2.14.25 CCACC Lunar New Year Celebration: A Vibrant Showcase of Cultural Diversity
The Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) held its third Lunar New Year celebration on February 8, 2025, at Westfield Montgomery Mall, concluding the festivities before the Lantern Festival on February 12 and marking a successful end to the Year of the Snake celebrations.
Opening Remarks
At the start of the celebration, Rita Lewi (Executive Director of CCACC) took the stage to deliver a speech and extend New Year's greetings to the audience. She expressed her gratitude to Westfield Montgomery for its longstanding collaboration with CCACC and thanked Li-Fang C. Liu (Deputy Executive Director of CCACC), Chiao-Chiao Liu (Director of Community Services of CCACC) and their team for their hard work. At Lewi's invitation, Catherine Brady (Marketing Director of Westfield Montgomery) joined the stage to offer her heartfelt New Year wishes to the guests and audience.
Dr. Clarence Lam (Maryland State Senator) then gave a brief speech, recognizing CCACC's contributions to cultural diversity within the Chinese American community and presenting a proclamation.
Finally, Dr. Yuchi Huang (Chairman of CCACC Board of Directors) and Chang Zhao (Vice-Chair of CCACC Board of Directors) joined several board members and the two CCACC co-founders Ned Li and Chih-Hsiang Li on stage to extend their collective wishes for a joyful Year of the Snake.
Spectacular Performances
The performance segment began with the CCACC Youth Dragon Dance Team's powerful and dynamic opening act, followed by a lively lion dance performance by The Chinese Youth Club (CYC). Traditional dance performances showcased a rich variety of styles, including classical dance, Peking opera-style folk dance, and Tibetan dance, each displaying its unique charm. Fan dance, paper umbrella dance, and long-sleeve dance exuded elegance, while the two Qipao performances highlighted the fusion of classical and modern aesthetics. The diverse musical, vocal, and traditional instrument performances brought fresh and exciting melodies to the audience.
Modern elements, such as K-pop street dance and YOYO performances, radiated youthful energy. Martial arts, Tai Chi, and wellness dance combined strength and grace. The celebration continued with captivating multicultural performances, including Northeast Chinese traditional dance, Uyghur dance, and a Han ethnic group dance, leaving the audience in awe.
To conclude the festivities, CCACC invited children from the audience to join a mini dragon dance, bringing the Lunar New Year celebration to a perfect close.
A Cultural Bridge Connecting the Community
Special thanks go to the team of CCACC Community Services, the IT team, various divisions, and the dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The grand celebration featured over 30 performances, with more than 200 participants. From program planning to execution, every step was a challenge. Thanks to everyone's efforts, the event ran smoothly, with flawless sound effects and a variety of well-received cultural activities such as handicrafts, lantern riddles, and Chinese calligraphy.
This culturally rich celebration not only promoted Chinese traditions but also strengthened the bonds within the community.
(Article by CCACC Community Services)
Left image: CCACC Executive Director Rita Lewi and Maryland State Senator Dr. Clarence Lam. Right image: Lewi took a photo with the two young hosts of the celebration, Ann Zhang (right) and Xander Hsu (left).
Tibetan dance <The Sun Girl>.
The Martial Arts Health Dance was led by CCACC Board Member Josephine Tao (middle in the front row) as the instructor.
Top left: Classical dance <Falling Apricot Blossoms>; Bottom left: Yuanchi dance <Blessing Fill the Universe>; Top right: Classical dance <Remembering Jiangnan>; Bottom right: Uyghur dance <Flower>.
Top left: Male Choir Performance; Bottom left: Band Performance; Top right: Folk Song Performance; Bottom right: Group photo of Rockville Chinese School Dance Class.
The 25 students of the Shaolin Temple Traditional Kung Fu Culture Center, led by Master Yanruan Shi.
Left image: Chih-Hsiang Li personalized Lunar New Year bookmarks by writing attendees' Chinese names; Right image: A bustling crowd at the handicraft booth.
