Recreational arts are significant in the fostering of an inclusive, diverse, and pluralistic society, particularly in an era of mass global migration. Community-based arts activities can provide a sense of solidarity with, and significance within, the new societies that migrants inhabit. A sense of belonging is a culturally complex understanding however, and can be informed by a migrant's formative educational experiences from their homeland. This article therefore examines the experiences of Chinese migrants engaged in community dance classes in Aotearoa New Zealand, investigating: how can expectations of "learning progression" within a community dance class influence a Chinese migrant's sense of belonging? Through a qualitative enquiry using semi-structured interviews, this study identifies how formative processes of comparison, and a clear measurement of learning progress, can influence the way Chinese migrants experience validation, and their subsequent formation of social value.