01
New to dance
Ages four and up. Build posture, coordination, musicality, and confidence through age-appropriate training.
Find a beginner trial →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.
0105
SCROLL · ENTER THE SEQUENCE ↓Free Trial→1995founded
60+productions staged
12national seasons
2Bay Area studios
Two clear ways to begin
Start where your dancer is.
02
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 4+
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
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 TroupeStep 1 of 3
Start where your dancer is.
Answer a few questions and we’ll recommend a starting path. ACPA faculty will confirm the level and current schedule.
FAQ
Before the first visit.
Can complete beginners join?
Yes. ACPA offers beginner pathways from age four. 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?
After you request a trial, ACPA will confirm clothing, shoes, arrival time, and studio details for the selected class.
How do I confirm tuition and class times?
Times, levels, and tuition are confirmed by term. Request a trial or call Sophia at (510) 676-4528.