A visionary in the world of dance, Ma Cong was appointed Artistic Director of Richmond Ballet in July 2024, following four transformative years as the company’s Associate Artistic Director. Renowned internationally as a bold and inspiring choreographer, Ma brings a global sensibility, profound artistry, and an unwavering dedication to the transformative power of ballet.

Born and trained in China, Ma began his artistic journey at the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy, mastering the nuance and expression of Chinese classical dance. His early career with the National Ballet of China laid the foundation for a rich, cross-cultural artistic voice—one that would resonate around the world after he moved to the United States in 1999.

Ma’s two-decade tenure with Tulsa Ballet, where he served as both Principal Dancer and Resident Choreographer, solidified his reputation as a dynamic performer and imaginative creator. He danced works by choreographic legends including Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, George Balanchine, and Christopher Wheeldon, while simultaneously building an acclaimed choreographic portfolio of his own.

Since launching his choreographic career with Folia in 2004, Ma has created original works for leading companies across the globe, including Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Singapore Ballet, Queensland Ballet, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, Royal Ballet School and the National Ballet of China. He was named Resident Choreographer of Tulsa Ballet in 2009, and his reputation as a creative force continued to grow with works such as French Twist, Lift the Fallen, Flight of Fancy, Near Light, Carry Me Anew, and many more.

Recognized with numerous accolades, Ma was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2006 and received the Choo-San Goh Award for Choreography in 2007. He also won the 21st Century Choreographic Competition, earning both the Audience Favorite and Pointe Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award. In 2013, he was honored with Joffrey Ballet’s Choreographers of Color Award.

Ma’s choreographic voice has been heard around the world—from his full-length ballet The Crane Whisperer and a reimagined Four Seasons for the National Ballet of China, to his Broadway debut in Julie Taymor’s revival of M. Butterfly. His Glass Figures premiered at New York’s Joyce Theater in 2018 to critical acclaim, and his full-length story ballet Tchaikovsky: The Man Behind the Music (2019) has been hailed as one of his most powerful achievements.

Now at the helm of Richmond Ballet, Ma is committed to cultivating a dynamic and diverse repertoire, bridging classical and contemporary with grace, courage, and boundless vision. Under his artistic leadership, the company enters a bold new chapter — one that reaffirms the power of dance to inspire, connect, and transform.