Ms. Cora

Founder, Artistic Director & Lead Instructor

Cora Lazalde (Cora Chen) is an accomplished Chinese Classical Dance instructor, holding a prestigious diploma from the renowned Beijing Dance Academy. Her passion for dance began at the age of three, where she studied ballet, Chinese dance, and modern dance at the Yang Su Zhen Dance Conservatory under the guidance of Su Zhen Yang and Yu Ling Du, both esteemed figures from the Dance Department of National Taiwan University of Arts.

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Cora's professional training includes rigorous summer intensives in Chinese Classical Dance and HanTang Chinese Classical Dance at the Beijing Dance Academy. At just 17, she began her teaching career, with her debut choreography winning first place in the Chinese Dance category at the 1997 High School Dance Competition in Taipei, Taiwan. This achievement also gained recognition on national television.

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After relocating to the United States, Cora deepened her ballet expertise, training with celebrated instructors such as Carolyn Anderson Barnett, Alexi Zubiría, Regina Zarhina, and Mikhail Tchoupakov, with a focus on the Vaganova method. She has also participated in master classes with prominent figures like Vladimir Tsal of the Mikhailovsky Ballet.

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In 2012, Cora co-founded the Utah Chinese Dance Association, solidifying her dedication to preserving and promoting Chinese classical dance and culture. Her work continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of dancers, bridging cultural heritage with artistic excellence.