Preserving a cultural movement

A dancer, a judge, a father, an educator — the representative.

At 39, Xiao Jie — better known on the global street dance scene as "Locking Jay" — continues to break boundaries and redefine Chinese street dance with every beat and step.

From a three-time consecutive Keep On Dancing (KOD) world champion to becoming the only Chinese representative on its judging panel, Locking Jay's journey is as layered as his choreography: persistent, personal and powerfully transformative.

During the judging show at the Global Finals on July 20, he took the KOD stage once more, but not alone. He was with his young son, Suo-Suo. Together, the duo delivered a locking-style reinterpretation of Spread Your Wings, and a mix of two recently trending dances on Chinese social media, with a catchy hook and hilarious moves, blending humor, rhythm and originality. Their performance — full of vibrant energy, precise execution and innovative movement — quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the evening.

But for Jay, this wasn't just another highlight. "The meaning of Keep On Dancing is simple: if you love something, you keep at it," he said backstage. The audience roared for his performance, but Jay's focus remained steady, always looking ahead, and always dancing forward.

Born in 1985 in Neijiang, Sichuan province, Xiao's intertwining relationship with dance began in his early teens. Encouraged by his budding passion, his parents sent him to an arts school affiliated with Capital Normal University in Beijing. Yet, he was rudely awakened from his dreams and quickly confronted by reality. Unable to afford tuition, he dropped out and returned home, opening a clothing store back in his hometown. Business, however, was poor, and that venture soon failed.

It was then that he made a bold choice to dedicate himself entirely to dance. Moving to Chengdu, he scraped by with weekend promotional performances in local malls, two shows for 300 yuan ($42). At first, he imitated others, like many beginners, but this uniformity soon bred discontent.

"If we all stood in a line, the moves would appear to be exactly the same," he recalled.

His breakthrough came in 2005 when he snatched the national title at the China Mobile Street Dance Contest. Two years later, his first trip abroad to compete in Japan's Old School Night street dance competition became a turning point, where he met, and later studied under, locking legend Tony Gogo — who provided the foundation of his understanding of, and approach to, dance.

"Tony didn't just teach moves — he taught why they existed," Jay said. "He'd say: 'This came from stepping on a staircase, from playing around.' That is creation, taking something simple and building from it."

From being an amateur to staking his place among locking's elite, Jay never stops polishing his moves and experimenting with different styles, always with an eye on gold.

In 2010, Jay clinched his first KOD world title. Victories in 2011, 2012 and 2014 followed, making him the first dancer to win multiple times at the elite global event. After retiring from competitive battling, he transitioned into new roles as a judge, an educator and a cultural ambassador for Chinese street dance.

Yet, the journey has not been without criticism. Some have argued his choreography lacks synchronization, or is too stylistically individual for group dances. Others have accused him of being too repetitive.

Understanding 'the real vibe'

"I'm probably the most diverse locker in the world," he noted. "People may think hip-hop looks dynamic, but it's actually more repetitive than locking. Locking has over a dozen elemental movements — you have to show them all, or it's not locking anymore."

Jay believes that his versatility and fusion of styles, blending Latin influences and beyond, make him a standout competitor.

"Judges don't just see technique — they see diversity. That's what I aim to deliver."

The recent show is not Jay's first time captivating global attention, nor does it hold a candle to his capacity in his prime. But this time, bringing his son onto the stage means something different — the bond of carrying on the talent and tradition: "We must pass on the street dance of China, of the world," Jay said.

He is doing just that. As a mentor on television shows like This Is Youth, as the founder of the renowned "Star Lockers" crew and studio, and as principal of his own dance school, Jay has cultivated a generation of young dancers — known collectively in the street dance community as "Xiao's Class". His students have become champions in their own right, including "Locking Dou", who has claimed multiple national youth titles. His teaching goes beyond technique.

"Street dance isn't just performance — it's connection. It was born from the streets, cyphers, circles and friendships. That's the part I worry is being lost," he said in an exclusive interview for Chengdu's Hip-Hop Exhibition at the A4 Art Museum .

At a time when breaking has been in the Olympics, making its debut at Paris 2024, and street dance is enjoying newfound legitimacy, Jay warns against the sport losing its soul. "Street dance was born in the streets. You gotta have actually danced in the streets to understand the real vibe, to know what genuine street culture feels like," he said.

Today, Xiao remains a singular force amid China's street dance landscape. As he continues to represent the nation on international stages, his story serves as both a blueprint and a beacon — for young dancers, for street culture and for anyone who believes in the power of movement to carry meaning across generations.

Jiang Xinyu contributed to this story.