The Universal Language of Creativity
In a world becoming increasingly divided by borders and perspectives, creativity offers a common language that unites us all. Bringing together artists from the Bavarian State Ballet, cultural diplomat James Chau of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and Princess Sophie of Bavaria, this session explores how artistic expression transcends geography, politics and history.
Join us to explore how creativity not only entertains, but can be a powerful tool for building empathy, respect and shared identity.
Speakers
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Jeanette KakarekaSoloistJeanette Kakareka
Speaker
Soloist
Bayerisches StaatsballettJeanette Kakareka (stage name) is an American ballet dancer and Soloist with Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich. She trained at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia and later at San Francisco Ballet School. During her traineeship with San Francisco Ballet, she already began performing corps roles, and soon after received her first professional contract with English National Ballet in London. While there, she was twice named a finalist for the Emerging Dancer Award and toured internationally, performing in countries including China, Japan, Oman, Spain, France, Poland, Colombia, and throughout the UK. Jeanette joined Bayerisches Staatsballett in 2017 and was promoted to Soloist in 2019. Her repertoire includes leading roles in Giselle (Giselle), La Bayadère (Nikiya), Jewels (Emeralds couple), Anna Karenina (Dolly), Raymonda (The White Lady), amongst others—spanning both classical and contemporary works. She has taught masterclasses and summer intensives at The Rock School and in Lyon, France. Jeanette is currently studying BASI Mat Pilates, with a focus on supporting prenatal and postnatal communities—an area of personal connection following the birth of her own daughter in 2024. She returned to Bayerisches Staatsballett in September 2025 following her maternity leave.
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James ChauPresident, China-United States Exchange Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador for SDG and Health, WHOJames Chau
Counsellor
President, China-United States Exchange Foundation, Goodwill Ambassador for SDG and Health, WHO
Born in London, he has earned a special reputation as a television news anchor who has interviewed world leaders in politics, science, and culture. They include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Muhammad Yunus, and Aung Sang Suu Kyi. He has also spoken to Bill Gates, Christine Lagarde, Winnie Mandela, Elton John, Jane Goodall, Winnie Mandela, and Madam Peng Liyuan. He was a main anchor on China Central Television and a guest presenter on BBC World News. Mr. Chau leads the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), an independent non-governmental organization that builds trust between the world’s two leading economies through educational exchanges, cultural programs, and digital content creation. Founded by Mr. Tung Chee-hwa, its honorary advisors include the late Dr. Henry Kissinger, 56th U.S. Secretary of State; Mr. Robert Rubin, 70th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; and Mr. Tang Jiaxuan, former State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China. Based in Hong Kong, CUSEF partners with two presidential legacies: The Carter Center and the George H.W. Bush Foundation. His engagement in public health began with the United Nations and the global response to the AIDS epidemic. Since 2016, he has served as the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development Goals and Health, appointed by Director-Generals Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Dr. Margaret Chan. He formerly served as UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador, the first person in China appointed to this role. Mr. Chau studied at Cambridge University, King’s College London, and the Royal Academy of Music. He completed an Executive Education course on leadership and public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and was special advisor to the Dean of Tsinghua University’s School of Public Health. He is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a recipient of a U.S. National Press Foundation fellowship.
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Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie-Alexandra of BavariaPrincess Sophie-Alexandra of Bavaria
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Jinhao ZhangPrincipal DancerJinhao Zhang
Speaker
Principal Dancer
Bayerisches StaatsballettJinhao Zhang is a Chinese-born Principal Dancer with Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich. He is also a graduate of Tongji University, one of China’s top academic institutions. After winning a prize at the Prix de Lausanne in 2013, he was awarded a place at English National Ballet School before joining English National Ballet, where he began performing lead roles - including Le Corsaire on tour at the Palais Garnier.
In 2017, Jinhao joined Bayerisches Staatsballett as a Soloist, quickly gaining recognition in principal roles such as Crassus in Spartacus and Jean de Brienne in Raymonda. He was promoted to First Soloist in 2018 and Principal in 2019. His repertoire includes full-length classical and narrative works such as Swan Lake (Siegfried), Giselle (Albrecht), Cinderella (Prince Guillaume), Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), La Sylphide (James), as well as contemporary pieces including Bella Figura, Jewels, and Le Parc.
Jinhao has worked closely with choreographers including Akram Khan, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Andrey Kaydanovskiy - who created the role of Richard Ramirez on him in Cecil Hotel. He has guested internationally with companies such as the Lithuanian National Ballet and Astana Opera, and most recently appeared as Guest Principal in the White Snake production at Shanghai Grand Theatre in 2024.
He is a former winner of the Emerging Dancer Competition (2015), a Silver Medalist and Best Choreography Award recipient at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (2016), and continues to support dialogue between cultures through dance. In 2024, he was invited to speak at Beijing Dance Academy’s international symposium “Global Vision, Chinese Expression”, where he discussed how Chinese artists can shape the global ballet landscape and cross cultural boundaries through their work.