Piazza to go Oriental for Chinese New Year (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Wimbledon piazza to go Oriental for Chinese New Year

1:40pm Wednesday 6th February 2013 in Freetime By Omar Oakes

Wimbledon piazza will feature lion dancing, face painting and calligraphy

Lion dancing is coming to the piazza this weekend as Wimbledon town centre is transformed into an Oriental extravaganza for Chinese New Year.

Love Wimbledon, the town centre’s business improvement group, will usher in the Year of the Snake on February 8 and 9 with colourful dance, music and Chinese food.

There will also be calligraphy, face painting and a vibrant, energetic lion dance.

Love Wimbledon has also partnered with the Polka children’s theatre for a competition to win tickets to see the play When the Lion Danced.

Jonathan Lloyd, artistic director of Polka Theatre, said: “Polka is all about bringing a world of stories to our young audiences and we’re delighted to celebrate Chinese New Year with this playful and heartfelt story.”

Pictures and video of the celebration will be available next week at wimbledonguardian.co.uk.