The people behind the standard

Faculty & Alumni

David Z. Chen

Shanghai Opera & Dance Theatre

David Z. Chen

陳兆鑫

Founder & Artistic Director

A former choreographer and dance instructor with Shanghai Opera and Dance Theatre, David Z. Chen has spent more than six decades in dance education, choreography, and stage production. He is ACPA’s Founder and Artistic Director.

Xinge Lin

Shanghai Ballet Company

Xinge Lin

林心閣

Ballet Faculty

A former chief choreographer and instructor with Shanghai Ballet Company, Xinge Lin has created numerous dances and is known for disciplined, technically precise teaching. She leads ballet training at ACPA.

Sherina Hong Li

Gansu Province Dance Troupe

Sherina Hong Li

李洪

Chinese Classical Faculty

A former principal performer with the Gansu Province Dance Troupe, Sherina Hong Li is an accomplished instructor specializing in Chinese classical and ethnic dance.

Michelle Lin

Vaganova · City Ballet SF · Prix de Lausanne · YAGP

Michelle Lin

林老师

Ballet & Performance Faculty
Yunchao Yang

Hebei Arts Academy · Beijing Kunqu Theatre

Yunchao Yang

楊运超

Kunqu & Martial Arts Faculty

A graduate of Hebei Arts Academy, Yunchao Yang worked with Beijing Kunqu Theatre and performed internationally with Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre’s youth production of The Peony Pavilion. He teaches Kunqu opera movement and martial arts.

Lili Zhang

Minzu University of China

Lili Zhang

张丽丽

Dance Faculty

A graduate of the dance program at Minzu University of China, Lili Zhang brings experience across large-scale dance drama, musical theatre, spoken theatre, performance, and choreography. She is a dedicated dance instructor.

Monica Chen

ACPA · Shanghai Students Art Troupe

Monica Chen

陳美駒

Dance Faculty

Monica Chen began training at age five with the Shanghai Students Art Troupe and continued Chinese dance and ballet at ACPA for 16 years. After several years as a teaching assistant, she began teaching and is known for her connection with young students.

Alumni

The record continues.

Christina Di

Alumna

Christina Di

狄瀟瀟

Christina Di received 11 years of training in Chinese dance and ballet at ACPA, then continued in modern and contemporary dance at On One Studios and Nor Cal Dance Arts. At Carnegie Mellon University, she joined Infra Dance Company and created work in modern dance and hip-hop.