“East Meets West” Performance Night on 11/3/2018

“East Meets West” is a culture theme with multiple meanings. As a Chinese society exists in the Woodlands, The Woodlands Chinese cultural Center express our gratitude to the Woodlands community. This Town Center’s unique openness and multi-cultural spirit have allowed us to thrive and grow, and to become a part of the Woodlands’ cultural resources to enrich the life of the Woodlands area and around.

When we planned the theme, we could not have imagined that the theme “East Meets West” resonates powerfully for all of the Chinese teachers who work with the CISD High Schools, Jenny Jihua Jian at the Woodlands High School, Carol Lee at The Woodlands College Park High School, Ping Jiang at Conroe High School, Ming Gao and Jessie Pack at Oak Ridge High School and Grand Oaks High School. They are thrilled to have the opportunity for their students to show how they love the Chinese Arts and Culture, and engage their students to use their own way to express what they understand about the Chinese Culture and Arts. We would like to see he students take the chance to get as much as exposure to other culture as they can. Hope this experience will benefit to build their global leadership.

During the preparation of the event, I was surprised to meet Ms. Nell Calloway and Mr. Mike Chennault who are grandchildren of the famed Flying Tigers commander Lieutenant General Claire Lee Chennault. Gen. Chennault helped China resist the Japanese invasion in World War II. By accident, I was excited to meet another lady Ms. Krista Cobb who is great-niece of Mr. Edgar Snow. Snow was the first Western journalist to interview key Chinese leaders and to report the heroic fighting of the Chinese people against the Japanese invasion in World War II, known for his 1937 book “Red Star Over China.” Gen. Chennault and Mr. Snow were the old friends of the Chinese people, and played a significant role in promoting Western understanding of China. Nell, Mike, and Krista have been following their grandparent’s steps to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between the two great peoples of the two countries.

We want to use the theme event as an opportunity to express our gratitude to those American who ever helped China and have been pursuing that the two countries preserve their shared legacies of the past, and work closely to make the world a better place to live and promote world peace. Now, we, as East, meet West and join hands to create the opportunity to understand more each other through the arts and the culture. We have been privileged to have a close partnership with The Woodlands High School who hosts twice in this year our performing events. Mr. Paul LeBlanc, the Associate Principal, never said No to me when I asked for a performance location, no matter how busy schedule the auditorium has to support our events. Mr. Timothy Jackubek, the Theatre Chair/Technical Director, is the most dedicated person whom I ever worked with. Every one of our stage team loves to work with him because of his knowledgeable skills and his excellent team-work leadership. We greatly appreciate for all what they did for us!

We are lucky to live in the Woodlands, where is open and a great deal of diversity. Our culture is respected very well. We are surrounded by supporting and taking care by the Woodlands Township, the Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, Lone Star College, and etc. Thank our Supporters, you make us a difference!

At last, Thanks a million to all the volunteers, all the performers, and all the donors. Without you, the event can not make happened! Especially thanks to David Sun, Xin Hu, Yafei Wu, Yan Zhu, Feng Gao, Jennifer Majors Baca, Zhenming Song, Huiming Gu, Deqing Yang, for giving so meaningfully of your support!

林城（ Woodlands） “2018遇见东方”大型晚会圆满成功
林城中国文化中心（The Woodlands Chinese Cultural Center）秉着丰富社区多文化生活，以及让喜欢中华文化与艺术的美国人有机会展现他们的热爱，和实现人人参与宣传中华文化的愿望，于 11月3日组织发起，并邀请北休斯敦华人协会以及林城高中共同举办了“2018遇见东方”大型晚会，获得了巨大的成功！千人场地座无虚席，20个节目3个小时的演出，让人流连忘返。四位金发碧眼的主持人大方幽默的中英文节目串场解说，让观众不时发出阵阵欢声笑语。
晚会在鼓声由慢到快由轻到重，声声置地振奋人心中拉开了序幕。“龙狮欢腾”热闹开场 ，是少林寺文化中心的释延禅法师特地为晚会设计的，非常多的美国观众反映该节目太震撼了！
这次晚会CISD学区的五所高中积极参与，他们的节目群舞“采茶舞”，独唱“橄榄树”，串舞”黄金甲与功夫扇舞”，服装展“中华传统服装秀”，群舞“青花瓷”，二重唱“北京欢迎你”，表演唱“小幸运”，广场舞“小苹果”，受到热烈欢迎！许多节目都是美国高中生自己按照对华夏文化的理解编排表演节目的，艺术水准也很高。
三重唱“我爱你中国”，魔术“变服装”，民乐“花儿与少年”等节目是当地华人与高中以及孤星大学的美国学生，共同完成的节目，他们配合的天衣无缝！在此特别说明，民乐“花儿与少年”是由林城民乐团演出的，该乐团被孤星大学（Lone Star College）很荣幸地命名为“客座艺术团”。同时该校音乐系为乐队提供免费设施与设备使用。乐团定期在学校排练，已有美国大学生加入乐团，欢迎更多的民乐手和西洋乐手参加。
休斯敦以及林城地区有名望的华人表演团体也参加了这次表演盛会，其中有陈毓玲领导的休斯敦民乐团，表演了“步步高”，“山丹丹花开红艳艳”，气势庞大！由原东方歌舞团国家一级演员李玉萍老师指导的林城舞蹈队，表演了古典舞“彩云追月” ，舞美景美人也美！模特儿出身的朱妍老师编排了仙气十足的服装走秀“衣冠上国”，10小朋友汉服加身，随着赵子瑩老师飘然欲仙的古琴音乐起落，款款而来飘飘而去，好美！王鑫老师率领书尚古筝俱乐部的姐妹，登台表演了“关山月”和“笑傲江湖”，气贯长虹！
值得一提的是 “南泥湾” 独唱歌手是 Krista Cobb女士，用民族唱法和美声唱法同时演绎这首歌，声情并茂，再配上自编自导的舞蹈，如果不看她的金发碧眼，还以为就是一位中国妞呐！她对中国的文化一往情深，是因为她的舅爷是中国人民的老朋友美国记者斯诺先生，她从小耳闻目染中国文化。
为了助阵林城文化中心的这次活动，著名胡琴演奏家季节老师也专门从纽约飞过来，为大家演奏了“二泉映月”和“夜深沉”。全场观众报以长时间的热烈掌声！同时还为休斯敦名媛陆曦女士伴奏“梨花颂”，让现场观众着实大饱眼福！最有趣的是，季节老师在后台巧遇笛子大师也是当晚休斯敦民乐团指挥乔宏忱先生，40年未见面的老朋友，他们握手不放，相谈甚欢。
最后压轴节目“少林功夫”刀尖转人为晚会抹上重重一笔，所有观众看呆了，情不自禁地站起来为他们精彩的表演鼓掌！这次晚会的总召集人兼策划人白芸收到无数回馈要求明年再继续。晚会总导演孙闻也非常感慨说，做了无数次大型晚会，这台晚会最特别，台前节目中美表演者合作，台后舞台场务灯光音响舞美等也是中美两大组对接合作，是真正意义上的中美交流。看到中华文化被尊重与传承，感到无比自豪！