To celebrate the Lunar New Year, StuCo facilitated a lion dance to celebrate the new year. Here are a few snippets of what writers saw at the event:
Arjun Madhu: A sense of uneasiness filled the air as students lined up in the 100s hall, waiting apprehensively unsure of what to expect. Chatter filled the air, only to be interrupted by a rhythmic drumming emanating from the media center. The conversations suddenly came to a stop. In the back of the crowd, I could see flashes of red and gold penetrate the thick crowd, captivating my interest. Enthralled, I edged forward expectantly, and my expectations were not disappointed as two lion dancers confidently performed their routine, stepping with purpose and meaning. Learners cheered and marvelled at the rich cultural traditions during Lunar New Year.
Olivia Guerra: As the dancers set up, I couldn’t help but watch their process. Performers, similarly to athletes, become so focused before a performance you can see the change in their face. All of a sudden they’re determined and in tune to their body and their teammates. Watching this switch on the individual members’ faces was really interesting, it presented itself in different ways. Some just stood there, staring out into the distance, not really moving or talking. Others couldn’t stop moving, stretching and switching from feet to feet. They all had a similar look of determination painted on their faces though, regardless of how they were handling their nerves. Seeing that look made me expect nothing but greatness, and these performers did not disappoint.
Nathan Fan: In front of the media center, next to the big televisions, I was able to observe the Lion Dance organized by StuCo. In a lion dance, the purpose is to bring good luck, prosperity, and to scare away bad spirits for the new year. As they started making their way to the front office, the drums were shaking my organs and cymbals stabbing my ears in an entertaining way. The dance was around 10 minutes long. There were two traditional lions (shown here) and at the end, each one displayed a banner with a traditional 揮春 (Fai Chun) or spring wave to bring good luck for the New Year. 新年快乐! Happy New Year everyone!
