The Gala Night of Dynamic Chengdu

Date: 30 January
Time: 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Location: Sydney Town Hall483 George Street Sydney

Phone: 02 9186 1588

Email: events@ausfeng.com.au

Website: www.ausfeng.com.au

Cost: $88/$58/$38

Description

Discover the rich culture and customs of Chengdu, as visiting performers from this region treat Sydney to a showcase of dance, singing, ‘face changing’ (the use of changing masks), and traditional costumes to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Using love as their overarching theme, Han, Tibetan, Qiang and Yi groups present their thanks to nature and the land of abundance that is Chengdu. You'll be immersed in the culture of western China at this special performance to be held in Sydney for one night only.

Find out more

Chinese New Year a Boost for NSW Tourism

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, welcomed the start of the Chinese New Year this week; highlighting that Sydney’s celebration of the Year of the Dragon is the largest outside Asia.

Mr Souris said Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival and Sydney Airport’s ‘Red Ambassador’ initiative, which welcomes arriving Chinese visitors during the festival period are important not only to the local Chinese community, but for tourism to NSW.

“In 2012, we celebrate the Year of the Dragon, one of the most powerful and a lucky sign in the Chinese zodiac and it coincides with an expected 150,000 visitors from China and Asia to NSW over the next six weeks.

“Sydney Airport’s initiative, the ‘Red Ambassador’ program, will operate with Mandarin-speaking volunteers providing directions and information to arriving visitors. This is a great way to warmly welcome the huge number of visitors who are visiting Sydney at this very special time,” Mr Souris said.

“The Chinese New Year Festival is a great summer family event with free markets, displays and exhibitions, entertainment and cultural activities.

“The NSW Government is working to maximise opportunities for boosting tourism from China and Hong Kong through a number of marketing campaigns and promotions which position our State as the holiday destination of choice,” Mr Souris said.

Chinese New Year 2012 at the Chinese Garden of Friendship

Friday 20 January - Sunday 5 February

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with family and friends in the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

There's something for everyone, including fun activities for kids, enlightening talks on Chinese culture and insightful demonstrations.

Don't miss the open weekend on Saturday 21 January and Sunday 22 January when entry to the Garden is free for everyone.

Sydney's Chinese New Year Twilight Parade this Weekend

Sydneysiders will be wowed by a stunning fire dragon performance at this year’s Chinese New Year Twilight Parade.

The 18-metre red-and-gold dragon, which 20 performers in colourful costumes will steer, twist and turn to the tune of gongs and drums, has a 4000-year-old history in the town of Huanglongxi, on the outskirts of Chengdu, in central China.

‘Close proximity’ fireworks, which burn at a much lower temperature than traditional fireworks, will shower the dragon in a dramatic explosion of light at the beginning and end of the parade, at Sydney Town Hall and Darling Harbour.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said this year’s parade would be Sydney’s biggest and brightest yet, thanks to a partnership with the city of Chengdu.

“The dragon’s ride from Town Hall to Darling Harbour will be a thrilling centrepiece to the City’s Lunar New Year celebrations,” the Lord Mayor said.

“With the throb of percussion and over 2,900 performers from Sydney and around the world dressed in dazzling costumes and on amazingly decorated floats, the parade will be truly spectacular.

“Seen by millions of people across Australia and throughout Asia, it’s no wonder our Twilight Parade has become one of the major events on Sydney’s cultural calendar.”

The fire dragon performance, which was awarded the status of ‘national intangible cultural heritage’ in China in 2010, will play a starring role among a group of 130 performers from Chengdu, Sydney’s official partner city for the 2012 celebrations.

“The dragon is a very spiritual animal in Chinese mythology and this ancient performance expresses both the strong spirit of the Chinese nation and the celebratory atmosphere of the Chinese New Year Festival,” said Mr Zhu Yuan, performance director from the Huanglongxi Fire Dragon and Lion Club.

“We are looking forward to bringing this beautiful and unusual piece of Chengdu to Australia as a very special way of celebrating the Year of the Dragon.”

Close proximity fireworks are used throughout China in performances and parades as a spectacular alternative to traditional explosives. Because the combustion point is lower, the sparks cool mid-air and are only slightly warm to the touch.

Mr Zhu and his performers are working with the team behind the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks, Foti International Fireworks, to ensure the fireworks are safe and spectacular when they are lit on Sydney’s streets this Sunday, 29 January.

“It’s always exciting to be involved in performances that have such cultural significance and are steeped in history and tradition,” said Tino Foti, from Australia’s leading pyrotechnics team.

