Our Top Chefs – Tony, Bobby, Wayne, Benny                     CCA Scholars and their families

We had a great celebration at the Chinese Community Center for Chinese New Year this year. There was great food, fun, prizes, and a Lion Dance performance to ring in the year of the Rabbit, 4008. Special thanks to Margie and Wayne Leung for all their hard work in planning, preparing and cooking for over 220 happy guests. With the help of associate chiefs, Benny Wong, Tony Eng, Bobby Lee, and Joe Ng under the direction of Master Chef Wayne Leung a bountiful and delicious banquet was enjoyed by all. It will be remembered for a long time. Also thanks to the many volunteers who helped with the preparation of the Chinese pastries, the serving of the delicious meal and to everyone who helped in clean up.

James Chau, Jenny Wong, Frank Quinto, and Gary Mah once again moderated a successful raffle. We sold over $800 in raffle tickets. The profits of the raffle support the scholarships and other charities designated by the Executive Committee. Thanks to all who donated prizes for the raffle. Mrs. Quach won the grand prize, a  32′ color LED T.V. – Conragtulations!

Congratulations to our 2011 officers, President – Gary Mah, Vice Pres. – Dr. James Chau, Secretary – Ruta Mah, Treasurer – Lillian Barbo, Membership Chair – Margie Leung, Cultural Chair – Dr. Peter Chang. Thanks for their invaluable service to the community.

The 34th edition of the Chinese Community Association of Hampton Roads Lion Dance group performed throughout Hampton Roads for restaurants, organizations, and at the Chinese Community Center. They rang in the Year of the Rabbit. This year we were joined by 8 children from the Hampton Roads Families with Chinese Children. They provided  spirited performances with three of our little Lion Heads. Thanks to these wonderful young men and young ladies for keeping this wonderful tradition alive for over 34 years.

The CCA Lion Dancers completed their Lion Dance Weekend with a 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm performance at Boardwok Restaurant. Our thanks to the Boardwok for feeding our Hungry Lions.

We would also like to congratulate 7 members from the HRFCC  (Hampton Roads Families with Children from China) for learning the Lion Dance and performing along side our CCA Lions. Thanks to Lily Tomlinson, Anne Miller, Olivia Hryniewich, Keriann McMillan, Sylvie Vegh, Hacqiu Meyer, and Jessa Rousch. They were a wonderful addition to the 2011 edition of the Lion Dnace.

Lion Dance – Boardwok -2/5/11

Lion Dance Drumming

Portsmouth Children’s Museum Noon to 2 PM

The CCA Lion Dancers continued their celebration of Chinese New Year with two performances at the Children’s Museum of Portsmouth. They performed their first dance at Noon. After a pizza lunch at Roger Brown’s Sport Bar and Grill they performed a second dance at 2 PM.

The 2011 CCA Lion Dancers Performed their first performances of the year in Newport Newport News. They were at Port Arthur Restaurant and at the Peninsula Chinese American Association’s Chinese New Year Celebration at Buffet City Restaurant. They were welcomed by hundreds of enthusiastic attendees who welcomed in the Year of the Rabbit. Judging by the large number of Hong Boa (red envelopes), 2011 will be a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. We also welcomed 3 new Lion Dancers on this day – Tina Chen, Robert Chen and Tony Zheng. In 33 years – there have been 124 CCA Lion Dancers.

The Chinese Community Association of Hampton Roads has a new e-mail address; ccahr.org@gmail.com If you have any questions or comments about the organization or its activities please e-mail us. The president or an executive committee officer will respond as soon as possible. If you are interested in rental of the Chinese Community Center you can also request information about available open dates and any other information, the Center manager  will e-mail or call you back ASAP.

Those individuals born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 are rabbits. They tend to be clever, eloquent, and trustworthy. They have a great deal of talent and ambition and often do well in finance. Famous rabbits include Queen Victoria,  G. Wong, Walt Whitman, Bob Hope, David Frost, Judy Collins, Cary Grant, Orson Welles, and Johnny Depp. Look for the Lion Dance as it brings happiness, good health and great fortune. Gung Hay Fat Choy!!

If you are lucky enough to see the Lion Dance, you will notice that the Lion will bow three times in greeting. He will then begin his dance to sweep out the misfortunes of the past year and welcome in the new and promising opportunities of the upcoming year. Sometimes the dance is so frenzied, the Lion will often take a short nap after refreshing himself with a drink.

The Lion is aided by the noise and commotion caused by the pounding of the drum, the clang of the cymbals & gong and the explosions of firecrackers. During the dance, the positive Yang forces become dominant, and the “inauspicious breaths” (Hiuqi) are swept away. At the end of the dance the Lion is fed fresh lettuce, tangerines, and is rewarded with red envelopes (Hong Bao) containing good luck money.

The lettuce (Sany Toy) is symbolic of the good health that will follow, the tangerine (Git Gor) representing the prosperity that is awaiting, and the good luck money is used to attain great fortune. After the Lion eats his meal, he again bows three times to his host and presents a good luck message to be displayed throughout the Year of the Rabbit

Yesterday we had a great time teaching new students the art of the traditional Lion Dance, special thanks to the Hampton Roads Families with Chinese Children in joining us in the practice and being so energetic. The Chinese Community Center was full of sounds of the drum, cymbals, and gong as the Lion danced across the hall.If you are interested in learning , please join us for the next practice at the Center, leave your name and number and we will call you for the next practice. (499-2675)

We will be having our next Lion Dance practice this Sunday from 12:30 – 1:30    Come join the fun and learn the Chinese Lion Dance, hope to see you there. Any questions call 499-2675

Hello, and welcome to the new Chinese Community Association of Hampton Road’s website.  The website is currently being revamped and updated, so please check back frequently for updates.

Thanks for visiting!

Thanksgiving Celebration and Flu Shots

The CCA celebrated it’s 29th Annual Thanksgiving Celebration at the Community Center with friends and family. It was a great opportunity to gather as a community and give thanks for the bounty of the past. We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal, raffle and flu shots.We all look forward to a bright future.