Confucius Institute rings in Chinese New Year in Tempe, Chandler

Saluting the Year of the Snake, the Confucius Institute at Arizona State University is sponsoring two February events filled with Chinese language, culture and arts. Both of the following Chinese New Year events are open to the public:

• 3:30 p.m., Feb. 15 : ASU’s annual Chinese New Year Celebration in Tempe features more than 50 students performing skits, reciting poems and singing both traditional Chinese songs and popular tunes with Chinese lyrics. Dances last year ranged from conventional Chinese choreography to the tango! Other activities include riddles, games, photo contest winners and Chinese cultural booths. The event is free; location is ASU’s Memorial Union Ventana Ballroom. For video from last year’s celebration, visit confuciusinstitute.asu.edu/ASUCNY2012.

• 4 p.m., Feb. 10: The Chinese New Year Show is an annual tradition co-sponsored by Confucius Institute and Eastern Art Academy. More than 200 local performers take the stage to present an array of colorful Chinese art forms such as festive Chinese dances, traditional folk songs, soulful vocals and choirs and martial arts. EAA choreographs and produces the event. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Chandler Center for the Arts (480-782-2680) or chandlercenter.org/performances, Eastern Art Academy (602-490-8613) and ticketmaster.com. Video from the 2012 festival is available at confuciusinstitute.asu.edu/CNYfestival.

ASU students performing on Feb. 15 include Chinese language majors and undergraduates from other academic areas studying Mandarin Chinese and culture through ASU’s Chinese Language Flagship Program. Funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Flagship Program recently added a new initiative aimed at increasing the number of ROTC students at ASU with Chinese language proficiency.

ASU’s 5-year-old Confucius Institute is the first of its kind in Arizona. The institute is committed to promoting Chinese language and culture studies in Arizona schools and communities. Part of a global network of Confucius Institutes, it was established in partnership with Sichuan University and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) under the Ministry of Education in China. For information, visit confuciusinstitute.asu.edu.