From August 20 to 25, 2025, the Taipei Youth Dance Study Summer Camp, hosted by Beijing Dance Academy (BDA) and organized by its School of Continuing Education, was successfully held on the BDA campus. A total of 225 participants from Taiwan Province, including teachers, students, and student parents came together at BDA for a deeply integrated and highly productive week of artistic study and cultural exchange.
Class Commencement Ceremony
Dance as a Bridge to Unity
On the morning of August 20, the class commencement ceremony was held in the Lecture Hall of the Multipurpose Building. Attending the event were BDA leaders, including Xiao Xiangrong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BDA Committee and Vice President; Chen Yuyu, Director of the BDA Party Committee Organization Department; Qin Yanxi, Director of the BDA Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs; Zhou Peng, Dean of the School of Continuing Education and Deputy Secretary of the Joint Party Branch for the School of Continuing Education and the School of Graded Examination; and Liu Xiajing, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education.
In his address, Xiao Xiangrong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BDA Committee and Vice President, said that this study program offers a cultural journey for youth on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to trace the roots of Chinese culture and deepen their understanding of the arts. Crucially, he added, it was a spiritual journey for young people to enhance understanding, build friendships, and co-create their future. Dance serves as an emotional bond that transcends the Taiwan Strait, and he hoped that the students could trace their shared cultural roots and strengthen spiritual connections through art.
Course Study
Systematic Training and Immersive Experience
Over the intensive six-day program, students received systematic dance training. The summer camp offered a diverse curriculum, including basic training courses in Chinese classical dance, ensemble training in Chinese ethnic and folk dance, and repertoire study. Instruction covered classic works such as Moonlight Over the Spring River (Yueying Chunjiang), On the Love of the Lotus (Ailian Shuo), The Frankincense Is Waiting (Ruxiang Piao), Calling the Moon (Han Yueliang), Mist and Rain (Wu Yu), Flying Apsaras (Feitian), and Mulan’s Return (Mulan Gui), all taught by BDA’s team of experienced instructors.
Students explored the rhythmic beauty of Chinese classical dance, characterized by the subtle “twist, tilt, circle, and curve” movements, and immersed themselves in the “soul, rhythm, emotion, and character” of ethnic and folk dances, including those of the Yi, Mongolian, Dai peoples, and the Jiaozhou Yangge. Guided by their instructors, students used their movements as brushstrokes and the stage as a canvas, bringing to life a vibrant portrait of China’s outstanding traditional culture.
Course Completion Ceremony
Talent Showcase and Heartfelt Messages
On the afternoon of August 25, the course completion ceremony was held at the Black Box Theater. Distinguished guests in attendance included Chen Ziyun, Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Director of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSGL), and Vice Chairperson of the TDSGL Beijing Municipal Committee; Zhang Jian, Vice President of the Beijing Overseas Friendship Association; Wei Xubin, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission; Zhang Fa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Overseas Friendship Association; Dong Chuan, Director of the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission; Wang Li, Director of the Second Communication and Exchange Division of Taiwan Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, and Wang Zhijun, Second-level Researcher of the same division; Liu Lan, Secretary of the CPC BDA Committee; Zhang Liangxue, Deputy Secretary of the CPC BDA Committee; Xiao Xiangrong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BDA Committee and Vice President; Chen Yuyu, Director of the BDA Party Committee Organization Department; Qin Yanxi, Director of the BDA Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs; Zhou Peng, Dean of the School of Continuing Education and Deputy Secretary of the Joint Party Branch for the School of Continuing Education and the School of Graded Examination; and Liu Xiajing, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education. The ceremony was presided over by Ma Shengfei, Director of the Comprehensive Teaching and Research Office of the School of Continuing Education.
The dance showcase was vibrant and engaging, with students presenting classical dance training routines, ensemble performances of ethnic and folk dances, and a selection of classic works, earning warm applause from the leaders, teachers, and parents in attendance.
In his remarks, Wei Xubin, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, expressed his gratitude to BDA for its thoughtful organization and professional guidance, as well as to the teachers and students from Taipei for their enthusiastic participation. He emphasized that the event was not only an opportunity for artistic learning, but also a vivid testament to how dance can serve as a bridge for young people across the Taiwan Strait to connect on a deeper level. He encouraged the students to visit Beijing more often and expressed hope that they would come to Beijing for further studies in the future.
Liu Lan, Secretary of the CPC BDA Committee, encouraged the young participants from Taiwan to become inheritors of Chinese culture, promoters of cross-strait exchange, and contributors to national rejuvenation. She urged the students to hold fast to their love for dance, to strive for artistic excellence, and to turn the inspiration and emotions gained from this camp into lasting motivation. She expressed the hope that they would build a solid foundation through steady practice, and grow into well-rounded artists with cultivation, vision, and warmth.
The lead teacher of the Taipei study group remarked that the six-day program allowed them to gain a deep appreciation of BDA’s rich heritage as the “cradle of dancers”, and that the teachers and students would bring this invaluable experience back to Taiwan, enabling more children to experience the beauty and charm of Chinese dance.
The students also expressed that the summer study camp not only improved their dance skills but also broadened their artistic horizons. While acknowledging the intensity of the training, they felt the professional growth and personal fulfillment made every bit of hard work worthwhile. Many noted that this was their first time in Beijing, and the experience taught them to live more independently and pursue their dreams with greater determination. They all agreed that the warmth and camaraderie shared by the teachers and fellow students were something they would never forget.
At the ceremony, the attending leaders presented certificates of completion to all students who successfully finished the study program. The ceremony concluded with a group photo, bringing this unforgettable artistic journey to a perfect close.
This summer camp was not only an opportunity to enhance artistic skills, but also a journey of cultural discovery and spiritual connection. It further strengthened the foundation of collaboration between BDA and arts education institutions in Taiwan, and built a higher-level platform for exchange among young people across the Taiwan Strait.
BDA will continue to welcome more young dance enthusiasts from Taiwan to study, create, and perform on campus, jointly promoting the vibrant development of Chinese dance artistry and writing a new chapter in cross-Strait cultural exchange.
Source: Beijing Dance Academy Official Website, News Edition No. 1857 (Issue No. 129, 2025)
