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New to dance
Ages five and up, including adults. Build posture, coordination, musicality, and confidence through age-appropriate training.
Request a free first class →其一 · 我们所教
LINE
线 条
The shape the audience reads from forty rows back. Built at the barre, every week, for years.
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SCROLL · ENTER THE SEQUENCE ↓Free First Class→Academy record
- Founded 1995
- 60+ productions staged
- 12 national seasons
- Chinese classical & folk dance
- Ages 5+ & adults
- San Jose studio
Two clear ways to begin
Start where your dancer is.
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Performance & competition
For trained dancers ready to explore repertoire, stage performance, and competition preparation.
Explore the advanced path →Programs
One training system. Room to grow.
Competition is a pathway, not a prerequisite. Every dancer begins at the level that fits their age, experience, and goals.
Ages 5+ & adults
Beginner Foundations
A welcoming first step in posture, musicality, coordination, flexibility, and Chinese dance fundamentals.
Graded training
Chinese Classical Dance
Technique, body rhythm, expression, and repertoire developed through consistent, level-appropriate training.
Culture in motion
Folk & Ethnic Repertoire
Dai, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Han, fan, parasol, ribbon, and drum repertoire from ACPA’s archive.
By placement or audition
Performance & Competition
Advanced repertoire, stage preparation, performances, and competition training for committed dancers.
Repertoire
Sixty productions.
One living canon.
Dai, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Han classical, fan, parasol, ribbon, and drum—repertoire developed through three decades of stage practice.
See Performances & Record
From the 2024 archiveOpen the 2024 program10-page performance & competition record↗
Faculty
Shanghai. Beijing. The Bay Area.
The academy’s standard comes from professional practice—and from the daily work of teaching dancers at different ages and levels.
David Z. Chen
Founder & Artistic Director
Shanghai Opera & Dance Theatre
Xinge Lin
Ballet Faculty
Shanghai Ballet Company
Sherina Hong Li
Chinese Classical Faculty
Gansu Province Dance Troupe
Free first class
Start with a free first class.
No class selection or guesswork. Executive Director Sophia Hsueh will use the student’s age and needs to arrange the right class and time at the San Jose studio.
FAQ
Before the first visit.
Can complete beginners join?
Yes. ACPA offers beginner pathways for ages five and up, including teens and adults. Faculty confirms the appropriate level based on age and in-class observation.
Is competition required?
No. Competition and advanced performance are optional paths for interested dancers who reach the appropriate level.
What should my child bring to the free first class?
After you send the form, Sophia will confirm clothing, shoes, arrival time, and studio details using your preferred reply method.
How do I confirm tuition and class times?
Times, levels, and tuition are confirmed by term. Use the website form or call Sophia at (510) 676-4528.