Archives, FRONT PAGE FEATURED, Madison, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter
 By  SPECIAL TO THE RECORD Published 
9:59 am Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Children experience China through dancing

BY ALLIE HULCHER/ REPORTER

Children danced, read and counted their way into the Chinese culture Tuesday night.

The event was held at the Madison Public Library and featured a fan dance performance by children from the Huntsville Chinese Village.

Mandy Pinyan, the youth services librarian, helped organize the event and said it enforced the children’s summer reading theme: One World, Many Stories.

Children sat in wonder as they watched the dancers clad in traditional Chinese glide their silky fans in the air as they danced in unison.  Then all the children gathered around to listen to Wanda Shaw read a story called Ruby’s Wish.

Shaw is “the person who does everything” at the Huntsville Chinese Village, which offers dance and language classes.  After reading to the children she taught them words in Chinese and how to count to ten.  The room filled with the sound of young voices learning a foreign language.

“It’s important to broaden children’s thinking and their view of the world,” Shaw said.

The children folded construction paper into fans and added decorative details with crayons.  Then they, too, were ready to practice dancing to Chinese music.

Pinyan said the event was a success.  She was pleased with the display that the Huntsville Chinese Village brought in – books, dolls and fans covered a table so that the children could see examples of Chinese culture.

Pinyan felt the kids enjoyed learning from the girls who knew the fan dance.

“It’s less intimidating than a grown up just counting off the rhythm,” Pinyan said.  “We really like our performances to encourage participation so the kids can learn by doing.”

Vickie Bohy’s 12-year-old daughter was one of the ten girls who danced the fan dance.  Bohy adopted her from China when she was just one year old.  She watched as her daughter, a “natural teacher” showed other children how to twirl their fans.

“I want her to be proud of the fact that she is an American citizen, but I can’t change the fact that she is Chinese,” Bohy said.  “I think she should know about the traditions of her country…because that helps her become more aware of who she is as a person.”

Also on The Madison Record
Checkout the digital version of Madison Living Magazine
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
August 19, 2025
Shopping: MY FAVORITE THINGS
Madison Living
August 19, 2025
People: ELLIS CLARK
Madison Living
Retired Chief Master Sergeant Ellis Clark left a legacy that will be carried on by the cadets in Bob Jones Air Force Junior ROTC
GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com 
August 19, 2025
The first day of school for students at Bob Jones High School was August 4. Among the many great attributes students will experiences at the Bob Jones...
Larry Vannoy appointed to Alabama Board of Veterans Affairs
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 19, 2025
MADISON – Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed retired Col. Larry Vannoy, longtime resident of Madison and avid volunteer, to the Alabama State Board of Vetera...
Travel: Appalachian Heartland
Madison Living
A road trip through Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia
TERESA GIBBS 
August 18, 2025
As the heat of summer began settling into North Alabama—thick and unrelenting—my husband and I found ourselves craving cooler air and a change of scen...
Football 2025: MADISON ACADEMY MUSTANGS
Madison Living
Mustangs may be young this year, but many of the starters have plenty of experience from last year’s squad
Bob Labbe 
August 18, 2025
Madison Academy football seven-year head coach Bob Godsey knows his 2025 48-player roster is a good mix of upper and lower classmen classes. The major...
Football 2025: SPARKMAN SENATORS
Madison Living
The 2025 squad is resilient while working toward excellence
Bob Labbe 
August 18, 2025
The simple definition of the word resilience is to successfully adapt to stressors. A prime example of the word’s meaning is Sparkman High football. T...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *