China Education Federation of the Arts (hereinafter referred to as the CEFA) is a national first-level professional association with legal personality qualifications in the People’s Republic of China. It is supervised by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. The Association is one of the twelve national cross-provincial examination and grading institutions approved and filed by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China. It is currently the only institution in China that conducts examinations and evaluations for Chinese ethnic and folk dance levels. The professional subject offered is Chinese ethnic and folk dance (0202). The CEFA also undertakes the work of the Secretariat of the National Social Art Level Examination Service Standard Committee. The CEFA’s office includes the Chinese Ethnic Folk Dance Grade Test Center, with the department heads being Director Mr.Xiaoxue Yu(a renowned dancer) and Executive Vice Director Mr.Haiwen Wu.

Qualification for Grading Examinations:

The preparation of the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grade Examination Textbook” began in May 2001. It was meticulously created by over ten expert professors from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department of the Beijing Dance Academy. The textbook adheres to the principle of “emphasizing both quality education and joyful education” with the aim of inheriting and promoting the rich and diverse Chinese ethnic culture.

The textbook is based on 56 ethnic dances, selecting the most representative and typical elements from each ethnic dance to create a combination. It is scientifically arranged considering the physiological, psychological characteristics, and perceptual abilities of students of different ages, providing a pleasant learning experience. The textbook consists of 12 levels (with an additional 3 performance levels). Each level includes 10 dance pieces, showcasing strong local and ethnic characteristics.

 

Expert Team:

Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grade Test Center: Artistic Guidance: โ€ข Professor Zuoguang Jia, Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association(CDA) and a renowned dance performer. Editorial Committee for the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination Textbook: โ€ข Chief Editor: Professor Zhitao Pan, Vice Director of the Academic Committee at the Beijing Dance Academy, and Professor of the Beijing Dance Academy. โ€ข Editorial Members: โ€ข Xiaoxue Yu, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and a National First-level Performer. โ€ข Tian Lu, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and a Professor. โ€ข Wenyi Xu, a Senior Lecturer at the Beijing Dance Academy. โ€ข Jia Li, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and an Associate Professor. โ€ข Xiaomei Zhang, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and an Associate Professor. โ€ข Ping Zhou, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and an Associate Professor. โ€ข Ping Han, from the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department at the Beijing Dance Academy, and a Professor.

ย Text Editor: Zhou Yuan, Dance Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Arts, Editor ยท Music Editor: Gong Xiaoming, Associate Professor, Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department, Beijing Dance Academy ยท He Yuan, National Second-level Performer, China National Orchestra of Ethnic Music Expert Committee of the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination Center: ยท Director: Pan Zhitao, Vice Director of the Academic Committee, Beijing Dance Academy, Professor ยท Deputy Directors: Xu Wenyi, Senior Lecturer, Attached Middle School of Beijing Dance Academy; ยท Han Ping, Professor, Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department, Beijing Dance Academy ยท Members: ยท Wang Xiaoyan, Artistic Director of Jilin Song and Dance Theatre, National First-level Performer; ยท Tian Peipei, Director of Dance Department, Capital Normal University, Professor; ยท Zhang Jigang, President of PLA Academy of Art, National First-level Director; ยท Yang Liping, Chief Editor of “Yunnan Impression,” Vice Chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association, National First-level Performer ยท Yang Meiqi, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Dancers Association, Dance Educator ยท Dilnar, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Dancers Association, Chairman of Xinjiang Dancers Association, National First-level Performer ยท Jiang Tiehong, Associate Professor, the Minzu University of China ยท Ciren Sangmu, Deputy Secretary-General of China Ethnic Minority Dance Association, Professor at the Minzu University of China ยท Man Surong, Professor at the Minzu University of China, Dance Educator (Names are listed in alphabetical order by their surname strokes)

Extended Cooperation:

Certification and Licensing for Training Institutions:

Any institution that conducts student training and grading for the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination” and meets the relevant certification standards for a “Grading Center” can apply to become a certified institution for the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination.” Depending on the institution’s venue, scale, faculty, and student grading situation, they can apply to be designated as a “Designated Training Classroom,” “Designated Examination Center,” or “Designated Training Base.” After passing the qualification review, they will receive authoritative certification and authorization to enhance their educational qualifications, enjoy enrollment support, and receive teaching guidance.

Teacher Training and Qualification Certification:

The “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination” teacher qualification certificate is divided into several levels: Levels 1-3, Levels 7-9, Levels 13-15, Levels 4-6, Levels 10-12. The Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination Center organizes teacher training classes throughout the country, inviting senior teachers and examiners from the Grading Center to conduct teaching and examinations locally. Those who pass the exam will be awarded the “Teacher Qualification Certificate” by the “Grading Center,” and those who receive the “Teacher Qualification Certificate” can directly teach the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination” curriculum to young students and recommend students to participate in the annual Grading Center’s “Student Qualification Certificate” level certification examination.

Organizing Student Grading and Qualification Certification:

Teachers who obtain the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination Teacher Qualification Certificate” can conduct student grading training locally and recommend students to participate in grading examinations nearby or during holidays. Student grading takes place twice a year, during winter and summer breaks or holidays. Institutions with a total number of more than 50 students in a grading session can submit grading applications to local hosting organizations (if none available, directly to the “Grading Center”). Qualified examiners accredited by the Ministry of Culture will be dispatched by the “Grading Center” to conduct on-site examinations and assessments. Students who pass the examination and evaluation of the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination” curriculum will be awarded the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination Certificate” certified by the Ministry of Culture, with a unique number, and issued by the Grading Committee of the China Association of Art Vocational Education. The certificate will be recorded in the database of the Ministry of Culture’s Social Art Grading Center, and the “Grading Center” official website will provide a certificate authenticity verification.

Participation in Various Activities Organized by the Grading Center:

  • The Grading Center regularly holds student performances and competitions. Outstanding students and performances are selected from various youth palaces to participate in provincial and national television performances or recordings.
  • Youth palaces can obtain qualifications to participate in authoritative national dance competitions through the “Grading Center,” such as “Xiaohe Fengcaiโ€dance competiton and “CCTV Dance Competition.”
  • The Grading Center will hold an annual “Commendation Ceremony” to select “Outstanding Certified Institutions,” “Outstanding Guidance Teachers,” and “Outstanding Students” of the Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination.
  • Each year, outstanding teachers will be selected to participate in “Master Classes” held in various locations. Through face-to-face communication and interaction with “Dance Masters,” teachers’ dance performance and teaching abilities will be further improved.

Obtain National Authority Certificates:

Listen to professional evaluations from examiners, inspire children’s enterprising spirit, enhance their performance abilities, create more significant development opportunities, and assess teachers’ teaching achievements.

This training program focuses on cultivating an excellent team of teachers for Chinese ethnic and folk dances, inheriting and promoting ethnic and folk dances and outstanding Chinese traditional culture. The Beijing Grading Center will send gold medal instructors to provide guidance, enabling teachers to enhance their teaching abilities and become excellent ethnic and folk dance teachers.

Dance teachers who pass the assessment will be awarded the corresponding level of the teacher qualification certificate by the “Grading Center” and receive the “Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Grading Examination” teaching materials and qualifications to recommend students for grading. The examination materials incorporate the essence of folk dances from 56 ethnic groups and are scientifically arranged based on the physiological and psychological characteristics and perceptual abilities of students of different ages. Through joyful learning, students can train their physicality, cultivate their temperament, and develop confident and optimistic attitudes toward life.