The first Chinese New Year Gala was held in the First Baptist Church in New Monterey today from 4pm to 8:30pm. The gala was organized by Monterey Bay Chinese Associations, with its backbone being the teachers from DLI and was financially supported by local VIPs and Chinese busineses, such as the Wang Foundation, the Bamboo Yu Real Estate Inc., Dr of Acupuncture. Li Liu, The China House restaurant, The Golden Star restaurant, Grand Buffet, and Sakura Buffet.

After a Chinese dinner, audience watched a variety of shows from singing and dancing to Chinese kungfu to Beijing Opera, prefaced by an opening speech presented by the Chairman of the Association Hanwei Tan. The chapel was full and many had to stand throughout the show. Performers include both professional artists such as Zhengping Liang, who graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of Music and had been featured in many gala shows in the United States, as well as near professional amateurs from DLI and other places. Chinese learning students from both the local weekend Chinese School and DLI also presented their performances. The show ended with "Nanwang Jinxiao " (This Unforgettable Evening), a famous song that had been used to end Chinese Spring Festival Gala shows in China throught the years, first introduced by the famouse Chinese singer Guyi Li (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APYoGU... at 10:47).

Here is a video of the first performance, ethnic dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA8urvv9OnM&feature=player_embedded

Other songs featured (video not of this show):

Ethnic dance by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

Chinese fan dance by fanghuzhai

Magic show by fanghuzhai

Peking Opera by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

Unforgettable Evening by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

by fanghuzhai

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