On January 16th, 1882 Foundation hosted a musical performance at the Kennedy Center to prepare to welcome the Year of the Snake. The 1882 Foundation was joined by the Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe, in addition to Chinese American jazz singer and saxophonist Stephanie Chou. At this sold out event, community members gathered at Millennium Stage to celebrate the incoming Lunar New Year and enjoyed lion dancing, along with live music. Red envelopes were also given out to audience members to honor the tradition of giving money to children during the new year for good luck and prosperity. Members were then educated about the significance of the snake in the zodiac calendar, as the snake represents wisdom, grace, and mystery. To further represent the Year of the Snake, Ted handed out paper snake crafts for the children to enjoy.

Choy Wun Lion Dance Troupe is a Northern Virginia-based dance group dedicated to promoting Chinese culture through lion dance. Traditionally, lion dancing holds cultural significance because it was believed to ward off evil spirits and bad luck. After the lion dancing, Stephanie Chou joined the stage, where she performed a series of songs that were inspired by Chinese culture, but reinvented in a modern jazz style. She also explained the significance behind her music and described how her music seeks to build cross-cultural connections by blending Chinese and western influence.

The Kennedy Center Lunar New Year Celebration was a highly anticipated event and enjoyed by countless community members. Thank you to everyone who attended and celebrated the beginning of the New Year with us!