Julia Cheng

Julia Gar Yun Cheng (born September 1984) is a choreographer, dance artist, and creative director. She has received a number of accolades, including two Laurence Olivier Award nominations.

Early life and education Cheng was born in Luton to Chinese parents. She was first introduced to dance through a ballet performance when she was 3 and re-discovered it as a teenager, participating in local hip-hop clubs. Cheng graduated with a degree in Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Surrey in 2007. She also studied French and spent a year abroad at Lumière University Lyon 2. She then trained in the Graham, Horton and jazz techniques.

Career Cheng starting competing in 2007 and won her first hip-hop competition in 2009. She was a 2010 Associate Artist of The Hat Factory in Luton.

In 2014, Cheng founded and became creative director of the performance company House of Absolute. She also founded Kolesk Dance.

Cheng made her West End debut choreographing the revival of Cabaret at the Playhouse Theatre (rebranded as the Kit Kat Club). For her work, Cheng won Best Creative West End Debut at The Stage Debut Awards and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer. Cheng's choreography carried over when the production transferred to New York's August Wilson Theatre in 2024, marking her Broadway debut.

Cheng choreographed Fiddler on the Roof at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2024, for which she received Laurence Olivier and WhatsOnStage Award nominations. The production transferred to the Barbican Centre the following year. She was also choreographer and movement director for Much Ado About Nothing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. As of 2025, Cheng is an Associate Artist of the Southbank Centre.

Stage credits Year Title Notes 2021 Cabaret Kit Kat Club at Playhouse Theatre, London 2022 Warrior Queens Sadler's Wells Theatre, London 2023 Macbeth Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2024 Cabaret August Wilson Theatre, New York 2024 Fiddler on the Roof Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London 2025 Much Ado About Nothing Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon 2025 Dream Ballets: A Triple Bill Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, London

Accolades Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2022 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Theatre Choreographer Cabaret The Stage Debut Awards Best Creative West End Debut 2025 WhatsOnStage Awards Best Choreography Fiddler on the Roof Laurence Olivier Awards Best Theatre Choreographer Chita Rivera Awards Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Cabaret