Wednesday, 3rd March 2010

Fiona Lavelle

http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/theatre/4417
 

The spectacle that awaited me at the York Grand Opera House last Saturday was not something I ever expected to experience in York. If someone had tapped me on the shoulder and told me I was still in York, I would have been surprised. The cultural transformation was all encompassing – the programs were in Chinese, the audience was Chinese and half the show was in Chinese.

The effect was so realistic that it felt like I was actually in China watching the traditional Lunar celebrations. Not being able to understand the commentary by the magnificently dressed presenters and sitting through a half hour stand up comedy act in Chinese enhanced the visual performances considerably. For those of you who have taken a gap year, you’ll understand the awe that comes with being entirely immersed into another culture.

The acts themselves were breathtaking. Shao Lin monks broke steel rods against their heads and thick wooden sticks against their chests to the delight of the audience. The Lion Dance was extremely impressive, with two people rolling around and doing acrobatic stunts underneath a lion costume. Unless you’ve seen one yourself, it is impossible to convey the beauty of the traditional Lion Dance well performed.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the show was the acrobats. Three girls contorted themselves into the most ridiculous positions and demonstrated extreme strength. It was the kind of performance that belongs in the Cirque de Soleil, not a one off show.

The Chinese Student and Scholar Association deserve tremendous congratulations for their organisation of such a high quality, smoothly orchestrated spectacle. The result would rival other student productions, such as York Come Dancing, in its presentation.

Perhaps the only setback was the failure of more British students to attend. Stemming from the misconception that such cultural events are for international students rather than British ones, many missed out on a performance worthy of any professionals.

Indeed my reluctant plus one who came along out of duty rather than desire came away very pleasantly surprised. For a University full of students who travel madly and enjoy culture, never forget to look close to home when in search of novel experiences!

Thursday, 25th February 2010

Fiona Lavelle

http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/uninews/4349
 

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) are culminating a two week intensive program of cultural celebration with the Lunar New Year Gala this Saturday. Taking place in the York Grand Opera House, the event will showcase Si-chuan traditional drama face swapping, Tibetan dancing and Shao-ling Kung Fu among other acts.

Bringing in the year of the tiger, CSSA have hosted a series of workshops over the past fortnight bringing York students into contact with various aspects of Chinese culture ranging from tea degustation to calligraphy lessons.

The society strives to entertain both Chinese students currently studying at the University of York as well as British students with an interest for international culture. Meizi Liu, President of the CSSA told the Yorker “I would encourage all British friends to attend, as this Saturday might be the only chance to see many of the splendid performances, and a rare opportunity to know more about a modern China of great antiquity.”

This Saturday marks the end of another year of Chinese New Year celebrations that are traditionally famous for their vibrancy and liveliness. CSSA have worked enthusiastically to bring some of the passion that is integral to celebrations in China to the York Grand Opera House. Liu commented “regarding to the Gala, every year we try to invite different performances which are rare to see in the UK, and come up with something that caters for students' tastes.”

The highlights of this year’s performance include Kung Fu and Hard Qigong performed by Shao Lin Monks from China, award-winning acrobatic performances by the Lantern Contort Dance and an act called Strength which combines Chinese music and dance with western pop. There will also be a lion dance opening the performance.

A popular yearly event attended by students from both York universities and locals alike, this promises to be an enjoyable end to the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Tickets are available tomorrow between 12.30pm and 2pm in Vanbrugh Foyer. £8 for non-members, £5 for members. Lunar New Year Gala is on Saturday Week 7, 7.30pm York Grand Opera House.

 
本届大赛在中英两地均启动大赛开幕式，12月18日， 大赛中国赛区在重庆市科协，共青团重庆赛区的主办下顺利召开。 在10月30日英国约克大学开幕式中， 中国驻英使馆张立荣公使衔参赞出席开幕式并发表主题演讲，介绍了今年以来中英关系的进展情况，表示在当前的金融危机下，中英两国更需要加强合作，也面临着新的合作机遇。两国在科技、教育、经贸等领域的合作潜力巨大，希望两国高校、工商界，发挥创造力，丰富双方的合作形式。张立荣希望大赛为鼓励科技创新和创业、为加强中英交流与合作做出贡献。 
 
英国区比赛重要日期： 
 
2009年10月30日，开幕式，约克大学 
 
2010年3月12日，申请截止日（报告摘要） 
 
2010年3月底，申请截止日（完整报告） 
 
2010年4月底，半决赛，兰卡斯特大学，英国女王大学 
 
2010年6月 决赛，伦敦大学学院 
 
2010年9月，中英总决赛 
 
“21 世纪中英创业计划大赛”由全英中国创业发展协会、重庆市科协、英国伦敦大学学院、约克大学、兰卡斯特大学、贝尔法斯特女王大学6家中英机构主办，天津泰达国际创业中心、英中贸易协会等单位协办，旨在鼓励中英两国之间新型的商业挑战模式，模拟从初始资金筹集到最终公司建立的完整而真实的创业过程。更多信息及报名方式请访问大赛官方网站.chinaukchallenge.com  
 
自2007年以来，大赛已连续成功举办了三年, 每年吸引近200多个团队参赛，中国的清华大学、北京科技大学、北京航空航天大学、重庆大学、南开大学、天津大学等，英国的剑桥、约克、兰卡斯特、国王大学学院、伦敦大学学院、斯旺西大学、贝尔法斯特女王大学等学校相继参赛。该大赛受到多家英国风险投资公司的关注和现场观摩，以及中英双方各界人士的积极支持和高度认可。  或者协会网站：www.cidauk.org

