You don't have to travel to the other side of the Pacific Ocean to experience a taste of the Orient.
The Living Arts Centre (LAC) will come alive with an explosion of Chinese culture, July 24-25, during the first annual Mississauga Chinese Arts Festival. The festival is the first of its kind in the Greater Toronto Area. Admission is free, except for three shows in Hammerson Hall.
"We want to expose thousands of years of Chinese culture to share with the mainstream culture," said Matthew Lam, co-chairperson of the Chinese Arts Festival. Lam emphasized that the festival is not just for the Chinese community to enjoy.
"The whole idea is to showcase multiculturalism and to give understanding of our years of history and family values."
More than 60 free exhibits and up to 100 volunteers will fill the atrium and theatres of the LAC. All children who visit the festival will receive a free pinwheel.
You can get a taste of all things Chinese by attending hourly shows in the RBC theatre. There will be Chinese brush painting, calligraphy and caricatures, feng shui, ceramics, Tai-Chi, folk dancing and music and a fashion show.
In the Rogers Theatre they will show a classic movie imported from Hong Kong.
Hungry folks can head over to Live Cuisine, where Professor Bill Wong from George Brown College and Master Chef Joseph Ho will demonstrate how to prepare and cook noodles, dumplings, Dim Sum, stir-fry, Chinese sweets and vegetarian dishes.
The Beautiful China photography exhibit, provided by the Consulate General of People's Republic of China, is a collection of 60 photos depicting aerial views and angles of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China, and other places around the country that no tourist camera could ever capture.
Meanwhile, three live shows will be presented in Hammerson Hall. Tickets cost $20-$40.
The Essence of Chinese Martial Arts (Saturday from 1:30-4:30 p.m.), features Shaolin Warrior Monks from Beijing showing off their kung fu skills.
The Enchanting Musical Journey to China (Saturday from 8-10:30 p.m.), features 130-plus musicians and singers from the North American Chinese Folk Music Symphony and Choir. They will play and sing folk songs from different regions of China, combining traditional Chinese and symphonic instruments.
Proceeds from the show will go toward the LAC and the Chinese Professionals & Businesses Foundation.
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
