Year Of The Dragon Celebrated in McLean With Dance Performances, Music

MCLEAN, VA — The Alden at the McLean Community Center is celebrating Lunar New Year on Feb. 4 with a performance by the renowned Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company.

2024 is the Year of the Dragon and is considered one of the most auspicious and significant years in the Chinese zodiac, symbolizing strength, courage and good fortune.

The Sunday, Feb. 4 celebration begins with the free Year of the Dragon Festival for families, from noon to 4 p.m.

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company performance will be held at 4 p.m. in The Alden. Tickets are $30 for general admission, $25 for seniors and students and $20 for MCC district residents. The theater is located at 1234 Ingleside Ave. in McLean.

The free Lunar New Year Festival from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. will feature local musicians, dancers, artisans and food samples.

“This festival is great for those who have never celebrated the Lunar New Year before as well as those who have grown up with this tradition,” Danielle Van Hook, The Alden’s director of youth theater programs, said in a statement.

“We love having additional cultural experiences prior to performances to provide a more complete picture of the cultures that art comes from,” Van Hook said.

The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is a professional touring company founded by choreographer Nai-Ni Chen. Her company blends contemporary American and traditional Chinese folk dance styles, creating a unique experience that reflects the inspiring hope and energy of an immigrant’s journey.

The performance on Feb. 4 in McLean will feature dance and musical performances, including:

• “Lion in the City,” a collaborative work by hip-hop legend Rokafella and Kwikstep with the company’s Director of New and Contemporary Dance, Peiju Chien-Pott.
• “Dragon Path,” a new work by emerging choreographer Aloe Ao Liu.
• “Mongolian Festival,” a new work created by resident choreographer Lawrence Jin.

The performance is approximately 90 minutes, plus an intermission.

Tickets for the Feb. 4 performance by the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company at The Alden are on sale now.