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.