BIOGRAPHY
Ma Cong - passionate, bright, inspired- is a choreographer whose work has won over audiences and critics alike.
Having started his dance career at the Beijing Dance Academy where he trained in the art of Chinese Classical dance,
Ma soon discovered his love for Ballet and went on to graduate with Honors. Ma danced with The National Ballet of
China from 1995 until 1999 and worked with directors and choreographers from Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet,
Kirov Ballet, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. Ma has performed Principal
roles in works by Balanchine, Cranko, Robbins, Tharp, Duato, Kudelka, Kylian, Forsythe, MacMillan and Hans Van Manen.
Ma has appeared as a Principal Guest Artist dancing on International stages along with Alessandra Ferri (American Ballet Theatre),
Roberto Bolle, Mossimo Muru (Teatro Alla Scala), Eleonara Abbagnato and Herve Moreau (Paris Opera Ballet).
Music has always driven Ma from a very young age to create movement out of passion. As a choreographer, Ma launched his
choreographic career with Tulsa Ballet creating Folia in 2004. Since then, Ma has created original works for Houston Ballet,
BalletMet, Ballet Florida, Smuin Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Ballet Nouveau Colorado, Ballet Des Moines, among many others.
In 2006, he was invited by Viviana Durante and Luciano Cannito to perform his creation, Melodia in the Grand Gala for
Peasaro International Choreographic Festival in Italy and later at the Miami International Ballet Competition.
Among his many personal and professional achievements, in 2006 Ma was named one of the "25 to watch" by Dance
Magazine for both his dancing and choreography as well as The Choo-San Goh award in 2007. In 2008, Ma was the
winner of the 21st Century Choreographic competition and also received the "Audience Favorite" and received the
"Editor's Choice Award" from Pointe Magazine. In 2010, Ma choreographed an original piece entitled Calling for Houston
Ballet II and was described by Houston's En Pointe as having "swiftly risen to become one of America's most exciting
choreographers." Calling was also performed later in 2010 in Germany. In March 2010, ABT principal dancer Michele
Wiles performed his work In the moment along at YAGP grand Gala, City Center New York City. In summer 2012,
Richmond Ballet performed Ershter Vals at the Linbury Studios at the Royal Opera House to sold out audiences,
and received great reviews from Dance Europe Magazine. In March 2013, Ma was honored as one of the three
winning choreographers for Joffrey Ballet's Choreographers of Color Awards, and his new premiere Impulse Within
was very well received by Chicago audience. Most recently, Ma's ballet Ershter Vals opened the Kennedy Center's
2013 Ballet Across America and it premiered by Queensland Ballet in Australia in August 2013. It was a great
success, the work was very well received from the critics and the audience.
Ma is the Resident Choreographer of Tulsa Ballet and continues to be in demand worldwide for his choreographic creations.