Lunar New Year celebration in Bayside school

Parents and visitors got a taste of Asia recently at P.S. 46 in Bayside, when students put on their annual Lunar New Year celebration. The show featured Chinese and Korean songs and dance, as well as the traditional lion dance.
Beginning in November, the students - about 120 in all - started practicing for the hour-long show during the school’s lunch hours. For nearly four months, 20 parent volunteers offered up their time during the afternoon sessions to teach the youngsters the songs and dances.
“The parents brought in their talents and what they already knew, and for the mask dance, one parent played the drum,” said fifth grade teacher Caroline Tsung, who organized the show that was presented twice on Wednesday, February 14. “We stress that it wouldn’t have been possible without these parents.”
Along with music from four violinists, children sang “Happy New Year” tunes in Chinese and Korean, performed the Chinese and Korean fan dances, the Korean mask dance, and the Zen Dynasty dance, an ensemble of girls waving colorful, silk scarves.
“It’s teaching the children about their culture and about where the majority of kids are from,” Tsung said, adding that the event was particularly important to her because she is of Chinese descent.
Tsung said that she became involved with the show for the first time this year - in the past parents organized the performance - and looks forward to planning next year’s event - when the Lunar New Year calendar will strike year 4706.
Lunar New Year dates back to 2600 B.C. when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Each year the celebration begins with the first full moon in new year, and this year, as of Sunday, February 18, it is now the Year of the Boar.
“At P.S. 46, we celebrate and recognize the culture and heritage of all our students,” said P.S. 46 Principal Marsha Goldberg. “The Lunar New Year celebration is one example. We wish everyone a Happy New Year.”
Johnny Siu, a fifth grader at the elementary school, led the snaking lion procession on stage this year.
“It’s pretty tiring for us,” Siu said, explaining how the students must hold the ensemble above their head while dancing and prancing. “In Chinese culture, the lion dance is meant to scare away all the evil spirits.”
Siu said unfortunately he graduating from the K-5 school, so he will not be able to participate in the show next year, but he would try to come back and watch the performance.