VIDEO: Leicester hosts spectacular Chinese New Year celebrations and parade

February 3, 2023 by Leave a Comment

By Azim Saiyed

The Chinese New Year began with crowds flocking the streets of Leicester to parade from De Montfort University to Green Dragon Square which was all organised by Cosmopolitan Arts.

Yingjun Yang, director of the DMU Confucius Institute, said: “DMU Confucius Institute is happy and proud to be able to hold events for the Chinese New Year every year with the support from colleagues, friends, partners, and communities both at DMU and in Leicester.

“The Chinese take this occasion as a good time for forgiveness, compromises, and mutual understanding. They choose to forget old grudges and grievances for a better year of mutual harmony and peace among themselves, with others and for all fellow beings.”

This year, Cosmopolitan Arts planned to set up events in Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. It also carried out thorough research into the Chinese migration to the East Midlands.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the traditional dances and the red dragon costume dance at the front of the parade.

The event, held on Sunday, January 22, was capped off by spectacular dazzling fireworks at the Green Dragon Square, which is next to the Leicester market.

For more information, visit: www.cosmopolitanarts.co.uk.

MORE RELATED STORIES: Chinese New Year celebration events planned in Leicester

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Leicester celebrates Chinese New Year with spectacular shows

February 8, 2022 by Leave a Comment

By Azim Saiyed

People of Leicester flocked to the New Walk Museum to celebrate Chinese New Year last weekend(Sat 5-Sun 6FEB), as Cosmopolitan Arts organised a string of dazzling events including a procession through the city.

A roaring good time: Large crowd pictured at the finale light show at the Green Dragon Square.

The procession travelled from De Montfort University (DMU) to the clocktower with the beautiful and vibrant finale performance taking place in Green Dragon Square.

Amanda Leandro, founder of the organisation, said: “Considering this year’s Covid-19 issues, we had a massive turnout.

“Everyone was very happy even though the heavens opened up.

“We want to use arts to transcend language barriers by exposing people to other cultures.

“We also hope to promote cultural integration within the community.

“We live in a multicultural society and it is important to build bridges between different cultural communities.”

There were roughly 2,000 people who paraded through the streets of Leicester and the traditional Chinese dragon led the procession from the front.

Students from DMU and University of Leicester turned up in their numbers to take part in the occasion.

Saturday’s exhibition at the New Walk Museum offered a whole range of activities from Chinese calligraphy to live musical performances by Euphoria.

Fire breather: Performers play dragon act in costume at New Walk Museum.

Cosmopolitan Arts has set up Chinese New Year celebrations for the past six years and the Confucius Institute at DMU has also collaborated with it for the last three years.

The wider aim of the organisation is to achieve social harmony and equality.

Alongside these eye-catching performances and successful events, the organisation has been researching Chinese heritage at the same time.

The relationship between Cosmopolitan Arts and Leicester City Council has allowed the team to put on these wonderful events since 2011.

The team is currently working on a documentary screening project involving 15 different culture groups.

Amanda said: “More people should open their eyes and get involved in these events.

“Every single culture should be enjoyed, embraced and experienced.”

Her motive to tackle social inequality has guided her to carry out workshops at the African Caribbean Centre in Leicester to help ethnic minority children.

If you would like to find out more information about future events, then please visit: www.cosmopolitanarts.co.uk.

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