All Possible Bodies AP91 is a contemporary theatre work created by artist duo Xiao Ke x Zi Han. Combining dance theatre and documentary theatre, the work explores identity, memory, cultural backgrounds, and the relationship between the body and contemporary life.

About the Performance

All Possible Bodies AP91 is a contemporary theatre work created by artist duo Xiao Ke x Zi Han in 2025. Commissioned by Shanghai Power Station of Art and the Chanel Culture Fund, the work explores contemporary identity and worldviews through the body, personal memory, cultural identity, and ethnic dance.

The work uses the connection between personal and cultural identities as its creative approach, examining individual histories within contemporary life and cultural integration. Combining dance theatre and documentary theatre, it presents personal narratives and reflections through performance.

Xiao Ke x Zi Han invited seven performers to co-create the work. Drawing from their different cultural backgrounds, personal experiences, and bodily memories, the performers use dance as a medium to explore identity within contemporary social contexts. The work also introduces AP91, an artificial intelligence performer, to further explore questions around the boundaries of the self in the digital age.

Creative Team

Xiao Ke x Zi Han

Xiao Ke x Zi Han is a contemporary theatre artist duo that began collaborating in 2011.

Their creative practice extends beyond theatre into photography, video, live performance, and installation. Their work focuses on the individual body and explores the possibilities and boundaries of bodily expression within contemporary Chinese public and cultural life.

Their works have been presented at arts festivals, dance festivals, and theatre institutions across Europe and Asia. They have toured in more than 20 countries and developed collaborations with contemporary theatres and arts organisations.

Xiao Ke

Director / Choreographer

Xiao Ke began dancing at the age of six and trained in Chinese dance for twelve years. She later studied contemporary dance independently while at Fudan University.

In 1998, she founded XiaoKe Dance Studio. In 2011, she formed the contemporary theatre artist duo Xiao Ke × Zi Han with Zi Han. Her artistic practice explores social issues through interdisciplinary forms.

In 2020, she became an associate artist of the theatre programme at Centre Pompidou in France.

Zi Han

Director / Sound and Visual Artist

Zi Han began his artistic practice in photography and later expanded into contemporary theatre, video, sound art, and visual design.

Since collaborating with Xiao Ke and other artists, he has developed interdisciplinary works combining photography, video, live performance, and sound. His collaborative productions have toured at international festivals and venues including Julidans, TPAM – Performing Arts Meeting, Tanzhaus NRW, HELLERAU, Rencontres Chorégraphiques Festival, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

AP91

Artificial Intelligence performer.

AP91 is introduced as a special performer in the work, expanding the exploration of identity and the boundaries of the self through the assistance of AI.

Why Go

All Possible Bodies AP91 combines dance theatre, documentary elements, and personal narratives to explore identity through different bodies, memories, and cultural experiences. By bringing together human performers and an AI performer, the work examines how people understand themselves in a changing contemporary world.

About Dance Out of the Box Festival

Curated and presented by Shanghai International Dance Center Theater, the Dance Out of the Box Festival was launched in 2022.

Inspired by the idea of “think out of the box,” the festival focuses on breaking conventional frameworks and boundaries through dance. It explores diverse expressions in contemporary dance and supports artists in developing creative practices across different forms.