About
1st Position Dance Academy offers classes in Chinese dance, tumbling, ballet, hip-hop, and contemporary dance. Students can study Chinese classical dance as well as Chinese ethnic and folk dance, including combined Chinese classical and folk dance classes. The program uses a new dance center with three studios to support a broader selection of dance courses, programs, and events.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Kevin Luo is the Founder and Creative Director, and Huanyu Dou is the Founder and Managing Director. Kevin Luo enrolled at the Art School of Guangxi for rigorous professional dance training and later obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting from California State University at Sacramento. He began teaching dance to small groups and in 2020 founded 1st Position Dance Academy in Elk Grove, California, and in 2020 co-founded 1st Position Dance Academy in Sacramento with Huanyu Dou; in 2023 he designed and opened a new dance center with three studios. Ran Tan began professional dance training at age 12, graduated from dance school with top honors, continued studies at the Beijing Central Institute of Cultural Management, and earned a Dance Education degree at Tianjin Conservatory of Music specializing in Chinese classical dance and Chinese ethnic and folk dance, studying under Professor Ying Sun and dancer Kun Wang; she has over two decades of teaching experience and holds the Beijing Dance Academy Chinese Dance Grading Examination Teacher Qualification Certificate. Zhongqing Ji graduated from Heilongjiang Provincial Arts College with a major in acrobatics and magic, earned the Gold Medal at the 3rd National Children's Acrobatics Competition, and was the sole recipient of the Gold Medal at the 2nd Grenoble International Circus Festival in France; he joined the Heilongjiang Acrobatic Troupe, is recognized as a National-level performer in China, and is a member of the China Acrobats Association. His work “Dynamic Africa: Trampoline Hoops” won First Prize in the 2018 Heilongjiang Province “Quyi, Acrobatics, Puppetry, and Shadow Play Competition” for creative works, and his directed programs “Heart Sea Calm Waves” and “Forest Sea Snow Plain” received the First Heilongjiang Province Literary and Art Elegance Award. Lihua Qian graduated from Shanghai Dance Academy, majoring in ballet, Chinese classical dance, and Chinese ethnic and folk dance, and joined Shanghai Dance Theatre as a soloist. Huanyu Dou graduated from Beijing Normal University, received classical piano training from childhood, has worked in music education in California for over two decades, serves as Vice President of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and served as President of the Chinese New Year Culture Association in 2023 and continues as a board member.
The mission of 1st Position Dance Academy is to advance a vibrant dance community that celebrates inclusivity and empowers individuals of all ages to tap into their passion for dance, embracing the unique narratives and talents that each student brings, and fostering cross-cultural respect and appreciation in a welcoming, joy-filled space. Programs are designed to share the historic and cultural breadth and depth of Chinese dance and to inspire others to embrace diversity and forge connections that transcend borders, ethnicities, and cultures. The academy welcomes students of every background, from beginners to all other levels of achievement, and offers professional level dance training and technical and performance proficiency in multiple genres. The 2024–2025 dance season is expanded to include hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet in addition to Chinese classical and folk offerings.
Students of Kevin Luo have achievements that include winning the Taoli World Dance Competition and the Spotlight Dance Cup, earning Diamond Awards for all their routines and special recognition for Judge's Choice, Category Winner, Division Winner, and Overall Winner. Kevin's students have been regularly invited to perform at events and to join international competitions. Kevin Luo was invited to be a judge at the Third Annual XinBounce Competition on February 14, 2025, in Toronto, which features Chinese dance, contemporary, and hip-hop. One testimonial from Kevin Luo states, “Students of all ages become empowered and disciplined through dance, which then supports positive endeavors throughout their lives.” Another testimonial from him notes, “Some of my students say that they not only love to dance, they actually need to dance. When a dancer arrives at that point, it is truly life changing.” Founder and Managing Director Huanyu Dou states, “Dance creates a rich dialogue without words. It conveys feeling and emotion that is authentic, compelling, and moving.”
Last updated July 7, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
Kevin Luo is the Founder and Creative Director, and Huanyu Dou is the Founder and Managing Director. Kevin Luo enrolled at the Art School of Guangxi for rigorous professional dance training and later obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting from California State University at Sacramento. He began teaching dance to small groups and in 2020 founded 1st Position Dance Academy in Elk Grove, California, and in 2020 co-founded 1st Position Dance Academy in Sacramento with Huanyu Dou; in 2023 he designed and opened a new dance center with three studios. Ran Tan began professional dance training at age 12, graduated from dance school with top honors, continued studies at the Beijing Central Institute of Cultural Management, and earned a Dance Education degree at Tianjin Conservatory of Music specializing in Chinese classical dance and Chinese ethnic and folk dance, studying under Professor Ying Sun and dancer Kun Wang; she has over two decades of teaching experience and holds the Beijing Dance Academy Chinese Dance Grading Examination Teacher Qualification Certificate. Zhongqing Ji graduated from Heilongjiang Provincial Arts College with a major in acrobatics and magic, earned the Gold Medal at the 3rd National Children's Acrobatics Competition, and was the sole recipient of the Gold Medal at the 2nd Grenoble International Circus Festival in France; he joined the Heilongjiang Acrobatic Troupe, is recognized as a National-level performer in China, and is a member of the China Acrobats Association. His work “Dynamic Africa: Trampoline Hoops” won First Prize in the 2018 Heilongjiang Province “Quyi, Acrobatics, Puppetry, and Shadow Play Competition” for creative works, and his directed programs “Heart Sea Calm Waves” and “Forest Sea Snow Plain” received the First Heilongjiang Province Literary and Art Elegance Award. Lihua Qian graduated from Shanghai Dance Academy, majoring in ballet, Chinese classical dance, and Chinese ethnic and folk dance, and joined Shanghai Dance Theatre as a soloist. Huanyu Dou graduated from Beijing Normal University, received classical piano training from childhood, has worked in music education in California for over two decades, serves as Vice President of the Sacramento Chapter of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and served as President of the Chinese New Year Culture Association in 2023 and continues as a board member.
The mission of 1st Position Dance Academy is to advance a vibrant dance community that celebrates inclusivity and empowers individuals of all ages to tap into their passion for dance, embracing the unique narratives and talents that each student brings, and fostering cross-cultural respect and appreciation in a welcoming, joy-filled space. Programs are designed to share the historic and cultural breadth and depth of Chinese dance and to inspire others to embrace diversity and forge connections that transcend borders, ethnicities, and cultures. The academy welcomes students of every background, from beginners to all other levels of achievement, and offers professional level dance training and technical and performance proficiency in multiple genres. The 2024–2025 dance season is expanded to include hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet in addition to Chinese classical and folk offerings.
Students of Kevin Luo have achievements that include winning the Taoli World Dance Competition and the Spotlight Dance Cup, earning Diamond Awards for all their routines and special recognition for Judge's Choice, Category Winner, Division Winner, and Overall Winner. Kevin's students have been regularly invited to perform at events and to join international competitions. Kevin Luo was invited to be a judge at the Third Annual XinBounce Competition on February 14, 2025, in Toronto, which features Chinese dance, contemporary, and hip-hop. One testimonial from Kevin Luo states, “Students of all ages become empowered and disciplined through dance, which then supports positive endeavors throughout their lives.” Another testimonial from him notes, “Some of my students say that they not only love to dance, they actually need to dance. When a dancer arrives at that point, it is truly life changing.” Founder and Managing Director Huanyu Dou states, “Dance creates a rich dialogue without words. It conveys feeling and emotion that is authentic, compelling, and moving.”
Last updated July 7, 2026.
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