THE Anglo Chinese Cultural Exchange’s Chinese New Year Show is really hotting up, with the addition of a massive dragon.

East Anglian Daily Times: Tickets for the fundraising event are on sale nowTickets for the fundraising event are on sale now (Image: Archant)

“Ordinarily we have Chinese lions, which are two-man things. We’ve invited a professional troupe to come entertain everybody with a Chinese dragon dance,” said Tony Cheung, show spokesman and compere.

“I think there’ll be about 12-15 of them - some of them some in the dragon - there’ll be musicians around it with the kung fu drums, cymbals, percussionists...”

Taking place at DanceEast, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, for the second year there will be two shows celebrating the year of the snake on Sunday, February 17 - one at 2pm, another at 5pm.

The event gives everybody in and around Ipswich the chance to experience and share the most important Chinese celebration of the year. It will help raise funds for the registered charity’s voluntary services and activities which include everything from Mandarin classes and tai chi to seminars and workshops for people from all walks of life.”

“The Chinese New Year is the highlight of the Chinese calendar, the highlight of all the events they do during the year using the medium of Chinese music and arts as the basis for bringing people together and bridging communities.

“We’ve got local groups mixed in with the professional performances. We’ve got a small group, predominantly ladies, who’ve come together who want to choreograph their own Chinese umbrella dance; acrobatics, music, martial arts - you can’t have a Chinese show without martial arts,” laughs Tony. “We’ve got a young dance group who train at DanceEast who come from all over Suffolk.

“Last year could’ve sold out twice so are holding two performances.It’s a celebration of seeing Chinese tradition and instead of having to travel 3,000 miles east to sample a bit of top culture you can have it on your doorstep.”

For more details about the work of the ACCE visit www.accesuffolk.org.uk