On the 29 January, 2020, the USTB-DMU Confucius Institute (CI) kicked off a Spring Festival gala with DMU Events Teamat The Venue,a DMU building for spectacular events, performances and celebrations.
Pic 1 - Writing bestSpring Festival wishes with a Chinese brush
The Venue was decorated with exulting Chinese aura.Outside the entrance there was a long colorful dragon. Inside the entrance was a stand for DMU staff and students to write their best wishes for the Spring Festival on a roll of red paper. Dressed in traditional Chinese costumes, the CI teachers introduced the Chinese New Year and its tradition to guests and presented them with red envelopes filled with chocolates.
Pic 2 - Director of the Confucius Institute delivering a Spring Festival speech
The gala began with a Spring Festival speech by Yang Yingjun, the CI director. On behalf of all the CI teachers, he thanked all for presence, introduced Mandarin courses and culture activities offered by theCI and extendedbest wishes to all present for the Chinese New Year.
Pic 3–Lion dance with traditional Chinese drum and cymbals
The shows for the party are typically rich and colorful, full of Chinese flavor. The first performance was a lion dance provided by one of the CI’s long partnerships, the Peepul Centre Chinese Martial Arts and Lion Dance Society. The lion was vibrant and humorous, with close interaction with the audience and awarded with thunderous applause.
Pic 4–Han Dynasty costume dance
The CI teachers’Han Dynasty CostumeDance brought the gala to a climax. Waist tight and sleeves wide, the beautiful dancers showed the full charm of women in the Han dynasty with elegant Han music.
Pic 5–Tai Chi fan dance
The Tai Chi Fan Dancecreated another climax, as it has always been the bestof the CI performances. The audience were all amazed by the seven volunteer teachers performing such classic moves as "white crane spreading wings", "golden rooster standing on one leg" and others with magnificent bright fan movements.
Pic 6–Lai Wenjing performing magic
The gala was concluded with a magic show performed by a CI teacher Lai Wenjing. The audience marveled at her sleight of hand: "A magic change of color balls", "endless gift-boxes from an empty", etc.
The Spring Festival gala, together withthe festival venue, the varieties of food and wonderful performances, offered the attendees not only a delicious bite of traditional Chinese food, but alsoa magnificent feast of Chinese customs, dance and music, etc.
(Draft: LIQi; Revision: YANG Yingjun)
