Prestigious competition returns to Beijing Dance Academy

The Achievement Exhibition of the 13th "Taoli Cup" National Dancing Education Performance of China will be held in Beijing from Aug 9 to 16.

The event will feature 250 programs staged at Beijing's theaters under six sections divided by dancing styles, including classic Chinese dance, Chinese folk dance, ballet, and contemporary dance. Students representing 64 schools from 27 cities and provinces will join in the event.

Since 1985, the event, formerly known as the Taoli Cup National Dancing Competition, has been held every three years. In 2016, the focus was shifted to an educational showcase, and the event was renamed. This year, the event is organized by Beijing Dance Academy and will focus on students' dance performances, teaching displays and dance forums.

According to Xu Rui, president of Beijing Dance Academy, applications for the national event started in April and attracted over 14,700 people from 209 schools around the country with nearly 2,000 programs.

"Over the decades the Taoli Cup has built a large fan base in the country and is known as the biggest and most important dancing event, which promotes dance education and young talent," says Xu. "Beijing Dance Academy co-initiated the national event and this year, it returns to the school."

Some of the students who have participated in past events have become top dancers in China. Some have become teachers.

One of the dancers is Wang Jiaxin, a former student of Beijing Dance Academy and now a dancer with China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater. She participated in the Taoli Cup in 2012 and won the second prize in the classic Chinese dance category.

"The intensive training for the event allowed me to concentrate on polishing my dancing skills and gaining a new understanding about the art form. I can still recall the hardship I went through for the event, which was exhausting but rewarding," said Wang. "The valuable experience with Taoli Cup also taught me how to prepare myself for the large events and performances, not just physically but also psychologically."

Sun Ke, a dancer with the Youth Dance Troupe of Beijing Dance Academy, won the first prizes of the Taoli Cup in 2006 and 2009. "I used to be a man of a few words, but the experience of preparing for the Taoli Cup forced me to communicate with my coach and choreographers," he said.