“My experience as an immigrant has propelled me to confront the unknown and face my own fears, resulting in a passion for choreography that pushes boundaries and explores what’s possible beyond conventional standards.

I’m driven by a deep desire to enrich people's lives with greater meaning and color, and contribute to a more peaceful and harmonious society. My approach to choreography and my work as a director and teacher are rooted in inspiring perseverance and cultivating a sense of individual responsibility. I want to encourage people to take their lives seriously and always seek out their own goodness and purpose.

For example, among my most important projects is my first piece of original dance, The One, a 25 minute work that premiered in 2016 at the Portland World Trade Center. The One relays the idea that everyone is “The One” - like most of my work, there is challenge and conflict tempered by an underlying message to push past difficulty and never give up, ultimately portraying hope and possibility. The One is about looking past your reflection in the mirror to see the x-ray of your own heart’s longing, looking deep down to discover you ARE The One. Everyone has the possibility to shine if we value and celebrate ourselves with kindness, respect, and that level of awareness.

By venturing beyond the scope of my original upbringing and prescribed path, I now view my home culture with fresh eyes and share its best attributes through the beauty of dance. While Chinese tradition tends to reserve and internalize emotions, I also embrace the more immediate and extroverted modes of expression in Western culture. By combining these contrasting elements, I create a unique "push and pull" dynamic in my choreography that resonates with audiences and reflects the duality of our modern world. Drawing upon the strict foundational training I received in China, I’m able to create new and imaginative work based on my experiences in foreign lands. I recognize that in life, there are rules and frameworks, but understanding how different cultures perceive and navigate these structures allows me to transcend conventional boundaries and establish a unique brand and signature. For instance, I often incorporate movement beyond the conclusion of the music, symbolizing the dance living on beyond the confines of time-based pieces.

Choreography, for me, is the language of life. It encapsulates the essence and purity of human gesture and expresses it in its most elegant and meaningful form, fostering connection, comfort, healing, and empathy. 

Thank you for your interest in my work, in the arts, and for contributing to a more beautiful world.”

- Ye Li, with support from Aligned Artistry

Ye Li’s The Things That Remain