2:00-3:15: Patricia Shih and Wendi Weng- Let’s go to China and celebrate the Lunar New Year

Calling all families to join us in welcoming musician, artist and historian, Patricia Shih, and dancer Wendi Weng as they lead us through a fascinating multi-century visit to China, the world’s oldest continuous civilization and its culture, upon which many other east Asian cultures spring from. Through visuals and hands-on activities, participants will learn many different aspects of geography, history, music, art, language, writing, customs and much more.

“Lunar New Year” is a general term that encompasses all celebrations that mark a new year according to a lunar calendar. Patricia Shih describes the differences and similarities between Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year.

*music and dance – Wendi Weng will present a traditional dance and volunteers will learn simple ribbon dance movements set to authentic recorded Chinese music

*language - read, write, speak and understand words, numbers and simple phrases in Pu Tong Hua (Mandarin)

*Chinese New Year – learn about this important lunar holiday; children in attendance will receive some special “good luck” New Year souvenirs; volunteers get to play Chinese instruments and become the “lion dancers”

*artifacts – view arts, crafts and goods made/invented in China, including porcelain, wood and jade carving, jewelry, lacquer and more. A model Great Wall is included.

*clothing – learn about the Chinese invention of sericulture, the cultivation of silk; view modern and antique embroidered silk and cotton clothes and costumes for theatre, special occasions and everyday wear.

3:30-4:45- Chinese Center of Long Island Dance and Lion Troupes

Join us as we welcome back the members of the Chinese Center of Long Island’s Traditional Dance Troupe and their Lion Dancers Troupe for an unforgettable welcome to the 2024 Lunar New Year, year of the Wooden Dragon.