The Chinese Students Association welcomed the new year with luck, music, and togetherness at its annual celebratory China Nite, a diverse three-hour display of traditional performances.
“I started thinking and planning for China Nite approximately two weeks before winter break,” sophomore and event coordinator Zihan Li said. “The general formation of the event has not changed, yet we try to make the performances more various and more representative every year.”
The night kicked off with the majority of upper Strong Auditorium filled with guests sipping the bubble tea offered, to the sound of No Jackets Required as the opening act, playing “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses.
Afterwards the stage was passed onto several other performances, both in English and Chinese. UR’s K-pop group Rice Crew, the Chinese Music Ensemble of Rochester, and the Rochester Tai Chi Chuan Center all contributed their time onstage to honor Chinese history and tradition.
Several raffle drawings were held throughout the night. Prizes included several coupons and vouchers, a pair of Mira water bottles, and a polaroid camera.
“You don’t need to speak Chinese to have fun tonight,” the winner of a musical chairs contest said to the crowd, who made their agreement quite clear with a strong round of applause.
China Nite, originally designed for international students to celebrate traditional festivals, has become one of the CSA’s main annual performances.
“The aim of China Nite is to provide a platform for people with talents or passion to showcase themselves,” Li said. “We also cherish the opportunities of studying at U of R and learn about the different but fascinating cultures here.”
The show ended with a song performed by six singers from different performances joining together for a well-known song in China. The song represents the idea that no matter where the students are, they always share the same culture.
“It will enhance the intimacy of our community overall and provide a piece of connection between students and faculties outside of classroom,” Li said.
The night ended with wild applause, as many ushered in the new year once again with high hopes and aspirations.
Correction (2/19/17): A previous version of this article erroneously reported that University President Joel Seligman was in attendance and spoke, when in fact he was not. It has since been updated.
