More than 400 people were treated to a spectacular display of colour at the De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) Chinese New Year Gala last night.
Held for the first time at the university’s stunning new event space, The Venue@DMU, the gala showcased traditional Chinese performances including dancing, singing and instrumentals.
Zue Jhao, on the Cultural Events Management MSc, performed the striking Zi Zhu Diao dance at the event, and as she got ready to go on stage she said: “I feel very excited tonight because this is my first time performing in the UK.”
Bringing together Chinese and Western culture, De Montfort Students’ Union societies performed on stage, as well as local schools.
Scarlett Atkinson, aged 8 who goes to Little Bowden Primary School, was there performing with her brother Charlie: “I just like learning languages. It’s interesting. I am looking forward to singing the songs in Chinese, Jasmine Flowers and Xīnnián kuàilè. I‘m excited about performing.”
DMU’s Confucius Institute (CI) works closely with Leicestershire schools, helping children to learn about Chinese culture and language. Xīnnián kuàilè means Happy New Year in Mandarin, written in Pinyin, the official phonetic system for transcribing the language. The children were all able to sing Mandarin as part of the songs.
Martha Clay and her friend Lucy Lawson, aged 9, also from Little Bowden said: “We’ve been learning Chinese for a while and we’ve been looking forward to this event for a while too.”
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James Gardner, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Strategic and International Partnerships opened the evening, and said: “We are proud of our diverse student community at DMU, home to students from more than 130 countries and we take great pleasure in celebrating the different traditions.”
Traditional Chinese New Year celebrations take place over 16 days, ending with the Lantern Festival, and this year welcomes in the Year of the Monkey; people born in this year are thought to be quick-witted, curious and innovative.
Chinese DMU student Qi Ming Wang, on the Business Management and Finance BA, said: “This is a good day for health, wealth and happiness. Today means hope in the Chinese calendar. It is very good that DMU holds this event so that we can celebrate tonight.”
Special guests Lei Shi and Zeya Wang attended from the Chinese Embassy in London, to what turned out to be a vibrant celebration brought together by the CI and the Chinese Students and Scholars Association for Leicester.
Wang Jia Li, who goes to the University of Leicester said: “This reminds me of the Spring Festival in China. It is full of Chinese style.”
Posted on Tuesday 16 February 2016