The highlight of each Chinese New Year celebration, Sydney’s annual Twilight Parade is a feast for the senses with dynamic live music, amazing floats, dazzling costumes, beautiful illuminated zodiac lanterns and much more.

The Parade is a great night out for young and old, with a unique mix of traditional and contemporary performances. More than 2,900 local and international performers will feature in this year’s street spectacular.

Alongside the Chengdu performances, crowds gathered along the Parade route will be treated to dragons from East and West, stunning floats, martial artists, circus performers, Chinese musicians, ballroom dancers, live art installations and visiting groups from Beijing and Shanghai.

Brilliant light projections on three buildings along the Parade route will turn the City centre into a mini-Hong Kong, while the Parade will literally end with a bang in Darling Harbour with a fireworks show.

Limited VIP seating is available for the Twilight Parade – $60pp + GST.
To book, call: 02 9265 9333.

City of Sydney Talks up Year of the Dragon (2012)

The City of Sydney has put the finishing touches on what it’s calling ” the most spectacular Chinese New Year Festival program yet.”

Ringing in the Year of the Dragon from 20 January to 5 February, the internationally renowned Chinese New Year arts festival will transform Sydney with more than 80 exciting events and a delegation of 160 performers, chefs and business leaders from the City’s 2012 Chinese partner city, Chengdu.

“The City’s 2012 Chinese New Year Festival will be our biggest, brightest and best yet,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

“From the jewel in the crown – the Twilight Parade – to much-loved markets, world-class art exhibitions, film screenings, karaoke competitions, food tours, live performances, dragon boat races, kids’ activities and more, our 2012 Festival really will have something for everyone.”

Chengdu, the capital of China’s south-western Sichuan province, is known for its delicious spicy food, traditional tea ceremonies, stunning ancient temples and giant pandas. Sydneysiders will get a taste of all that Chengdu has to offer throughout the 17-day Festival.

2012 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
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Chinese New Year Markets – Friday 20 to Sunday 22 January at Belmore Park

Get ready for delicious food, lion dancers, DJs, karaoke competitions, non-stop Asian pop, live Korean rock, film screenings, art and craft workshops and more. For three days, Belmore Park will be transformed into a pop-up Asian market place, with more than 50 stalls from our local Asian community and visitors from Chengdu.

Food will be a highlight as chefs including MasterChef stars Adam Liaw and Alvin Quah demonstrate their sizzling cooking techniques, including how to master Lunar New Year specialities. Chefs specialising in fiery Sichuan cuisine will also provide some spice at Chengdu’s food stalls.

Twilight Parade – 8:00pm on Sunday 29 January at Sydney Town Hall – FREE

The highlight of this year’s Chinese New Year celebration, Sydney’s annual Twilight Parade will be a feast for the senses with dynamic live music, amazing floats, flamboyant dragons, dazzling costumes, beautiful illuminated zodiac lanterns and much more.

The Twilight Parade is a great night out for young and old, with a unique mix of traditional and contemporary performances. More than 2,900 local and international performers will feature in this street spectacular, including 135 artists from Chengdu showing off their stunning Panda Puppets, Fire Dragons and ethnic dancers.

Audiences will also see dragons from East and West, stunning floats, martial artists, circus performers, Chinese musicians, ballroom dancers, live art installations and visiting groups from Beijing, Shanghai, Anhui and Xian.

Brilliant light projections on buildings along the Parade route will turn the City centre into a mini-Hong Kong, while the Parade will literally finish with a bang in Darling Harbour with a fireworks show.

Dragon Boat Races – Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 February at Cockle Bay – FREE

This traditional Chinese sport has become a Chinese New Year Festival favourite. Thousands of people are expected to line the shores at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour for the largest Dragon Boat racing spectacular in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Races see more than 3,000 paddlers take to the water. Up to 22 people in each boat paddle to the beat of the drum in a hard fought competition to reach the finish line.

City of Sydney Talks up Year of the Dragon (2012)

Dragon Set to Burst into New Year

The city is preparing itself for a 13-day Chinese New Year party, complete with cultural dances, dragon boat races and a parade. The Year of the Dragon officially begins at 12.40pm on Monday January 23 but Sydney is starting its celebrations early, kicking off on Friday, January 20.

The Festival launch is a free event at Belmore Park, opposite from Central Station, and will feature a food market. MasterChef contestant Adam Liaw and Alvin Quah will be there to run cooking demonstrations.

Besides the food stalls there is also a stage for Asian Pop and Karaoke competitions with a special show by Chendu performers. Lion and dragon dance troupes will attack stages in their colourful costumes.

