Academy Of Palo Alto Performing Arts
Meet the Instructors
At APAPA–USA (Academy of Palo Alto Performing Arts), we are a comprehensive professional dance academy offering training in Chinese Dance, Ballet, and Contemporary Dance. Founded in California in 2018, the academy began with a strong focus on Chinese Dance and cultural heritage, and has since grown into an institution dedicated to artistic excellence and professional development across multiple disciplines.
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in dance education through exceptional faculty and rigorous training systems. Our instructors are carefully selected for their distinguished academic backgrounds, extensive professional stage experience, and strong teaching expertise.
Our educational approach emphasizes individualized training, recognizing each student’s unique potential and providing structured guidance based on technical level, physical development, and artistic goals.
Chinese Dance faculty members are graduates of China’s leading dance academies with national-level professional company experience. Ballet instruction is led by teachers trained under the prestigious Vaganova system, while Contemporary Dance faculty are active professional artists with rich performance and creative backgrounds.
In addition to regular programs, APAPA–USA regularly hosts master classes and international guest artists, offering students opportunities to learn directly from world-class educators and expand their artistic horizons.
APAPA-USA 创办人&艺术总监 熊艾萍
Founder & Artistic Director - Aiping Xiong
Ms. Xiong graduated from Dance Academy of Minzu University of China and once worked for China Oriental Song & Dance Troupe. Rich in stage performance experience and teaching experience, Ms. Xiong has professionalism in dance teaching. She performed in many large-scale dancing shows as the leading dancer such as “Oriental Love” ,"Footsteps of China" dance drama”, “Nu Wa”and so on. She attended in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala Evening and other large-scale performances
many times. She has attended state visit performances and promoted art exchanges in the US, Japan, Korea, Dubai，North Korea and so on. She performed as leading actress in the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games Closing Ceremony show “Carnival Across the Five Continents”. Then she was invited to join “Dance World” program of CCTV3 and was awarded “the Dancing Star” honor; in 2008, Ms. Xiong was chosen to represent the Han to participate in the 56 Ethnic delegation performance in the 29th Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Beijing.
Having learned from the best dancers around the world, Ms. Xiong has rich dancing experience and knowledge reserve in Chinese Folk Dance, Classic Dance, Ballet basics, Modern Dance, technical skills and many other dance styles such as Indian, Korean, Spanish, African and Egyptian. Ms. Xiong has professionalism in dance teaching.She hopes to devote her dance attainments to teaching and helps students improve through rigorous, professional and scientific teaching methods. She will spare no efforts to foster more dance talents with her dedication and love for dance.In 2021, APAPA-USA Team, under the guidance of Mr. Ai, won the third place in the National Dance Competition and the first place in several regional competitions. In the two years before the new crown epidemic, the APAPA-USA Team successfully held two events for the public and the community's performance.
毕业于中央民族大学舞蹈学院，曾就职于中国东方歌舞团（中国东方演艺集团）
具备丰富舞台经验与教学经验的小艾老师，曾担任《东方之爱》、《天涯若比邻》、《中国的脚步》舞剧、 《女娲》等多部大型舞蹈专场晚会主演；多次参加中央电视台春节晚会等大型演出；出访美国、日本、韩国、迪拜、朝鲜、等多个国家进行艺术交流和国事访问演出；担任第二届青年奥林匹克运动会闭幕式《五洲欢聚》节目领舞；
受邀参加CCTV3《舞蹈世界》栏目录制并获舞蹈全明星奖；代表汉族参加2008年北京奥林匹克运动会开幕式56个少数民族代表团演出。
曾与国内外著名舞蹈家学习和共事，在中国民族民间舞、古典舞、芭蕾基本功、现代舞、技术技巧课以及国外风格性舞蹈（踢踏、印度、韩国、西班牙、非洲、埃及）等舞种方面积累了丰富的舞蹈知识，业务能力和职业素养突出。希望通过严谨、专业、科学的授课方式将其多年的舞蹈造诣传授给学员，带着对舞蹈的执着与热爱培养更多优秀的舞蹈人才。2021年APAPA-USA Team在小艾老师的指导下，曾获得全美舞蹈比赛第三以及多次区域赛第一的好成绩，并在新冠疫情之前的两年中成功举办了两次面向公众和社区的公演。
APAPA-USA Artistic Consultant & Instructor
刘盈 Ying Liu
After graduating from Beijing Dance Academy in classical Chinese dance, Ms. Liu went on to become a principal dancer in China Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. She is the gold medal winner in both “Tao Li Cup”Dance Competition (the most competitive dance competition in China) and Beijing Dance Competition.
