YUCCA DANCE is a collaborative duo; Yuxi and Luca met for the first time dancing to experimental synth-pop amongst piano skeletons in an abandoned shopping mall. They began working on the first version of IN THE ROUND on January 24 and were subsequently selected for the 2024 Spring Scratch Night at Dance Base on the Grassmarket, Edinburgh.
Yuxi Jiang
Yuxi Jiang is an Edinburgh-based dancer, choreographer, and creative director with over 15 years of professional experience. A graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, China's premier dance university, she specialises in Chinese classical and folk dance, as well as contemporary dance. Her artistic repertoire includes Chinese dance, contemporary dance, theatre arts, environmental dance, and screen dance. Central to her work is a passion for merging Chinese and Western dance practices. Since relocating to Edinburgh in 2022 for her PhD studies in Dance Choreography at the University of Edinburgh, she has actively engaged with local artists and festivals, including Hidden Door, the Edinburgh Multicultural Festival, Pomegranates Festival, and the Fringe Festival. Yuxi draws inspiration from the rich synergy between diverse dance forms and cultural interpretations. She aims for her body's expression to be not only personal but also to embody cultural identities and facilitate communication between communities. More information can be found on her website and Instagram.
Luca studied dance and choreography at Falmouth University. After graduating in 2022, he moved to Germany to take up an artist residency at one of the world's foremost international schools. This position allowed Luca to deepen his understanding of his personal dance practice whilst also developing pedagogical skill. A call from an old friend resulted in a move to Edinburgh where lived, and danceed, for 18 months.
Luca is now a freelance performer and choreographer working across Europe. He is an Associate Artist for the International Schools Theatre Association, most recently attending the 100th Centenary festival at Ecolint, Geneva.
In September 2025, Luca will be starting an MA in performance at Central St Martins.
You can keep up with Luca over on his Instagram where he posts regular dance and fashion things.