Chocolate needs no introduction for most readers – with its over the top decor and fabulous dancers, the club is one of Beijing’s premier venues for evenings of glamour and mayhem. At the center of the nightly spectacle is choreographer Maximillian Passiy. On the eve of The Beijinger 8th Anniversary Party this Thursday October 22, we spoke to Maximillian about his life on stage.

How long have you been a choreographer?
I was born into a dance family and started dancing at the age of four, so choreography is a one of the most important things in my life. I have been working as a choreographer for 18 years now and I enjoy it very much.

What inspired you to become a choreographer? Did you expect to become a choreographer as a child?
When I was a child I was thinking of becoming an actor, because my grandmothers were professional actresses. Since my childhood I have been studying vocal and acting techniques, so my family expected me to become an actor. When I was 14, I had a really serious car accident and for two years I couldn't even move. The doctors kept saying that I would never be able to walk. At that time I desperately decided to become a dancer.

So were you a dancer before becoming a choreographer?
If a person wants to become a choreographer, he should definitely first be a dancer. As a dancer I worked in many countries of the world with very famous dancers from Russia, Ukraine, Japan and Europe.

What's the most extravagant show you have ever put on?
Well, I can't name just one. There was one show in the Japanese theatre “Kingie.” All people there are transsexual, so it's very interesting to see how a man acts like a woman. There was also a show for a club called "Crazy horse" in France. The last one I directed was in Ukraine called "One Night on Broadway."

How would you describe your style?
All my ideas are based on music as well as on situations that have happened to me. Also movies and books. The job of a choreographer is to run a gamut of the emotions, to show every moment of tragedy, happiness, and love that a person could ever feel. Choreography includes art direction, stenography and acting skills. A choreographer should also be an artist, psychologist and philosopher. I am trying to explore the philosophy of relationships between people. It helps me to understand how to surprise my audience, and make them cry and laugh.

When did you join Chocolate?
I have been living and working in Japan for 10 years so I feel that Asia is a part of my life. I had never been to China, but five months ago I was given an offer to come to Beijing for work. After I finished my contract in Ukraine I decided to accept the offer. I arrived three months ago and started working as an art-director and choreographer in Chocolate. I must say everything is different here: the people, atmosphere, attitude. It's an interesting experience, because in the center of Beijing you can find one international club, where you can feel the existence of the Russian soul. The area where it's located is like a Chinese Brighton Beach, because there are a lot of Russians living here.

How do you find your dancers?
I think that the most important thing for a dancer is to be professional, artistic, universal, hard-working, and also beautiful not only on the outside but inside as well.

How much control do you have of your show? Are you involved in costume design and lighting etc?
I design every costume, I create every character, every image. I can see silhouettes, colors, which make the audience understand what the dancers want to say by their moves and actions.

What's next for your shows at Chocolate?
At this very moment I am working on the new show for The Beijinger Anniversary Party. After that I am planning to make a French musical based on a very interesting story about relationships between a man and woman. There is also a new project you can get to know only if you visit our club. Let's leave it as a mystery for now.

Check out Maximillian's work at The Beijinger 8th Anniversary Party, RMB 90 (entry + all you can drink), 8.30-midnight, Thursday October 22, Chocolate, 19 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District