On Mott Street on the day of the Lunar New Year, the lion looks on to luck and
fortune.
PHOTOS BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Colored lanterns strung across Mott Street, help brighten dark pandemic
winter days and nights.
New York Chinese Cultural Center
celebrates New Year and more
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
Strung across Mott Street, colored
paper lanterns appeared last month,
lighting the night of this dark pandemic
winter. But, it’s the brilliant hues of
oranges and tangerines at produce stands,
the lucky red envelopes, and crimson lanterns
and scarlet decorations in gift shops
that shout Chinese New Year’s. From the
eve of the holiday to the Lantern Festival,
the lunar or spring holiday is celebrated for
16 days.
In the Chinese zodiac, each year is given
an animal sign and this is the Year of the
Ox. The ox is seen as strong and diligent,
reliable and persistent in whatever it does
and can also be seen as stubborn.
“In this Year of the Ox, I hope we
celebrate the strength and resilience of
people across the world in coping with the
COVID-19 pandemic,” says Ying Yen of
the New York Chinese Cultural Center. “I
hope we can work together to get through
this diffi cult time.”
Executive Director of the Center for
almost fi ve years, Yen adds, “Lunar New
Year is the most important holiday in the
Chinese culture. So, despite the pandemic,
I think people are fi nding ways to celebrate
this holiday safely.”
Many cultural institutions offered virtual
performances and workshops to mark and
celebrate the holiday. “Family and friends
will use virtual meetings to connect.” It’s
good to see life returning to Chinatown as
shopping is boasted by the holiday.
New York Chinese Cultural Center had
its own Lunar New Year Celebration online
with a lineup of eight dance, music and
kung fu performances followed by three
workshops. Senator Chuck Schumer, Council
Member Margaret Chin and Ambassador
Huang Ping of the Chinese Consulate
joined the Center in the Lunar New Year
show to celebrate this holiday and show
support for the Chinese-American community.
“This is so important, especially
during this time of growing anti-Chinese
sentiment and violence.”
The 47-year-old Center started as a way
for Chinese New Yorkers to share in their
culture and build community. Its programming
is all outreach, performances,
classes, working in the schools, with major
museums and other cultural partners. The
Chinese dance, both lion and dancer, wearing masks, messaging important
health practice. Broadcast on computer by NY Chinese Cultural Center.
administrative offi ce with a lean and passionately
working staff is on Henry Street
—Lower East Side/Chinatown.
“We pivoted to online classes, performances
and workshops within two weeks
of the NYS Pause order last year,” says Yen,
“and have been running online programs
ever since. We now offer both online and
in-person programs that allow us to reach
a wider audience across the U.S.”
The Center’s Lunar New Year celebrations
continue with Chinese dance and
music performances at Brookfi eld Place
from February 19th through March 14th.
RSVP required for limited audience numbers
in studio spaces. https://bfplny.com/
studiobfpl
This pandemic year and past years’
Center programs can be seen at www.
youtube.com/user/ChineseCulturalCtr,
its youtube channel. By the end of the
month, their Lunar New Years’ show can
be viewed.
There is so much value added with virtual
programming, particularly reaching a
much wider audience. When things “normalize”
the Center looks forward to parallel
programming—live-streaming along with
in-person and also virtual workshops. “We
will continue to have performers who tour
the country,” says Yen.
The Center’s website www.nychineseculturalcenter.
org informs more about its
on-going programming.
By Zoom, beautiful Chinese dance
shared with the public. Broadcast
on computer by NY Chinese Cultural
Center.
18 February 25, 2021 Schneps Media
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