On the evening of January 28^th, New Year抯 Day according to the ancient Chinese lunisolar calendar (for Year 4715), the local Chinese-American community and its many friends were treated to a program of culture and entertainment without equal.

This occasion at the Mesa Center for the Arts was, for the 8^th time, coordinated by the Chinese New Year抯 Show Committee, with the expertise of the Arizona Art Academy, LLC. Additionally vital contributions both in performing talent and in the myriad tasks involved were provided by Hope Chinese School, Contemporary Chinese School of Arizona, United Chinese Association of Arizona, and the Phoenix Chinese Senior Citizens Association. Overall, nearly 200 performers displayed mesmerizing entertainment; individuals and groups involved included (beyond those aforementioned) Phoenix Chinese Arts Ensemble, Chandler Children’s Choir, Tarwater Elementary School, and Coronado Elementary School.

The evening featured choirs, solo dance, group dance, vocal solo, and ethnic dance (of the Dai Minority in southwestern China) plus the perennial favorite and internationally known Chinese specialty: acrobatics. And, given our new homeland in the West, there was also a Piano Quartet in G Minor (KV 478.1) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Audience appreciation was especially notable for 揝pirit of the Peacock,?a group dance, and for 揌oly Cleansing,?a solo dance by our local star Ms. Tina Peng, currently a student at the Barrett, the Honors College of Arizona State University as well as the incumbent Miss Phoenix Chinese 2016.

The special expense of such a high quality entertainment was defrayed by many individual donations, but especially by Wells Fargo Bank as a long-time sponsor for our community, as well as by advertisers and contributors old and new (such as Hester, Heitel & Associates, Lee Lee Supermarkets, Arizona抯 Vision, and Neurology & Sleep Medicine Associates).

The high distinction of this celebration was conveyed by greetings and representatives present. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey congratulated the occasion through State Representative Eddie Farnsworth (District 12) for the Gilbert-Mesa area. The Consulate General of the People抯 Republic of China in Los Angeles honored the occasion with Consul Xuezheng Wang, Chief of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Section attending.

Lihua Lu, the Producer, in keeping with the immemorial Chinese tradition of respect for elders, especially coordinated with President Teresa Yung of the Phoenix Chinese Senior Citizens Association to highlight both their performance participation and their attendance with complementary ticketing.

An especial highlight was the presentation by the Xiaorong Qiu, the Artistic Director, of the Platinum (highest) Award in the world finals of the Overseas Taoli Dance Competition to Ms. Tina Peng.

For the first time, both of the aforementioned weekend Chinese language schools conducted a Chinese painting exhibition while increasing exposure to our ancestral culture and especially New Year traditions, such as lucky red envelopes.

Naturally for such an extraordinary event, community leaders and elders were very present to lend their support and encouragement in addition to those named above, notably, Chandler City Councilman Sam Huang, John M. Yee, Tony Kao, Helen Zhang, and Suoqin Zeng.

The entire Chinese American community and our wider society in this metropolitan area will certainly look forward to another iteration as truly the most wonderful way to usher in any new year hereafter.

M. Cheak Yee / Yu Wen-chuo 余文焯