Chinese New Years Celebration
Wednesday, 25 January 2012 02:22
The Tucson Chinese Cultural Center's lion dance team performed this weekend in honor of the Chinese New Year. This major Chinese holiday took place on Monday and marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. A celebration was held at the Joel D. Valdez Main Pima County Library on Saturday, which included a story time for children, a cultural Chinese lion dance and arts and crafts.
Dance coach Gary Low has been doing this traditional Chinese dance for over 60 years. He came to Tucson in 1948 when he was just 13 years old. He traveled from a small town called Canton, China with his mother, father, older brother and 5-month-old sister. His family was able to live in the United States because his grandfather had come to America a few years earlier to begin work on the railroads.
Low learned the lion dance in his native country when he was just a child. As a dancer, Low was always the tail of the lion, "which is an important part of the dance because the tail shows excitement," he said. Low explains the tail’s movement by comparing it to the tail of a wagging dog; the more enthusiastically the tail moves, the more enthusiasm it shows.Low is able to teach his young students through many years of experience. He has been participating in these types of dance rituals for much of his life and has been teaching others the dance for over 40 years. He continues to work with the Chinese Cultural Center here in Tucson, even after his retirement, to keep the culture thriving and for the pure joy it brings to him.
Low calls America "the melting pot of the world. It's like American Chop Suey," he jokes "because we are mixed with all different cultures from around the world." Low believes that these many diverse cultures have created the greatest country in the world and is proud to share a part of his own culture with Tucson through the ancient lion dance.
Susan Chan, an administrator for the Chinese Cultural Center and volunteer of 16 years helps to plan New Years celebrations each year with the center. "The dance represents prosperity and good health and helps us to promote our culture and educate the community," Chan said. The lion dance team visits different non-profit organizations around Tucson during this time to share their cultural dance with others.
The team's 77-year-old coach beamed with pride as his 14 young students performed 
for the crowd. The performers range in age from 6 to 17 years old. All performers are either members or volunteers for the Chinese Cultural Center, located at 1288 West River Road.
Karen Lee, a mother of one of the dancers says this is the busiest time of the year for the troupe. The children involved in the dance prepare all year for these types of events. Practice is held every other Sunday and is open to anyone.
Written by Jessica Hoerth You are reading Chinese New Years Celebration articles
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