MA Dance and Creative Enterprise (DaCE) alum Xiaoyi Tong brings international flair and flavour from NSCD into her dance career
We interviewed one of our international alumni, Xiaoyi Tong, who joined us from China to study our MA DaCE programme in 2024. Tong tells us about her experiences as a student at NSCD then as a graduate working as a choreographer in the UK.
What initially drew you to the MA Dance and Creative Enterprise course at NSCD?
“My passion has always been choreography. Before coming to the UK, I had been involved in dance for 13 years, creating independent small-scale productions, experimental dance theatre pieces and movement design for opera and musical theatre productions.
I chose the MA Dance and Creative Enterprise course at NSCD to not only study contemporary dance but to connect with artists from around the world and reflect more critically on what contemporary art is. Alongside artistic ability as a choreographer today, I knew I needed to try more experimental collaborations and strengthen my skills in management, coordination and support.”
How did the course help you grow both as a dance artist and as an entrepreneur?
“Meeting such a vast array of people with such different backgrounds and experiences was one of the most powerful parts of the course. They were truly inspiring, and I realised that my peers’ artistic drive often came from their lived experiences.
The course had many facets, but what helped me grow the most was the freedom we were given to explore bold —even “crazy”— ideas. That kind of learning environment was very different from my previous training, and it made me braver. I think that’s a quality every artist needs, and this encouragement from tutors had been missing in my past. It helped me develop my entrepreneurial side, with theory and practice, I find I still use for some of the materials I developed during the course, after graduating.”
Were there any standout projects or collaborations during the MA that had a lasting impact on your practice?
“My most meaningful collaboration I did during the course was a piece I co-created with my classmate Zubin Surty, called Home to My Mother. The inspiration came from our research into autobiographical methods in the Creative Module, we were asked to find a venue in Leeds and run a show independently which I became personally and emotionally connected to.”
How did the course balance creative exploration with the practical skills needed to build a sustainable career in dance?
“For many artists, the practical skills around managing and running a project —like producing or marketing— can feel unfamiliar or even overwhelming. We usually rely on professionals to handle that side of things, but we learn to see projects from a business perspective as well as a creative one – learning to delegate was particularly valuable.
At the same time, the course strongly encouraged us to develop our own artistic identity. In the marketing module, we created a website and a short promotional video. That process involved collating past work and looking at ourselves from a fresh perspective—choosing what to highlight and learning how to speak confidently about who we are as artists and present this through marketing our work online.”
What kind of support did you receive from tutors and the wider NSCD community during your time on the course?
“I found the rich mix of core and guest tutors, brought fresh strengths and perspectives. I gained valuable insights into dance techniques, creative methods, and how choreography and performance can be supported through academic research. This experience expanded my creative energy and deepened connections with dance practice—not just physically, but also in terms of philosophy and concept. I started to feel much more in tune with my work, my body, and the ideas behind what I create.
As an international student, studying in a second language came with real challenges. Relying on vocabulary memorisation or translation tools often wasn’t enough to fully engage with the content. But NSCD provided great support for international students, including English language assistance and academic writing guidance support, which gave me much more confidence in my learning process.”
What was your experience of NSCD?
“My memory of my time here at NSCD is of a beautiful experience. Returning to student life, I could really feel the energy of the younger generation, the BA Students with their passion and curiosity for dance. That kind of energy is something I deeply need, and I was genuinely inspired by the atmosphere.
I was also very grateful for the beautiful studios and the Riley Theatre space we had access to. Every time I worked in those spaces, I could feel how much they supported us as professionals. It’s not something you always find—being able to book and use a theatre so easily really made a difference in how I approached my work. The NSCD library also became a special part of my time there.
I felt incredibly lucky to have access to high quality performances by international dance companies at Riley Theatre on campus, which made it so much easier to stay inspired and connected to the wider world of dance.”
As an international student, what was your experience of studying in the UK—and Leeds in particular? What advice would you give to international students who are considering applying to this course?
“My advice to students thinking about studying dance here in Leeds is - be brave! Engage with as many arts activities as possible. It’s one of the quickest and most rewarding ways to get to know the cultural landscape and make use of all the support the school offers, especially language and academic resources. In the UK there are so many performances to see and people to meet who are very open to conversation, to sharing, and to connecting with each other. That openness was very different from my own cultural background, and I found most inspiring.”
In what ways did the course prepare you for working in the dance industry after graduation?
“The course strongly encouraged us to develop our own artistic identity through developing our own website and a short promotional video it enabled us to look at ourselves from a fresh perspective, learn who we are as artists, and present this through our work online.
Now, as a choreographer, I Iearnt about the idea of working with the unknown and collaboration with courage and motivation. I’ve gradually built the confidence and capacity to work internationally supporting Chinese productions, dance students and connecting cultures, and shaping the wider context in which art can live and grow.”
Can you share an example of how you’ve applied what you learned on the course in your professional work since graduating?
“After graduation, I developed the work into a 50-minute full-length version with Jacob Gale (VERVE 2025 student). It was performed seven times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and later received funding from Arts Council England in 2024 to support its continued development into a more refined and layered production. The same piece was presented at Dance City Newcastle—a more professional theatre setting—where we received incredibly positive responses from both audiences and collaborators”.
For those people who are interested in studying on our MA Dance and Creative Enterprise course, applications for 2025 are now open. You can apply here: nscd.ac.uk/study/apply-ma-dance-creative-enterprise
