The inaugural Lunar New Year Gala hosted by the Santa Clarita Valley Chinese Culture Association was in full swing at the Newhall Family Theatre on Sunday evening.
People who attended were greeted by a small market with various booths including a calligraphy booth, a tanghulu booth and a chess game booth.
Yang Chen, the head of marketing at the association, said that they decided to start the gala because the group wanted to expose the community to Chinese culture.
“This Lunar New Year gala is actually an annual tradition back in China. So, we are all very familiar with it … but we’re like, ‘OK, how about we host a Lunar New Year gala in Santa Clarita Valley as something fun and meaningful,’” Chen said.
Chen added that the SCV Chinese Culture Association was established in November and that the gala was their first official event.
“Everything is brand new, like we (needed) to hire a TV team and learn things while we’re doing (it). So, I think we took on a very ambitious task to host this big event as our first event from the nonprofit,” Chen said.
Once the evening approached, attendees were filed into the theater to watch many different performances through dancing, singing, playing instruments and martial arts.
Audra, who is Filipino, and her husband Aaron Reno were excited to be able to join the festivities and to see their daughter Arden, 15, perform in the showcase with her dance group.
Audra said when she moved to Santa Clarita in 2008, she was a little shocked to see the lack of Asian culture being celebrated throughout the valley.
When asked how it felt to see the representation at the gala, Audra said she was happy.
“Well, I think it’s great after living here all this time to see something that is Asian inspired,” Audra said.
Aaron added that it was nice seeing different cultures come together.
“Nobody’s being judgy or nitpicky about stuff. Everyone’s here to celebrate them. Either their culture or their families or just hanging out with their families,” Aaron said.
Angela Wek brought her family to expose them to her culture. Wek is Taiwanese.
Wek said this was the first time her family did not have to travel far for the Chinese New Year.
She added that the importance of having representation in the community helps teach her kids to love everyone as God made them.
“Even though we’re not of the same culture, we’re still human (and) made in God’s image, and that’s the root of what we can celebrate and love each other,” Wek said.
