WESTFORD — Westford Academy’s Asian Culture Club and Chelmsford Chinese Language School hosted its annual Lunar New Year celebration.
The Feb. 10 event ushered in the Year of the Dragon and aimed to share the richness of Asian cultures and promote diversity in the Westford area.
The second time the event has been held since the pandemic, it saw sold-out dinner tickets and a near-capacity performing arts center. It included a cultural showcase and dinner catered by Sichuan Palace and ended with a series of performances of folk dances and arts.
“[The event] has mostly stayed the same, except [ …] it is bigger this year,” WA junior Rebecca Ward said. “There’s a lot more people, a lot more booths. I think it’s great.”
Organizing the event took immense planning and communication between ACC and CCLS, but organizers say it was a rewarding experience for those involved. Mandarin students at WA also volunteered before and during the celebration. This included Ward and sophomore Srivas Arun, who took on the role of emcee.
Mandarin students also participated in the performance section of the night, singing the Mandarin song “Look Over Here, Girl,” chosen by Mandarin teacher Xi Feng. More performances included dances by the Chinese Folk Art Workshop, a kung fu demonstration by New England Wushu Academy, and a Sichuan Opera Changing Face Program by Shuang Yang.
Ultimately, WA students believe that the celebration was a success and made a positive impact.
“I’ve actually been going to the Lunar New Year celebration at WA since I was [young],” senior and ACC vice president Yiwen Lin said. “It feels like the experience has come full circle.”
“[It was] a fun and culturally immersive experience for those who aren’t familiar with Asian culture,” Lin added.
“There is a large Asian community here at Westford, and it helps to have a gathering that involves everyone,” senior Estella Cui said. “[Many attendees] who were not obviously of Asian ethnicity were still interested in learning about and interacting with Asian culture. Overall, the celebration was beneficial and is definitely a good tradition to have.”
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