Zhang Jingxian's dance story begins with an emotional moment in kindergarten and evolves into leadership in one of China's most prestigious university dance crews: FL Crew at Peking University. His journey reflects persistence, passion, and personal growth through the expressive world of street dance.
Early Beginnings and Rediscovery
Xian’s introduction to dance came after a tearful rejection from a kindergarten performance. When his mother discovered him crying, she and his grandfather approached his teacher and helped him practice. "After that, I became the best male dancer—though there were only three boys in class," he recalls with a smile. This experience taught him that dance requires not just talent but also dedication and a desire to be seen.
His dance journey paused in fourth grade due to a leg injury but resumed in high school when he began dancing for weight loss. "At that time, dancing once a week felt exhausting. Looking back, that intensity was nothing compared to now," he reflects.
FengLei Dance Crew at Peking University
In 2019, Xian entered Peking University's Law School and joined the Fenglei Street Dance Society. During his freshman year, he was persuaded by a senior student to participate in a group dance competition. Despite practicing until midnight and temporarily abandoning his weight loss plans, he unexpectedly achieved his highest GPA of his first three university years. "People always forget the pain after healing, but that experience turned my teammates into comrades," he says, scrolling through old social media posts. "I felt emotional then, but now I only remember the passion."
From Team Member to Choreography Leader
The real turning point came in his sophomore year when Xian became captain of the choreography team. He established a new rule: all team members must train in different old-school dance styles. "Choreography doesn't exist in a vacuum. Its elements come from hip-hop, popping, house... If you've practiced these styles, a cross step becomes one cohesive movement rather than three separate moves." Under his leadership, the team moved beyond simply replicating popular choreography, creating innovative performances that impressed audiences at university events.
Creative Process: Dancing Through Emotions
In his junior year, Xian created his first original piece, "Heartbreak Anniversary." Using emotions as creative fuel, he worked late into the night in stairwells, incorporating balloon props and complex formations. "After completing that dance, I no longer had any lingering thoughts about that person," he shares. The performance received over 400 likes on his personal WeChat video channel and was even shared by professional choreographers in Beijing. Through this experience, he realized that dance is about expressing emotions rather than telling stories—like a ceremonial bonfire where repetitive movements can deeply touch the heart.
Competition and Leadership
During his senior year, Xian led the Fenglei Dance Club in the Nike National University Street Dance League. Over 33 days, he balanced slow and fast movements, formations, and freestyle segments, sometimes practicing until midnight to perfect an 8-count sequence. "Eventually I realized that excessive pursuit of 'balance' can rob a piece of its spirit," he reflects. The team ultimately won second place in the Beijing division, while their freestyle team surprisingly defeated a strong Taiwanese team in the Crew Battle, becoming the highlight of the competition.
Balancing Passion with Management
As president of the dance club, Xian navigated more complex challenges. For the society's reputation, he learned patience and cooperation; for promotional videos, he had to ask members to sacrifice their time. "After becoming president, I grew distant from some friends. You can't please everyone, but you must take responsibility for a club of 400+ people," he admits frankly. Though the experience was "harder than expected," it also brought unprecedented support from those who truly understood him.
The Future: Dance as Life, Not a Promise
Now in his first year of graduate studies, Xian has stepped back from leadership roles but still occasionally choreographs and trains teams. He continues to participate in freestyle competitions, exploring different dance styles to express music. "People with a choreography background have more 'fragmented' bodies, which actually makes it easier to adapt to new styles," he explains.
Regarding his future, he hasn't set a goal to become a professional choreographer: "If you don't live well, you can't dance well. Dance can be a lifelong pursuit, but I don't need to promise 'forever' to anyone."
At the end of the interview, he mentions recently choreographing a piece to Beyoncé's "Two Hands to Heaven," noting that "the movements appeared in my mind fully formed, almost requiring no adjustments." This effortless creativity perhaps represents the answer that time has given him.
The link to the original podcast in Chinese: Ep1, Ep2
Contact:
ins @fl_crew_ ; douyin 衔宝Xian ; bilibili 北京大学风雷街舞社 ；his personal bilibili 衔儿是笨笨熊
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