Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance

Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance Promoting Chinese dance, heritage connection, nurturing cultural confidence. The history and spirit of a culture is reflected in its performing arts.

If this is true, then the richness, depth, and diversity of the Chinese culture is certainly embodied in its classical folk dance. Many outside of China are not aware, but there are 56 officially recognized ethnic groups in China. Each ethnic minority group in China possesses and practices its own unique form of “folk” dance that reflect its unique history, culture, and values. Though each group i

s uniquely different, together they form the collective spirit of the Chinese people, past, present, and future. Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance (PACDA) was founded to create opportunities for effective and substantive cross-cultural exchanges in the performing arts between Chinese dancers and teachers in the U.S. and dance professionals in China. PACDA founder, professor Pan Zhitao, a nationally recognized authority, expert, and historian of Chinese folk dances, has spent nearly his entire life dedicated to the teaching and exploration of this art form. By forming this alliance of dance instructors, professor Pan hopes to rally and unite all practitioners of classical Chinese folk dance, whether they are students or teachers, by offering resources and support to help them enhance their performance, strengthen their technique, and connecting their dance to the full richness of the Chinese culture. Whether you are a beginning or advanced student of Chinese dance, or a dance instructor, we invite you to become a member of the Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance.

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we honor the movement traditions that carry us forward 🐎For many across our global ...
02/18/2026

As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we honor the movement traditions that carry us forward 🐎

For many across our global dance community, Lunar New Year is more than a celebration. It is a reminder of lineage, of teachers and elders, of rehearsals that stretch late into the evening, and of the cultural memory embedded in every gesture.

Cultural dance has always evolved alongside the people who practice it. From village festivals to university studios, from community centers to professional stages, it continues to live because communities continue to care.

May this new year bring clarity in your training, courage in your choreography, generosity in your teaching, and joy in your movement.

Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at PACDA 🧧✨

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance (PACDA) and Orange County Schoo...
02/15/2026

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance (PACDA) and Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA).

This spring, PACDA will bring culturally grounded dance education to elementary students near Long Beach — expanding access to movement practices rooted in East Asian traditions and heritage.

We are currently seeking dance educators who:
• Have a strong dance background
• Have experience working with youth
• Are professional, reliable, and committed to the full program duration

📅 Program runs March–May 2026
📍 Elementary schools (TK–5) near Long Beach
💼 Competitive hourly instructional rate + paid training

At PACDA, we believe dance is not only technique — it is cultural memory, identity, and connection. This collaboration with OCSA reflects our shared commitment to arts education that is inclusive, rigorous, and culturally meaningful.

To apply, please email:
[email protected]
• Resume (if available)
• Brief description of dance background
• Availability (March–May 2026)

Application deadline: 2/20/2026

Help us bring heritage into the classroom.

11/29/2025

”Every child who dances is helping carry culture forward.” 💐 This , we’re honored to share words from Ms. Mei Xu 徐梅老師, a lifelong Chinese dance teacher and judge for the 2024–2025 Taoli World Grand Finals, about why she chose to support My Heritage, My Dance (MHMD) as a donor. 🌏

She reflects on a lifetime of dance, the next generation of passionate students, and what it means to preserve our stories through movement.

✨ Help us continue uplifting AAPI student dancers in preserving and performing their cultural heritage.

📌 Donate now at the link in bio!

This season, we are grateful for the dancers, teachers, families, and supporters who give heart and meaning to everythin...
11/28/2025

This season, we are grateful for the dancers, teachers, families, and supporters who give heart and meaning to everything we do.

Thank you for being part of our journey — for every step, every story, and every shared moment of cultural celebration.

Wishing you a warm and joyful Thanksgiving from all of us at PACDA.

在這個感恩的季節里,我們由衷地感謝每一位舞者、老師、家庭和支持者。
因為有你們的熱情與堅持,泛美的每一步才更有意義。
祝大家感恩節溫暖喜樂,平安順心。
#感恩的心

The 2025 Graded Examination in Chinese Ethnic Folk Dance – Teaching Certificate Training is coming to Irvine, CA this De...
11/17/2025

The 2025 Graded Examination in Chinese Ethnic Folk Dance – Teaching Certificate Training is coming to Irvine, CA this December! 💫

Since 2017, PACDA has proudly hosted this important initiative, bringing certified training opportunities to teachers across the U.S. and Canada. This year’s program offers a flexible hybrid format (online + in-person) and covers Level 1–3 of the official exam syllabus, developed by leading experts from Beijing Dance Academy and beyond.

