Publishing beyond paper: Documentary feature directed by Professor Jingqiu Guan is now streaming on Amazon

Not all publications involve paper. For Professor Jingqiu Guan, her first feature-length documentary, Mama Dancers, became available to stream on Amazon in October 2025, greatly expanding the audience and reach of this innovative work. Professor Guan is known for developing interdisciplinary performance works and dance films that engage with social issues and cultural memories. Through her teaching, she seeks to introduce students to the ways dance and media can integrate and combine to create new meaning, encouraging them to think beyond the box and the traditional dance studio.

Mama Dancers follows the journeys of six extraordinary professional dancers navigating the beauty and struggle of balancing motherhood and their careers. The film premiered in March 2025 at the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon and was subsequently screened at festivals around the world. 

In announcing the streaming release, Professor Guan shared a statement on social media: “Many times during the long post-production process, I questioned whether this film could actually come together. What carried me through was the deep belief in these mothers/artists’ empowering stories and the trust and encouragement of those around me. ... I’m thankful for all the conversations the film has sparked so far at various screenings — around women’s invisible labor, reproductive justice, equity in the arts, and the ongoing work of making space for one another. This process continues to teach me that our individual voices truly matter — and that change becomes possible when we make demands together. Hope you enjoy Mama Dancers. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on the film!”