This study explores the structural relationship between emotional expression in dance, emotional intelligence, and acting immersion among university students majoring in ethnic dance in China. The result reveals that all sub-factors of dance emotional expression (significance of movement, individuality, acting ability, expression impulse, and movement quality) has a positive and significant impact on emotional intelligence and acting immersion. It also exposes that the emotional intelligence of ethnic dance majors positively mediates the influence of each sub-factor of dance emotional expression on acting immersion. In other words, dancers with high emotional intelligence are better able to understand and express their emotions, which enhances their ability to immerse themselves deeply in their acting and effectively convey this to the audience. This research provides insights into the interaction between dance emotional expression, emotional intelligence, and acting immersion among ethnic dance majors at Chinese universities, thus having significant academic and educational implications.