The Chinese Youth League of Australia, a dance and martial arts group based in Sydney will be performing on the day and throughout the Festival.
The League’s President Patricia Quah said: “There will be a staged show with dancing, singing, lion dance, dragon dance and the God of Fortune.”

“We are fully booked for lion dances but we don’t run it as a business, it’s all done by volunteers, none of us get paid, not even me.”

The League, which has been part of setting the entertainment program, is a regular participant in the annual event and has been operating for over 70 years. “We have been operating for 73 years and I was the first woman president after 70 years,” Ms Quah said.

The Chinese New Year Twilight Parade is on Sunday, January 29 and will tour from Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown, ending with a display of fireworks.
“For the Chinese New Year Parade on January 29 there will be hundreds of thousands of people on the road,” Ms Quah said.

Other Festival highlights include a mass tai-chi demonstration on Sunday January 22, the dragon boat races at Darling Harbour on February 4 and 5 and a cultural performance by Chengdu dancers on Monday, January 30.

(Source: City News 18 January 2012)

Sydney Searches for Karaoke Idol

City of Sydney’s popular Sydney Chinese New Year Festival karaoke competition is back, and all karaoke-lovers are being invited to have a go.

“The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival karaoke competition is a highlight of our launch weekend and whether you’re a seasoned entertainer or a first timer, we encourage you to enter this year’s karaoke competition,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.

Entrants to the annual talent competition will have the chance to sing in front of hundreds of cheering fans at the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival Markets later this month, and even take home some fabulous prizes.

Now in its third year, the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival karaoke extravaganza sees fans of Mando-Pop (Mandarian popular music), J-Pop (Japanese pop), K-Pop (Korean pop) and classic karaoke favourites go mic to mic in the battle to be crowned the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival’s karaoke king or queen.

There will be two heats and a wildcard draw, with 10 finalists selected to perform in front of a live audience and panel of judges on the main stage at the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival Markets in Belmore Park on Saturday 21 January.

Heat 1

Saturday 7 January, 4pm to 6.30pm – Mizuya Japanese Restaurant and Karaoke, 614 George Street, Sydney (opposite Event Cinemas)

Heat 2

Saturday 14 January, 4pm to 6.30pm – Mizuya Japanese Restaurant and Karaoke, 614 George Street, Sydney (opposite Event Cinemas)

Wildcard draw

Saturday 21 January, 6.30pm to 7.30pm – Belmore Park, Sydney

Final

Saturday 21 January, 8pm to 9.30pm – Belmore Park, Sydney

Prizes include: $600 Mizuya dining and karaoke package, two VIP Twilight Parade tickets and much more.

Register now: 02 9266 0866 or info@mizuya.com.au

For more information visit tvb.com.au and for the full Chinese New Year program, visit sydneychinesenewyear.com.au

Chinese New Year 2012: Final Countdown to Year of the Dragon

Chinese New Year 2012 will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 23, marking the beginning of the year of the water dragon and the 4709th year of the Chinese calendar. The holiday is the most important in China and will be met with scores of fireworks and festivities in China, Taiwan and across the globe.

Preparations have begun for the Chinese New Year festivities across the globe. In China, families clean their home, hang red banners with messages of good luck, pay respects to ancestors and begin to plan and prepare meals for Jan. 23. Many families will cover their homes with red paper lanterns and decorations signifying "good fortune," "wealth," "longevity" and "happiness."

Moreover, China will celebrate the national holiday for the week of Jan. 23 to Jan. 27. Equity markets in Hong Kong and China will be closed as the country rings in the Lunar New Year.

Event Guide to a Sydney Summer of Chinese Art

Kick off 2012 with an exciting Sydney Chinese New Year Festival visual arts line-up that features free exhibitions, exclusive viewings, hand-picked previews, priceless collections and young artists’ Australian debuts.

From the Aussie premiere of Beijing’s Red Gate Gallery exhibition Two Generations: 20 Years of Chinese Contemporary Art, to free events at the Art Gallery of NSW (AGNSW) and highlights from the Ray Hughes collection, this Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is far and away the City’s biggest and best.

“As we ring in the Year of the Dragon this January, Sydneysiders will be captivated with the largest visual arts program ever featured in the City’s Chinese New Year Festival,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

Highlights include:

Two Generations: 20 Years of Chinese Contemporary Art 17 – 28 January at Centennial Hall, Sydney Town Hall – free

Beijing’s Red Gate Gallery and the 2012 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival proudly present Two Generations, featuring artworks from 10 renowned Red Gate artists who have each nominated a young artist to exhibit alongside them.

