UB Marks Confucius Institute Opening With Traditional Chinese Music and Dance

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo celebrates its new Confucius Institute with authentic Chinese music and colorful traditional dancing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today (April 9) at UB's Center for the Arts on its North Campus.

The opening ceremony will include professional and student dance performances, including the dazzling "Long Ribbon Dance," signifying the yearning of the ancient Chinese to learn the secrets of eternal life, and the haunting "Jasmine Flower," popularized for Western audiences as the theme song of the Beijing Olympics.

On hand for the ceremonies – taking place in the Center for the Arts' Mainstage Theatre – will be UB President John B. Simpson and Gong Huili, executive president of Capital Normal University in Beijing.

UB's new Confucius Institute joins the ranks of about 300 other similar institutes around the world. Dedicated to promoting the teaching of Chinese language and culture in Western New York, the institute is a collaborative program among UB's Asian Studies Program in the College of Arts and Sciences; Capital Normal University, UB's longstanding partner in Beijing; and the Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), which will provide significant funding.

The institute plans to provide expert teachers from Capital Normal University to local schools to help establish or expand Chinese language programs; offer Chinese language classes and cultural orientation for businesses, government officials and community groups; organize study tours to China; present Chinese language and culture summer camps; and establish a China film and lecture series.

For more information, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/news/11175 or contact Charles Anzalone in UB's Office of Communications at (716) 645-4600 or (716) 440-8824 onsite.