Preparations are under way for a day of vibrant entertainment to celebrate Chinese New Year in Durham this weekend - but its Lion Dance has now been cancelled.
The city is out to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit in style and has been gearing up for a day-long party which will bring the streets alive with colour, music and dance on Saturday, January 21 - the day before Chinese New Year is celebrated in Newcastle.
A traditional part of festivities, the iconic Lion Dance performance once again will be at the heart of the Lunar New Year celebrations. The dance - which is meant to bring good luck - will be the highlight of a busy day playing out across the city from 10.30am until 4pm with Chinese song, dance and workshops celebrating the country's culture and including calligraphy, art, paper folding and woodblock printing as well as demonstrations of Tai Chi.
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The lion dance procession, accompanied by the beating of drums, will get under way in Millennium Place and make its way through the city centre - with pupils from West Rainton Primary School taking part with their own dragon dance.
There also will be Hanfu catwalk show of Chinese costumes to watch in Durham Town Hall which also will host stalls, music and activities. There will be performances too from local schoolchildren as well as by Durham Chinese School and Durham University students, and visitors can watch demonstrations of tai chi or try their hand at traditional crafts.
Also among those taking part in the day will be Durham's Oriental Museum, and students from New College Durham who will be creating dishes for tastings, while other attractions on offer at the Town Hall will include a Chinese Tea Art Show tea-tasting. And nearby Clayport Library will be hosting Mandarin sessions given by students.
Following up on February 5, the Oriental Museum will be host a Year of the Rabbit Lantern Festival from 6pm to 8pm with snacks, a live traditional Korean percussion performance and dragon dancing for children.
Here's the timetable for January 21's programme of activities and timings throughout the day. For more information see This Is Durham's website here.
Market Place and Millennium Place
12.30pm - Lion Dance procession - due to begin in Millennium Place and wind its way to the Market Place for another performance.
2pm - Hanfu Costume Parade around Market Place and Millennium Place
Clayport Library
11am-2.30pm - Chinese language taster drop-in sessions and craft activities hosted by students from Durham University
Durham Town Hall
10.30am -Wingate Primary School
10.45am - Musical performance Guzheng: Empty World - Miss Kunchen Guo: Durham Chinese School
11am -Dance performance: Durham Chinese Art Ensemble
11.15am - Tai Chi demonstration: GemArts
11.30am - Lanchester EP School
11.45am -Dance performance: Durham Chinese Art Ensemble
12.10pm - Civic welcome
12.30pm - Langley Moor Primary School - Song Gong-Xi Gong-Xi
1pm - Musical performance Hulusi: Deep in the Bamboo Forest - Miss Kunchen Guo: Durham Chinese School
1.15pm - Finchale Primary School - Chinese Lanterns Song
1.30pm - Musical performance Pipa Orchid Pavilion Preface’ Miss Yinuo Liu: Durham Chinese School
1.45pm - Shincliffe Primary School
2pm - Song medley: Durham Chinese Art Ensemble
2.30pm - Tai Chi demonstration: GemArts
2.45pm - Durham Hanfu Society - traditional Chinese costume catwalk: Chinese Scholars’ and Students’ Association
Stalls and activities
Durham Town Hall will also host stalls in its Crush Hall - Westmill Foods Sales: Durham Chinese School. Activities will include interactive games and activities by Durham Chinese School; object handling with the Oriental Museum and Horoscopes with Durham Youth Council.
Lantern Room - Paper folding and cutting plus Wood block printing, both by GemArts
12noon - Food tasting with students from New College Durham
Burlison Gallery - Tea tasting at 1.30pm. Those interested can sign up at the reception in the morning
Market Place - there will be gazabos in the Market Place featuring calligraphy and the Overseas Students Children’s Fund.
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