Lorita Leung Dance Association is a registered Canadian charity established in 1984. The Association’s mandate is to promote, preserve, and enhance Chinese dance culture in Canada. Over the past 42 years, it has sponsored many important initiatives, including the North American Chinese Dance Competition, the Chinese Dance Summer Intensive, and professional workshops such as the Xin Yue Wu and Li Ren Wu training courses. These programs have enriched the standard of Chinese dance in Canada while creating valuable opportunities for cultural exchange.

Since 1993, the Association has partnered with the Beijing Dance Academy as North America’s first official organizing body for the Chinese Dance Graded Examination Syllabus (CDGES). Since its inception, more than 3,500 Chinese dance students across Canada have participated in CDGES examinations under the Association’s leadership. The Association also provides professional development opportunities for Canadian Chinese dance educators through CDGES Teacher Training modules. To date, more than 260 teachers in Canada have obtained their CDGES teaching qualifications through the Association.

In 2002, the BC Ministry of Education recognized the Lorita Leung Dance Association as an approved organization under its External Credential Program. As a result, students in British Columbia are eligible to receive up to 12 secondary school graduation credits upon successful completion of CDGES Levels 7, 8, and 9. For more than thirty years, the Association has played a leading role in organizing and promoting CDGES in Canada, serving as an important cultural touchstone for Chinese dance within the diaspora community.

The Association also provides financial support to the Lorita Leung Chinese Dance Company, the Little Panda Children’s Performing Groups I & II, and the Vancouver Contemporary Chinese Dance Company. These performing groups enrich the cultural and artistic lives of young dancers while showcasing the richness and vibrancy of Chinese dance culture in Canada.

In addition, the Association supports promising young dancers through the Lorita Leung Memorial Scholarship, which provides LLDA students with opportunities for further study, artistic growth, and continued development. Through its enduring commitment to education, excellence, and cultural preservation, the Association continues to inspire future generations and strengthen the legacy of Chinese dance in Canada.