The fourth annual Chinese New Year celebration held Feb. 8 met success last weekend, drawing over 550 members of the Chinese community and various campus groups.

A number of traditional Chinese entertainment options were offered, ranging from martial arts and games to the yo-yo, shuttlecock and lion dance, performed by university students.

Student groups, such as the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, the Wake International Student Association and the Asian Student Interest Association contributed volunteers for the celebration.

"The Chinese New Year did an excellent job of raising awareness of Chinese culture," junior David Lan said. "While a bit gaudy, I don't think anything was left out." Lan performed both the Chinese yo-yo and Tai-chi sword martial arts in the festival.

According to Lan, the Chinese yo-yo is a traditional Chinese toy involving a "dumbbell shaped 'yo-yo'" balanced by a string that is then attached to two sticks. The yo-yo has slits that produce a whistling noise when operated.

Cristina Yu, a document delivery librarian for the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, coordinated the celebration.

She has been in charge of planning since 2000, when she began running the event.

Yu began the event when she received a grant from associate provost Samuel Gladding's Ethics and Leadership grant.

Gladding has been her primary sponsor for the last four years.

"I work with a different budget each year. In addition to the Ethics and Leadership grant, WISA and ASIA have contributed in the past, which allows me to have an admission-free event with lots of wonderful crafts and performances," Yu said.

One of these performances included the lion dance, a Chinese New Year tradition.

The lion's body is controlled by five individuals and is a "key part, if not the best part, of the celebration," according to freshman Bryant Tran, who controlled the lion's head in this year's festival.

"About three weeks ago, ASIA got a few volunteers together to coordinate this performance," Tan said. "There were five of us altogether, and I was in charge of controlling the lion's head. I look forward to a potential performance next year."

ASIA, according to Yu, has made the lion dance group an official dance troupe.

Events like the yo-yo and lion's dance helped to draw one of the biggest crowds in the history of the Chinese New Year celebration on campus.

The record 550 attendees packed into Scales Fine Arts Center raised concerns about next year's location.

The event has been held in Scales since its inception. "I think, though, that we have overgrown it and we will have to think about relocating the event," Yu said.

According to Yu, suggestions have been made to hold the event at an off campus location, though she would prefer it stayed on campus.

Lan was also impressed by this year's turnout and attributes its success and student interest to Yu's planning.

"The event's turnout was good ¯ again," he said. "Cristina does an excellent job with getting people to come. And each year, more people are interested."