May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and on April 25th the Schermerhorn Program had the New York Chinese Cultural Center here to engage and immerse students in the richness of Chinese heritage. Students learned that 2026 is the Year of the Horse and its element is Fire, so it is called the Fire Horse year. The Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, freedom, and adventure and is considered a lucky sign, bringing prosperity and success as well as representing strength and perseverance. And fire is associated with warmth, expression, intensity, momentum, and passion. The performers are originally from China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Hong Kong. They talked with students about Asian culture and symbolism, and performed a Chinese lion dance, a kung fu demonstration, an umbrella dance, and a ribbon dance, all with authentic music and traditional costumes. After the performance, all students were invited up to the stage to see and touch the materials used in the presentation and to learn more about them.
