Phoenix group  Promoting Chinese Culture at Wells Fargo Community Celebration
(by Huijing Yang)    

In the community celebration sponsored by Wells Fargo on Oct. 29, Charlotte area residents and visitors had the opportunity to explore and enjoy the city’s diverse arts, science and history offerings for free through a one-of-a-kind community experience.

“The Wells Fargo Community Celebration shows their commitment to the cultural sector and will provide amazing arts, science and history experiences that will entertain and educate thousands of individuals,” said ASC President Scott Provancher. “Plus, with the opening of the Wells Fargo History Museum, Charlotte’s ‘cultural mile’ along Tryon Street has gained another attraction.”

Charlotte Phoenix performing group played an important role in promoting Charlotte's culture diversity by providing a large-scale Chinese cultural exhibition, including dances of Chinese minorities, fashion show, lion dancing, martial arts, Beijing scene gallery, and Chinese calligraphy, which received a great success and appreciation by both organizers and the audience.

Sherman Tse, the marketing director of Chinese phoenix arts, is dedicated to transmitting Chinese culture. He exerted himself to have Wells Fargo Atrium as the activity center, picked the best time to exhibit Chinese variety show from 12:50 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and played martial arts  workshop after the Chinese variety show in the hall. Born in Hong kong, he has a deep understanding about Chinese culture. And after several years martial arts practicing, he is now calling more people to realize the magic in Chinese Kung Fu.


The first attraction was a performance of a traditional Chinese lion dance by Hung Gar Kung Fu school, who was accompanied by the Chinese tom drum and ching ching cymbals. At the peak of the day, four members of Phoenix dancing team performed two eye-catching Chinese classical folk dances, beauty and the moonlight pours on the West temple. Li Wei, Xueyao Zhang, Shan Li, and Hong Wang,  exhibited Chinese femininity in sea blue performance clothes. Also, the Phoenix fashion show team exhibited the ethnic costumes of Xinjiang, Tibet, Dai, Yi, Manchu, and Han, performed by Di Wu, Ivan Svetlicic, Linda Yu ,Xiaoqin Xue , Xinxin Liu, Yihuan Song, Shanghua Yang, and Huijing Yang,  respectively, to hundreds of audience members under the direction of Peiya Lou, a professional model from Beijing, and team leader, Sherman. Actresses of Little Lotus Troupe, most of who are adorable girls adopted by American, showed lively Laternentanz, under the direction of Xiaosong He, a dance instructor from Shanghai.

What's more, the Exhibition of China -- Beijing scene gallery designed by artist Austin Lu, together with Phoenix President Linda Yu and Yiping Huang was full of attraction, with its grace, beauty and abundance. A collage of essays, photographs and paintings about Chinese Pavilion in World Expo 2010, Bird Nest and Water Cube in the 2008 Olympic Game are showed, which made many passers-by stopped to appreciate the Chinese elements.

Last but not least, Chinese calligraphy practicing table also attracted many children to practice brush. Linda Yu and Yiping Huang had been busy teaching kids for four hours without lunch. In front of the table are many American teenagers and kids accompanied by parents. They think it very interesting and artistic to practice calligraphy. Seeing that American children are so obsessed with practising, Chinese Phoenix Arts Center members thought the time was worth it.

Followed by Indian variety show and ensemble by Charlotte Meckenburg School, the activity did not end until 5 o'clock. By the end of the day, over 20,000 people have joined the community celebration. This is a great time for promoting Chinese culture. And we are looking forward to more diversified culture shows in Charlotte.

There will be another celebration for Chinese New Year in the coming January. By then, New dance “Kang Ding Love Song”( 康定情歌) and another turn of fashion show will be available by Phoenix members. To know more about this group,  visit www.chinesephoenixarts.com

(Photographed By Lian Xia)