相关新闻报道可在google, baidu搜索“21世纪中英创业计划大赛” “China UK Challenge”“ UK China Entrepreneurship Competition”等关键字 

Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9ae90596-01f3-11df-8b56-00144feabdc0,dwp_uuid=02e16f4a-46f9-11da-b8e5-00000e2511c8.html 
 
中国驻英大使馆网站新闻： 
http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/chn/sfhd/t624928.htm 

人民日报：

http://world.people.com.cn/GB/10293263.html 

重庆电视台新闻联播报道： http://tv.openv.com/play/ChongQingTVprog_20091218_7144274_0.html page 6/7

地点：约克城内，待定

内容：学联最新最热门的活动，全英范围内的华人足球及篮球赛即将开幕！届时共8支从英国境内不同城市的著名球队将在进行约克城内进行捉对厮杀，如此精彩的比赛怎能让热爱篮球/足球的你错过，快快报名加入我们约克的大学的华人球队，一起踏上激烈的夺冠征程，为胜利献上一份力量，名额有限，请有兴趣者火速前往报名！

足球队热线：07771393429，负责人杨关

篮球队热线：07899850494，负责人秦丹

Time: 21st March

Venue: YorkCity

Details: Breaking News! Expectative UK basketball & football tournaments are coming soon. At the mean time many teams from different cities in The UK will convene in YorkCity and show us excited matches with each other. For anyone who want make a great contribution to YorkUniversity we will highly welcome for his participation. The quota is extremely limited, do come and register quickly.

Contact number for football team: 07771393429 Contact man: Guan Yang

Contact number for basketball team: 07899850494 Contact man: Dan Qin

与以往不同的，为了方便各位的行动，缩短在各个景区间穿梭的时间，学联特别安排了大巴提供全程交通服务，免去了大家在景点间步行消耗的时间及精力。

此次旅行特别优惠价格：非会员售价为60镑，持有学联卡的会员仅售58镑。价格低廉，名额有限，赶快拨打抢购热线订购吧！

以下为湖区小简介：

地理概况：

　　湖区位于英格兰西北海岸，靠近苏格兰边界方圆2300平方公里，1951年被划归为国家公园，是英格兰和威尔士的十一个国家公园中最大的一个。湖区拥有英格兰最高峰斯科菲峰（Scafell Pike）和英格兰最大的湖温德米尔湖。坎伯里山脉横贯湖区，把湖区分为南、北、西三个区，湖区北部最大的城镇是凯斯维克（Keswick）

　　人口：

　　湖区居住人口为4万人，但每年游客来此的游客人数可达140万人。

　　气候：

　　湖区夏季平均气温为16摄氏度，冬季平均气温4摄氏度，请大家带足保暖的衣服

CSSA upcoming Events! Lake District Trip

Fancy a special Easter trip to the most eye-catching scene, The Lake District? The CSSA Committee is recently organizing a three day trip to there with extremely favourable prices. The routes and arrangement for each day is shown below:

Dates: Monday,22 March - Wednesday,24 March

Price: &58 only for all CSSA members and &60 for others (exact cash appreciated when purchasing tickets). Price includes coach travel and hostel for all three days.

Space is limited to 49 people so get your ticket as soon as possible!

Hostel:

Ambleside Backpacers (include breakfast)

( http://www.englishlakesbackpackers.co.uk/ )

Route details:

Monday - depart at 8AM from James College; arrive at Bowness-on-Windemere (possibility of boat ride on the lake); then depart from hostel at 3:30PM

Tuesday- depart from hostel at 10AM to Kendal; return to hostel anytime preferred

Wednesday - depart from hostel at 10AM; visit Dove

Cottage (home of poet William Wordsworth); then head to Keswick; depart from Keswick and arrive York at approximately 6:30PM.

Websites for more information:
Bowness-on-Windemere：

( http://www.aboutbritain.com/towns/bowness.asp )and see also

http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/bowness.htm);

Kendal:

( http://www.lakedistricts.co.uk/Kendal/ )and also on

http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=1479);

Dove Cottage:

(http://www.wordsworth.org.uk/ ) and also

http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/dovecott.htm);

Keswick :

(http://www.keswick.org/ ) and see also

http://www.lake-district-keswick.co.uk/keswick.html)

For more information for The Lake District itself. Please visit:

http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/.

Contact phone number for fare: 07837436522

康桥相声社确认加盟约克虎年春晚！

康桥相声社由剑桥工程系博士咸威于07年创建，他的搭档和社员均来自康桥河畔，在剑桥春晚上登场演出后，一炮而红，名声迅速地在英国华人圈中打响，受到越来越多人的喜爱。

社长咸威自小就有口技的天赋，12岁学习相声，15岁学习口技，17岁学习快板……

高三的时候，考取了全国一级艺术特长生。那时，他每天要花两个小时来练相声。

到现在，他已经参加了上百场的演出。

他们坚持自己创作，贴近生活，把游子的感受融入到相声里，很容易引起观众的共鸣。

他们的演出门票如今以越来越快的速度出售一空。今年，康桥相声社首次登场约克舞台，必将用精彩纷呈的相声段子，为你带来满场欢笑！

参与约克虎年春晚，在浓浓的中国味儿中过大年！

抢订&咨询热线：07776261003

时间：2月2日（Week4 周二), 12:30pm-13:30pm
地点: Vanbrugh Reception旁
时间：2月6日 (Week4 周六), 8pm – 9pm
地点：Wentworth Common Room

Ticket Price:
Student: 10 pounds；Student with CSSA Card: 5 pounds

前一百位购票者将获赠免费精美扑克；每二十位赠送价值十镑的：

酷时尚SALON华人美发优惠券，或Herbal.T美容护肤/减肥礼券，或就餐券！