🗓️ Online classes: Dec 13, 14, 15, 17 (7:00–8:30 PM PST)
📍 In-person classes in Irvine: Dec 21–22 (9:00 AM–4:00 PM PST)

✔️ Participants who pass the final exam will receive an official Teaching Certificate from the Chinese Ethnic Folk Dance Grade Test Center, authorizing them to teach graded material and register students for annual level exams.

📣 Open to:
✔️ Dance educators (all levels)
✔️ Students in dance or education fields
✔️ Dance professionals & passionate learners ages 16+

Ready to deepen your knowledge and join a network of teachers shaping the future of Chinese dance abroad? Contact us at [email protected] / WeChat: pacdadance2015 to sign up and reserve your spot. 📧

#民族民间舞 #中国舞考级

🌿✨ The Shen Yun Xun Li International Chinese Classical Dance Curriculum is coming to Southern California — and PACDA is ...
10/29/2025

🌿✨ The Shen Yun Xun Li International Chinese Classical Dance Curriculum is coming to Southern California — and PACDA is honored to serve as the official co-organizer for two upcoming stops this winter: Los Angeles and Irvine.

After a successful launch in Washington, D.C., and sold-out sessions in San Francisco and New York, this internationally recognized training series is now opening registration for the Southern California region. This is a rare opportunity for dancers in the U.S. to experience the official “shen yun” curriculum of the Beijing Dance Academy in its original form, taught directly by certified instructors.

📍 Upcoming Locations
Los Angeles: December 20-25, 2025
Irvine: December 26-30, 2025

📖 Developed by Professor Wang Wei and officially authorized by Beijing Dance Academy, this curriculum emphasizes not just 形 (form), but 韵 (spirit). With top-tier instruction and a lineage of deep cultural wisdom, Shen Yun Xun Li offers a rare chance to experience the depth of classical technique and aesthetics in a global context.

🌱 Whether you’re a seasoned dancer, dedicated teacher, or curious learner, join us in celebrating and carrying forward the beauty of Chinese classical dance — one step, one breath at a time.

With Southern California as one of the most vibrant Chinese cultural hubs in the U.S., these sessions mark a meaningful step in expanding access to culturally-rooted dance education across the diaspora.

📌 Registration open now.

📲 For more info, follow PACDA and reach out via WeChat: 泛美舞蹈

#身韵巡礼 #中国古典舞 #身韵

🌏✨ We’re honored to serve as a co-organizer for the 2025 Shen Yun Xun Li International Dance Curriculum Series — kicking...
09/16/2025

🌏✨ We’re honored to serve as a co-organizer for the 2025 Shen Yun Xun Li International Dance Curriculum Series — kicking off this fall in Washington, D.C.!

📍 October 12–19, 2025
This special workshop brings Beijing Dance Academy’s original 身韵 curriculum overseas, offering dancers a rare chance to train with official instructors and explore the full depth of Chinese classical dance aesthetics — from “形” (form) to “韵” (spirit).

But D.C. is just the beginning…
🗓️ Boston and Los Angeles/Irvine are also on the map this fall & winter — stay tuned for full details!

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or passionate learner, this is your invitation to connect through movement, culture, and heritage.

📎 Registration now open!

#身韵巡礼 #中国古典舞

At the 2024–2025 Taoli World Dance Competition Grand Finals in Irvine, PACDA was deeply honored to receive special recog...
07/13/2025

At the 2024–2025 Taoli World Dance Competition Grand Finals in Irvine, PACDA was deeply honored to receive special recognition from local, county, and national leaders for our work in promoting Chinese dance, cultural heritage, and community connection.

💠 National Recognition
🇺🇸 Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition - Presented by Congressman Dave Min, 47th District, California

“In recognition of your outstanding efforts to promote cultural heritage and enrich our communities through dance and performing arts.”

💠 County Recognition
🧧 County of Orange Certificate of Recognition - Presented by Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors, Third District

“Thank you for hosting the Award Ceremony of the 2024–2025 Taoli World Dance Competition Grand Finals. We appreciate your dedication to celebrating traditional Chinese culture and performing arts.”