Contact: sydneychinesenewyear.com

Dragon to Dragon: A Photographic Retrospective of the Chinese New Year Parade

23 January – 1 March at Customs House, Circular Quay – free

Relive your favourite Chinese New Year Parade memories with Sydney photographer Sharon Hickey, who has captured the colour and excitement of Sydney’s favourite cultural event since 2005. Here, she presents a selection of images that revisit Sydney Chinese New Year over a decade.

Contact: sydneychinesenewyear.com Dragon

19 January – 4 March at Art Gallery of NSW, The Domain – free

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon – traditionally meaning wealth and good fortune – the AGNSW is dedicating this year’s exhibition to the dragon, a favourite symbol in the art of China for centuries. See dragons depicted in ceramics, textiles, jade, metalwork, calligraphy and paintings from the gallery’s collection.

Contact: artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Museum of Sydney: Special items from the Simpson Lee & Co. Collection

21/22 January at Museum of Sydney, cnr Bridge and Philip streets

Simpson Lee & Co. was a successful Sydney shop that sold Eastern-style homewares on lower Pitt Street between 1910 and 1954. See hand-coloured carpets, catalogues of camphorwood chests, and books of Chinese artistic wares.

Contact: hht.net.au

The Chinese Decade: Ten Years of Chinese Contemporary Exhibitions and Fish and other New Work by Li Jun 21 January – 15 February at Ray Hughes Gallery, Surry Hills – free

Featuring over 100 works by more than 20 artists from the collections of Ray Hughes and patrons of modern Chinese arts, this contemporary show also features young painter Li Jun, exhibiting for the first time outside China with the show Fish.

Contact rayhughesgallery.com

Facing East 4 February – 10 March at Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Waterloo – free

This exhibition features the work of contemporary Chinese and Taiwanese artists, representing a region where contrasting elements co-exist, creating a world where fantasy meets reality. Presented by Gallery Barry Keldoulis and Ausin Tung Gallery.

Contact: ausintunggallery.com or gbk.com.au Make Yourself At Home

2 – 23 February at ChinaLink Gallery, Redfern – free In this exhibition, artists explore the common experience of Chinese Australians born in the ’70s and ’80s: adjusting to life Down Under. Make Yourself At Home explores local artists’ different perspectives through installation, photography, video art and painting.

Contact: chinalinkgallery.com

Breathing Fire

19 January – 5 February at Inner City Clayworkers Gallery, Glebe – free

This exhibition features new ceramic works from Australian-Chinese artists and gallery co-op members, who using porcelain, stoneware and earthenware, will explore the Year of the Dragon theme. Contact: clayworkers.com.au

For the full program, visit sydneychinesenewyear.com

2012 Chinese New Year a Festival of Giants

This year's Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is a festival of giants.

Not only is the 17-day festival the biggest celebration of the Chinese lunar new year outside of Asia, but to mark the Year of the Dragon, parades will feature Komodo Dragons as well as giant pandas.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore launched the 2012 festival with charity partner Taronga Zoo on Tuesday morning, with the zoo's resident giant Komodo Dragon, Tuka, in attendance.

Ms Moore said this year's festival partner city was Chengdu in Sichuan Province, an area in southwest China famous for its delicious spicy food and home to the giant black and white bears.

"So you can expect a celebration of the panda also in this year's Chinese New Year," she told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

Ms Moore said the event demonstrated Sydney's multiculturalism.

"It celebrates our Asian community, our Chinese community, our Vietnamese and our Korean communities," she told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"What our Chinese New Year does, it celebrates traditional Chinese culture plus cutting-edge arts and business events."

Three weeks of eye-catching and tantalising events featuring food, music, cinema and sports kicks off on January 20.

The highlight of the festival is the famous Twilight Parade on January 29, a dazzling parade of colour and light featuring almost 3000 performers.

Ms Moore said the Year of the Dragon was also a great opportunity to raise awareness for the plight of the endangered Komodo Dragon.

"The Year of the Dragon is the perfect opportunity to get to know Taronga's dragons, from the giant Komodo named Tuka, to the small eastern water dragons that roam wild in the Zoo grounds - all of which are under pressure in the wild," she said.

Ms Moore said a delegation of 160 performers, chefs and business leaders from Chengdu would make this year's Chinese New Year Festival Sydney's biggest, brightest and best yet.

The official festival launch celebration will be marked by a free event at Belmore Park on January 20.