Dance - Intermediate Level

Intermediate Level: 2 years

The Intermediate Level is a critical step in helping students become dance artists of professional caliber. Dance instruction at this level further strengthens the skills and techniques learned in the basic level, and students enhance their body flexibility and their ability to express the forms. Basic Level courses are prerequisites, unless waived with the consent of the instructor.

In addition, instruction provides comprehensive training in body movements and nuance in Chinese dance. Students will learn the methods and techniques of Chinese dance performances that are characterized by the external expression of the dancer’s internal sensibility. Training in basic skills are combined with techniques to help students deepen their understanding and appreciation of Chinese dance.

The Intermediate Level dance training also exposes students to more advanced skills and techniques in order to cultivate their ability to precisely express the required dance forms.

Fundamentals of Chinese Classical Dance III, IV

This is a continuation of the Basic Level course to extend the body’s flexibility and capabilities, deepen the students’ grasp of the form of Chinese classical dance, and improve the expressiveness of the physical body.

Shen Yun (身韻) III, IV

Introduces the basic rhythmic elements of Shen Yun (身韻), including Ti, Chen, Han, Tian, Chong, Kao
(提、沉、含、腆、衝、靠). In addition, representative dance movements such as YunJian ZhuanYao (雲肩轉腰), Yun Shou series (雲手系列), and YanZi ChuanLin (燕子穿林) are studied.

Special Techniques in Chinese Dance III, IV 

The students are trained in tumbling and somersault movements that require more advanced skills. Upon completion of this course, students should understand conceptually how specific technical movements are performed and learn to master movements such as JianZi XiaoFan (腱子小翻), JianZi Hou KongFan (腱子后空翻), and XuanZi 360 (旋子360).

Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances III, IV

Building upon the basic training in folk and ethnic dance, the combinations of dance movements in this course are more complex and the content covers more variations in Northeastern Yangge dance, Tibetan dance, and other styles. Students are expected to gain an understanding of the general character and inner emotions of the representative ethnic or regional groups and learn how cultural and environmental circumstances influence artistic styles and presentation. 

Music for Dancers

Music for Dancers is designed to enhance the dancers’ ability to understand the language of music and develop an awareness and appreciation of music and its relationship to dance. Students are introduced to fundamental musical elements such as rhythm. In addition, they will learn how to examine the defining characteristics of a variety of musical styles. Important historical music/dance collaborations and an understanding of how music is used as a practical element in dance production are also included in the course.

Performing and Acting

This course develops students’ appreciation and understanding of the art of acting and prepares them to better perform a character. Every year, Fei Tian Academy’s dance program provides students with formal, world-class performance opportunities so that they may showcase their talents and take their skills to the next level.

History of Dance: China

This course presents an overview of the origins and development of various Chinese dances and select Western classical dances. Students will study how Chinese court dances evolved; the descriptions of dances in traditional poems, murals, ceramics and pottery in Chinese dance history; and the influence on today’s dance movements. Representative works of ancient techniques from the East will be introduced. Ideas such as form, expression, virtuosity, technique, the body as an expressive instrument, audience expectations, and performance conventions will also be addressed.