Lunar New Year Celebration 2009
Official Lunar New Year 2009 Flyer
On Saturday, February 7, 2009, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center brought in the New Year of 4707 (2009 in the solar calendar) with its annual Lunar New Year Festival. The festival began with an hour of hands on activities for families including a Go workshop, fruit carving demonstration, and cultural arts activities. The Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project also unveiled a new gallery exhibit entitled "Memory Map" in which many visitors shared their stories using an interactive aerial map of Chinatown. In the auditorium, performances featured Tibetan Opera, Mongolian throat singing, Taiko, Shaolin Kung Fu, Chinese music and dance, and Korean drumming. Over 800 people attended the event.
Interactive Lobby Events
Hands on activities for families, which included a Go workshop, fruit carving demonstration, and cultural arts activities.
Oakland Chinatown Memory Map: An interactive exhibit and story sharing session for the Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project - Phase 2.
Performances
The ASYC Lion Dance Troupe welcomed in the New Year with an auspicious Lion Dance to chase away evil spirits.
OACC’s very own Patty Chu’s Chinese Folk Dance Ensemble performed 3 pieces with an intergenerational twist to welcome in the New Year
Children’s Game: A collaboration between China Spirit Music Ensemble’s Children's Ensemble and Patty Chu’s Folk Dance Ensemble.
Chinese Opera selections by Quiping Han
Kung Fu and Chi Gong demonstrations with students and OACC teachers; the Buddhist Education Foundation (Shaolin Monks)
Mongolian Dance by Tselmegtsetseg Tsetsendleger
Mongolian Throat Singing (artist TBA)
Tibetan Opera featuring songs, music, and dance by Chaksampa
Taiko performance by Emeryville Taiko
Pungmulgut with Suljanggo: OACC Artist in Residence Dohee Lee premiered her new work with members of her ensemble from KYCC, Jamaesori, Ego, and SJ Pungmulpae
OACC Artist in Residence Kyoungil Ong of Ong Dance Company premiered her new work inspired by nature.
Sponsors
OACC would like to thank the generous sponsors and donors of our Lunar New Year Festival 2009:
Government, Foundation and Corporate Supporters: National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), the California Arts Council (a state agency), the Alameda County Arts Commission, the City of Oakland, the James Irvine Foundation, Wachovia Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, NCB and other donors.
Community Sponsors:
Golden Ox: Family Bridges, Inc.
Silver Ox: Careplus Chiropractic Health Center, Lake Pharmacy, New Oakland Pharmacy
Bronze Ox: U.S. Bank, Aroma Restaurant & Bar, CalNet Real Estate Solutions, Inc. FANNY, Francis Lan, Hong Kong Optica, Phnom Penh House