2019 House Programs Rite of Spring | Page 14

Farooq Chaudhry OBE International Creative Producer A former professional dancer, Farooq Chaudhry is the co-founder and producer of Akram Khan Company and plays a key role in advancing Khan’s artistic ambitions through innovatory business models and creative strategies. In 2008 he was included in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of the world’s top 100 cultural actors and entrepreneurs. He is also the international creative producer for Yang Liping and previously produced for the English National Ballet. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from De Montfort University (Leicester) for his services to dance. Last year he became the co-artistic director of PECDA (the Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Dance Awards) in India. This year he was awarded an OBE for his services to dance and dance production. Nathan Wang Producer Nathan Wang studied economics and law at Macquarie University (Sydney) and now practises as a solicitor in Australia. Between 1996 and 2008 he worked as a manager at Jardine Fleming Securities Hong Kong, an executive director in the International Equity Sales department of Morgan Stanley, an executive director in the Global Wealth Management department of Morgan Stanley and in the Ultra High Net Worth Wealth Management department of UBS AG. Last year he became the general manager of Yunnan Yang Liping Arts & Culture Co Ltd, for which he has led Dynamic Yunnan, Echoes of Shangri-La, The Peacock, Under Siege, The Winter of the Peacock and Dynamic Pingtan, as well as Rite of Spring. Yunnan Yang Liping Arts & Culture Co Ltd completed a new three-board listing on the Beijing Stock Exchange on 23 October 2014, becoming the first listed performing arts company in the world. Nathan Wang is also leading the project The Five Golden Flowers Theatre in Dali, Yunnan. Zhonghui Gong Rehearsal Director Zhonghui Gong trained as a choreographer at the Beijing Dance Academy and graduated in 2006, and has become one of its most successful dancers and choreographers. He worked with Paper Tiger Studio, Living Dance Studio and Free Dancer Studio, and in 2012 he became Executive Arts Director of the Beijing Contemporary Dance Company. His major works include Doctor in Village, Wandering in the Dream, Chrysanthemum, Live Like Grass, Think Over and Over, Cool, Midnight Rain and Reading. He has participated in performances at the Berlin Art Festival, Zurich International Art Festival, Hong Kong Art Festival and Singapore Arts Festival, among other prominent festivals.