Xu Rui, President of the BDA leads a delegation to the United States to deepen international cooperation in dance education
From June 27 to July 2, Xu Rui, President of the BDA led a four-member delegation to the United States for a series of exchange visits and collaborative activities with renowned dance institutions. These included the American Dance Festival, the Carolina Performing Arts Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, New York University, and the State University of New York at Purchase. Multiple cooperation agreements were signed, deepening practical collaboration and injecting new impetus into the integration of Sino-American dance education and the development of the World Dance Education Alliance.
Partnering with the American Dance Festival
Advancing Exchange and Interaction Between Modern Dance and Chinese Dance
During the visit, the delegation met with core team members of the American Dance Festival, including its President Jodee Nimerichter and Education Program Director Nile H. Russell, and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. Both parties reached consensus on future collaborative projects, such as performance exchanges, workshops, and the Beijing Short-Term Dance Festival. The delegation also visited master workshops to engage directly with faculty and students, gaining firsthand insights into cutting-edge developments and trends in international dance education.
Established in 1934 by luminaries in modern dance, including Martha Graham, the American Dance Festival has grown into a highly influential event in the global dance community. Hosted annually in Durham, North Carolina, it has evolved into a comprehensive dance institution encompassing education, performances, seminars, and exchanges. The festival plays a vital role in advancing modern dance and fostering cross-cultural dialogue in dance.
Exchanging Insights with the Carolina Performing Arts
Exploring New Avenues for Cooperation
The delegation engaged in an in-depth dialogue with Alison M. Friedman, Artistic Director of the Carolina Performing Arts Center, conducting a systematic study of theater operation models and educational practice systems. This exchange offered valuable international insights for the construction of the college’s new campus. Preliminary consensus was also reached on collaborative initiatives, including introducing exceptional Chinese dance productions to American audiences and inviting Alison M. Friedman to conduct a masterclass in arts administration at the college.
As one of the “Best University Performing Arts Centers in the United States,” the Carolina Performing Arts Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stands as an artistic landmark in the Southeast. Housing premier venues such as Memorial Hall, it stages over 50 world-class performances annually across diverse fields including dance and classical music. The center has hosted internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Yo-Yo Ma, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan. Through its innovative artist residency programs, educational initiatives, and community engagement strategies, it sets a benchmark for arts management and practice.
Deepening Collaboration with Universities in New York
Broadening the Landscape for Joint Talent Cultivation
During the visit to New York University, the delegation observed class sessions of its jointly developed Master’s Program in Ballet Pedagogy with the American Ballet Theatre. Constructive discussions were held regarding collaborative models such as joint graduate programs and student exchanges.
During the visit to the State University of New York at Purchase, both parties signed a Student Exchange Agreement, jointly addressed implementation challenges, and planned to deepen teaching-practice integration in contemporary dance, choreography, and Chinese dance.
Additionally, the delegation comprehensively examined the dance facilities and educational practices at both universities. They detailed the development blueprint and upcoming initiatives of the World Dance Education Alliance, extending a formal invitation for faculty and students to participate in October’s “Beijing International Ballet and Dance Competition & Dance Showcase” series in Beijing.
Separately, SUNY Purchase and the college agreed to exchange students during the fall semester, while New York University faculty and students will attend the World Dance Education Alliance’s Dance Showcase in October.
During a campus inspection, Party Secretary Yin Li emphasized that the college should leverage Beijing’s role as an “International Exchange Center” to strengthen platforms like the World Dance Education Alliance. This will accelerate the development of a world-class dance university with Chinese characteristics, enabling Chinese dance arts to share China’s and Beijing’s stories on the global stage.The U.S. visit has both consolidated ties with existing Alliance members and actively invited top American institutions to join, expanding new partnerships. This contributes significantly to building an international cooperation mechanism for dance education and enhancing the global influence of Chinese dance education.
Looking ahead, the college will actively leverage the outcomes of this U.S. visit by capitalizing on a series of international initiatives. Efforts will focus on advancing the development of an international digital dance platform, global dance competition and performance platforms, and an international dance journal. These steps will steadily institutionalize the World Dance Education Alliance, ensure effective implementation of all collaborations, and deepen Sino-American educational and cultural exchanges in dance. Through these endeavors, the college aims to contribute meaningfully to the global advancement and prosperity of dance education.
