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w w w .insideH A LT O N .com | OAKVILLE BEAVER |Friday, J a n u a ry 1 3 , 2 0 1 7 | 18 Student helps puts spotlight on Chinese culture by Nathan Howes Oakville Beaver Staff Wanyu (Tiffany) Zhao wants to share Chinese culture with others through song and dance. The 16-year-old Grade 11 Appleby College student included some of those Chinese traditions in her performance at a new year show on Saturday, Dec. 31 at Oakville' s Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC). The New Year' s Eve concert was organized by students from Appleby College, Abbey Park High School, St. Ignatius of Loyola Secondary School, Oakville Trafalgar High School and others, and sponsored by Happy Life Wealth Management Inc. After covering set-up costs, $200 was raised at the event, which will go towards hosting an art gallery at Appleby College next year. A number of dignitaries attended including Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, who recognized the efforts and achievements of the international students and young newcomers in his opening remarks. "By performing this dance, I hope more people can get to know the traditional Chinese concert and have a general idea of what the special type of dance is like," Zhao told the Oalrville B eaver Friday Dec. 30. "Pretty much most of the dances are somehow related to the Asian' s story Through the dance, you can learn the Chinese cultural better, you can learn history better, in a special way to get to know the country better." The Oakville student performed an approximate four-minute traditional Chinese dance with song, which she prepared for several months, Zhao noted. 1 */ ALL LOCATIONS ARE LOCATED ^ IN SID E LONGOS & ARE OPEN ; fX ) 7 DAYS A W E E K Op PVAP^ Wanyu (Tiffany) Zhao, 16, an Appleby College student, performs as she shares Chinese culture through song and dance. | Jayson Mills photo She handled the music and choreography aspects of it, composing an Asian poem depicting the lotus flower. "Every movement in this dance is designed around the lotus flower, based on the poem. Its meaning I (used) in the dance," said Zhao. The idea behind the concert was to provide students a platform to express their talents and get more involved in the community, Zhao said. m orfj .i rs p h a rm a cy Filling prescriptions. Fulfilling expectations. M O R E L L IS P H A R M A C Y .C O M I O N L IN E P R E S C R IP T IO N R E N E W A L I C O M P O U N D IN G A V A IL A B L E I FA M ILY O W N ED A N D O P E R A T E D "In the beginning, there was just a group of students discussing ways to encourage and support the international students here to do something they're interested in," said Zhao, who was the show director. The Appleby College student has been performing for more than 10 years, which includes professional training in Chinese classical dance before she moved to Canada in 2013. Becoming a dancer was a way for Zhao to express herself, she said, which is why she started performing. "It' s also a method for me to relax," the 16-year-old said. Although she loves performing, Zhao isn't considering pursuing her passion as a professional career once she finishes her education, she said. "It' s definitely something I will keep doing, even though I may focus on something else. It' s just my hobby," said Zhao. W e m a k e tr a n s fe r r in g y o u r p r e s c r ip tio n s e a s y Have you had your flu shot? No appointment necessary Fast, professional services inside your Oakville and Burlington LONGO'S Need help with house-cleaning? Let us do it for you! Discover cleaning service th at's affordable, reliable, and convenient. S u n r i s e C le a n in g S e r v i c e s C a ll u s today fo r a fre e estim ate! 905-567-1199 C h e c k out our current s p e c ia ls at: www.Su nrise-Clean i ng.ca Servicing Oakville for over 20 years! · Recurring cleaning. ·One time cleaning. ^ ·Spring cleaning. · Post renovation cleaning. E 5 !!;5 · Moving cleaning. ^ ·Gift certificates. O u r s u p p o rte rs : jD R _N EILJ. G A JJA R 5UHAAG