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Like a butterfly blown on the winds from thousands
of mils away, international dance superstar Zhou Jie had delicately
landed in the Houston area to live a life-long dream as a dance
teacher to youth and an American business owner.
This beautiful and intelligent Chinese import moved to Houston last
July to gain the privacy and anonymity she lacked in her native
China. Zhou Jie has danced for over 22 years and has starred in
numerous Chinese movies, daytime soaps, ballets and ever operas.
She is currently appearing in “Temptress Moon,” a controversial
film which has been banned in China but is showing the U.S. Zhou
Jie felt she needed a break from her hectic life as a celebrity.
“The phone was always ringing…I never had a moment where I was not
working on some acting or dancing project. Even here in Houston,
I still receive calls from directors and producers abroad who want
me to work,” says Zhou Jie.
Zhou Jie hoped to one day find the time to move to the United States
and learn English. She got that opportunity when she agreed to open
a dance studio with business partner and fellow Chinese dancer Xu
Li. The two met while making a movie together five years ago, and
since that time Zhou Jie has been a mentor to Xu Li professionally
and personally.
Zhou Jie’s next challenge was to learn to speak English. She turned
to local language tutor David Browning. Browning worked with Zhou
for several months to prepare her for Rice University’s Continuing
Education Program where she studied English.
“Zhou Jie worked very hard for several hours every day to learn
to read, write and speak the English language,” says Browning. “We
actually used several of the articles about modern China that were
published in this newspaper as a learning tool. Zhou Jie has been
one of the most determined and focused students I’ve ever had.”
Zhou Jie has used that determination and focus to become one of
the world’s bright dancing stars and now a blossoming Houston businesswoman.
“Teaching the art of dance to children is very rewarding,” Zhou
Jie says, “The Houston community has shown much interest in classical
Chinese dance, and I am enjoying the opportunity of learning a new
culture while teaching a piece of my own.”
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