On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Poly’s Mandarin Chinese program hosted a Lunar New Year celebration to share Chinese culture and traditions with the Poly community. Students in Poly’s Mandarin classes brought the Lunar New Year to life through a hands-on, project-based learning experience. Students spent multiple months planning booth activities, practicing performances and immersing themselves in Chinese culture in addition to their lessons on language.
The celebration commenced with intricate dances and storytelling rituals performed by Mandarin students on McWilliams Courtyard. Later, festivities moved to Arden Lawn and the Language Arts patio, featuring student-run booths offering traditional food, games, crafts, and other hands-on activities, such as making red envelopes and creating Chinese names.
One notable performance was the Bamboo dance, performed by the Mandarin IV class, a tradition originating from the Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan. Upper School Mandarin teacher Lois Chung shared, “This year was the first time that we ever performed the Bamboo dance at Poly. One of my missions is for Taiwanese people, including both Han and Indigenous communities, to be seen, and it was very powerful to watch that happen.” Chung, founder of Poly’s Mandarin program, has coordinated the event annually since 2012.
Students cut bamboo from their own backyards for the performance, which deepened their connection to the culture and the celebration.
Another distinctive aspect of the event was how the performances blended traditional rituals with pop culture trends. For example, the AP Mandarin class incorporated a rap battle and a gloving performance with a traditional dragon dance. Sophomore and Mandarin III student Ayende Terrazas reflected, “It really creates engagement in the audience, connecting the celebration to things that we might see on TikTok in an interesting way.”
The celebration offered Mandarin students more than just cultural lessons; it pushed them to step out of their comfort zones and perform in front of their peers. AP Mandarin student Xiya Shively remarked, “Everyone has to get up on the stage and dance at some point, and that is a beautiful part about watching the celebration evolve over the years.”
Freshman Esme Gardiner commented, “The festival was an opportunity for me to immerse myself in Chinese culture in a way that I had never been exposed to before.”
