New year, old ways

Excerpts from the Portland Press Herald

Families enjoy performers and traditions as a Maine Chinese and American group welcomes the Year of the Rabbit.

PORTLAND – Just before three girls danced barefoot onto the stage wearing conical Asian hats made of straw, the announcer introduced them.

“The Lotus Troupe are the founding pioneer students here at the CAFAM Chinese School,” she said. “They have been with the school since they were just 18 months old,” in 1996.

The audience gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year greeted dancers Quinn Lavigne, Nicole McCallum and Phoebe Suva with a round of applause.

Their dance, “Dark Clouds,” set to traditional Chinese music, was choreographed to symbolize Chinese rice farmers caught in a thunderstorm while working in the field.

It was one of many performances given Saturday morning as part of the Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine’s 21st annual Chinese New Year Celebration at Catherine McAuley High School.

• Read the story in the Portland Press Herald

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