Dai Ailian Foundation

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

Dai Ailian Foundation (DAF) is a non-profit company, incorporated on July 26, 2011 in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, with non-profit status currently being applied for.  The Foundation currently has 3 Directors.

DAF is being formed to honour Dai Ailian, an international dance icon,  distinguished principal dancer, teacher, choreographer, dance company artistic director, researcher, labanotator, lecturer and demonstrator who was born in Couva, Trinidad in 1916.

DAF is proud to be in partnership with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA), Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, to achieve its stated objects, namely:

1. To grant scholarships to persons to pursue studies in the performing arts, including without limitation dance, music and drama, at academies or schools in the People’s Republic of China;
2. To organise and/or facilitate cultural exchange visits between persons of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and citizens of the People’s Republic of China;
3. To solicit donations and/or engage in fundraising activities, including without limitation facilitating, organizing and staging public fundraising performances, for the grant of scholarships to persons for the purpose stated in sub-paragraph (i) above, for the realisation of cultural exchanges visits referred to in sub-paragraph (ii) above and to defray the costs associated with the day to day management of the Company;
4. To co-ordinate the evaluation by persons appointed by the Company of persons, who have applied for or are interested in obtaining scholarships referred to in sub-paragraph (i) above, for the purpose of their qualification to obtain scholarships to pursue studies in the performing arts, including without limitation the examination of credentials of candidates for scholarships and the interviewing of candidates;
5. To fund the education of awardees of scholarships from the Company to pursue studies in the performing arts at academies or schools in the People’s Republic of China to the extent as determined by the Company;
6. To employ staff or contractors for the purpose of day to day running of the Company, solicitation of funds, assessment of candidates, organisation of cultural exchange visits, management and decision-making;
7. To own property for the purpose of running the affairs of the Company;
8. To disseminate information on Chinese language and culture and education and training in the performing arts in the People’s Republic of China; and
9. To do all such lawful things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the business of the Company.

In addition, it has been agreed that DAF will be the sole company appointed by the BDA to arrange and organise all education and cultural promotion joint venture activities in the Trinidad and Tobago on their behalf.  The shared aims and objectives of the BDA and The Foundation are as follows:

Section 1

1. Develop new academic initiatives aimed at expanding knowledge and skills focused on Chinese dance, performance, language and culture among universities and external communities, including Government agencies, public and private schools, community organizations and industries, especially those developing educational and business partnerships in China;
2. Promote community engagement and outreach initiatives, focusing on dance education, culture, language, and globalization;
3. Co-ordinate conferences and visiting scholars’ lecture series;
4. Sponsor social and cultural activities aimed at promoting Chinese dance, language and culture;
5. Develop and implement strategic partnerships with institutions of higher education, government agencies, and industries, as well as non-governmental organizations in the Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen educational, research, and cultural exchanges and collaborations; and
6. Develop global partnerships with institutions of higher education, government agencies, and industries, as well as non-governmental organizations and civic groups throughout the world.

Section 2

Agree to assist the future development of their collaboration in different forms.  Areas of mutual interest and concern may include, but will not be limited to:

• Visits – mutual official visits and academic visits;
• Student exchange and collaborative education programmes – student exchange, Government-sponsored study abroad and short-term training programmes;
• Performance exchange programmes – collaborative performances and visiting performances; and
• Academic research programmes – collaborative research, conferences and seminars.

DAF is proud to have achieved within such a short time of operation the award of two international dance scholarships to the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy.  These full scholarships are for a 11-month period, commencing September 2011.

August 16, 2011