While many observed the New Year on Jan. 1, members of the Brandeis community gathered last Friday in Levin Ballroom to celebrate the arrival of the lunar new year. The Brandeis Chinese Cultural Connection (BC3), Taiwanese American Student Association (TASA) and the Chinese Student Scholar Association (CSSA) jointly produced the Brandeis Lunar New Year Celebration to recognize this important tradition. Formally called the Brandeis Chinese New Year Celebration, the three clubs renamed the event in order to accommodate other cultures whose calendars follow the cycle of the moon. The celebration featured performances from the Brandeis Lion Dance Troupe (BLT), students in Chinese classes and the Boston-based dance group RevelAsians.

The Lunar New Year Celebration sought to educate and to entertain, as performers throughout the program read poems or provided facts about traditional beliefs and practices surrounding the holiday.

The concept of a lunar calendar originated in 2600 B.C. under Chinese Emperor Huang Ti. It is the longest chronological record in history. Since the calendar follows the cycles of the moon, the Lunar New Year occurs annually between late January and mid-February, instead of on January 1, the new year dictated by the Christian calendar. Customary festivities, including family dinners and the giving of oranges or tangerines to friends, help emphasize traditional values of community and respect for ancestors.

After opening remarks by BC3 leader Yusyin Hsuin '05 and other program organizers, the New Year Celebration commenced as BLT took to the stage in a traditional lion dance costume. Club members first proceeded to wake the two lions sleeping below the Levin stage by playing customary gong, drum and cymbal instruments. The two colorful lions proceeded onto the stage where they engaged in a cleverly choreographed battle. The group's obvious effort put into preparing the performance was evident in their routine. The dancers perfectly executed acrobatics, such as standing on each other's shoulders, gave the illusion of the lions rearing their heads.

Amongst the many performance groups on campus, BLT stands out as one of Brandeis' most unique and innovative ensembles. Founded in 1997, BLT remains the only university sponsored Lion Dance team in New England.

Next, students from the Chinese department performed a pop number and comedy routine. Apparently the song and skit, both performed solely in Chinese, were extremely hilarious judging by the frequent laughter of the audience. Yet, since no translation was provided, audience members with no understanding of Chinese were left very much in the dark during this twenty minute section of the show. However, when four male students stepped forward to ham up the pop number in a clichd boy band style, the entire audience could appreciate the universal humor.

RevelAsians, Boston's premier Chinese dance ensemble, sustained the festive atmosphere at the Lunar New Year celebration. The seven women first performed a number entitled "The Big Long Braid," accompanied by traditional Chinese folk music. The dancers each wore a long braided hair extension, which they swung around like ropes throughout the performance.

Later, the group performed the "Mongolian Arrow Drum" dance, dressed in stunning authentic costumes. The intricate, complex dance really showed off the group's incredible talent and dexterity as the women spun across the stage while playing bells and beating their arrow sacks like drums.

Student acts continued with piano performances by members from the host clubs of the Lunar New Year Celebration. Of the three performers, the talented pianist and composer Emily Hsiesh '07 stood out as she played two original works. Her stirring song, "From Afar," left the audience spellbound with its rich melody and poignant arrangement.
Hsiesh's next untitled piece had upbeat, buoyant sounds and provided a nice contrast which truly displayed her range as a composer. Hsiech's passionate playing even compelled several children to run dancing through the audience aisles. Hsuin perfectly summed up Hsiesh's performance by admiringly exclaiming, "wow!"

The Brandeis Lunar New Year Celebration featured entertaining performances and an enjoyable opportunity to gain a new perspective about a holiday that is common in many religious and cultural traditions around the world. The variety of ensembles also helped to illustrate the ideals and spirit of Chinese culture.

Though the frequent crying of small children and the constant audience chatter dampened the experience, the celebration was a fantastic family event. It was informative and entertaining and is a festival that should be more widely attended next year.