top of page
Atlanta Professional Dance Academy
Wei Dongsheng
Registered in the national "Who's Who" of both the United States and China, Mr. Dongsheng Wei graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 1987 and was a principal dancer with the National Ballet of China until 1991. He continued his career as a principal dancer with Atlanta Ballet for 14 years. After retiring from Atlanta Ballet, Mr. Wei and his wife Ms. Jenny Jue Chen founded Atlanta Professional Dance Academy (APDA) in 1997. With his professional experience and world renowned reputation as a teacher, he has built a pre-professional ballet program with international recognition. With students receiving scholarships to some of the best ballet programs in the world and consistently placing at major ballet competitions, Mr. Wei has built one of the strongest programs in the Atlanta area. His dancers have also appeared on NBC's American's Got Talent as well as CCTV's Amazing Chinese. He has created cultural exchange programs between the United States and China for his dancers while also working as a guest teacher around the world.
.jpg)
Jenny Jue Chen
Ms. Jenny Chen is a dancer and choreographer who received her professional dance training from the Beijing Dance Academy. She graduated with top honors from BDA prior to her career as a soloist with the National Ballet China. In 1991, she joined Atlanta Ballet. After founding APDA in 1997 with Mr. Wei she began focusing on working with the school's Pre-Professional Program and dancers going to ballet competitions. She is known for her detailed technique training and variations coaching.
_JPG.jpg)
Li Mi
Ms. Li Mi has devoted her entire life to performing and teaching ballet. With top honors, she graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy in 1979. She is also certified in the British RDA. For twenty years, she worked as a soloist dancer for the Central Ballet of China. Ms. Li Mi performed in four countries during her career, including 32 cities in the United States. In 1999, she was invited by the Okada Ballet School in Japan to be its Artistic Director, and she served in that capacity for two years. She returned to China to teach ballet, and in 2004 her students won first prize in the Beijing Dance Competition. Ms. Li Mi devotes herself to teaching ballet to young children, adults and professional dancers and continues to be in her current position as ballet mistress in APDA. Her specialties include classical ballet, character dance, and Chinese Folk Dance.
Sara Wang
Ms. Sara Wang was a principal Traditional Chinese dancer with Qian Feng and Zhejiang Dance Company. She is also a member of Chinese Dance Artist Association. She danced in many countries including a performance at the United Nations. Previously she worked as a dance instructor for the Canadian Royal Academy of Ballet. Ms. Wang currently serves as the dance director for the Chinese and American Performance Group. She is the lead folk dance instructor at APDA and has choreographed many award-winning pieces for APDA soloists, small groups, and ensembles.
.png)
Dana Crigler
Ms. Dana Crigler was a professional dancer and has danced the roles of Sugarplum Fairy, Spanish, Snow, Puss N’ Boots, Blue Bird, Pas de Deux and Pas de Trois in Le Sylphide, and numerous original works by various choreographers. She received her early dance training in Matteson, IL and continued her professional training with Boitsov Classical Ballet School under the direction of Madame Elizabeth Boistov, a graduate and professional dancer with the Bolshoi Theatre. Dana honed her ballet technique with retraining in Vaganova, completed training, and launched her professional ballet career. She performs all styles of dance including ballet, modern (Duncan), tap, and jazz with ballet being her strength and passion. Miss Dana teaches both the Intermediate and Pre-Professional programs as well as strength and conditioning and variations coaching.
_JPG.jpg)
Cherry Song
Ms. Cherry Song began her dance training in 1998 and continued her training with the APDA until 2011. After graduating, Ms. Song returned to APDA to teach and choreograph hip hop to the Intermediate level. Her work has received very high praise with students regularly winning competitions with her choreography as well as in movies. Ms. Song is also a freelance model and actress who works with students to show personality on stage.
bottom of page