Tangier: A vibrant artistic performance celebrating the Chinese New Year was held on Friday evening at Tangier’s Palais des Arts et de la Culture, showcasing rich aspects of Chinese culture and fostering cultural exchange between China and Morocco.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the event was organized by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Embassy in Morocco, in partnership with the China Cultural Center in Rabat. The evening featured performances by the Gansu Song and Dance Theatre, attracting a large audience, including residents of Tangier and members of the local Chinese community, offering them an immersive journey through China’s artistic heritage.
The program presented a series of tableaux combining traditional dance, music, and acrobatic performances. Among the most acclaimed pieces were the iconic dance ‘Thousand-Hand Guanyin,’ the musical performance ‘The Young Man Under the Moon,’ played on traditional erhu and pipa, and acrobatic acts including ‘The Grace of the Jars’ and ‘To the Rhythm of the Whip, Luck Arrives.’
Additional performances included ‘Descendants of the Dragon,’ the Vajra dance, ‘A Hundred Birds Pay Homage to the Phoenix’ (performed on the suona), and the ‘Golden Snake Dance.’ A rendition of the Moroccan song ‘Marsoul El Hob’ using Chinese instruments was also performed, reflecting cultural exchange.
Addressing the audience, Chinese Ambassador to Morocco Yu Jinsong described the event as an opportunity to celebrate China’s “most important traditional festival.” She noted that the celebration embodies values of renewal and family unity, which ‘resonate deeply with the richness of Moroccan cultural traditions.’
Yu also highlighted the significance of the upcoming Lunar Year of the Horse, which represents courage, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit. These values, she added, align closely with the growing strategic partnership between China and Morocco and with Tangier’s urban and economic dynamism.
Through music and dance, the artists invited the audience to relive this historical epic of cultural interaction, illustrating the essence of Chinese culture “rooted in harmony within diversity and beauty through plurality,” she further noted.
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a highly significant celebration marking the beginning of the new lunar year, this year corresponding to the Year of the Horse. It is celebrated through a wide range of cultural and artistic activities reflecting ancient traditions and the symbolism of the Chinese zodiac.