Watch Kyki Li move across a dance floor and you know you’re seeing something special. An international student from China, Kyki brings power, grace, and thoughtful reflection to her art—and all other parts of her life. During her time at the UW, Kyki has completed two majors, pursued dance research, been a writing tutor, participated in study abroad programs, and performed in many dance concerts.
Here are some pivotal moments:
CHANGING COURSE
Kyki came to the UW planning to major in business and psychology. But an anthropology course taught by Michael Perez got her hooked. “He was just so brilliant and completely changed the way I view not just anthropology but everything else,” Kyki recalls. She added a second major in dance, studying jazz, ballet, tango, salsa, West African dance, and more. “It’s a way to learn about a culture, and that is very inspiring to me,” she says.
Photographs Tim Summers
EXPLORING THE WORLD
Kyki traveled halfway around the world to attend the UW, but that was just the start. She has participated in several study abroad programs, including one in Mexico that focused on indigenous culture, community building, and healing. Another in Jordan included volunteer work in a Palestinian refugee camp.
THROUGH WRITING, A COMMUNITY
Overwhelmed by copious reading and writing assignments in her second language, Kyki visited the Odegaard Writing and Research Center soon after arriving as a freshman. Sophomore year, she was hired at the writing center and began helping other students as she had been helped. She has worked there ever since.
OUTSIDE THE BOX
With support from a Mary Gates Leadership Scholarship, Kyki led an interdisciplinary art project that brought together students from diverse arts disciplines to present a dance piece from varied perspectives. During her time at the UW, she also has received the Dance Program Scholarship and the Dance Department Summer Study Award.