Aubretia Dance Studio (奥布里亚舞蹈工作室) was established by Ms. Lijun Bi in June 2018. The studio has already distinguished itself through its active involvement in a multitude of major Chinese cultural events, as well as cooperate events in the UK.
Ms. Lijun Bi (毕丽俊) is the founder and artistic director of Aubretia Dance Studio (奥布里亚舞蹈工作室) and the London Chinese Community Centre Performing Art Troupe.
She is also the founder and chairman of the UK-China National Dance Exchange Association (UKCNDEA), 英中民族舞蹈交流协会.
Since 2003, she has been an experienced dance teacher, dancer and choreographer. She specializes in Chinese classical(古典) dance, Han Tang(汉唐) dance, Dunhuang (敦煌) dance, folk dance, ethnic minority dance, modern and fusion (融合舞) dance.
She hosts regular dance classes in her dance studio in Watford and in the Chinese Community Centre in London Chinatown. She has led her students to perform in many major culture events in London and home counties.
She has devoted herself to promote Chinese dance and Chinese culture. She has helped raise the profile of Chinese dance in the UK and globally since the Covid-19 Pandemic, through online teaching.
She has advanced professional certificate in Chinese classical dance from Beijing Dance Academy (北京舞蹈学院) in China. She also had formal dance training on large scale Chinese festival dances in the College of Music and Dance in Huaqiao University (华侨大学音乐舞蹈学院) in Xiamen, China. In 2019, she learnt Dunhuang dance from Ms. Su RuiXuan, the head of department of Dunhuang, College of Dunhuang (敦煌学院), Northwest Normal University in China.
Ms Lijun Bi is also a curator, director and producer of culture and fashion shows.
In 2020, she curated two hours Chinese New Year Culture Show and successfully held at the Watford Palace Theatre on 1st February 2020, highly praised by British public.
She also produced over an hour Chinese New Year Celebration at the Watford Intu supported by Watford Borough Council and delighted the British public on 19th January 2020.
On 9th September 2018, Ms. Lijun Bi produced one hour culture show for the Watford Big Event at Watford town centre, supported by Watford Borough Council.
Ms. Lijun Bi is also the founder and president of UK-China Fashion Arts and Culture Ltd (UKCFAC).
On 15th February 2020, she curated the First China Evening Solo Segment at the House of iKon Show in London Fashion Week AW20.
Full coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NU-3Db-_tE
And
Among her many involvements of high profile culture performances, noticeably, on 5th February 2019 in the National Gallery, Aubretia Dance Studio was introduced to UK and the world media on the press release for launching the London Chinese New Year Celebration 2019 which was the biggest CNY celebration outside Asia. Ms. Lijun Bi was invited to choreograph the finale dance to close the London Chinese New Year Celebration. She brought two programs to the event.
On 10th February 2019, as well as performing Beijing Opera style dance on day, Aubretia Dance Studio gave a grand finale dance for thousands people in Trafalgar Square.
Seeing in the picture working on the finale detail on the set the night before in Trafalgar Square with the London Chinese New Year production manager and artistic director Ms. Julia Haferkorn Cobb.
Ms. Lijun Bi was the Excutive Director for the《我爱我的祖国》production by the CCTV (中国中央电视台) for the celebration of 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China in 2019.
See footage in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9g6KZnpsyg
Ms Lijun Bi was the Vice Chair and music conductor of UK Chinese Choir prior 2016.
On 15th May 2019, she conducted the U.K Beijing Arts Centre Choir in the special chorus concert "The Songs of May" hosted by The London Chinese Philharmonic Choir in celebrating the 70th Birthday of the People's Republic of China.
Xinhua UK (新华社) report (0:42 - 1:18):
In the past, Ms Lijun Bi was the founder of the first Chinese women's dance troupe in UK in 2003. Her Chinese Women's Waist Drum Dance Troup was the first one in Europe. She consequently had training and support from the Art Council England.
Notably in 2006, their fan dance representing Chinese Dance style was featured on the BBC TV live and on the BBC website.
See footage in https://youtu.be/GqjXGb4UGZ8
Growing up in China, Ms Lijun Bi was selected to study classical ballet from 9 years old for four years, her dedicated teacher was from Shanghai Ballet Dance Academy (上海芭蕾舞学院) in China, and she was trained in gymnastics at university for four years; for which she won the provincial college gymnastics competition and awarded the national third grade gymnastics in 1980.
She won a full scholarship from Australian Government in 1988, after finished her degree from Software Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院软件研究所) . She came to London in 1991 after she finished her postgraduate study from University of Queensland, Australia.
On Thursday 17th March 2022, Ms. Lijun Bi gave free Chinese dance performances and lessons at Great Whelnetham C of E Primary School, UK.
On Saturday 1st March 2022, Ms. Lijun Bi was invited to perform a Chinese classical dance "Mei Ren Guan" at the "Spring Festival 2022" Virtual Reception at the Ming-Ai (London) Institute.
