MIA J. CHONG
MIA J. CHONG (she/they) is a director, choreographer, and artist from San Francisco, California, the Indigenous lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone and Muwekma people. She currently serves as Co-Artistic Director of ODC/Dance and is the founding Artistic Director of contemporary dance company EIGHT/MOVES. Her work as a performer, choreographer, and arts leader has been recognized with a Princess Grace Award and the Chris Hellman Dance Honor, as well as being named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” and a 2025 Bay Area Innovator by San Francisco Magazine.
Mia’s choreography has been commissioned and presented by ODC/Dance, Post:ballet, FACT/SF, RAWdance, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, UC Berkeley, Gonzaga University, Berkeley Ballet Theater, BODYSONNET, RoundAntennae, and more. Her choreography for film has been selected and screened at more than 15 festivals around the world, reaching audiences in Japan, South Korea, England, Turkey, and Italy. Her creative partnerships have included collaborations with Kronos Performing Arts Association, The Living Earth Show, Vân-Ánh Võ, Rena Butler, Keerati Jinakunwiphat, KT Nelson, RJ Muna, Tsai-Hsi Hung, Raffi Garabedian, and Sidney Chen.
Mia began her dance training at ODC School at age five and continued her studies at Kirov Academy of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, the Ailey School, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the School at Jacob’s Pillow, and BANDALOOP. She went on to enjoy a performing career spanning more than a decade with companies and organizations including Post:ballet, Robert Moses’ Kin, Dance Theatre of San Francisco, San Francisco Symphony, and ODC/Dance. During her years with ODC/Dance, Mia honed her craft as a performer and had the pleasure of originating and performing numerous roles across the company’s repertory.
Her additional honors and support include the LINES Ballet Homer Avila Award, Jacob’s Pillow Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship, Aninstantia Foundation Grant, San Francisco Arts Commission Grant, and Zellerbach Family Foundation Grant.
As a dance educator, Mia has taught at The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Stanford University, Alonzo King LINES Dance Center, UC Berkeley, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, Westlake School for the Performing Arts, ODC School, and more.
Mia earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Organizational Behavior and Change from New York University and her Master of Science in Arts Administration and Cultural Entrepreneurship from Northeastern University.
CHOREOGRAPHER | DIRECTOR | ARTIST
what people are saying
“Chong clearly has a vision. In a post-pandemic time, and a particularly hard moment for arts organizations in the SF Bay Area to sustain, Mia J. Chong comes from a place of beautiful optimism. [Her] choices offer a little window into Chong’s bold hope and what is driving her (which I feel is: vision, curiosity, story, and connection). ”
“Mia J. Chong works their magic in two ways: crafting lush dances and inspiring dancers’ full commitment to her vision. Behind the scenes, Chong is creating a more compassionate work culture with care and intention.”
“Mia J. Chong is beloved in her community and in Bay Area performance spaces.”
“For years, Mia J. Chong has stood out as a dancer with several of the Bay Area’s boldest companies, including Post: Ballet and ODC/Dance. Now, she’s stepping out with her own choreography — but with some powerhouse mentors by her side.”
“Mia Chong told me, “If we can continue to find ways to utilize dance to encourage awareness, inclusion, kindness and more, we’ll be contributing to the greater good.” Spoken like someone who understands the power of change.”
“Appointed ODC Co-Artistic Director in 2025, Mia J. Chong is the face of the future.”
— Jen Norris