Athens celebrated the Chinese New Year in Baker Center
The stage opened at Baker Ballroom with nothing but a Chinese dragon chasing the “pearl of wisdom” handled by eight people moving in sync.
The Chinese Learner Association celebrated the Chinese New Year with its Spring Gala Festival on Sunday as a chance for more than 400 students and community members to experience Chinese culture in Athens.
There were nine performances involved in the show in honor of the New Year. Many other organizations such as the Chinese Culture Exchange Association and the Chinese Language Association participated. Ohio University faculty and a student chorus sang a traditional Chinese song to conclude the show.
“It was a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” said Adrian Huth, a fifth year aviation major.
Huth said his favorite event was the Chinese students who performed the silk fan dance. Eight students in matching blue dresses performed a dance with cascading silk fans to traditional Chinese music.
Another act consisted of three men synchronizing taiji and swords.
Warren Taylor, one of the performers, has been practicing taiji for about 35 years.
“This is our second year to perform taiji at the Chinese New Year event,” said Mick Cummings, another taiji sword performer and a retired schoolteacher. Taylor teaches taiji with his wife at the recreation center.
Cummings said for one to learn sword taiji, one has to master long form, faster form, taiji with sabre and then the sword progression is learned.
“It’s kind of like moving meditation to me. This is kind of like sitting on a cushion in meditation, only I like it better because of the movement,” Cummings said. “It fits my personality better. If you look it up, it has lots of recommendations for your mental health as well. Every step has to have balance.”
The last performer in the taiji sword trio, Peter Zeisler, a senior studying painting and drawing, said there are many health benefits to taiji.
“It benefits health, balance, agility, performance and strength,” Zeisler said.
There was a break in the performances with the audience members volunteering themselves to play games on stage.
“We have these feathers with a weight at the end, so when you toss it in the air, it will come down straight, and then you kick it. You can kick it to other people,” said Jim Zhu, the Chinese Learner Association faculty advisor. “Those Chinese students, they do this as part of their culture. They love it, and they did very well.”
Winners of the game shared New Year’s wishes with the audience.
The night concluded with guests sharing laughs and eating Chinese food.
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