Skip to main content
Mid-shot of Southbank Centre Associate Artist Julia Cheng, wearing a black tank top and looking at the camera side-on, her hands framing her face in a pose

Julia Cheng

Julia Cheng’s work as a creative director and choreographer has been presented internationally. Her choreography on Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club in London’s West End and on Broadway was critically-acclaimed, being nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography in 2022, the Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Choreography in 2024, and winning her a Stage Debut Award.

Cheng has created work for dance, theatre, opera, musical theatre, commercial and grassroots projects. She believes in crossing the boundaries of creative contexts, and the ability to challenge the ecology of the artistic landscape. She has received commissions from a breadth of institutions including Sadler’s Wells, V&A Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company, Kings Place, Scottish Ballet, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London Jazz Festival, Wilderness Festival and the Southbank Centre.

She has also collaborated with the Philharmonia Orchestra, poet Lavinia Greenlaw, musicians Shingai and Floacist, composer Simon McCorry, artist/sculptor Laila Muraywid, curator Kerry Campbell, and theatre director/activist Daniel York-Loh. Cheng’s work has also featured in campaigns for Dr Martens, Wella, Audi, Honda, and Vogue Italia.

Cheng is Creative Director of the collective House of Absolute, a judge and mentor for BBC Young Dancer and Breakin’ Convention – the UK’s largest Hip Hop Festival, an Associate Artist at Canterbury’s Gulbenkian Theatre and a proud Patron of Next Generation Youth Theatre in her hometown of Luton.