Li Garden Dance Company is proud to announce that director Kaili Chen, student dancers Fiona Huang, and Leilani Gao have been selected for the 2025–2026 Southern New England Apprenticeship Program (SNEAP), administered by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
As part of this year’s cohort, Kaili Chen (Stamford, CT) will serve as mentor, guiding apprentices Leilani Gao (New Canaan, CT) and Fiona Huang (Stamford, CT) in the study and transmission of Classical Chinese Dance. The ten-month apprenticeship supports intensive training focused on technique, artistry, and the preservation of this longstanding cultural tradition.
The official Connecticut Museum announcement is available here:
https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/news/sneap-cohort-announcement-2025
As well as in the social media: Instagram and Facebook.
The Southern New England Apprenticeship Program has supported traditional arts since 1998, fostering mentorships that sustain living cultural heritage across Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. The 2025–2026 cohort includes twelve apprenticeship teams representing diverse cultural practices in music, dance, visual arts, and craftsmanship.
Li Garden Dance Company is deeply grateful to the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and its partners for this recognition. We look forward to sharing the growth and outcomes of this apprenticeship with our community through future performances, education, and outreach.