Ms. Liu participated in the production of and starred in several large-scale special dance events. As part of international cultural exchanges, she represented China Oriental Song and Dance Troupe in visiting performances in the United States, Sri Lanka Lanka, South Korea, Thailand and other countries. In 2014, the closing ceremony of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, Ms. Liu was the lead dancer for the program "World Reunion". In the 10th session of the Chinese Arts Festival, she’s also a lead dancer in the drama "The Li Story". Ms. Liu participated in 2015 Chinese CCTV National Spring Festival Gala performances, and was the lead dancer in many Chinese dance performances. Ms. Liu specializes in Chinese classical dance, Chinese folk dance, ballet, and African dance, Spanish dance, Arabian dance, Indian dance and Korean dance.
毕业于北京舞蹈学院中国古典舞系, 就职于中国东方歌舞团。 她的独舞曾荣获中国舞蹈界最高奖项“桃李杯”舞蹈大赛表演金奖和北京市舞蹈比赛金奖。
参加并多次担任主演过中国东方歌舞团⼤型专场舞蹈晚会。多次代表东方歌舞团出访美国、斯里兰卡、韩国、泰国等国家做文化交流演出。在2014年南京青奥会闭幕式上，担任《五洲欢聚》领舞。在第十届中国艺术节中, 担任舞剧《黎族故事》领衔主演。参加了2015年中央电视台春节联欢晚会演出，并在中国多部舞剧中担任主演。擅长舞种: 中国古典舞、中国民族民间舞、芭蕾舞，以及非洲舞、西班牙舞、阿拉伯舞、印度舞、韩国舞。
APAPA-USA Invited Ballet Instructor
Anastasia Pavlova
Ballet Program
Ballet Instructor | Choreography | Character Dance | Contemporary
艺术履历：
Anastasia was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where her passion for ballet began at the age of nine after early experiences in ice skating and gymnastics. She trained at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy, completing both preparatory and professional programs, and graduated in 2019 under the mentorship of Nikolay Tsiskaridze and Yulia Kasenkova. Her education also included an exchange year at the Finnish National Opera Ballet School, where she graduated with honors. During her studies, Anastasia performed on renowned stages such as the Mariinsky and Mikhailovsky Theatres and was later invited to join the Saint Petersburg Ballet Theatre of Konstantin Tachkin, performing internationally across Europe.
Her professional career expanded globally with engagements at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the World Ballet Series in the United States, where she not only performed but also led classes and rehearsals. Anastasia has danced on stages across the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, Finland, Spain, South Africa, Mexico, and the U.S., earning recognition for her artistry and versatility. In 2020, she returned to Saint Petersburg to work with Kononov Concept, exploring contemporary dance and pursuing teaching, where she shared her expertise in ballet, repertoire, character dance, and Pilates, completing official Pilates training as well.
In 2022, Anastasia traveled to Costa Rica, where she performed the role of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty with the Nacional Ballet de Costa Rica and led ballet masterclasses. Most recently, she worked at Osipova Ballet Academy for two years, teaching classical, character, and contemporary dance while also choreographing original works in both classical and contemporary styles. Under her guidance, her students achieved outstanding results, winning top prizes at national and international competitions, including YAGP and California Dance Classics.
APAPA-USA Invited Ballet Instructor
Lulu Zhang Li
Ballet Program
Ballet | Contemporary | Choreography
毕业于 Stockholm Ballet Academy, Sweden.
Académie de Nini Theilade de Lyon, France.
艺术履历：
Classics ballet productions: “Nutcracker”, “La bayadere”, “Don Quixote”, “Grand pas de quatre”, “La sylphide”, “Swan lake”, “Coppelia”, “La dame aux camellias”.
Musical productions: “L’ amour”, “Among Angels and Demons”, “Wicked Tails”, “champagne and Glamour”.
Festivals, celebrations and other projects: “World AIDS day gala” Sweden; “Stockholm NY gala”, Sweden; Western Ballet 40, 41years anniversary show, Mountain View performing arts center 25 years anniversary show.
APAPA-USA Invited Ballet Instructor
Maria Pereverzeva
Ballet Program
Ballet Instructor | Pre-Ballet | Conditioning | PBT
艺术履历：
Maria Pereverzeva is a dedicated and accomplished ballet instructor specializing in pre-ballet education, body conditioning, and Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT). Trained in the esteemed Vaganova Method under masters like Ivan Goliandin, she holds a Level 1 Teaching Certification from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and is PBT-certified, blending classical and contemporary methods in her teaching.
With extensive experience preparing young dancers for both stage and competition, Maria has helped students achieve top placements at prestigious events such as California Dance Classics—earning 1st to 3rd place awards in solo, duo, trio, and ensemble categories. She is also a skilled choreographer, creating works for children’s performances and competitions.
Maria is passionate about nurturing each student’s potential, focusing on technical excellence, artistic growth, and confidence in a positive, supportive environment.
