In a traditional Chinese lion dance, performers mimic the movements of a lion while wearing a lion costume. The dance is usually performed during Chinese New Year, as well as other cultural events.IF YOU GO* What: Chinese New Year celebration.* When: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 (museum open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.).* Where: Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St.* Admission: $11.95.* Phone: 423-756-2738.* Website: www.cdmfun.org.
Two lion dance performances and a martial arts demonstration will be included in festivities celebrating the Chinese New Year on Saturday, Feb. 8, at Creative Discovery Museum.
The featured performers are from the Chien Hong School of Kung Fu in Atlanta. The award-winning martial artists emphasize stage performance to show that kung fu is not only beneficial for health and safety but is an art form as well.
Further pageantry is illustrated by the school's lion dance troupe, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a colorful lion costume. The dancers are often accompanied by percussionists and a Happy Buddha, a symbol of contentment and abundance in Chinese culture.
Dances will begin at 1 and 3 p.m. in the museum atrium. The martial arts demonstration will be at 2 p.m.
The museum has additional activities planned from noon to 4 p.m., including constructing paper lanterns, reading books about the Chinese New Year and making miniature paper lions.
"Creative Discovery Museum's Chinese New Year event is a special time for families to celebrate a cultural tradition while engaging in a rich and colorful arts experience," says Liza Blair, arts manager at the museum.
Activities and performances are free with regular admission to the museum.
Chinese New Year began Jan. 31, ushering in the Year of the Horse, one of 12 animal cycles that originated in the Han dynasty, according to online sources. In Chinese culture, the celebration continues for two weeks.