A Decade of Cultural Enrichment: The 10th Annual CCAA Gala 2023
WRITTEN BY FÊTE CHINOISE EDITORIAL TEAM
Photography: courtesy of Chinese Collective Arts Association
The Chinese Collective Arts Association (CCAA), an organisation dedicated to promoting Chinese arts and culture, marked a significant milestone with its 10th Annual Gala Show held at Flato Markham Theatre on November 4. This special event brought together an audience for a rich cultural experience. Fête Chinoise proudly supported this celebration of Chinese culture as the Gala's cultural media partner.
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Founded by a passionate group of dancers from the Chi-Ping Dance Group, CCAA shares a deep commitment to promoting Chinese culture within the community. They offer a range of programs taught by certified instructors with extensive experience in Canada and China. Their annual Gala Show, now in its 10th year, has become a community tradition, highlighting their success in spreading Chinese culture.
CCAA's offerings include Chinese dance, acrobatics, gymnastics, tai chi, martial arts, and lion dance classes for children, youth, and adults. The organisation actively participates in community events, such as recent performances for the Mid-Autumn Festival at CF Markville, Moving Forward Canada Day 2023, Unionville Festival, and more. By engaging with the community, CCAA continues to pass on the beauty and virtues of Chinese culture.
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The Gala featured CCAA's award-winning classical and ethnic-folk dances, youth lion dance, and wushu demonstrations. Remarkably, Master Lat Yip, a dedicated instructor with over 25 years of experience in lion dance, dragon dance, and wushu, was the instructor behind the performance of the youth lion team.
The theme for this year's Gala, "Spirit of the Dragon," coincidentally echoed with the upcoming Year of the Dragon in 2024. In Chinese culture, people often refer to themselves as "the descendants of the dragon," for its representation of prosperity, good luck, and harmony. The Gala aimed to convey these virtues by interpreting dragons on stage and brought out that a dragon “lives inside each of us” — we are culturally connected. Young performers, adorned in vibrant costumes, showcased their talents with grace and enthusiasm.
A tradition of the evening is the Reception held in the lobby before the performances. The Chinese Calligraphy Association of Canada showcased on-site calligraphy demonstrations, enabling attendees to take home their favourite pieces. Souperwell, specialising in traditional Chinese herbal soups, provided soup packs and remedies, ideal for the approaching colder weather. Creative Genius Academy hosted an art workshop for young participants to unleash their creativity by crafting dragons. This well-rounded experience allowed guests to immerse themselves in Chinese culture, enhancing the overall Gala celebration.
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The evening concluded with well-deserved recognition for all involved. As we applauded for the "descendants of the dragon" proudly representing Chinese culture on stage, we anticipate further development in promoting Chinese arts and culture and more opportunities to showcase our cultural essence with the community.
For millennia, representations of dragons have been deeply ingrained in Chinese art across a variety of media. The dragon’s various depictions highlight its pivotal role as a representation of the divine, a symbol of imperial authority, and a dynamic force capable of warding off malevolent influences. Through its role as a benevolent deity, it’s believed to bring auspicious events, such as rainfall, and to foster life on earth.