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PhD Student Jeremy Zihao Yuan wins the NDEO Doug Risner Prize for Emerging Dance Researchers

September 24, 2025

PhD Student Jeremy Zihao Yuan wins the NDEO Doug Risner Prize for Emerging Dance Researchers

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PhD Student Jeremy Zihao Yuan won the The National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) 2024 Doug Risner Prize for Emerging Dance Researchers for his Journal of Dance Education publication, "A Call of Advocacy and Empathy: A Study of Gay Men in Chinese Dance."

Article publication:
Yuan, Zihao. 2025. “A Call for Advocacy and Empathy: A Study of Gay Men in Chinese Dance.” Journal of Dance Education 25 (3): 229–38. Doi:10.1080/15290824.2025.2522092. 
 
Abstract:
Since the founding of the Beijing Dance School in 1954, Chinese dance education has been divided into strictly gender-segregated classes, fully relying on a gender binary. This article explores the experiences of ten gay men, focusing on their sexual orientation and gender expressions as queer male dancers, all of whom are professionals in the Chinese dance community. It discusses two main themes: the challenges faced by gay men in a society that often restricts their true self-definition, gender expressions, and artistry; and the influence of teachers in shaping students’ dance journeys. This research highlights the impact of traditional gender norms in Chinese dance education, the importance of inclusive teaching methods, and the quest for freedom and acceptance within a society that has not yet recognized or legalized the LGBTQ+ community. It also aims to promote a deeper understanding for dancers experiencing gender inequality in dance education.
 
Jeremy Zihao Yuan is a first-year PhD student in Dance Studies at The Ohio State University, pursuing a minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Shanghai Theatre Academy (2016) and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Washington (2024).
 
As a queer Chinese dance performer & maker, Jeremy’s personal identity profoundly informs both his artistic vision and academic scholarship. He is a dedicated advocate for gender inclusivity and representation in dance, exploring the intersections of gender and sexuality, art, and culture through both research and movement practice.
 
​​Jeremy’s current research focuses on re-centering the voices, narratives, and experiences of marginalized individuals, currently & specifically on Sinophone (Chinese-speaking) diasporas and communities, through a queer lens and their hybridization. His recent scholarly works/projects draw on queer theory, diaspora studies, migration and immigration studies, gender and sexuality studies, as well as critical and queer cultural studies.