Grade 8 Mandarin Students Perform at Chinese Embassy

From Christy Nong, Tregaron Mandarin teacher: On January 31, several Grade 8 students enrolled in the Mandarin Chinese Program students were invited by the Chinese Embassy to attend the China–U.S. Youth Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) Gala. They proudly represented WIS by performing a Spring Harvest dance titled《芒种 (Mang Zhong)》.

The Grade 8 students began preparing for this dance in September. This performance was a student-led initiative involving six students: Carah Cerutti, Zahra Halakhe, Alan Mateo-Berganza Echebarria, Ian Rivera, Mia Taylor, and Charlotte Warren, who took the lead in learning, practicing, and refining the choreography step by step. Their dedication and collaboration resulted in an impressive performance at the gala, where the audience was struck by the students’ strong understanding of Chinese dance, as well as the energy and spirit they brought to the stage.

The six students represent six different countries and cultural identities, yet they are united through their shared immersion in Chinese language and culture. Their performance clearly demonstrated what it means to be truly international and showcased the richness of diversity within the WIS community.

The students’ efforts reflect strong motivation in learning a new language and engaging with a new culture, an experience that has broadened their perspectives and opened doors to unexpected opportunities.

After the performance, students also participated in cultural activities such as 投壶 (pitch-pot) and traditional sugar art (做糖人), hands-on experiences that are rarely available in everyday life. The students greatly enjoyed this meaningful cultural exchange and deepened their appreciation of Chinese traditions.