FEATURE: Shanghai Beauty tells story to Australia

China's most famous and successful choreographer has taken time in her Australian tour to discuss the challenges of being a transexual dancer and former colonel in the world's largest military force.

Chinese choreographer Jin Xing discusses the challenges of being a transexual dancer and former colonel in the world's largest military force.

Sen Lam

Last Updated: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:00:00 +1100

Jin Xing, who was a man until sex reassignment surgery in 1996, says there are many layers to her persona.

"I am not just a dancer and choreographer, although I am not just transexual, but (from a) transsexual background. These are complications put together who made me who I am today," she told Radio Australia's Connect Asia program.

"I think this is part of my life I take very equally and I think that is quite challenging for the society, for the environment where I am living. Of course but encouraging me to be who I am," she said.

Jin is in Australia with her dance company to perform Shanghai Beauty.

She says she's been delighted with the response of Australia's audiences to her show.

"Fantastic, four evening full house, sold out and great."

She paid tribute to the Chinese military for providing her with the best arts education available in China.

"If I am in a military environment I receive all adult education as a dancer and that's the quality, the discipline, the education that can get to you as a young child is amazing. Even today, I still benefit from such a strong education."

Jin says that the army discipline was useful for all professionals.

"Even today, in Chinese society, the best artists and the best athletes all from the military, most of them. So of course I still benefit from that and at the same time, in such an isolated environment, but as a child can get in contact with art, education."

She says even as a young child her mind was wild and full of imagination.

"My personal desire and dream with everything combined with my art education development develop and at the end of the day after 28 years I find out myself who I am."

She says beginning her career as male had its advantages for her now as a choreographer.

"I think, dance is not a gender specific, because for me before I took the class for Chinese dancer, it was my role to always play the male soldiers ... Soon as I started choreographing my own dancing I don't think about it, dancing for man or woman. It is for the human being," she said.

"That is why I can track with so much audience. I think the best result to communicate to the public is to use the human being point of view if there is a gender issue. But both gender issue experiences if your full of experience."

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