Lions Escort Asian Cultural Academy To New Home

After offering classes at the Marina Community Center for four years, the Ms. Wei Asian Cultural & Performing Arts Academy has moved to a 3,000 square-foot studio at 13730 Doolittle Drive, in the Marina Faire Shopping Plaza.

Two weekends ago, about 150 students and supporters of the Academy turned out for a ceremonial opening that, in keeping with tradition, featured lucky lions to bless the new establishment.

The Academy is owned by Ms. Shiang-Fen Wei and her husband, Peter Pang, both of whom have extensive training and credentials in dance and culture.

The Academy teaches Asian dance and cultural understanding to children of all ages. It comes to its new location with with about 75 students who had been taking classes at the Marina Community Center.

Ms. Shiang-Fen Wei is the chief  instructor and operator. With over 20 years of dance experience, she is a graduate of National Taiwan University of Arts in Ballet and Chinese Dance.

Wei was an instructor for the famous  "Lan Yang Dancers" in Taiwan.  She led that dance troupe on performances in the US, Canada, Germany, Italy, Holland, Austria and China. She was also the principal choreographer the Yu-Chi Dance Studio in Taiwan.

City Council Women Joyce Starosciak and City Councilman Jim Prola were among the supporters who turned out for the ceremonial opening, which included a lion dance performed by the USA Kung Fu Studio Lion Dance Team.

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