Founder & Artistic Director: Eva Wang
Eva (Xin) Wang graduated from Beijing Dance Academy, where she studied Chinese Classical Dance with a concentration in dance of the Han and Tang Dynasties. She studied under Mr. Ying Sun, who pioneered Han and Tang Dance, and Mr. Lu Zheng, the Director of Classical Dance at Beijing Dance Academy. Ms. Xin Wang performed as the female lead in “Tong Que Ji,” a large-scale production presented by Beijing Dance Academy. She was the lead dancer in the film, “Confucius,” lead dancer in a performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and lead dancer in the 2017 CCTV Chinese Spring Festival Gala. Previously, she served as the artistic director of Xiaopei Chinese Dance, Inc. Additionally, she was a performing artist and choreographer for the US Chinese Dance Association.
Ms. Eva Wang not only has diverse performance experiences, but she also has several years of experience teaching children and adults. Her students have won awards at various competitions. Ms. Xin Wang won awards for original choreography at Revolution National Dance Competition and Starbound National Talent Competition over 2 consecutive years for her works, “The Beauty of Han” and “Forest’s Symphony.” Under Ms. Xin Wang’s instruction, her students have earned overall first place and Top 10 awards at various U.S. dance competitions.
Dance Choreographer & Instructor: Yang Yang
Yang Yang graduated from Beijing Dance Academy as a modern dance choreography major in 2012. She then attended Mill College on a full scholarship, graduating with an MFA in choreography in 2017. Her works were selected for various events– she showcased Moon at an American College Dance Association conference, receiving high praise. Ms. Yang Yang also studied as an exchange student in the Stanford University dance department. In 2009, she participated in China’s first National Ballet and Choreography Competition, where she served as a choreographer and performed as a lead dancer in the opening ceremony at the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing, China. She also choreographed the opening ceremony for the 2017 CCTV Chinese Spring Festival Gala in San Francisco. Her works earned her the Weshine World Dance Competition (WDC) Outstanding Choreography Award in 2018 and 2019. Her students have won awards including Group Elite Gold at Starbound National Dance Competition and Overall Top 10 Solo, Elite Gold. She has served as a choreographer and lead performer in several dance dramas such as “Butterfly Lovers” and “l’ll Fly.”
Ballet Instructor: Ye Zi
Ye Zi graduated with her Master’s degree from Beijing Dance Academy with support from the China Scholarship Council. She went on to train at Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg. Ms. Ye has also participated in a number of Ministry of Education scientific research projects and international cooperation projects. She has also co-published books such as “Dance Psychology” and “Royal Danish Ballet in China.” She has helped to judge, choreograph and organize a number of dance events such as the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition and the China Campus Theatre Festival. Ms. Ye is certified as a ballet, character dance, contemporary dance and creative dance teacher in China, Australia and Russia. She has several years of experience instructing students of all ages and is extremely passionate about her work. Her students have won bronze awards at the International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition - Ballet Grand Prix Vienna, and Top 5 awards and scholarships at Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition.
Dance Choreographer & Instructor: Kaiyi Du
Kaiyi Du graduated from the Minzu University of China with a degree in choreography. While in school, he participated in the prestigious Beijing Dance Competition, winning many awards along the way. Prior to graduation, he also contributed to the National Ministry of Culture’s Traditional Chinese Art Inheritance and Development Plan, and co-created the dance drama, “The Eternal Morin Khuur.” After moving to the United States in 2017, he earned his MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Mills College, where he also received an Outstanding Performance Award. He has participated in various Bay Area events such as The American Country Dance Association, Black Artist Festival, and the San Francisco International Movie Festival. To date, he has earned several accolades within the dance industry.
Ballet Instructor: Mengjun Chen
Mengjun Chen, a native of Wenzhou, China, trained at Beijing Dance Academy and Joffrey Ballet School. After receiving his BFA from Beijing Dance Academy, he joined Milwaukee Ballet, where he performed major roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Dracula and La Boheme. He has also performed in contemporary works by Matthew Neenan, Gabrielle Lamb, Ma Cong, Amy Seiwert and Val Caniparoli. In 2014, he was a finalist in the USA International Ballet Competition.
Contemporary & Ballet Instructor: Ava Shannon
Ava Shannon trained at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in Chicago before earning her BFA in Modern Dance from Point Park University. They have performed work by esteemed choreographers such as Robert Moses, Jaka Porter, and Christopher Huggins. Ava has also presented her own choreographic work both on stage and through film. Their work includes “Grief Dreams,” presented at SafeHouse Arts and “Mother,” a dance film. As an educator, Ava has worked with students across all levels, nurturing their confidence and helping them develop their artistry.
Latin Dance Instructor: Victoria Li
Victoria Li is a Bay Area native and a recent graduate from Washington University in St. Louis. She has extensive experience as a Latin and ballroom dancer, previously training at the Shanghai Film Art Academy. Victoria continues to train at Premier Ballroom and Fred Astaire San Mateo. Her dedication has led her to win awards at competitions around the world — most recently, she won 1st place in the Amateur B Standard division at the 2022 Asia DanceSport Taipei Open Championships. Victoria has also performed at the Washington University Dance Theatre and currently serves as a national adjudicator for the International Dance Organization.