"Taoli World Dance Competition" — where your dream takes center stage.
A global stage celebrating the beauty, depth, and living heritage of Chinese and world dance arts.
The Taoli World Dance Competition was founded by celebrated dance educator Professor Pan Zhitao — the same visionary who established the original Taoli Cup in China. Organized by the Pan-American Chinese Dance Alliance (PACDA), the competition's foremost purpose is to discover and cultivate the next generation of dance talent.
"A dance epic is a history of the development of human civilization."
Beyond talent discovery, the competition serves to recognize the achievements of dance instructors across the United States and China, elevate standards in both teaching and performance, inspire bold new choreography, and advance the development of dance arts worldwide.
Selected performances from regional competitions advance to the Grand Finals. Award-winning dances and groups earn the opportunity to be invited to participate in national and international tours — giving every competitor a stage that extends far beyond a single performance.
To promote Chinese dance art and creation, and to train the next generation of Chinese dance teachers and professional performers to the highest standards of the art form.
To connect Chinese dancers, teachers, and groups worldwide with dance professionals in China, fostering substantive cross-cultural exchange in the performing arts.
To provide a world-class platform for competitions, master classes, and cultural activities that identify emerging talent and elevate the standard of Chinese dance internationally.
To help the Chinese diaspora connect with heritage through dance, build cultural confidence and identity in younger generations, and share the beauty of Chinese dance with the wider world.
"To promote Chinese dance art and creations, to train Chinese dance teachers and professional dancers, to provide a platform for competitions, master classes and activities — to enrich cultural life and create opportunities for effective cross-cultural exchange in the performing arts."
— PACDA Mission Statement
The judging panel assembled for the Taoli World Dance Competition includes some of the most celebrated artists in the international dance community. Their expertise spans Chinese classical dance, Chinese folk and ethnic dance, contemporary choreography, and Western ballet — providing contestants with truly authoritative evaluation and guidance.
Under the judges' attentive observation, every competitor is given the freedom to express themselves fully — to convey the joys and sorrows of life through movement, to share their desires for beauty and happiness, and to celebrate the harmony and progress of our world.
Judges provide not only scores but also direct artistic feedback — an invaluable opportunity for dancers and their teachers to grow, refine technique, and reach new heights in their craft.
Meet Our Judges →
Founder, Taoli World Dance Competition
Founding Director, Chinese Folk Dance Dept., BDA
Professor Pan Zhitao is one of the most influential figures in the history of Chinese dance education. His decades of dedication to the art form have shaped generations of dancers across China and around the world — and his vision continues to guide the Taoli World Dance Competition today.
In 1985, Professor Pan founded the original Taoli Cup — China's first and most prestigious national dance competition — establishing a tradition of excellence and cultural celebration that would inspire dance communities for decades to come. Two years later, in 1987, he founded the Chinese Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA), institutionalizing folk and ethnic dance as a rigorous academic discipline.
Beyond his administrative achievements, Professor Pan has served as a working choreographer at some of the most prestigious cultural institutions in China, and as a judge on major American television dance competitions — his influence literally spanning continents.
Today, Professor Pan serves as Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the Beijing Dance Academy, Director of the Expert Committee of the Chinese Folk Dance Examination Center, and a senior member of both the Chinese Dancer Association and the Chinese National Folk Dance committee — bringing that unmatched authority directly to the Taoli World stage.
The Pan-American Chinese Dance Alliance (PACDA) is a non-profit organization founded in 2015 with a single, bold ambition: to spread the beauty of Chinese dance internationally, and to connect the global Chinese dance community through opportunity, performance, and shared passion.
Today, PACDA is an alliance of more than 100 community dance groups across the United States and Europe, with its headquarters in Irvine, California. The organization actively collaborates with dance students, teachers, and groups across the globe.
With each competition, master class, and cultural event, PACDA hopes to inspire a new generation to discover their own meaning in Chinese dance — and to find the confidence, identity, and community that comes with it.
Visit pandance.org →
The world's largest competition dedicated to Chinese dance styles, featuring preliminary rounds across North America and a Grand Finals held internationally.
PACDA is the official North American organizer of the Chinese Folk & Ethnic Dance Certification Exam, authorized by the Beijing Chinese Folk & Ethnic Dancers Association.
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An immersive multi-day summer program combining international master classes, cultural workshops, and guided performance opportunities for young dancers.
PZ
Renowned dance educator; founder of the original Taoli Cup (1985) and the Chinese Folk Dance Department at Beijing Dance Academy.
EH
Distinguished Professor at Bucknell University; trained at the Beijing Dance Academy; former Principal Dancer with Dayton Ballet; recipient of the Outstanding Instructor Award.
SW
Founder and Artistic Director of the Shin Dance Academy in the USA; a leading figure in bringing Chinese dance education to North American communities.