Zixy has been teaching movement for over 12 years to students around the globe in North America, China and Europe, and have been an active performer for a variety of shows on stage and on camera.

Zixy grew up in Shenzhen City, in China, and pursued her bachelor degree in Fine Art in Chicago, USA, and have just recently received her MBA degree (Master of Business Administration) from Corvinus University of Budapest.

As an artist and a teacher, Zixy is dedicated to using movement to empower and to inspire women. Her approach to movement is a spiritual journey of exploring the mind-body connection, and a manifestation of the poetic nature of the feminine body.

 Her website: www.zixyz.com  - on Youtube - on Instagram: @zixy_zhang/

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

2020 February, I was about to go to Moscow for a dance competition from France. A friend who was acting in a TV series shooting in Budapest invited me to come visit Budapest for 5 days before going to the competition.

On the third day of my arrival, the city announced a full lockdown due to the corona virus outbreak, all flights were cancelled, and I was stuck here for nearly 3 months, couldn’t find a way to home, and totally missed out on the competition.

After a few months of waiting for the virus to be over and go home, I decided to not waste anymore time for the world to change, and started to make friends, started teaching dance in Budapest, and then applied for a master degree at Corvinus University, and started my life in Budapest.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Yes, I have lived in the US for 6 years, in Chicago and New York City, and also in London for about 6 months.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

The convenience of transportation! For me who always lived in huge cities where traffic is a constant headache, the ease of going to places here is a surprise! There is never too much traffic going anywhere by car, even in rush hours, and the public transportation is always on time and efficient.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 

If my friends are lucky to be here in the summer, I would say sailing in Balaton is something that you cannot miss out!

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Goulash soup!!

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Tomato

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

“Csavarhúzó”, this is the first Hungarian word I learnt because I am a poledancer and I always needed to look for csavahúzó (screwdriver) to fix my pole in the dance studios!! :D

8. What do you miss most from home? 

My home is Shenzhen China, it is a coastal city. I miss my family and friends and I miss the ocean!

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

I am a dancer, it has been my dream since childhood, I would not do anything else…

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Athens in Greece!

11. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

The Caribbean! I had the best time in Jamaica a few years ago, cannot wait to go back!

12. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

I cannot resist good sushi…

13. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

As a teen I was obsessed with dancing, and II still am, guess dancing keep me in teen spirit always, or maybe it’s the teen spirit that keeps me dancing…

14. Red wine or white?

White wine always.

15. Book or movie?

Both!

16. Morning person or night person?

Total night person… the moon gives me inspiration.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Racism. It exists in every culture, some places more than others.

18. Buda or Pest side?

Both! Budapest is not Budapest without Buda or Pest :D

19. What would you say is your personal motto? 

“The secret of fortune is joy in our hands.”  -- Ralph Waldo Emerson