A variety of performers will showcase their talent in a celebration of the Chinese New Year tomorrow in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
The show will feature 14 colorful acts composed of Ohio University students, faculty and local children. These acts blend China's ancient customs and its modern culture, with performances ranging from traditional Chinese dances to a hip-hop-influenced routine, said Andrea Chen, president of the Chinese Student and Scholar Association and organizer of this year's event.
Musicians will play instruments from guitars and keyboards to an ancient Chinese stringed instrument, she said. After the performance segment from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., a dinner catered by China King and China Fortune will be served at 6 p.m. in Baker University Center Ballroom.
However, the 500 tickets for dinner have already sold out, the association's treasurer Yi Liu said. Tickets for the performance are only $2 and will be sold at the door.
Many of the student performers are international students from China who will be celebrating their country's most important holiday away from their families.
The Chinese New Year in China is like Thanksgiving and Christmas combined, Chen said. International students here don't get to go home, so we try to recreate that environment for them as much as possible.
Students in the Chinese Student Language Association will sing and dance in tomorrow's production. Junior Ashley Howard and senior Marie Braasch will perform a dance of the Xinjiang
one of 56 ethnic groups in China.
Howard said she has enjoyed participating in the New Year's celebration for the past three years. You get to learn about other people's culture, she said.
Braasch who is half Chinese and an Athens local has participated in the celebration at OU since she was a child. I'm getting to my cultural roots, she said.
The cost of the show and catering is funded by less than $2
500 from the International Student Union
a decrease of $1
000 from last year
and an expected $3
000 from ticket sales
Liu said.
The union spent less on the celebration this year because it had to divide its budget between more groups
Chen said.
The show
which used to take place with the dinner in Baker Center
