Celebrating Dai AilianChinese Embassy launches Dance Masterclass in Port-of-Spain

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The legacy of Dai Ailian—the T&T-born dancer who became a towering figure in Chinese culture and is revered as the “Mother of Chinese Modern Dance”—continues to inspire new generations across the globe. Last Wednesday evening, that legacy was honoured in Port-of-Spain as the Chinese Embassy and the Dai Ailian Foundation launched the Chinese Dance Master Class Series: Wu Dao—An Ethnic Innovation, an initiative designed to showcase the beauty and diversity of Chinese folk and ethnic dance.

Hosted at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), NAPA campus, the launch brought together diplomats, artistes, and students of dance for an evening that highlighted both the enduring ties between T&T and China, and the universal language of movement.

Leading the masterclass is Liu Yanbei, a 21-year-old rising star from the Beijing Dance Academy—the same institution founded by Dai herself. Liu, who arrived in T&T last week, is both dancer and choreographer, known for blending classical precision with youthful innovation.

Chargé d’Affaires Yang Han praised the series as a symbol of the power of cultural exchange, noting that Dai’s journey from Trinidad to China stands as a testament to the bridges art can build. He also commended T&T for its own rich artistic heritage and global contributions. Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Wilfred Nicholas Morris, echoed that sentiment, pledging support for the preservation and advancement of Dai’s legacy through the Foundation’s work.

The evening was punctuated by artistry. Liu delivered a sharp, elegant performance that captured the discipline and expressiveness of Chinese dance, while T&T’s own Zidane Roopnarine and Paccino Wilson, graduates of the Beijing Dance Academy, offered dynamic interpretations that wove Chinese traditions into their Caribbean perspective. Together, their performances underscored the cultural exchange at the heart of Dai’s life and legacy.

With Wu Dao, the Embassy and the Dai Ailian Foundation hope to nurture not just an appreciation of Chinese dance, but also a deeper understanding of Dai’s story—that of a Trinidadian woman whose artistry reshaped the dance world and whose influence continues to echo, decades after her final bow.