UK China Performing Arts (UKCPA) is a prestigious dance academy located in Bromley, London. Established in 2017, UKCPA specialises in Chinese classical and folk dance, while also offering education in various other dance styles such as ISTD Ballet, Jazz, Hip-hop, K-pop, and Ballroom. With an emphasis on international artistic exchange, UKCPA has cultivated strong relationships with artists and companies from around the world.
The academy has a proven track record of providing professional performance services and collaborations with renowned theatres, media partners, and event organisers. UKCPA has worked with prominent organisations such as Lebanon Caracalla Dance Theatre with the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, as well as Netflix on the high-profile production of The Crown. The academy has also successfully hosted events, including exchanges to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Chinese Culture and Arts Festival, Silk Road Dance Festival, and masterclasses like the Chinese Family Day, the Children's Creative Dance Masterclass, and the Drama Workshop.
As an official UK subsidiary of CFA (Chinese Folk Dance Association), UKCPA offers teacher and student training using the Chinese Folk Dance syllabus acknowledged by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China. The academy believes in providing opportunities to individuals of all ages and skill levels who love dance. Their professional training methodology caters to everyone, from absolute beginners to professionals.
The UKCPA team is led by Hangyu (Joanna) Zhou, the artistic director and founder of UKCPA. Zhou is an examiner for the Beijing Chinese Ethnic Folk Dancers Association and a qualified Ballet teacher certified by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). She obtained her BA in Classical Chinese Dance from the Beijing Dance Academy in 2011 and completed an MA in Dance Studies at the University of Roehampton in 2016. Zhou has received numerous awards in dance competitions, including a silver award in the National Lotus Cup Dance Competition and a bronze award in the Dance Competition of the Five Provinces in Northern China.
She is highly regarded as a leading promoter of Chinese dance and has over 30 years of experience in dancing, teaching, and choreography.
Another esteemed member of the UKCPA team is Jiayi Fan, a Chinese Dance teacher. Fan is a highly skilled teacher and choreographer with a strong background in Chinese and modern dance. She earned her BA in Chinese Dance Performance from the School of Dance at the Shanghai Theatre Academy, where she received scholarships for three consecutive years and represented her school on various cultural exchange trips. During her undergraduate studies, Fan also won the 3rd Prize in the Dance Competition of the Six Provinces in Eastern China.
She further honed her skills and expertise by obtaining an MFA in Dance Choreography from the University of Roehampton.
UK China Performing Arts is dedicated to bringing the charm of Chinese dance to the UK and introducing Chinese dance to dance enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned dancer, UKCPA offers a welcoming and professional environment for all ages and levels of experience.