A producer led company creating adventurous art by connecting old worlds with new worlds
Our Team
Farooq Chaudhry
CEO / Director / Producer
Farooq Chaudhry, a renowned and influential dance producer who has recently ventured into directing, has been a key figure in shaping the eco-system of British contemporary dance over the past three decades. Born in Pakistan and brought up in London, Chaudhry, a recipient of an Asian Achievement Award for dance, transitioned from a successful career as a professional dancer from 1986 to 1999 to further his passion for the arts by obtaining an MA in Arts Management from City University after his retirement. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in his illustrious dance career.
In the year 2000, a chance meeting with choreographer Akram Khan sparked Farooq Chaudhry's innovative spirit. He revolutionised the dance world by devising new business structures that blended enterprise, ambition, and personal risk to pave the way for Akram Khan’s daring and ground-breaking productions. In addition to these productions he conceived initiatives such as AKCT (Akram Khan Charitable Trust 2005-2016) and Portraits in Otherness (2017) within the AKC company framework to provide career-defining platforms for emerging artists, breaking barriers and showcasing diverse movement languages. Numerous artists, including Gregory Maqoma, Aakash Odedra, Yuko Inoue, Anton Lachky, Joy Christine Ritter, Ching Ying-Hsien, Maya Jilan Dong, and Dickson Mbi, have reaped the rewards of this program.
This early success offered a new path in the evolution of dance companies, emphasizing artistic freedom and entrepreneurial drive to open doors for Akram Khan and many others. The transformative impact of this shift cannot be overstated. It challenged prevailing aesthetic standards, broadened ideas of cultural universality and excellence, and amplified the voices of marginalized communities. New industry benchmarks were set in both the art and business models that allowed the company to flourish. Now in its third decade Chaudhry remains as an integral strategic presence as Producing Director for the Akram Khan Company ensuring it stays relevant and resilient in challenging times.
Chaudhry's profound love for the arts and genuine desire to foster global connections, propelled him to expand his credentials as a producer for a diverse range of international artists and organizations. His impactful collaborations include work with the renowned English National Ballet and esteemed Chinese choreographer Yang Liping, elevating their standing on a global scale. In 2016 to 2017, Farooq Chaudhry assumed the position of CEO for the Oscar-winning artist Tim Yip, unlocking fresh avenues for Tim's extraordinary visual gifts.
Chaudhry has also been a driving force in nurturing a new vanguard of talents like the British Cameroonian choreographer Dickson Mbi, Indian Kathak artist Aditi Mangaldas and ethnic Chinese dancer Maya Jilan Dong, guiding them to prestigious awards and nominations.
In 2020 he was the producer on the ambitious triple bill Isadora Now for Viviana Durante Dance Company. In 2024, he assumed the role of International Strategy Consultant for the promising Chinese sensation Li Xing, further cementing his influence in the international arts community.
Alongside his roles as a producer and director, Farooq Chaudhry has made significant contributions as an educator, imparting his knowledge through consulting, mentoring, and lecturing at prestigious institutions including London Studio Centre, Goldsmiths University, and the London Business School. He is a sought-after guest speaker and active participant at global arts conferences and festivals, sharing unique perspectives and insights cultivated through a career and experiences beyond traditional developmental pathways. From 2018 to 2021 he was the co-director of PECDA (Prakriti Excellence in Contemporary Awards) that was and continues to be instrumental in identifying some of the most exceptional contemporary dance talents in India ensuring that they have the necessary resources and guidance to contribute to the global artistic narrative.
In 2024, Chaudhry served as a co-curator for the digital museum "A Very British Rhythm," honouring the impactful contributions of dance artists of colour who have influenced and enriched the UK dance scene for the past 200 years, contributing to its present-day success. Moreover, Farooq Chaudhry has dedicated himself and his company to offering umbrella platforms for unconventional projects worldwide, exemplified by initiatives like Pettee for UAE artist Deepak Unnikrishnan.
Between 2019 and 2023, Farooq Chaudhry served as an Artist Trustee at the esteemed Tate Museums, during his tenure as trustee he also chaired the Members Advisory Committee at Tate Modern. Responding to the imperative call for cultural institutions to address diversity and inclusion following the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, he jointly chaired Tate's Racial Equality Task Force. Additionally, Chaudhry took on the role of chairing Sadler's Wells Racial Equality Task Force during this impactful period. These roles were instrumental in reshaping the approach to diversity within both institutions, fostering a more equitable and forward-thinking environment.
