CDNIS’s Lunar New Year assembly did not disappoint in capturing the spirit and familial essence of celebrating a “new year”. The stage was prepared for a roster of talented performers, delivering a remarkable experience for the packed upper school audience.
The show began with a thundering performance by a mix of TY and upper school students, joined by lower school principal Dr. Lindner. Ian X. and Joyce L. from Grade 11 delivered an entertaining Xiang Sheng (相声) performance filled with “cold jokes” riffing on everyone’s favourite IB learner profiles. Grade 12 conductor Calina W. led a rousing performance of “Golden” by Huntrix and the “Chiikawa Theme Song” on Chinese instruments, showcasing an unexpected fusion of traditional Chinese influences and Asian pop culture. The K-pop dance group also danced to “Debut” by KATSEYE. Their slick moves reflected the dancers’ attention to their craft.
Less evident of coordination was the shuttle cock bouncing competition, in which participating teachers enlightened the crowd with their very “original” moves. Special congratulations to the winning Mr. O’Toole whose hidden talent edged out strong contenders like Mr. Noble and Mr. Smeed.
Upper school’s singing and rapping legends Kali A. and Hans L. collaborated in creating an unforgettable cover of “Better than Sunset”. The preparation process wasn’t easy. Kali mentioned that “the song challenged [her] range because it was a little low,” while Hans recalled that “preparing the lyrics was a bit tricky.” Yet, much like in the earlier Xiang sheng about the IB learner profiles, they ended up embodying the spirit of reflective learners–just with fewer punchlines this time. The performance exceeded their expectations and drew the crowd into a fully immersive experience.
The winners of The Road to Stardom poured their hearts out into an interactive and capitating performance. The band, comprised of guitarist Bosco Y., singer Ethan C., pianist Jasper C., singer Justin L., guitarist Herman Y., drummer Max T., and bassist Ka Ue L., had the audience clapping and singing along to May Day. Audience member Kesley W. recalled how “everyone started hyping the band up and the performance was executed with such talent.”
The assembly ended with CDNIS’s annual LNY tradition: welcoming the Gods of Fortune (财神到). Mr. Power, Dr. Wu, and Dr. Butler threw candy into the crowd and wished everyone a year filled with prosperity and luck. Students got competitive instantly, with some even crawling under their seats to claw for candy.
