Sophia Delza (1903 – 1996) is seen in this video teaching the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan during the 1970’s at her dance studio at Carnegie Hall. This video clip was filmed by the husband of Eli Vansted, one of the students in the class.

The video also includes Sophia Delza going through the form at her home, so that Eli Vansted could remember the movements after she went back to her home in Denmark.

Sophia Delza Tai Chi from Hua Yue Tai Chi Institute · Cph on Vimeo.

Sophia Delza lived in Shanghai from 1948 to 1951. She was a modern dancer, and the first American to teach modern dance in Chinese theater and dance schools inside China. While in Shanghai, Sophia Delza had the opportunity to meet and learn Wu style Tai Chi Chuan from the famous Ma Yueliang.

After moving back to the United States, Sophia Delza began teaching Tai Chi in New York City at Tai Chi at her dance studio as well as the Actors Studio and the United Nations building. She was one of the first teachers to publicly teach Tai Chi Chuan in the United States during the 1950`s.

Below is a book on the Wu style of Tai Chi Chuan which was written by Sophia Delza.

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