The Dance of the Cloud Fae earned Top 12 in the YAGP Chicago Small Ensemble category.
Our founder-led story
Tradition, shaped around the dancer.
Anna Dance Academy brings Chinese dance traditions into a warm, bilingual environment where placement, teaching, and choreography begin with the child in front of us.
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Why Anna began
A dream built on
individual attention.
Every child deserves more than a routine chosen from a shelf.
Anna founded the Academy to create training that responds to each dancer’s foundation, musicality, personality, interests, and goals. Repertoire is selected and choreography is created or adapted for the students who will perform it.
That approach allows Chinese classical and ethnic folk traditions to remain culturally rooted while becoming engaging, expressive, and stage-ready for today’s local dancers and audiences.
Meet our director
Anna Liu
Founder & Artistic Director · Choreographer · Dance Educator
Anna holds a bachelor's degree in Dance Education and Dance Performance and brings more than 15 years of experience in teaching, choreography, performance, artistic direction, and student development.
Her work connects strong technical training with creativity, cultural storytelling, confidence, and meaningful opportunities to perform.
Recipient of the Best Choreographer Award at the International Taoli World Competition.
Artistic Director of the dance drama Jasmine Flower at Tampa's Straz Center.
Training, leadership & recognition
Experience behind
the artistry.
Anna's work connects Chinese dance heritage, Western training systems, large-scale stage production, and individualized coaching for young performers.
Dunhuang dance heritage
Anna trained as a protégé of Professor Gao Jinrong, a foundational figure in Chinese Dunhuang dance, carrying that artistic lineage into contemporary teaching and choreography.
Global perspective
Her studies include training at New York's Joffrey Ballet School and advanced study at the University of Pennsylvania, connecting Eastern artistry with Western technical systems.
A recognized training center
Anna Dance Academy is a designated training center for the China Fengwu Dance Education Research Center.
Productions with scale
Anna served as Artistic Director of Jasmine Flower at the Straz Center in 2025 and General Director of the 2026 Chinese New Year Gala at Hard Rock Live.
Training that reaches the stage
Her work includes a YAGP Chicago Top 12 Small Ensemble result, a Best Choreographer Award, and state-championship experience in high school cheerleading.
Precision with confidence
Anna's approach combines detailed technical correction, disciplined foundations, and psychological empowerment to help dancers grow with lasting confidence.
Chinese Classical & Dunhuang DanceBallet Training SystemsK-Pop & Urban DanceChoreography & Competition Coaching
How we teach
Individualized by design
Placement and choreography are guided by each dancer's readiness, foundation, interests, and goals.
Culture in motion
Students explore Chinese classical and rotating ethnic folk traditions through engaging, age-appropriate teaching.
Built for the stage
Strong foundations, group training, original choreography, and performance experience grow together.
Bilingual and welcoming
Instruction in English and Chinese helps students and families feel understood throughout the learning process.
Find the right starting point
Every dancer's path begins with a conversation.
Tell us about your dancer's age, experience, goals, and availability. A teacher will help recommend the most suitable current class.
Request placement