Young children, who were earlier dashing between craft tables and snacking on Chinese rice crackers, turned stock-still when it came time to watch martial arts students and dancers perform at Markham library.
A typically quiet Markham library was bustling with music, traditional dancers in vibrant costumes, and agile martial arts students as families celebrated the Chinese Lunar New Year on Saturday.
The festivities to welcome the Year of the Dog — the animal zodiac sign influencing the next 12 months, as believed in Chinese culture — were hosted by Milliken Mills Branch library in partnership with ParentConnect, a not-for-profit initiative created by immigrant parents.
Young children, who were earlier dashing between craft tables and snacking on Chinese rice crackers, turned stock-still when it came time to watch martial arts students perform in the library.
Spectators were spellbound by the athleticism of martial arts students of all ages from the Taishan School of Martial Arts in Richmond Hill, directed by school president and master martial artist August Xu.
The students showed off their skills, soaring off the ground for hands-free cartwheels and high kicks. They also featured movements with weapons and nunchucks, earning nervous but impressed looks from the audience sitting close by.
Aidan Fu, a 7-year-old martial arts student, started learning the hand movements, punches, and kicks of martial arts when he was about 5-and-a-half years old.
