Recently, Mr.Jia Haozhe, an internship teacher from the Dance Performance (Ballroom Dance and Education) major of School of Preforming Arts, and Ms.Wang Siyao, a student of Class 2022, participated in the 98th Blackpool Dance Festival 2024 and won awards. With competitors from China, with over 100 groups of dancers from China participating in the competition, the UK, Italy, the United States, and other countries in each category, Mr.Jia Haozhe and Ms.Wang Siyao achieved the following: the 34th place in the Under 21 Modern Dance category (only 7 votes short of qualifying for the quarter-finals) and the 52nd place in the Amateur Rising starBallroo (A+) category. Both of these placements place them within the top 100 in the world (in two of the most competitive categories, excluding the professional and A+ categories), marking a significant step forward for the major.
The Blackpool Dance Festival is a prestigious international ballroom dance event, renowned as the Olympics of Ballroom Dance and one of the three most authoritative and historic competitions in the UK (the other two being the Uk Dance Festival and the International Dance Festival). It began in 1920 and has been held 98 times (interrupted by World War II and the COVID-19 pandemic). Held annually in Blackpool, UK, the festival features a 7-day international ballroom dance championship, master classes, and a global ballroom dance conference. This festival not only showcases the highest level of international ballroom dancing but also provides dance enthusiasts with the opportunity to interact with international masters. The Blackpool Dance Festival's value lies in its international influence, its long history, and its high-level professional competitions. Dance performers who win the Blackpool Dance Festival are considered the best in the field, and their achievements are highly recognized. Furthermore, the Blackpool Dance Festival offers certifications such as the Dance Teacher Certificate, which have the highest value in the field of dance education. In addition, the Blackpool Dance Festival also features live performances by Queen, further emphasizing its elegance and prestige.
This semester, the two competitors overcame various difficulties in a foreign country while completing their studies. They undertook 5-6 master classes and post-class training daily to ensure they could perform at their best in the competition. With their strong will and excellent technique, they achieved outstanding results in the competition.
Coinciding with the university's 40th anniversary, School of Preforming Arts, guided by the national art education teaching development trend and the modern social needs for artistic talent, has taken art dissemination and popularization as its mission and aims to cultivate application-oriented talent with good professional ethics and personal cultivation, with solid professional knowledge. Through this international competition, the students have improved their shortcomings and identified directions for future progress. The major will continue to adhere to the competition-based training and performance-driven learning teaching methods, actively providing students with platforms for international exchange and learning, while bringing more Chinese culture to the world.
