Pupils of The Queen’s School, Chester, celebrate Chinese new year

Feb 2 2012 by Jo Henwood, Chester Chronicle

QUEEN’S School girls are spreading their wings in Mandarin Chinese lessons.

The school’s Hanban teacher, Jiang Chen, is teaching her native country’s peacock dance. Hanban is the colloquial name for the Office of Chinese Language Council International.

The peacock dance, native to the Dai people from the south-west coast of China, incorporates the movements of the peacock and the fish with playful and peaceful music.

Mrs Chen said: “Learning the Dai dance will enhance the girls’ understanding of the richness and diversity of Chinese culture. It will also help to improve the girls’ co-ordination and develop a balance between their mind and body.”

The girls performed the dance at an assembly to celebrate Chinese new year led by Year 10 girls speaking Mandarin and English.