APAPA-USA Invited Contemporary Instructor
NATASHA ADORLEE
Choreographer| Filmmaker, Composer, and Educator
艺术履历：
NATASHA ADORLEE is an Emmy Award-winning choreographer, filmmaker, composer, and educator based in San Francisco, CA. A first-generation Asian American woman, she was the final Artistic Fellow with Amy Seiwert's Imagery. Natasha began choreographing in 2016 while maintaining an award-winning dance career with Robert Moses' Kin, ODC/Dance, Kate Weare and Co., and The San Francisco Symphony.
After winning over ten international awards for her acclaimed short film Take Your Time in 2018, she has been a sought-after filmmaker, choreographer, and composer ever since. After attending SUNY Purchase and graduating from UC Berkeley, Natasha was invited to join ODC/Dance. As a performer, Natasha has danced a vast repertoire of works and contributed original choreography, sound design, and art direction to over 20+ ODC/Dance repertory works.
In addition, Natasha has created over 20 original dance-based works spanning stage, film, and immersive performance mediums. Most recently, she was commissioned to create for Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works, Kansas City Ballet, Richmond Ballet, BalletX, Ceprodac (Mexico), Kawaguchi Ballet (Japan), Ballare Carmel, Ballet22, and Imagery.
Natasha has also created original work for Pixar Animation Studios, Oculus, National Geographic, and The New Yorker Magazine. Natasha founded Concept o4 to create multimedia dance-based experiences advocating for more accessibility to the arts.
In 2024, Natasha was awarded the Grand Prize at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and received an NEA Grant, a Dresher Fellowship, and a Jacob's Pillow Choreographic Fellowship. She is currently pursuing a prolific creation period while sharing her deep knowledge of movement and film with the greater community through Dance on Camera workshops. Natasha also serves as an Artistic Advisor for Ballet22
APAPA-USA Invited Ballet Instructor
Mingyu Ye
Ballet instructor
教育背景与相关经历
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2001-2007 北京舞蹈学院--附中--芭蕾舞
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2007-2011 北京舞蹈学院--本科--舞蹈学
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2012-2015 北京舞蹈学院--硕士--舞蹈教育心理学
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2015 于圣彼得堡学习瓦岗诺娃教学法及表演课(师从 Irina Kolpakova、Safronova Ludmila 等)
北京舞蹈学院硕士毕业，后赴圣彼得堡学习。参与多项教育部科研项目和国际合作项目,合作出版书籍《舞蹈 鉴赏心理学》《丹麦皇家芭蕾在中国》等。北京国际芭蕾舞暨编舞比赛开幕式中外合作编导，中国校园戏剧 节舞蹈指导等，受邀参加巴西文化月展演、第十一届全国艺术院校高峰论坛与 WDC 世界舞蹈大赛等。叶子老 师具有中国、澳洲及俄罗斯地区的芭蕾、性格舞、当代舞、创意舞蹈教师认证。所教授的学生们在维也纳国 际芭蕾舞及现代舞大赛获三等奖，香港迦南之星国际芭蕾舞比赛中获少年组独舞前五与优秀表演奖、并获得 院校奖学金。
Ms. Ye has got her master's degree from Beijing Dance Academy with scholarship issued by China Scholarship Council, then she studied with the pedagogues of Vaganova Ballet Academy
in St. Petersburg. Ms. Ye has also achieved many national education science research programs, international collaborative project with Royal Danish Ballet and published books such as “Dance Psychology” “Royal Danish Ballet in China” “Dancing Issues in Quality Oriented Education” etc. She’s not only a member of judging panel and organization committee, but also a
choreographer in amount of dance competition and Arts event. As the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition, China Campus Theatre Festival etc. Ms. Ye is proficient in varieties of ballet pedagogics, character dance, contemporary dance and was certificated by Beijing Dance Academy, The Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance. She has several years of Experience instructing students of all ages and is extremely passionate about her
work. Under Ms. Ye' s instruction, her students have won bronze award at the International
Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition - Ballet Grand Prix Vienna, and Top 5 awards and scholarships at Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition.
APAPA-USA Invited Chinese Classical Dance Instructor
Xueying Li
毕业于专业舞蹈院校
艺术履历：
李老师是一位拥有40余年舞蹈教学与编导经验的资深舞蹈教育家。她毕业于专业舞蹈学院，是中国舞蹈家协会的资深会员、国家认证的舞蹈考级评委，并长期担任艺术类高考（艺考）专业辅导老师。她所培养的学生在国内外各类比赛和演出中屡获佳绩，成就斐然。多年来，她培养了一代又一代优秀的舞蹈人才，始终致力于将自己的专业经验与热情传递给年轻一代。
Ms. Li is a veteran dance educator with over 40 years of experience in dance instruction and choreography. A graduate of a professional dance academy, she is a long-standing member of the Chinese Dancers Association, a certified dance examination judge, and a trusted mentor for arts entrance exam (艺考) preparation. Her students have earned top honors in both domestic and international competitions and performances. She has nurtured generations of outstanding dance talent and is passionate about sharing her expertise with the next generation.