The Lorita Leung Dance Company is recognized by China as North America's leading Chinese dance performing group. This group is acclaimed for its professional and authentic presentation of Chinese Folk, Minority, and Classical dance and is also a leading proponent of Modern Chinese Dance. The group is noted for its work in preserving, promoting and enhancing Chinese Dance culture in Canada. The Lorita Leung Dance Company has performed continuously since 1970 and have become well known cultural ambassadors as well as artistic leaders in the area of Chinese Dance.
In 1984, the group became the first overseas Chinese dance group to be invited to perform in China since 1949. Then Premier Zhao Ziyang gave Lorita Leung a special banquet in honour of her visit. That first tour was so successful, that in 1988, the China Performing Arts Agency sponsored another successful five-city tour of China. They have successfully toured and performed in China two more times since then, in 1991 and 1994. In 1997, the Company toured five cities in Taiwan to raise money for cancer research. The Company has also toured various cities across North America.
Over the years, The Lorita Leung Dance Company have won many international awards in Canada, the U.S. and China. At the USA Dance Classic Competition in 1987, the dancers won the Highest Overall Award with perfect scores from six judges. At the same competition the following year, the dancers won the Best Production Category. In 1988, younger members of The Lorita Leung Dance Company participated in the Northeast Dance Competition in China and won numerous awards. One of their dances, "The Golden Deer" was selected to be shown on a children's television series. In 1989, the group won eight awards in three categories including Best Choreography, Best Dancer and Best Folk Dance Solo at the China Arts Festival - International Children's Dance Competition. In 1990, one of the dancers, dancing the "Mongolian Chopstick Dance" won the Variety Category at the I Love Dance National Championships in Las Vegas. In the 1991 USA Dance Classic Competition, the dancers won the Highest Overall Award in the Accelerated Advanced Variety and National Ethnic categories. At the 1993 North American Chinese Dance Competition, the dancers won sixteen first place awards including Best Minority, Best Choreography and Most Promising Dancer categories. The dancers continued to do extremely well at the North American Chinese Dance Competitions winning many major awards including Highest Overall Scores.
The Company was honoured to have their costumes on display at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. Segments of their dancing also formed part of the ongoing video display which was part of the Chinese Exhibit "Beyond the Golden Mountain" and the group's performance inaugurated the theatre at the new Museum when it opened in 1989.
The Lorita Leung Dance Company has a rich and diverse repertoire that ranges from Chinese classical, folk and minority dances to modern Chinese Dance. It performs original works from China as well as new works by Chinese-Canadian choreographers. In 2000, the Company premiered the dance drama Gold Mountain at its Thirtieth Anniversary Performance. Gold Mountain is a collaboration between choreographers Wenwei Wang, Chen Ling, Jessica Jone and Chengxin Wei.
With almost forty years of performing experience to its name, the Company continues to enrich the cultural life of North Americans by creating a greater awareness and appreciation for Chinese Dance.
At The Lorita Leung Dance Academy the dancers train in the only professional training environment for Chinese Dance in North America, using techniques and methods from the Beijing Dance Academy and the Chinese Dance Syllabus.
