On Saturday, Beijing Dance Academy held a grand celebration at the school to mark its 70th anniversary. The event summarized the school's seven decades of educational experience, showcased achievements in the new era, and outlined future development plans to promote the flourishing of Chinese dance education.

Known as the revered cradle for dancers in China, Beijing Dance Academy was first opened on Sept 6, 1954. It was the country's first institute of dance. Dai Ailian (1916-2006), also known as Ailien Tai, then 38, an overseas Chinese ballerina, was appointed the first president of the institute. In the past 70 years, the Beijing Dance Academy has trained an astonishing array of accomplished dancers, choreographers and educators.

Xu Rui, president of Beijing Dance Academy, delivered a speech in which he reflected on the institution's journey from 1954 to 2024. He highlighted how the academy has been carving a path to becoming a world-class dance university with Chinese characteristics and emphasized that in the future, the academy will continue to fully implement the fundamental mission of fostering moral and intellectual development.

Shan Chong, an alumna representative, shared heartfelt reflections on her personal growth and learning journey at the Beijing Dance Academy. She expressed profound gratitude to the institution and extended her best wishes for its future development.

At the 70th anniversary celebration, the institution showcased its latest achievement in embracing the era of artificial intelligence by unveiling the "Dance Digital Humans" Xiao Bei and Xiao Wu, part of its initiative to build a China Dance Digital Education Center.

On the evening of Saturday and Sunday, the performance, titled Dancing to the Peak — Beijing Dance Academy's 70th Anniversary Celebration, made its debut at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. The performance was a tribute to the academy's seven decades of dedication to dance education and art, showcasing its commitment to serving the people and reflecting the spirit of the times through dance.