Unitec & Beijing Dance Academy Forge Stronger Academic Ties
Beijing, 16 October 2014 - Unitec and the Beijing Dance Academy is celebrating the signing of a new agreement to develop
a joint undergraduate creative dance programme to be delivered from 2015.
On 14 October at the 60th Anniversary of the Beijing Dance Academy, Unitec Chief Executive Rick Ede signed an agreement
with Beijing Dance Academy President Guo Lei, to develop and deliver a new joint undergraduate creative dance programme
as well as renewing their long-standing collaborative agreement of academic and staff exchanges.
Beijing Dance Academy is a respected world leader in dance education and has produced many of China's leading dancers
and teachers.
The first intake of Chinese students will be enrolled from 2015, which will see the students study at Beijing Dance
Academy for 2.5 years and Unitec for 1.5 years.
To celebrate the occasion, Unitec presented Between Two Fires, two works choreographed by renowned Kiwi choreographer and Unitec dance lecturer, Michael Parmenter. One of the pieces
commissioned by the New Zealand Dance Company was kindly gifted to Unitec and the Beijing Dance Academy. The world
premiere of the work was performed by Unitec students, Josie Archer, Adam Naughton, Xin Ji and Chris Ofanoa, to a
rapturous reception at the International Dance Showcase, held as part of the Beijing Dance Academy's 60th Anniversary
celebrations.
Ede says: "We are delighted to be able to forge further ahead with the Beijing Dance Academy with our dance programme
collaboration to bring our distinct creative flair to innovate Beijing Dance Academy's disciplined rigor". Both Ede and
Alex Lee, Unitec's Head of the Department of Performing and Screen Arts spoke at the Beijing Dance Academy's
International Forum for Presidents and Professors.
ENDS