Chinese Culture and Arts Take Center Stage

A group of nine Montville High School dancers – native Tibetans all – mixed in nicely amid the Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, martial arts demonstrations and other cultural activities Sunday at a Chinese New Year's celebration at St. Bernard High School.

 About 200 people attended the event, hosted by the Chinese and American Assistance Association, to watch the Chinese and other Asians perform.  A clear majority of the audience was non-Asian.

 “This happens every year,” said Namie Tedford, co-chairwoman of the celebration. “People are interested in the Chinese culture. They come to see the dragon dance and of the beauty of how they dress and also to observe their customs.”

Gerland Cory, a Montville High School teacher, said she came with her husband Rick to see some of her students performing.

“It’s also to see the beauty of the culture and the beauty of the arts," Cory said.

Among the performers were nine native Tibetans from Montville High. Choezin Lhamo, who sang a dynamic solo as well and participated in a Tibetan children’s dance, said she considers it important to represent Montville High and to demonstrate to others the nature of the Asian culture.

The Chinese New Year started Feb. 3 at the start of a new moon and continues for 15 days, until the next full moon. This year is the year of the rabbit.

The various dances are appeals for good luck, prosperity, good health, power, good will, rain and a good harvest, among other things.

The Lion and Dragon dances were fluid as the figures glided inside the St. Bernard gymnasium. Other dances held similar attraction as dancers moved gracefully about in silk clothing.

 Many of the acts were by a Connecticut-based traveling troupe, the Asian Performing Arts group.

John Wong, president of the Chinese and American Assistance Association, said the organization’s membership is only about half Asian American heritage. The group, he said, is to give aid to Asians who come to southeastern Connecticut, many of them to work at the Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods casinos.

He urges immigrants to stay in southeastern Connecticut. He said in large cities such as Boston and New York, they aren’t able to get the attention and assistance they can receive in a smaller community. He said they can get that assistance, help in learning English among them, through the association. He said there are more than 300 dues-paying members of the association and 1,000 volunteers overall.

Wong, of Montville, has led a successful life as a businessman but recalled he supported a family when he was only 12 years old.

“I led a hard life,” he said. “I want it to be easier for the children.”

Tedford, who is of Asian descent, said this is just the reason Chinese and other Asians,  have emigrated to the United States. She said many parents were physicians, lawyers, CEOs of companies in China, but they came here nonetheless. “They want a better life for their children that they could have in China,” she said.

 She said that one thing the association does is connect Americans with native-Asians. The teach each other the other’s language, while serving as mentors, she said.

Several association members said they consider language to be the major obstacle to Chinese and others as they seek a better social and economic life. This is especially important, they said, for the children.

The four-hour celebration included a buffet lunch catered by Chen’s restaurant of Uncasville. The event was sponsored by the Arc of New London County, Bank of America, the Charter Oak Credit Union and the Native American Business Development Centers.