Unitec | Te Pūkenga welcomes Beijing Dance Academy back to Mt Albert Campus
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Unitec | Te Pūkenga welcomed representatives from the Beijing Dance Academy to the Mt Albert campus on Tuesday 12 March for their first visit since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group were welcomed onto Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae with a pōwhiri followed by a tour of Building B108, the School of Creative Industries’ multidisciplinary purpose-built facility and the dance studios currently located in west Auckland.
The visitors included Ba Tu, Secretary of the CPC Beijing Dance Academy Committee, LI Chao, Director of the Academy’s Office, Cheng Yu, Director of the Teaching Affairs Office, Hu Yan, Director of Teaching Affairs Office, and Jin Jin, Lecturer of the Education School.
Known as “the cradle of dance artists”, Beijing Dance Academy is one of the most prestigious dance schools in Asia. Established in 1954, this year marks the 70th anniversary since it was established.
Welcoming the contingent onto the marae, Unitec’s executive director Rohe 1 Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga emphasised the importance of the relationship.
“We're delighted to congratulate the Beijing Dance Academy on their remarkable 70-year journey. Their enduring legacy, dedication to excellence, and global impact on dance education are truly commendable.
“Our partnership with the Beijing Dance Academy has been nothing short of remarkable. Through collaboration, mutual respect, and shared determination, we've created great initiatives together, especially during the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Even with the shift to online and distance learning during that time, we continued to strive for academic excellence for our ākonga (learners).
“As we look forward, we remain committed to deepening our partnership and exploring new opportunities together.”
Head of School: Creative Industries, Associate Professor Vanessa Byrnes was eager to give the contingent a guided tour of the School’s new facility.
“As professional training institutions, Dance at the School of Creative Industries and BDA share so many treasured qualities. In particular, we value rigour, respect for craft, teaching the whole person in values-based ways, and striving for artistic excellence in our practice. Having come through COVID and its associated challenges together, our School of Creative Industries is delighted to deepen our longstanding partnership with BDA for new opportunities that create intergenerational mana.”
BDA currently has about 600 faculty members and staff, 2,300 full-time students (approx. 1,300 undergrads, 200 postgrads, and more than 800 secondary school students), and about 7,000 diploma and certificate students from the School of Continuing Education.
