A decoration of Chinese paper cuts representing the Year of the Monkey is mounted on one of the walls in the Hall of States at the Kennedy Center in Washington in preparation for the Chinese New Year celebrations from Feb 5-8. [Photo/China Daily]

As the Spring Festival draws near, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington is gearing up to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year for the first time with a weekend series of performances from Feb 5-8.

“We are thrilled to present performers from a variety of genres, therefore showcasing China’s diverse background and artistic styles,” said Alicia Adams, vice-president for dance and international programming at the Kennedy Center.

The celebration features performances on the Millennium Stage, a family day event with Chinese arts and crafts and the debut of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in the Concert Hall.

The Millennium Stage is a program that makes the performing arts accessible to everyone at the Kennedy Center.

The stage performances during the Chinese New Year include a pop music show, highlighting an array of popular Chinese acts, a recital by an all-girls choir from Shenzhen; and a multidisciplinary production by an arts troupe from Henan province, which showcases opera artists, acrobats and traditional Chinese music.

“The Lunar New Year Celebration at the Kennedy Center gives us the opportunity to present this year some of China’s most established artists, as well as its rising stars,” Adams said.

“Chinese contemporary music shows can always attract not only young Chinese audience but people from the US, because the youngsters can connect more with modern music, and some of them are also here for celebrities in the shows,” Adams said.

Family Day is a new event that was added to the schedule by the Kennedy Center this year, which offers fun activities and learning opportunities for children, such as Beijing Opera stage make-up demonstrations, Monkey King mask-decorating, and Chinese paper-cutting and paper lantern-making lessons, according to the schedule.

“We are pleased to make these fun family activities and educational arts experiences accessible by offering most of them at no cost to our audiences,” Adams said.