Gung hee fatt choi (From York Press)

Gung hee fatt choi

11:39pm Saturday 27th February 2010 in Dave Taylor By Dave Taylor

It was a delight to see the gala concert at the Grand Opera House arranged by York's Chinese Students' and Scholars' Association.

What a night it was - with a variety stretching from Sichuan Opera to Chinese Rap.

The Chinese New Year Gala started with a lively Lion Dance followed by an opening speech from Councillor Brian Watson, deputising for The Lord Mayor of York.

The three 'emcees' took turns in speaking Chinese and English to welcome pop singers, children from the York Chinese School, kung-fu exponants, and classical musicians.

The only truly mystifying part of the proceedings was a lengthy comedic act by a couple of Cambridge graduates, which was totally lost upon English-speakers... maybe Cantonese-speakers too!

The Tibetan 'Heavenly Road' dance sequence seemed to garner the most applause - clearly a few people had some favourites there!

My favourite act featured acrobats who performed contortions while balancing up to six chandeliers of lighted candles. Acrobatic plate-spinning was equally astounding.