Las Positas students and faculty gathered to celebrate the Year of the Dragon as part of the Lunar New Year Festival on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
Sui Song from the Administrative Services Office championed the event, recognizing LPC has never had an Asian festival in her four years at the college. The Lunar New Year Festival is the first of what is hoped to become an annual event.
“A few weeks ago, I had an idea for a small-scale event,” Song said. “Then the Asian Pacific Islander Association Club, the KPOP Club, staff and faculty volunteers all worked together to plan and host the festival.”
The event was introduced by Song in the quad on campus and opened with a traditional Chinese lion dance performed by Champions Kung Fu’s Lion Dance Team of Concord, California. The lion in Chinese culture is a significant symbol of wisdom and power and is featured in celebrations to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.
The lion dance was followed by a dance performed by members of the LPC KPOP Dance Club. The club is in its second year after being started just to get students together who enjoyed dancing for fun. They were asked to perform at the event in front of an audience.
LPC’s first Lunar New Year Festival was an idea sparked by Sui Song, who noticed the school hadn’t had an Asian-focused event in her four years working on campus. (Photo by Paul George/ The Express)
“We dance (for fun),” KPOP club president CJ Johnson said, “and all of a sudden people asked if we wanted to do performances. Sui contacted us to dance today, and we did with these awesome performers.”
Attendees were able to visit the various booths to experience different aspects of Chinese culture. An array of both Korean and Chinese food was also catered for guests to enjoy.
Paul George is a staff writer and columnist for The Express. He is also the copy editor. Follow him on X, formally Twitter, @paulgeorgePIO.
