Structure of Kunwu. 

Wang Meiqing graduated from Nanjing University of the Arts. She studied under Professor Ma Jiaqin and holds an intermediate professional title in the arts. She is a member of the Secretariat of the Kunwu Expert Committee of the Chinese Dancers Association, served on the editorial board for teaching demonstrations for the kunwu syllabus and participated in demonstrations for the kunwu syllabus for undergraduates.

She took part in a Jiangsu Arts Fund project and the “Five Top Project” award-winning musical Hua Zhong Lu Yi Ji 《华中鲁艺记》, as a key performer and a member of the directing team. She also performed in the teaching showcase Dong Fang Zhi Feng 《东方之凤》, organised by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Cultural and Historical Museum, and was recognised as an outstanding student at the National Arts Fund Creative Performance Talent Training Programme.

In 2023, she was awarded the title of Culture Star of the Community by the Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism. In 2024, she starred in Chun 《春》 and Chun Man Jiang Nan《情满江南》, which won the Gold Award for Literary and Artistic Innovation in Higher Education.

Singapore Chinese Dance Theatre (SCDT), established in 2014, promotes Chinese dance through artistic excellence, nurturing young talent and creating innovative works rooted in tradition. It also engages communities through outreach efforts while showcasing its productions internationally.

Led by Artistic Director Jenny Neo, SCDT plays a key role in shaping Singapore’s Chinese dance identity. The company has been supported by the National Arts Council under its Major Company Scheme since 2016. It is a non-profit charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC), and a recipient of the 2024 Charity Transparency Award.