Together with partner Nao Sakuma [ja], he represented the company, inter alia, at the NATO gala in 2000 in Birmingham and the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002.
(meta data) TITLE: Chi Cao - Birmingham Royal Ballet # Birmingham Royal Ballet # Chi Cao Born: Shan Xi, China Trained: Beijing Dance Academy and the Royal Ballet School Joined: 1995; Principal, 2002 Awards: Third Prize, Prix de Lausanne, 1994; Gold Medal, Varna International Ballet Competition, 1998; Nomination for Best Actor for the Australian Inside Film Awards. Who inspired you to start dancing: Mikhail Baryshnikov. Most challenging experience: I starred as Li Cunxin in Bruce Beresford's film Mao's Last Dancer with no acting experience and only a couple of weeks of preparation! Favourite band: Queen – having a perfect technique is great, but in a live performance, stage presence and energy are what really connect with the audience. What would you be if you weren't a ballet dancer: an actor or a professional boxer. REPERTORY INCLUDESFrederick Ashton: La Fille mal gardée (Colas), The Two Pigeons (Young Man), The Dream (Oberon, Puck), Enigma Variations (Troyte), Les Patineurs (Blue Boy), Symphonic Variations and Voices of SpringGeorge Balanchine: Agon (pas de trois), The Four Temperaments (Melancholic Variation), Mozartiana (Solo boy), Serenade and TarantellaDavid Bintley: Arthur (Lancelot), Beauty and the Beast (Beast, Raven), Edward II (Gaveston, Warwick, Lancaster), Hobson's Choice (Fred Beenstock, Salvation Army), Allegri diversi (lead role), The Orpheus Suite (Orpheus), The Seasons ('Spring'), The Shakespeare Suite (Hamlet), The Sons of Horus (Qebhsnuf), 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café (Southern Cape Zebra), Choros, Dance House, Sylvia (Aminta) and David Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle (Albrecht, 'Harvest pas de deux')Oliver Hindle: The Four Seasons ('Spring', 'Summer') and Bright Young ThingsKenneth MacMillan: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo, Benvolio, Mercutio, Mandolin Dance lead) and Elite Syncopations ('Friday Night')Twyla Tharp: In the Upper RoomPeter Wright's productions of Coppélia (Franz), The Nutcracker (Prince), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund, Bluebird) and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova's production of Swan Lake (Prince Siegfried, pas de trois) CREATED ROLESDavid Bintley: Concert Fantasy (lead role) and The Seasons ('Spring')Oliver Hindle: Bright Young Things AWARDSGold medal, Varna International Ballet Competition, 1998. Header image: Clothing (except for t-shirt) generously supplied by UK dancewear specialists Dans-ez
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Chi Cao
Abstract.
Chi Cao (Chinese: 曹驰; pinyin: "Cáo Chí"; b. March 22, 1978) is a British ballet dancer born in China. 
 Cao was born in Shanghai, the son of a dance teacher and a musician. When he was four years old, the family moved to Beijing.  He received training in classical dance at the Beijing Dance Academy, where his father was director. In 1993, he got a scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. In 1995, he became a member of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. In 1998 he won the Gold Medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition.