Alumni stories: How Chenxi Wang found her feet

How coming to UCL, and dancing, have helped Chenxi Wang become a global citizen.

While you might look at Chenxi Wang’s achievements and think she must always have been full of confidence, in truth her story is one of constantly challenging herself. From journalism to marketing, project management to entrepreneurship, her CV suggests endless possibilities. And right now, she’s reviving her childhood love of modern dance, bringing the joy of it to others through Dancemon - an online practice platform which encourages a healthy lifestyle. “I have big plans for it,” she says. “It’s a beautiful thing.” 

Finding a voice

Beijing-born Chenxi started dancing when she was six years old. She took traditional dance lessons, then fell in love with modern dance when she saw the 2006 movie Step Up. But despite her talent for it, dancing wasn’t something which would truly enter her career thoughts until later in life.

Instead, Chenxi began her higher education by studying Broadcast Journalism at Fudan University in Shanghai - the natural choice for a girl who started a campus radio station in middle school, then helped run her high school’s TV station. But to be in front of a camera or behind a microphone, Chenxi had a barrier to overcome: “I was actually a really shy child,” she says. “I just wanted to push myself, to develop my voice and opinions. And I realised that through journalism I could learn to express myself.”

While at Fudan, she undertook numerous internships, including spending time in Brussels, at the European HQ of China’s media giant, Xinhua News Agency. But although she had her start in journalism, Chenxi felt she needed to further embrace technology to progress. For this, she turned to UCL.

Going global

Chenxi arrived at UCL in 2012, determined to improve her digital skills and to start building an international network for herself. She chose an electronic publishing course to give her the desired technical knowledge. But her extra-curricular activities were equally important in her growth as a person.

Chenxi joined the UCL Dance Society and the UCLU Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA), making important connections. “The CSSA gave me a lot of opportunities to showcase myself,” she says. “I even got to do a stage performance with my friends at the Spring Festival Gala, which had an audience of thousands! I think these sorts of out-of-school activities can be as important as your studies. Also, I lived in a student apartment with people from many different countries. We had lots of parties in the kitchen, discussing everyone’s cultures. That was really good for me too.”

After UCL, Chenxi returned to Beijing, finding digital marketing work with Microsoft Research Asia, then landing a role with ride-sharing company Didi Chuxing. An opportunity arose to move to a research and project management role at Didi Labs in Mountain View, California. She took it. “Before UCL, I could never have imagined I would end up in the US,” says Chenxi. “I was a traditional Chinese person. I thought after university I would just go back to be near my family. But UCL gave me the courage to do this.”

Stepping up

While she may have changed in many ways since childhood, one thing that has stuck with Chenxi is a passion for dance. Since moving to the US, she’s found dancing to be a great way to meet people and stay healthy. “I live in Seattle now,” she says. “I started a dance club with my friend here. I think dance can really help improve people’s confidence. There are a lot of professional women who enjoy it.”

The 2020 Covid-19 pandemic meant that Chenxi had to stop teaching dance lessons in person. But the problem has inspired a big idea. Combining her tech skills with her passion has led to the creation of Dancemon. Part video tuition platform and part social network, it has quickly acquired a dedicated group of local users. “People enjoy the connection with others,” says Chenxi. “Dancemon can promote a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude, as well as giving them that connection. I want to introduce Dancemon to people from all over the world!”

Maintaining the network

Her career has moved on, but Chenxi has maintained her UCL links. She joined the UCL Club Of Beijing in 2016, serving as the events officer, organising galas and creating a special graduation ceremony for those students unable to travel back to the UK for their official one. “The Alumni Relations team in London really helped with that,” she says. “They brought the whole ceremony to Beijing - even the gowns!”

Another particularly memorable event was the 2018 Annual Ball, for a surprising reason. “We found out that UCL President & Provost Michael Arthur is a rock drummer,” says Chenxi. “And were able to get him onstage for a performance of We Are The Champions! No one expected that!”

Clearly, Chenxi’s connection with UCL means a lot to her. Asked to sum it up, she says: “UCL helped me grow up and to explore the world from different perspectives. Plus, it gave me the courage to push my limits, embrace possibilities and showcase my voice. UCL was amazing for me.”

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