2002 CHINESE CULTURE DAYS Program Description Opening Ceremony - Cohen Amphitheater, Missouri Botanical Garden 10:00 am, Saturday, May 18, 2002 * Welcoming Dances --- Dragon dancers --- Lion dancers * Drums * Welcome Remarks --- Dr. T. Leo Lo, Chair, 2002 Chinese Culture Days --- Dr. Peter Raven, Director of Missouri Botanical Garden --- The Honorable St. Louis Mayor Slay * Essay Competition announcements * Sheila Onuska, Associated Director of St. Louis Cooperative School District * Performances --- Chinese Peace Chorus * Closing --- Dragon dancers --- Lion dancers * Spoehrer Plaza - Grand Parade 2:30 p.m., Saturday, May 18, 2002 The Grand Parade is one of the important signatures of the 2002 Chinese Culture Days. The most auspicious being with incomparable strength in Chinese folklore, the Dragon, whose 24-legged dance can dispel bad luck and ward off evils, will lead the Grand Parade. The colorful parade consists of folk dance teams, acrobats, groups of people wearing special costumes, martial arts teams, and drummers along with lion and dragon dances. The parade will start at Spoehrer Plaza and ends at the Cohen Amphitheater. Eight cultural booths will be stationed around the fountain at the Spoehrer Plaza. Each booth will sell/display its unique gifts and souvenirs for you to remember the Chinese Culture Days. * Cohen Amphitheater - Folk Dances, Acrobatic Show, Folk Dance, Martial Arts, and Tai-ji Chinese Folk Dances: Chinese folk dances often express the jubilant emotion during the harvest celebration, royal welcoming of the honor guests, ritual and religious ceremonies, or simply a tribal event. Folk dances come in many styles and costumes. Some are rhythmic, some are muscular, some are mysterious, and some are joyful. This folk dance program is co-sponsored by St. Louis Chinese Academy, St. Louis Chinese Language School, and St. Louis Modern Chinese Language School. Acrobat show: The New Shanghai Circus Troupe has carried on the fine traditions of Chinese folk arts, solid artistic strength, and perfect comprehensive capabilities. The troupe having toured the United States, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Korea, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Belgium, France, Hong Kong and Taiwan, enjoys great prestige both at home and abroad. The acrobat show will entertain the audience with excellent magic and acrobatic performances. Martial Art: Martial Art has been an integral part of Chinese culture for thousands of years with many variations. Ci-Tong Martial Arts association will demonstrate various skills of martial arts with swords, knife, stick, spear, etc. Tai-ji: Chinese Tai-ji is not only good physical exercise, but also a self-defense art and a mind/body meditation. It can be practiced almost in anywhere, at anytime, and at any age. There are many styles and forms throughout the history of Tai-ji. Many local Tai-ji masters will demonstrate Yang Short form, Chen Style form push hands and sword, Hun Yuan T'ai Ji, and Qi Gong. * Shoenberg Auditorium- Chinese Opera workshop & performance, and Chinese myth presentation * Chinese Opera Demonstration - Chinese opera has been part of the Chinese culture for more than thousand years. Chushan Chinese Opera Institute from Washington, D. C. will give a lively seminar and demonstration of the ancient art of Chinese Opera that is designed to take the audience from pre-performance preparations to on-stage action. A perfect introduction to Chinese culture and a fascinating interactive program suitable for all. The demonstration uses the most popular mythological character in China, the "Monkey King." The demonstration will feature the make-up, stage movements, and costume of the Monkey. It begins with a demonstration of Chinese Opera face painting and costuming, the meaning and significance of the design. This will be followed by a demonstration of the unique gestures and facial expressions of the Monkey King. The program is concluded with a short episode of the opera, "Stirring up the Heavenly Palace." In this scene, the Monkey King disrupts a room set for the Peach Garden Immortals party in the Heavenly Palace and then engages in a fierce fight with the Big Giant. The unique and fascinating stage movement, music, costumes, and Chinese opera face painting will take your breath away! * Chinese Myth presentation - The Chinese Genesis --- The Legend of PanGu - This two-minute slide show conveys the Chinese version of the Big Bang: The Universe began with the awakening of the sleeping giant PanGu, followed by his expansion, his death, and his transformation. After the universe was created, then came the Emperor of Heaven, the Emperor of Earth, and the Emperor of Mankind. --- The Legend of the Ten Suns of Heaven - The Jade Emperor in Heaven had ten sons. He ordered each son, in rotation, to travel for one Earth day across the sky as the Sun and give light to the people on Earth. Watch the tragedies that evolve from impetuous decisions, and see how they affect Jade Emperor, his sons and the mighty archer Yi. --- Legend of Mountain Hua - When the rules of Heaven prevail, ordinary people on Earth can pray to the Jade Emperor and to spirits in Heaven for blessings. But things change when the rules of Heaven are violated. Passion of a mere mortal for the Jade Princess, sister of Jade Emperor, their illicit marriage and son MuLian, lead to action by Jade Emperor. Witnessing the grown MuLian demonstrate how filial piety overcomes all obstacles. --- The Legend of Great Lion - Watch the antics of Great Lion, the brave general in the army of Jade Emperor in Heaven, and see how they lead to his demise. Enjoy his redemption by the Goddess of Mercy, GuanYin Buddha. Learn how he pays for his offenses by being exiled to Earth. See him battle the evil monster Nien. Discover why, since that time, the Lion Dance has been a part of Chinese New Year celebrations. * Monsanto Hall - Chinese scenery and cultural exhibitions - The exhibition displays several famous Chinese scenery attractions to give the visitors the feel of ancient and modern Chinese buildings and architectures. In addition, calligraphy demonstration, potteries, and flower arrangement are also a part of the cultural exhibition. Essay contest winner papers will be displayed as well. * Grigg Nanjing Friendship Chinese Garden - Tea and Tour Discover the tranquil beauty of the Chinese Garden where time pauses. Wander quietly alone or join a guided tour. Stretch yourself by taking a free Tai-Ji class. Enjoy a taste of China through the Tea Demonstration. Let your imagination fly with live Chinese music. Do you know? * The difference between a Scholar's garden and the Imperial garden of the North? * How a Chinese Garden is built? * What the key elements in a Chinese Garden are? * How many plants can be found in the Chinese Garden inside the Botanical Garden that came from China? * Which celebrity wrote the poem by the entrance of the Chinese Garden? * Beaumont Room - Children's Programs Families with Children from China (FCC) and Worldway Children's Museum present the Children's Program and exciting hands-on experiences. Children of all ages can enjoy the Chinese culture through arts and crafts, learning to speak the language, singing traditional children's songs and participating in a dragon dance. * Linnean Ground - Food Court Varieties of authentic Chinese provincial and regional foods will be served.