On Thursday, February 8, 2024 the warm glow of Chinese New Year filled the Branson gym as we celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Dragon in a lively all-school assembly led by Emmanuel Katz '25 and Rayna Xu '27.

57 talented students from different levels of our Mandarin program took the stage, sharing a diverse array of cultural performances. The event began with Mandarin I's charming Zodiac chants, followed by Mandarin II's rendition of "Beijing Welcomes You," a nod to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Mandarin III followed with a captivating KungFu fan dance, accompanied by a heartfelt flute performance of "Winter Plum Blossom" by our esteemed Mandarin teacher Jasmine Xiang.The energy escalated with Mandarin IV's “Bamboo Clicking and Chanting,” leading into a touching presentation of the Chinese adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” called “The Butterfly Lover,” by Mandarin IV and V. Mandarin V then brought thunderous beats with Chinese-Traditional Drumming, infusing the atmosphere with excitement.The finale featured five students gracefully performing Chinese lion and dragon ribbon dancing, leaving the audience mesmerized.

The festivities continued the next day with a delightful Chinese New Year lunch organized by Jasmine, where traditional delicacies were enjoyed by all.