The Season of Cherry Blossom

A secret garden of cherry tree

blossoms whispering with the breeze

Petals flying while I am dancing

in serenity and tranquil peace

To set my heart free I think of thee

my secret garden of cherry tree

Inspired by the beautiful scenes of Sakura in Japan and the famous cherry blossoms in Washingston.

~ Mia, 2010 Spring

More about the Chinese New Year

The lion, a symbol of power, wisdom, and good fortune, chases away evil spirits and brings hapiness, longevity, and good luck.

The lion dance is usually accompanied by a musical ensemble consisting of a large chinese drum (called a da shih gu) played with two wooden mallets, a gong (called luo), and one or more sets of cymbals (called bo). The lion's dance is not choreographed to music; instead the musicians follow the lion's movements. Each of the lion's moods and moves has its own associated rhythm.

Firecrackers are widely used during Chinese New Year because it is believed the bright lights and the noise can scare away evil spirits like Nian. It was believed that Nian is a monster that would awake only during the Lunar New Year and would devour men and animals in its path. People used to light a pile of bamboos on Chinese New Year to scare away Nian. When gun powder was invented, it was added to the bamboos, causing loud bangs. With Nian and the other evil spirits scared off, it is believed that prosperity, good health and happy relationships will fill the year.

Lion Dance in the Year of Tiger

Different nations have different celebrations for New Year. Chinese do something special and traditional in Lunar New Year. We went to the China Town on the first day of Tiger Year and found the place was decorated as an antique street of China with a lot of purpose-built features. Joy and happiness filled up everywhere. All of us felt excited in such atmosphere.

My uncle asked if we interested to join the cruise of the lion dance for fun. Of course, we desired to play around in the show as well. Followed the regular lion dance, the four of us took over the stuffs and played our show. Kate leaded the lion's head and I held the tail. Ally played the drum without losing a meter. What amazing talent she has! Eve fired the firecracker boldly and it was the largest one I'd ever seen.

Fascinating time always go fast and remind us to cherish what we have, we experience and we laughing at... Let's dance like the tiger and lion, to be lively, strong and confident in the show.

At the beginning of Tiger Year, I bless all my friends to be: Everything come true as you wish, Nothing go wrong as you work.

-- Mia

Dancing on the cloud

We took a break from our practice during the Christmas and New Year Holidays. We were back to our ballet class last thursday. Well, I never thought that I will be missing the class so much. The tutu, the dance shoes, the music, the barre are looking just like my long missing friends.

You know what, sometimes I did think that the practice is so hard and so tiring and there were times that I didn't really want to go to the class. (That's true! ) But last thursday, when I put on my tutu and dance shoes I felt energized. I went in the practice room, looking at the dance floor, the mirrors and the barre, a sense of warmth just running through me.

And so the class began and the music started, and I felt like I am dancing on the cloud with a sacred light shining upon me. All the happiness, love and blessing feelings surrounded me.

"I really love this!", so I thought.

I told myself, whenever I feel like not going to the ballet class for whatever reason, I shall close my eyes and imagine myself dancing on the cloud.

Daydreaming on the New Year Day

It is the first day of 2010!

Of course there is no school or ballet class today. I am staying at home and tidying my room, somehow I want to give a nice start for this year.

I found my 2009 diary resting peacefully in the bottom of my desk drawer. I flipped through it, reading the things that I wrote. It is kind of fun reading your own diary, as the memories flashing in your mind like a movie. Honestly, I didn't use my diary very often. Many of the dates are left blank, especially the second half of the year. It seemed that my zest of writing diary had faded. I feel sorry for that.

Mom bought me a new diary of 2010 the other day. I take it out and fascinating what will I write into those pages. Will this year be no different like the others? Or will it be full of surprises, challenges and adventures? There are 365 days ahead and 365 pages in the diary. It looks like every page is full of possibilities.

I just hope that there is always something I can write into my diary.

~ Ally

P.S. To my dearest friends: Happy New Year!

A Christmas Wish

Its Christmas time again
The season of renewal
Love, faith, charity
And all that is beautiful
Chimes greatly in to every heart
Beating in celebrations
Of Spirit, togetherness, and affirmation.

I wish you good health, happiness and cheer.
And all the best things in the new coming year.

I wish peace for the world and true freedom for all
For the Devil and hate, a final, downfall..

I hope those filled with greed will find they have enough
That love and friendship will replace all that "stuff".

I hope the homeless and hungry
Find relief from their plight.

I wish a life for the Children will be worth living
Each with loving parents the art of giving.

I hope we'll care for our earth.
Quit polluting this place,before it's too late

For the Human Race.

Merry Christmas!

The new tutu

After two weeks of practice we finally can put on our new tutu for rehearsal. It is glittering in white and silver in the spotlight.


Let's hope that the dance recital will be successful and we shall gather more canned food for the food bank.


We still need a little bit more practice. Well, we all feel that the more practice we have, the more confident we are.


Yes, we are ready.

My first ballet shoe

I was cleaning my room and found a really old box in my closet with the word ballet on it. Apparently, my mom kept some old photos and ballet things as a memory box for me. I found this really cute photo of our first class (when we were only three years old!) and my very first ballet shoe! Remember how we first started and was stumbling while learning our pirourette and admiring the advanced class doing their jete? Through hard practice, we have become a better ballet dancer. Christmas performance is coming up and we are all working hard, i can't wait for our family to come watch us!

Jolly Christmas Dance Recital!

Hi Everyone! Our Dance school will be hosting a Christmas dance recital and our family and friends are invited!  We are really excited about performing and most importantly, it is all for a good cause!  Tickets will be on sale or you may instead bring two canned goods for free admission!  All collected food items will be donated to the local food bank so that it will be a warm and full Christmas for all those in need!  Hope to see you all then!

Winter Wonderland

It is finally December and Christmas is definitely in the air, the snow has covered the mountain tops and trees and we just couldn't wait and went to the frozen lake for ice-skating right after our ballet class!  Mia is as cute as ever and was wobbly on her skates and would not let go of Eve's hand.  Ally is always her best and showed off her jumps.  I was just glad to be out in woods, breathing in the cold fresh air, and skating so free as the wind hit my face.  It was truly a winter wonderland, so calm and beautiful.