Meet Cecilia Xiong
United We Dance was founded by Ms. Cecilia Xiong to create and facilitate long and short term, fun-filled dance and cultural programs for schools and clubs across the GTA.
Cecilia is a twenty-year veteran dancer, choreographer, instructor and artistic and program director.
​From 2006-2010 she was lead dancer for the world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts dance company. Cecilia toured the globe and performed before millions of people in some of the world’s most prestigious theaters, including Radio City Music Hall, The Kennedy Center, London's Royal Festival Hall, Palais des congrès de Paris, Australia's Sydney Opera House, etc.
​
From 2010-2016 Cecilia served as Artistic Director, dance instructor and board member at San Francisco High School of the Arts. During this time Cecilia developed a four-year professional level dance curriculum which was approved by the University of California for high school arts credits. She also developed a nine-level dance curriculum for students age 7-16 for weekend and after school dance programs.
​
Today, Cecilia teaches master classes to dance students and instructors of universities and performing arts companies. She currently sits on the board of arts schools in California, Vancouver and Toronto. Her classes are now being implemented in the US, France, Germany, England and Canada.
In the Greater Toronto Area, Cecilia creates and facilitates long and short term, fun-filled dance and cultural programs for schools, clubs and performing arts organizations. Her fun & energetic programs can be taught in-school, after school and at weekend and summer camps.
Please contact Cecilia to discuss a free trial class:
​
Tel: 416-731-6000
​
cecilia@unitedwedance.ca
IN THE NEWS:
Dazzling culture more than 'kung fu’
Calgary Sun
​
What's on your wish list?
​
When Cecilia Xiong was growing up in Wuhan, China, all she wanted to do was dance.
​
Though her father enrolled her in dance classes from the time she was four, he refused to send her to one of the state-run schools.
​
"My father wanted me to study languages. He wanted me to be able to travel, work and even live outside of China," says Xiong, 28.
​
Though she speaks fluent English and Dutch, Xiong has discovered that her first passion, dance, is the true universal language.
​
"You don't need to speak the language of a certain nation to be able to appreciate its culture. The traditional music and dance of China speaks to people everywhere."
​
Xiong is one of 100 musicians, dancers, singers and technicians who will perform at the Jubilee Auditorium for two performances only on Monday and Tuesday.
Xiong says each performance is magical.
​
"The show is not just about the spectacular costumes and backdrops, music and movement but about the spirit of ancient China.
​
"Through the dances we attempt to give our audience a glimpse of some of the finest traditions of a 5,000-year-old culture. Once the performers get on stage, it becomes a learning experience for us as well, because we are exploring the spirit of our Chinese heritage.
​
She says one of the missions of the performance is "to let people see how much China has influenced the world.
​
"We didn't just give the world kung fu."
​​
"We take our audiences on a brief tour of some of the Chinese dynasties which produced their own costumes and customs as well," she says. "The show is like a brief but very colourful and highly moving historical parade."
Virtues revealed through dance
By ANGELIQUE CHIELLI | Westchester County NY Business Journal
While attending this Chinese new year show, you’re not only promised two hours of moving art; you’re promised a lesson in Chinese culture.
“Each dance piece has its own meaning,” said Cecilia Xiong, principal dancer with the company. Xiong, who has been dancing since she was a child, fell in love with the art after performing a lotus dance. The lotus flower in Chinese culture represents purity and pure heart. She said that within Chinese dance “there are always stories telling passion and morality.”
Xiong, 29, was born in Wuhan, China. She said morality and truth are very important aspects of Chinese culture that she strives to illustrate through her dancing.
“I’ve been into spirituality since 1998,” said Xiong... it really influences my dancing because I think with dancing it’s not just movement between the movements; there’s something tangible to express. Especially with Chinese classical dance there’s so much meaning behind it.”...