Chaudhry's extensive contributions were recognized through honorary doctorates from De Montfort University in 2014 and Goldsmiths University in 2023. In 2019, he was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Honours for his services to Dance. In 2022 he was made a Patron of The Place in London. In 2023, he became Associate Producer at Dance City, Newcastle and in 2024 he became the chairman of the U.K. Young Artists Association.
In 2021, Farooq Chaudhry founded Feng Ling Productions, drawing inspiration from a profound curiosity with Chinese and East Asian artists, stories, and aesthetics. As the Artistic Director, Farooq Chaudhry champions the vision "beautiful things happen when different worlds meet." His objective is to oversee the creation, production, and curation of meaningful international collaborations in dance theatre that exude integrity, grace, and invention.
Chaudhry's directorial achievements include serving as the movement director for the short film "The Lost Highway" by music pioneer James Lavelle in 2018. This was screened at both the Saatchi Gallery and IMAX cinema in London. He made his stage directorial debut with the music and dance production “Nine Songs" in Alular, Saudi Arabia, as part of RCU's innovative Performance in the Landscape initiative in November 2022. In 2023, he embarked on the production "Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight," a unique collaboration with celebrated Chinese contemporary poet Yu Xinhua. The production is set to premiere in Shanghai in November 2024, followed by an international tour over the next two years.
Chaudhry, a creative force fuelled by insatiable curiosity, has adeptly navigated changing times while staying true to his values. With an uncompromising commitment to levelling the playing field he champions diverse voices to honour authenticity and personal truths in all his work.
Emma Yurong Pu
Executive Producer
Pu Yurong (Emma Pu) is a member of a new generation of international producers who weave bridges between cultures — devoted to fostering artistic dialogue across borders and bringing Chinese voices to the global stage.
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She moved to the UK at the age of 15 and earned an MSc in Management and Finance from King’s College London. Her years abroad sparked a lifelong passion for cultural exchange, which continues to shape her creative and professional path.
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Upon returning to China, she founded the Cambridge Youth Summer Camp, a cross-cultural initiative that has run successfully for six years, introducing forward-thinking Western educational approaches to young talents in China. Building on this foundation, she transitioned into the arts sector, where she combines her international perspective with a strong network across both China and the UK.
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In 2020, she established Dandan Culture, a production company committed to bridging the Chinese and international arts worlds. Through this platform, she collaborates with artists, presenters, and institutions to support cross-cultural projects and promote creative exchange.
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As a producer and cultural connector, Pu Yurong has contributed to a growing body of internationally minded productions. Her recent work includes Nine Songs, Butterfly Lovers, and Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight — the latter a cross-genre poetic dance theatre work created in collaboration with acclaimed Chinese poet Yu Xiuhua, interweaving contemporary poetry and physical expression to explore themes of love, longing, solitude, and resilience. She has also worked alongside a wide range of artists across disciplines, including China’s iconic dance legend Yang Liping, bringing together diverse creative voices and facilitating meaningful collaborations between East and West.
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With her cross-border experience, bicultural fluency, and strategic insight, Pu Yurong continues to play a vital role in shaping a more interconnected and globally engaged arts ecosystem. She believes that art is not merely a mirror of culture, but a living vessel through which new understanding can emerge — and that dance, with its ability to speak through the body and transcend language, offers one of the most profound ways to build bridges where words fall short. In silence, across time, space, and breath, she listens for connection — and helps bring it to life.
Crystal Siyuan Gong
Associate Producer
Siyuan is an emerging dance producer specialising in ballet and contemporary dance, dedicated to making dance—particularly works rooted in classical ballet language—more accessible to today's audiences. With over a decade of experiences working in the global dance industry, she brings a unique ability to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, particularly with Chinese and Pan-Asian dance communities. Given the underrepresentation of these regions’ dance cultures on the global stage, she is passionate about leveraging her skills and network to amplify their voices and create opportunities for greater cross-cultural exchange.
Siyuan is also an innovative dance scholar specialising in performing arts audience studies, with a particular focus on digital and social media. Her academic background, which includes a master’s degree in dance studies and a forthcoming PhD at Roehampton University, has enriched her understanding of dance culture, history, and industry dynamics. This academic foundation complements her professional experience, providing her with a unique perspective that bridges practical expertise with scholarly insight. It also positions her to support artists not only in realizing their creative visions but also in contextualizing their work within broader cultural and industry frameworks.