💠 City Recognition
🌇 City of Irvine Certificate of Recognition - Presented by Councilmember Melinda Liu, District 1

“In honor of hosting the 2024–2025 Taoli World Dance Competition Grand Finals. Your hosting of this event allows for connection of community through dance, and enriches lives here in Irvine.”

These awards were received on behalf of PACDA by Ms. Shin Yue Wang, PACDA’s Rotating Supervisor of the Board (2022–2024), and a lifelong leader in Chinese dance education and artistic excellence.

🌍 Based in Irvine and Santa Ana, PACDA is proud to be rooted in the vibrant communities of Orange County and Southern California, where our mission continues to thrive—to promote Chinese dance education, support cultural identity and confidence among youth, and foster meaningful cross-cultural exchange through the performing arts.

In a time when cultural connection and community matter more than ever, we are grateful for the recognition and inspired to continue using dance as a powerful force for beauty, inclusion, and belonging.

🕊️ Art with purpose. Dance with voice.We were deeply honored to present an excerpt of “Rising Against Asian Hate,” chore...
07/10/2025

🕊️ Art with purpose. Dance with voice.

We were deeply honored to present an excerpt of “Rising Against Asian Hate,” choreographed by Ms. Kerry Lee, at the 2024–2025 PACDA Dance Education Symposium during the Taoli World Grand Finals in Irvine, CA.

Performed by students from the PACDA Summer Intensive, the moving performance stood as a tribute to community, strength, and the power of Chinese dance to tell urgent, underrepresented stories.

As Co-Artistic Director of the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, Kerry Lee has spent decades creating original choreography that bridges classical Chinese technique with Asian American experience. Her work has been featured at the Dance/USA national conference, discussed at the Beijing Dance Academy Forum, and presented as a model of cross-cultural storytelling.

Thank you, Ms. Kerry Lee, for reminding us that dance can be more than beautiful — it can be transformative. 🌸

🎥 Full symposium performances will be available soon on our YouTube channel @ PACDA Dance

Photography: Leo Liu

💥 Stepping outside the box and owning the stage!Most of these dancers don’t usually train in Hip-Hop — but under the gui...
07/10/2025

💥 Stepping outside the box and owning the stage!

Most of these dancers don’t usually train in Hip-Hop — but under the guidance of Mr. Joey Hernandez, they brought bold energy, musicality, and style to the PACDA Dance Education Symposium stage! 🕺🔥

Originally from Wisconsin, Mr. Hernandez is a powerhouse teacher, performer, and choreographer who brings years of experience from across the U.S. dance scene. Now based at Orange County School of the Arts, he brought his signature mix of groove and grit to this year’s PACDA Summer Intensive — and the results were unforgettable.

🎥 Full symposium performances will be available soon on our YouTube channel @ PACDA Dance

Photography: Leo Liu

🌸 A tribute to tradition, artistry, and cross-cultural dedication.We were honored to feature a Chinese classical dance c...
07/10/2025

🌸 A tribute to tradition, artistry, and cross-cultural dedication.

We were honored to feature a Chinese classical dance choreographed by Ms. Wanlin Luo at this year’s PACDA Dance Education Symposium, performed by students of the PACDA Summer Intensive during the 2024–2025 Taoli World Grand Finals in Irvine, California.

A celebrated Tao Li Cup award winner and graduate of the Beijing Dance Academy, Ms. Luo has spent over 30 years championing Chinese classical dance across Europe and Asia. From collaborating with the BBC and Britain’s Got Talent to leading the UK’s largest Chinese New Year Gala, her work bridges cultures and generations through the power of dance.

This performance reflects her lifelong mission: to preserve, share, and elevate the beauty of Chinese dance on the global stage. 🌎

🎥 Full symposium performances will be available soon on our YouTube channel @ PACDA Dance

Video:

💬 From technique to tradition, identity to innovation — the 2025 PACDA Dance Education Symposium brought together some o...
07/09/2025

💬 From technique to tradition, identity to innovation — the 2025 PACDA Dance Education Symposium brought together some of the most thoughtful voices in Chinese dance today.

Our speakers shared insights on everything from training and aesthetics to cultural preservation, professional development, and the power of dance as a tool for connection and change. 🌏✨

Swipe through for a look at these incredible moments — and stay tuned to our YouTube channel (@ PACDA Dance) for the full talk videos, coming soon!

Photography: Leo Liu

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269 N Bush Street
Santa Ana, CA
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