Intelligence, Mystery, Renewal: these traits summarize what is to come this year in the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Snake. This year in the traditional Chinese calendar is focused on shedding bad energy and past tribulations as well as starting fresh and rejuvenated.
To start off the new year correctly, Hackley celebrated Lunar New Year with a special performance in Diller Hall on Monday, Feb 3, 2025.
After the entire Upper School took their seats, music began to play. On stage, two musicians took their places, one playing the drums and the other playing a string instrument. As the drums became louder and more rhythmic, a lion appeared, making its way around the aisles in the first floor of Diller Hall. The first performance was a traditional Chinese dance that is usually performed in celebration of the Lunar New Year, called the Lion Dance.
The Lion snaked its way through the crowd, dancing and making offerings of candy to audience members. The Lion then made its way to the stage, dancing to the beat of the drums. The dance was performed by Yaocen Ye, a music teacher, performer, and lion dancer based in Chappaqua, NY. The seniors seemed to enjoy the dance, cheering and lunging to catch the candy that was thrown.
Next, the Middle School Chinese Dance Club performed a dance on the stage to the song “Good Life.” This was an instrumental performance using a Guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucked zither. This performance was followed by the songs, “Full Moon and Blooming Flowers,” performed by Junling Wang, a professional Guzheng performer as well as a third-generation master of the “Chao” Guzheng style.
Both Lower and Middle school students made their way on stage for a sing-along and dance performance. This was performed by second graders Sophia and Wynter and eighth grader Afrin. Fifth grader Sophia performed a solo dance in the background called the “Dunhuang Dance.”
Guinness World Record Holder and “Umbrella Queen” Lina Liu also made an appearance, performing acrobatics and plate spinning. After dazzling the crowd with her impressive balance, flexibility, and precision, Lina invited Hackley students on stage to practice their own plate-spinning skills. The students first attempted to both start and spin the plates on their sticks. Once they completed this feat, they attempted to pass on their plates from one stick to another, creating a line of spinning plates. At the end of the line, a student would pass the plate off to Lina, who would catch the plate with her stick.

After this engaging activity, post-AP Chinese students Meredith Lee, Juno Yang, and Olivia Lyu gave an insightful presentation about traditional Lunar New Year food. This delicious presentation was followed by a song called “I Love Chinese Food” performed by Upper School Chinese students. The audience was encouraged to sing along as Assistant Director of Communications, Multimedia Wade Tonken played the guitar and Director of Music Institute Dylan Chalfy played the drums.
The assembly concluded with a New Year Greeting video featuring various members of the Hackley community, including teachers, students, and buildings and grounds faculty.
Upper School students definitely enjoyed this unique performance and celebration.
“It was a really entertaining performance. I thought it was both informative and engaging and overall a great way to start the New Year,” said senior Rafael Castro.