February 3, 2012
YCIS Chongqing started the Chinese New Year celebration on January 18, 2012 by lighting crackers, signalling all students to come out to the central courtyard in front of the school’s Clock Tower.
Twelve professional dragon dancers carrying a golden dragon ten metres long then showed off their fantastic skill in making the dragon look alive. Having tried to carry the head of dragon for a few steps, Kylie Bragg in Year 11 commented that it was very heavy and needed different dancers carrying different parts to co-operate together.
Moving into the Great Hall, all our students participated in a school-wide competition called “Long Dragon”. Two Chongqing Chums groups formed one team including different aged students, and they lined up and tried to transfer a hula hoop from one end to the other end with hands joined together. Even though it took a little time to start the game, everyone was excited and concentrated during the competition. Eventually the team called Jade Dragons won the competition by successfully earning passage to the final and then finishing faster than any other team.
Students participated in lots of games after this competition, and the 30 students who had finished all ten games first won the opportunity to choose one artistic work, which had been produced by the local artists on site.
We are grateful for the support of the Chongqing Cultural and Arts Institute for organising the dragon dancing performance and inviting three local artists who showed their skills in paper cutting, flour figure making and sugar painting to the school.
Chinese New Year celebrations will continue until the Lantern Festival, on the 15th day of the first month in lunar year (this year February 6). We wish all our families a happy Year of the Dragon, and Xin Nian Kuai Le!