Over the past decade, Siyuan has cultivated a diverse portfolio of international collaborations, working with emerging choreographers, established artists, and esteemed dance institutions, such as the Pina Bausch Foundation, George Balanchine Foundation, English National Ballet and National Ballet of China. From 2021 to 2023, she served as lead producer at the English National Ballet School under the artistic leadership of Viviana Durante, successfully delivering large-scale productions such as Sir Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody and the romantic ballet masterpiece La Sylphide. Previously, she was executive producer for the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (2016–2019), actively fostering artistic exchange and collaboration among young dancers on a global scale. Siyuan joined Fengling Productions in 2024 and facilitated the creative process of Ten Thousand Tons of Moonlight as the interpreter and stage manager.
Maggie Zhou
Branding and Communication Director
Maggie Zhou is a senior media professional with over 20 years of industry experience. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Maniverse (Shanghai) Culture and Art Co., Ltd.
Throughout her career, Maggie has worked in various areas of the media industry, including copyright, production, advertising, derivative business, and talent management. She has also gained expertise in international format/IP sourcing, cooperation, and the distribution of domestic cultural and entertainment content overseas. Maggie has diversified her investment and development ventures to include video content, lifestyle, and children's education.
Maggie Zhou has held key positions at renowned organizations such as CAA China, CMC Inc., Wings Media and Yicai Media Group, the latter two belong to Shanghai Media Group.
Maggie has expertise in various areas, including business development, television, and entrepreneurship.
While working at WingsMedia, she actively participated in major international TV events such as MIPTV, MIPCOM, NAPTE, and ATF. She also reported on-site for Dragon TV at the Grammy's in 2006. In addition, she played a leading role in securing exclusive agent rights for Sesame Street in China. One of her team's notable achievements was the development and operation of "Big Bird Watching the World," a highly acclaimed production that delighted audiences for 180 consecutive days during the "World Expo Children's Drama" in 2010.
Furthermore, Maggie played a vital role in obtaining approval and promoting the international expansion of the Yicai TV channel. Through her efforts, the channel became the only official Chinese professional financial channel launched in Singapore at the time, with official approval from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television.
Maggie Zhou's exceptional achievements highlight her passion, vision, and dedication to excellence in the media and entertainment industry. Her extensive experience and innovative mindset continue to shape the industry in China and beyond.
Zeva Zhang
Social Media Manager
Verron Lee
Associate Production Manager/Stage Manager
Zhang Longyue(Zeva Zhang) is the Social Media Manager at Fengling Productions .
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Zeva is a seasoned marketing professional with over ten years of experience, specializing in international education and cross-cultural communication. She has a profound understanding of the unique needs and opportunities in the global educational and cultural landscape.
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Zeva, renowned for her expertise in blending Eastern and Western cultural arts, has a remarkable ability to conceptualize captivating themes. She masterfully integrates diverse cultural elements, whether highlighting the differences and similarities between educational systems or celebrating the beauty of cultural diversity. Her innovative approach to content creation consistently sparks lively discussions and wide engagement across various platforms. Guided by a core belief that education and art are the most powerful tools for breaking down cultural stereotypes, her work continues to inspire and connect.
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​Rooted in a love for movement and live storytelling, Verron approaches each production as both a
craft and conversation - blending quiet precision with creative intuition to help shape experiences that
resonate. Weaving together the many moving parts of a production to create a platform where artists
can fully express themselves and audiences can be truly captivated.
Her academic background spans both Event Management at undergraduate level and a Master’s
degree in Stage and Production Management. This combination, enriched by practical experiences in
live performances has given her a solid foundation in understanding the production dynamics and
creative collaboration. This blend of knowledge and practice equips Verron to support artists in
bringing their vision in life while fostering inclusive, engaging performance environments.
Having education and work experience across both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, Verron is
drawn to the enormous potential in creative cultural exchange between the East and West. The urge
for collaborations across languages and artistic practices are a constant source of inspiration, opening
doors to innovative storytelling and meaningful connections. She is inspired by the way performance
can bridge differences and start new interpretations. To her, movement and sound speak a universal
language - inviting interpretation, embracing imperfections, and unfolding with discovery, just like life.