On Saturday 22th February 2022, Ms. Lijun Bi was invited to perform a Dunhuang dance "Silk Road Dunhuang" and a Chinese classical dance "Mei Ren Guan" at the "Spring Concert" with UK Chinese Ensemble at the beautiful Tivoli Theatre, Aberdeen, UK.
https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/spring-concert-with-uk-chinese-ensemble
Highlight of Chinese dances performed by Ms. Lijun Bi, https://youtu.be/1G6fqv3C1DU
On Saturday 12th February 2022, Aubretia Dance Studio performed Chinese Classical dance "Mei Ren Guan" at the 2022 Chinese New Year Online Celebration, organized by UK Chinese Business Association (UKCBA), and Co-organized by UK-China National Dance Exchange Association (UKCNDEA) - 英中民族舞蹈交流协会 and UK Hubei Business Association.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/eqWy1i3yRgAxOmxUe7W2NA
On Thursday 10th February 2022, Aubretia Dance Studio performed Chinese Classical dance "Mei Ren Guan" and umbrella dance " Ban Hu Sha", also organized a Chinese water sleeve workshop at the Chinese New Year celebration of Mander Portman Woodward school in London.
On Sunday 6th February 2022, Aubretia Dance Studio performed Dunhuang dance at the 2022 Chinese New Year Online Celebration - Year of the Tiger, organized by Oxfordshire Chinese Community & Advice Centre.
On 19th September 2021, Aubretia Dance Studio performed for London public, dancing Chinese Classical dance "Ban Hu Sha" and Chinese Miao Dance "Water Girl" at Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebration, organized by the London Chinatown Chinese Association.
Full coverage: London Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2021
On 18th September 2021, Aubretia Dance Studio gave a costume show for the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration by the ChongQing Business Association.
On 28th August 2021, Aubretia Dance Studio performed "Ban Hu Sha" Chinese Classical dance at the Watford Celebration 2021, celebrating the rich cultural diversity. It was presented by Lee Partridge from VIBE 107.6 FM, and attended by the Mayor Peter Taylor, Cllr Tim Williams and Cllr Asif Khan.
On 26th June 2021, Aubretia Dance Studio performed Dunhuang dance and Dai dance at the Big Dance 2021 during the Covid-19 lockdown, together with the finalist of British Got Talent & street dance stars of "Streat Dance Movie", the incredible and sensational "Flawless!", Come One Dance Academy, Diamond Girls, FK Dance, JMC Dance and Music. My Favorate Things, Kew Dance,New Connections, Rise Studios, Savoy Shakers, The Dan Tien, The Honey Hoppers. Hosted by JiveSwing.Com and Watford Borough Council.
On Friday 12th March 2021, Aubretia Dance Studio performed Dunhuang dance at the Ming-Ai Institute online Chinese New Year celebration during the Covid-19 lockdown.
On 31st December 2020, Ms. Lijun Bi preformed Chinese Dai dance - Peacock, at the Ming-Ai Institute online New Year Party during the Covid-19 lockdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NU-3Db-_tE
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8CjfEGBuaS/?igshid=b6avs193j6mv
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7giU0tBYdY/?igshid=pk0azmmyze47
On 9th November 2019, performed "Flame Dance" - Chinese fan dance, at the annual Lord Mayor's Show, which dated back to 1215, live on BBC and all major British media.
https://lordmayorsshow.london/
On 6th October 2019, performed Chinese classical dance for the Lord Mayor of the City of Westminster, Cllr Christabel Flight, at the 华人社区中心 for the 2018銀髮週日.
On 28th September 2019, performed "Flame Dance" at the UK Chinsese Society's Fair (2019年第二届英国华侨华人社团迎新日), launched by the European Times -《欧洲时报》.
On 21st September 2019, performed "DunHuang Dance" at the Greenwood Theatre to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, hosted by Beijing Association.
On 17th September 2019, performed "DunHuang Dance" at the Intercontinental London Park Lane. Overseas Chinese in Britain celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China.
On 15th September 2019, performed "Flame Dance" and "Pear Bloosom Feelings" at the Greenwood Theatre to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China, hosted by 英国中文教育促进会.
On 13th September 2019, performed "DunHuang Dance" at Bang Bang Oriental City in London for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
On 30th June 2019, performed "Flame Dance", "Chinese Ribbon Dance" and "Chinese Fan Dance" at the annual London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival. We were the sole dance troupe to give a colourful display of Chinese dances, which attracted, according to the official figure, 10,000 people to participate. Broadcast by all major media.
On 17th June 2019, Ms. Lijun Bi was filmed by the BBC4. She demonstrated her teaching of Chinese classical dance in the London Chinese Community Centre (伦敦华人中心). The documentary will be broadcast earlier 2020.
On 16th June 2019, as one of the organizers for the dance and singing flash mob at the Greenwich in celebrating the 70th anniversary of PRC, filmed for Beiling Television to broadcast in October 2019 in China. Thanks to over 20 members from UK-China National Dance Exchange Association(UKCNDEA) and students from Aubretia Dance Studio.
Thanks to British-Chinese Economic and Cultural Promotion Association, Beijing Television, London Fude Chinese School and Golden Age Media.