Shen Wei

Shen Wei (simplified Chinese: 沈伟; traditional Chinese: 沈偉; pinyin: shěn wěi; born 1968) is a Chinese-American choreographer, painter, and artistic director based in New York City. He is known for founding Shen Wei Dance Arts in 2000 and for choreographing the opening segment of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Shen’s multidisciplinary work incorporates dance, painting, sound, sculpture, theater, and video. Critics have highlighted his syncretic style, combining elements of Eastern and Western aesthetics and blending performance art with visual installation.

His original movement technique, which he terms "Natural Body Development," emphasizes breath, proprioception, and fluidity. Since 2011, Shen has expanded his practice to include large-scale multimedia productions integrating installation art, video, and animation. His work has been performed in over 130 cities across 30 countries.

He has received major commissions from the Park Avenue Armory, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center Festival, and Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, and has created works for companies including Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. In addition to dance, he has designed sets, costumes, lighting, and multimedia for fashion shows and art exhibitions. In 2008, he choreographed a haute couture show in Paris for Chinese designer Ma Ke.

Shen Wei’s honors include the Nijinsky Award for Emerging Choreographer (2004), a MacArthur Fellowship (2007), and the Samuel H. Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement (2022).