Student Groups Present Annual Lunar New Year Celebration

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Illinois Wesleyan University will carry on its decades-old tradition of celebrating centuries-old traditions from across Asia during its annual Lunar New Year festival, organized by the Chinese Culture & Communication Club (CCCC). The festival, filled with a buffet of Asian cuisine and live cultural performances, will take place on Sunday, Feb. 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Young Main Lounge in the Memorial Center (104 E. University Ave, Bloomington). This event is free and open to the public.

As a major holiday in many Asian countries, the Lunar New Year is an important time to highlight and share the rich cultural traditions of this region. To do this, CCCC has partnered with the I-Society, the Korean Culture Club and the Japanese Language and Culture Club, all of which will give presentations on how different Asian countries celebrate this holiday.

The festival will feature a performance by the Chicago Korean Dance Company, which has danced at various schools and cultural events around the Chicagoland area, including at the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in downtown Chicago. Their mission is to honor Korean heritage through a repertoire that includes Jang-Go Chum (Hourglass Drum Dance), Bu-Chae Chum (Fan Dance) and several other classical Korean dances, all in traditional costumes with traditional Korean music.

Aside from guest performers, the festival will primarily showcase the talents of IWU students and faculty members, such as a routine by the Cypher Dance Team, recitals featuring Chinese string instruments played by Coco Zhang ’18 (guzheng) and Yutong Li ’21 (pipa), and a Japanese sword demonstration led by Professor Jeremy Sather.

By Rachel McCarthy ’21