Yanling Sun is the first person to be awarded a Doctorate in Dance by the Division of Humanities at Otago. This image is her performing Sketches at Allen Hall Theatre – her first time creating a full-length experimental dance theatre work, bringing together choreography, installation, lighting, and embodied storytelling.
On 9 May, Otago will award Yanling Sun the first Doctorate of Philosophy in Dance in the Humanities.
“Studying for a PhD in Dance at the University of Otago was a unique and deeply enriching experience. It helped me grow not only as a researcher, but also as a teacher, choreographer, and performer in a very supportive environment,” Yanling says.
Yanling has travelled from her home in Chongqing, China, to celebrate this major accomplishment – and revisit a beloved city.
“My first impression of Dunedin was that it was incredibly beautiful. The city’s historic architecture reminded me a little of Edinburgh, where I completed my master’s degree, so there was a sense of familiarity for me.
“At the same time, New Zealand felt much more deeply connected to nature. I still remember the first time I saw a wild sea lion resting on the beach. That was a very special and unforgettable experience,” Yanling says.
Her research explores the relationship between dance, installation art, and somatic practice. Somatic practice in dance focuses on internal physical sensation and awareness, and responding to that rather than external appearance, technique or choreography.
“One of the most exciting parts of the research was that I was not only analysing dance works but also creating workshop-based choreographic processes with participants using different materials. It was both creative and research-based at the same time.”
She says her world changed when her mother took her to a dance studio aged six. She has been studying dance for nearly 20 years with undergraduate training in China in Chinese classical, Chinese folk and contemporary dance, then a master’s in Dance Science and Education in Edinburgh, before continuing her research journey here at Otago.
“I found that somatic practice is not only about body awareness. It can also change the way choreography is made. It helps dancers connect more deeply with space, materials, and each other. My research also showed that ideas about the body travel across cultures, and that bringing Eastern and Western perspectives together can open new possibilities for dance making.”
Yanling was involved in teaching and performance both within the University and in the wider Dunedin community, teaching dance, performing in creative projects, and taking part in community and cultural events.
“It made my time at Otago feel rich, connected, and deeply memorable.”
The international student says she would absolutely recommend Otago as a place to study.
“The University offers strong support not only in academic study, but also in creative practice, teaching, and community engagement. I found that there were many opportunities to grow in different directions and to build meaningful connections with both staff and the wider community.
“For students interested in dance, it is a place where you can develop both intellectually and artistically.”
Yanling and her primary supervisor Senior Teaching Fellow in Dance Sofia Kalogeropoulou celebrating the completion of her PhD with the traditional ringing of the bell in the University’s Quad.
Senior Teaching Fellow in Dance Sofia Kalogeropoulou was Yanling’s primary supervisor, and her co-supervisor was Professor Henry Johnson. Yanling says they supported her academically and personally throughout her PhD journey.
“One thing that still makes me smile is that I once shared some of Sofia’s encouraging words on Chinese social media, and the post received more than 9,000 likes. In that moment, her support reached far beyond me and resonated with many other PhD students as well.”
That advice from Sofia was that a PhD is about exploring something unknown. When you are working in a new area, there is not always a simple right or wrong answer. Instead, you are entering a space of discovery and trying to create new ways of thinking.
“What meant a great deal to me was that she encouraged me not to be afraid of making mistakes, and not to be afraid of exploring widely, even when I was unsure where it might lead. She once said that if I wandered too far, she and Henry would be there to guide me back, because that was part of their responsibility as supervisors. I found that both comforting and empowering.
“I often think of the way she ended that encouragement: not just ‘be brave’, but ‘be bold’. That has stayed with me ever since.”
A still from Yanling’s work Sketches, of which she was the choreographer, performer, and organiser. This was her first collaboration with Otago’s Allen Hall Theatre Manager, Designer, and Professional Practice Fellow Martyn Roberts. “His lighting gave the work a strong visual atmosphere and helped shape the way the dancing body was seen on stage,” Yanling says.
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