TROY – Troy University students from China will celebrate the Spring Festival – also known as Chinese New Year – with the University and community at large Feb. 9.

The seventh-annual event, slated to begin at 6 p.m. in the Trojan Center Ballrooms, will include a wide variety of both traditional and contemporary Chinese performances. Tickets for the event are $8 for students (kindergarten through university) and $15 for adults.

“The Spring Festival is the biggest event for Chinese people, just like Christmas in the United States.  People get together at this time,” said Song Zihan, president of the University’s Chinese Student Association. “Right now, we are far away from our home, but we are glad to get together with the community to celebrate this biggest day.”

Zihan is an accounting major from the University’s 1-2-1 partner East China Jiaotong University. The 1-2-1 program brings students from the People’s Republic of China to TROY for two years before returning them to their home institution for a final year of study. Upon completion, the students earn a degree from both their home institution and from TROY.

This year’s entertainment will include a traditional opera selection performed by an exchange scholar from Yunnan University, performances on traditional Chinese instruments er hu, guzheng, hulusi, and ba wu, a fashion show featuring reproductions from the Qing Dynasty through contemporary Chinese dress, a magic show, piano and vocal performances, a martial arts demonstration; traditional Chinese dances and the Dragon and Lion dances.

“TROY is very fortunate to have many talented Chinese students, so everyone will have the opportunity to ‘visit’ China through both its traditional and contemporary culture,” said Debbie Davis, advisor to the association. “While this event makes the students feel at home at TROY, this celebration is actually CSA’s largest outreach program to the community, and we hope that the Troy University family and the Troy community will share this evening with them.”

The menu will include various meat and vegetable dishes and a traditional Chinese New Year cake, but most notable Peking duck.  In addition to the student performances, guests will be treated to a Peking duck carving demonstration.

For tickets, contact Debbie Davis at 334-670-5965 or csa@troy.edu.

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Troy University’s Chinese Student Association will host a traditional Chinese New Year celebration Feb. 9
in the Trojan Center Ballrooms. (TROY photo)