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Date: 8/3/2018
WEST SPRINGFIELD – A Chinese folk art group is coming to perform in West Side on Aug. 23.
The Chinese Folk Art Workshop, which is a Boston-based non-profit organization, is scheduled to perform as part of the West Springfield Park and Recreation Summer Family Concert Series. The workshop aims to promote interaction with and understanding of Chinese culture in the community. Its members range in age from 12 to 18, and they perform a variety of traditional Chinese folk arts, such as Dragon Dance, Lion Dance, Taiwanese Drums, Chinese Yoyo and Folk Dance.
According to the group’s Facebook page, the purpose of the Workshop is to “highlight the beauty of Chinese Folk Arts and to help a new generation of American-born Chinese showcase their talents and gifts.”
The organization teaches lessons in traditional Chinese arts and conducts more than 30 performances a year. The Presidents Volunteer Service Award certified the Chinese Folk Art Workshop as a “Gold Youth Organization” in 2005 to honor its members for their contribution to the community.
“The Chinese Folk Art Workshop is one of the bigger performances of the season,” said Park and Recreation Cultural Coordinator Anthony Di Giore. “There are around 40 youngsters from Boston who are promoting Chinese folklore. They put on a real Broadway-type production. Last year, we had lights, laminated snakes and colorful dances – it was fantastic. I can hardly wait to bring them back.”
This is the second year the Chinese Folk Art Workshop will perform for the series.
The West Springfield Summer Concert series is currently celebrating its 55th year and is scheduled to host 20 free performances in total, with performers ranging from The West Side Senior Showstoppers to the Big E Mardi Gras Band. The production is made possible by the West Springfield Park and Recreation Department, the West Springfield Arts Council and the Rotary Club of West Springfield.
The concert series was formed by Di Giore as a means to bring the community together.
“With what’s going on in the world today, all I can offer is free concerts to promote a worthy use of leisure-time for adults,” he said.
There are six different venues for the performances. In the event of inclement weather, the programs are continued in either the West Springfield Middle School or the high school.
This year’s theme is “Music, a multi-age listening experience.”
When asked about how the Chinese Folk Art Workshop fits into this theme, Di Giore said the mission of the group is to “connect” with others.
“I always push that music connects us. The performance should connect with you – which is what the performers are trying to do,” he said. “It’s nice to sit there and let the music passively go over your head, but if you take time to think about what’s happening, especially with the Chinese Folk Art, it’s more meaningful, I think.”
The following is a list of the scheduled concert series performances for the remainder of the year:
• Aug. 9 – The Brad Shepard Show – 429 Morgan Rd. Pavilion – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 10 – The Kings – 429 Morgan Rd. Pavilion – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 16 – The Happy Five German Band – 429 Morgan Rd. Pavilion – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 23 – Chinese Folk Lore – High School Auditorium – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
• Aug. 30 – Joey Milardo Polka Band – 429 Morgan Rd. Pavilion – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information, check out the West Springfield Park and Recreation website at http://www.wsparkandrec.com/.