Xue Jinghua

Xue Jinghua (; born October 7, 1946) is a Chinese ballerina who was cast in the now internationally well-known Red Detachment of Women of the National Ballet of China as Wu Qinghua, the heroine of the ballet for which she became a prima ballerina.

Early life Xue was born in Wuxi to a family of intellectuals. Her mother encouraged her to pursue the arts, particularly dance. When the Beijing Dance Academy invited a ballet instructor from the Soviet Union to teach in 1956, Xue's mother took her to Beijing to audition. Although Xue had never danced ballet before, she passed three exams and was enrolled in the programme.

Dance career National Ballet of China Xue joined the National Ballet of China in 1963. She was relatively unknown as a ballerina prior to being cast in Red Detachment of Women. It has been reported that Jiang Qing saw Xue perform and exclaimed that she reminded her of herself at that age, advising the troupe to give the dancer a role. Xue was first cast as the company commander, then as the lead Wu Qinghua . Alternatively, it has also been suggested that Zhou Enlai saw her perform as the company commander and recommended Xue be cast as the lead.

Xue left the National Ballet in 1990.

Television Xue appeared as a judge on the 2002 programme CCTV Dance Competition.