Chinese New Year 2015
On Thursday, February 19, the Chinese Fine Arts Society (CFAS) hosted a Chinese New Year celebration at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 East Washington Street. A colorful banner welcomed guests with a "Happy Chinese New Year" wish. With its inherent beauty, along with festive lighting and Chinese dragons, Preston Bradley Hall provided a stunning backdrop for the celebration. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere were the many audience members wearing red, which symbolizes good fortune in the Chinese culture.
I attended last year's Chinese New Year celebration and wondered if this year’s celebration would be similar. I was happy to discover the program was new and different compared to last year.
This year's performances included Chinese dance, music, martial arts, and puppetry.
The event began with the lion dance and drumming to scare away any evil spirits. With the evil spirits gone, the new year can start fresh and with good luck.
Chinese dance is so beautiful. Every hand and body movement is choreographed to help interpret the story being told.
There were two demonstrations of martial arts prowess. The first was a performance of tai chi (definitely not the slow tai chi seen on the television commercials that advertise Celebrex) and the second was a demonstration utilizing a brass sword. The amount of control, accompanied by speed, was amazing. I cannot imagine how many hours these talented people spend to build and then maintain their high skill level.
The puppetry was unlike anything I had ever seen. I normally think of puppets as being on a person’s hand, rather small in size. These beautifully costumed puppets, however, were large, and the handlers used two poles to maneuver the puppets fluidly from one position to another. The puppeteers themselves were graceful and fluid as they guided the storytelling puppets.
After the performances, the children in attendance were presented with gift bags. For children and their parents who could stay longer, crafts and additional activities were available.
Chinese New Year celebration events continue on March 1 when the CFAS presents the Chinese Lantern Festival as part of the Neighborhoods of the World series at Navy Pier. There will be two stages for performances of the traditional Chinese arts, as well as a marketplace with Chinese crafts and other items for sale. Admission to the event is free.