A Chinese New Year Celebration hosted by the White Rock Chinese Association this Sunday at the Bell Performing Art Centre promises to be an unprecedented multicultural extravaganza for both the organization and the community.
From a performance by members of the Beijing Opera and well-known Chinese actress Qiaoyun Geng – to vivid renditions of such culture-crossing hits as 'Let It Go' from Frozen and 'You Raise Me Up' and interactive family fun with White Rock's own Korki The Clown – the South Surrey spectacular marks the Year of the Goat, and looks forward to the arrival of spring in both the Semiahmoo Peninsula and Vancouver.
Association president Joanne Ding, who spoke to the Peace Arch News with interpretive assistance from member Flora Xiang, said that while the group has been staging New Year's celebrations since 2010 at South Surrey's LifeChurch, this is the biggest yet, and the first time it has been held in a theatre venue.
"The Chinese community in White Rock and South Surrey has been growing very fast," Ding said. "We'd like to get Chinese people out and involved in Canadian life and Western traditions – and at the same time we'd like to present Chinese culture for Western people."
Ding noted the association was heavily involved in last year's White Rock Sea Festival.
Sole sponsorship from Shenglin Financial Group has enabled the association to offer a grander New Year's event, Ding said, while traditional Chinese food will be provided by Marine Drive's Beijing Restaurant.
"The Year of the Goat is very joyful in Chinese culture, a time when everybody is grateful and happy and everybody desires to celebrate," she said.
Response to the event has already been enthusiastic in the Chinese community, Ding said, and organizers don't have much doubt that the theatre's 1000-plus seats will be filled – which bodes well for the enlarged event to continue as an annual feature.
Knowing that Feb. 8 falls on .B.C.'s Family Day weekend, the association wanted to emphasize family activities that can be shared by all cultures, Ding said.
That's why the event starts with a 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. session of family-oriented interactive games including Korki ("all the kids love her and she's a member of this community, Ding said) and eight different game stations in the adjacent Sullivan Heights Secondary gym.
The formal performance segment of the program, produced by Hongwei Qi – also the master calligrapher responsible for the title lettering and two 25-foot vertical banners on stage – will run from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the theatre.
"The opening dance, Flourishing Flowers, will be amazing – there will be maybe 40 to 50 people on stage," Ding said, adding that among those adding multicultural flair to the show will be the traditional Chinese dancers of the White Rock Spring Bud Dancing School, the Canadian Red Shoe Dance Group, the White Rock Maple Dance Group, Shaohong Zhong and Stage One Academy, Min Chen and the North American Hanyang Arts and Culture Centre, the Surrey Sunshine Arts Centre, the Latin-style dancers of the Xiaosong Dance School, the Elgin Beats Group, and members of the Ukrainian Cultural Centre dance group.
One dance number will feature 16 separate 'peony' dancers – the peony is considered a good fortune symbol in Chinese culture – who will join together to create one giant floral display.
Also featured will be two young classical music scholarship winners; violinist Julie Lin, playing Franck's Sonata in A minor and pianist Linda Ruan, playing the Chinese composition Bright Red Flowers Bloom on the Mountain.
The show is also a family event for Ding – her daughter, six-year-old Ingrid Yang, will be one of the featured performers.
A Ray Shepherd Elementary student and member of the Surrey Children's Choir, Ingrid is already a popular child star in Canada's Chinese communities, and will be joining Qiaoyun Geng and the Beijing Opera on stage for a rendition of The Red Maid.
Among headliners for the event will be musical theatre performer Alyssa Neilsen, of As You Wish Princess Parties portraying Princess Elsa from Frozen.
"Frozen is loved by all kids, including Chinese families – we're expecting a very good response from this," Ding said.
"During Christmas, Alyssa was very active in all the communities, and we were very impressed with her achievements."
Also headlining, and providing her heartfelt rendition of You Raise Me Up as a show-closer will be Vancouver entertainer Sharon Bryson.
"We know that she successfully battled cancer and that she really felt God helped her that, and that has made her appreciate life and offer support to the community," Ding said.
The Bell Performing Arts Centre is located at 6250 144 St.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for children and $98 for VIP seating.
For ticket information, call 778-991-0886, 604-760-7891 or 604-433-1588.