Moving Dragon

Moving Dragon is a Vancouver-based contemporary dance company that emphasizes cross-cultural exploration.  Founded in 2004 by Jessica Jone and Chengxin Wei, the company seeks to journey through dance, stemming from traditional Asian roots and blooming towards contemporary thought. 

Along this journey, the body itself becomes a bridge between East and West.  Moving Dragon has been featured at a variety of dance events, including the Dancing on the Edge Festival, the Dance Centre, Dances for a Small Stage, the Connecting Community Dance Series at Moberly Arts Centre and at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. 

Its repertoire of original contemporary cross-cultural work includes Yuan, Interplay, Lumina I and II, Triaspora and a new work to premiere at the Dance Centre in Fall 2008. Jone was born in Vancouver, and received her early dance training from her mother, Lorita Leung. 

She later went on to train professionally in Chinese classical and folk dance at the Beijing Dance Academy, and the Guangdong Dance School in China. She is also trained in Western dance, and is a graduate of the contemporary dance program at Simon Fraser University.  She is an accomplished dancer and seasoned performer who has won many awards for performance and choreography, including the Chairman’s Award at the Fourth Peach and Plum Dance Competition in Beijing, and two Choreography Awards at the North American Chinese Dance Competition.

In addition to her extensive performing experience, Jessica is also the vice-principal of the Lorita Leung Dance Academy, and is a much sought-after guest teacher throughout the Lower Mainland. She has taught various master classes in Chinese dance at SFU, the Dancers Transition Resource Centre, the Canadian Dance Teachers Association, the Goh Ballet Academy, the Dance Centre, and was also guest choreographer for the Runaway Moon Theatre Company’s production of By the River.

Wei, A native of Dalian, China, Chengxin Wei graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 1997, where he studied classical Chinese dance for eleven years.  He subsequently worked for three years as principal dancer of the Guangdong Provincial Dance Theatre. 

Since moving to Vancouver in 2000, Chengxin has appeared with various dance companies including Ballet British Columbia, Anatomica, the Lorita Leung Dance Company, MovEnt, Wen Wei Dance and Company Erasga.  

In addition, he has created numerous contemporary cross-cultural works that have appeared at Dances for a Small Stage, the Connecting Community Dance Series and at the Dance Centre. On May 11, Moving Dragon will join Lorita Leung Dance Company for the 10th season of Dance Allsort at the Roundhouse Community Arts Center.