K-State's Chinese students and scholars association plans Chinese Cultural Festival Feb. 7-11

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Source: J. Jenny Yang, 785-313-4451, xinyi136@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: J. Jenny Yang

Friday, February 2, 2007

K-STATE'S CHINESE STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS ASSOCIATION PLANS CHINESE CULTURAL FESTIVAL FEB. 7-11

MANHATTAN -- To celebrate the 2007 Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year, Kansas State University's Chinese Students and Scholars Association will present the Chinese Cultural Festival, Feb. 7-11.

Funded by K-State's Diversity Programming Committee, the festival will include the Exhibition of Chinese Culture, the Interactive Chinese Food Show and the Chinese Spring Festival Gala. All events are free and open to the public.

"Our Chinese Cultural Festival was inspired by international friendship and multicultural exchange," said J. Jenny Yang, graduate student in journalism and mass communications and entertainment minister for the K-State Chinese Students and Scholars Association. "From children to seniors, we want the whole community of Manhattan to be a part of the festival."

The Exhibition of Chinese Culture will be noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Thursday, Feb. 8, on the ground and first floors of the K-State Student Union. The exhibition will include a martial arts demonstration by K-State Chinese faculty members, pictures of the landscape and development of China, and popular Chinese arts and crafts.

The Interactive Chinese Food Show will be 4-6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the International Student Center. The show is sponsored by and features food prepared by the Bamboo Buffet, also known as the All Chinese Buffet.

"The food show is free and will be a real treat to those who love Chinese food," Yang said. "You will be able to observe and learn how to cook authentic Chinese dishes."

The Chinese Spring Festival Gala will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, in McCain Auditorium. Tickets are required but are free. They can be reserved by calling the auditorium's box office at 785-532-6428 or dropping by from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

The festival will include demonstrations of Chinese kung fu, dance and music. Performers include the Bates Pride Dancers from the Bates Dance Studio in Manhattan; a pantomime performance by the Randi Dale Dance Studio; and a cello recital by David Littrell, university distinguished professor of music at K-State. The event also will include students from 10 K-State academic departments in a creative dance that combines elements of kung fu and hip-hop. The dance was choreographed by Heidi Hilton, a K-State alum and director of the Bates Dance Studios. Support for the festival also has been provided by Commerce Bank, the Panda Express and several other local businesses, Yang said.