Peggy Choy

Peggy Choy is an Associate Professor of Dance and Asian American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Education. She is an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, and artistic director of Peggy Choy Dance, with a focus on Afro-Asian dance intersections, environmental justice, and social transformation. Her Ki-Flow™ technique integrates Korean, Javanese, and Chinese martial arts traditions, emphasizing the flow of energy and cultural storytelling.

• MFA in Dance, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2006)
• MS in Urban & Regional Planning, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1983)
• MA in South & Southeast Asian Studies, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (1981)

Choy's research spans five decades of studying Korean and Javanese dance forms, Dayan Qigong certification, and cross-disciplinary exploration of climate change, microbiome stress, and Afro-Asian cultural fusion. Her work examines how dance can address global crises through allegory, intercultural collaboration, and environmental advocacy.

Her recent creative works and publications highlight Afro-Asian Futurism, water as a symbol of justice, and intergenerational cultural transmission. Notable projects include FLIGHT: torn like a rose (2019), which reimagines Sufi poetry through BIPOC narratives, and Mirror Butterfly: The Migrant Movement Liberation Suite (2018), blending anticolonial themes with ecological concerns. Earlier works like Anatomy of a Dancer (2008) established her theoretical framework for dance as liberation and resistance.

• Outstanding Women of Color Award (2009)
• Keynote Performance at 9th International Urban Movement Festival (2012)
• Opening Performance at UW/Native Nations Summit on Environment and Health (2015)

Choy's choreography privileges diverse ensembles, including b-boys, hip-hop artists, and dancers trained in Capoeira and ballet. Her collaborations with composers like Graham Haynes and directors like Sonoko Kawahara reflect her commitment to interdisciplinary and intercultural storytelling.