IBA Confucius Institute celebrated the Chinese New Year

The Confucius Institute at the IBA celebrated the Chinese New Year on Thursday, 30 January 2025, with more than 1,000 guests at Samværket in Kolding.

The event was welcomed by IBA’s rector, Jeanette Lemmergaard, who, in her opening speech, encouraged guests to help strengthen educational and business collaborations:

– Our ability to understand each other across cultural differences is crucial to how we collaborate, innovate, and create the solutions of the future. That is why IBA has always prioritised global understanding and more international activities as a central part of our programmes.

See photos from the event here.

En danser under mid autumn festival.
Reception

 

Over 1,000 residents of Kolding gathered to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The New Year show at Samværket in Kolding was hosted by IBA Confucius Institute in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Copenhagen and Hangzhou Opera & Dance Drama Theatre.

 

A festive welcome from the three hosts, who highlighted the celebration of cooperation and friendship between Denmark and China.

 

The Rector of the IBA emphasised the 15th anniversary of the IBA Confucius Institute and its collaboration. It was an opportunity to reflect on the significance of global understanding and intercultural competence—something that is not only important for our institution, the International Business Academy, but also for the world we live in. Our ability to understand each other across cultural differences is crucial for how we collaborate, innovate, and create the solutions of the future.

 

Melodies such as Galloping Horses and Drinking Song were performed on the traditional Chinese instrument erhu by artist Jiang Ping.

 

IBA Confucius Institute, the Chinese Embassy in Copenhagen, and Hangzhou Opera & Dance Drama Theatre hosted this year’s New Year show in Kolding. Three sopranos from the opera celebrated the New Year with two songs in their stunning gowns.

 

The audience was treated to a spectacular showcase celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Snake, according to Chinese mythology. The Year of the Snake symbolises wisdom, transformation, and mysticism. The snake is considered a lucky sign, and in 2025, many are expected to feel inspired to take well-considered steps in life.

 

Four dancers performed a powerful dance inspired by Mongolia. Their energetic movements were meant to evoke the feeling of being in the midst of a great battle on the battlefield.

 

Zhang Zhong Mei performed the melody Give Me a Rose on the traditional Chinese instrument pipa.

 

Kinesiske dansere i grønne og gule kjoler.
Before the dancers took the stage, the audience was asked to close their eyes, relax, and imagine a lake in the forest on an autumn day. This was the atmosphere the dancers sought to convey through their graceful and calm movements.

 

Gravity was challenged when an award-winning act from the Monaco International Circus Festival took the stage—a performance where balance and strength were tested but executed with precision.

 

Highlights from Henan opera, Yue opera, and Peking opera were performed in succession.

 

 

 

 

Tea Picking Song is a folk song from China’s Zhejiang province. It captures the youthful spirit of tea-picking maidens, infused with the characteristic charm of Jiangnan, a region in southern China.

 

Over 1,000 people from Kolding gathered to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake with a grand New Year show at Samværket in Kolding.

 

The ancient art of face-changing in Sichuan opera met modern card tricks performed by magician Xiao Bin.

 

Silk Road Melody is a dance performance that brings the breathtaking murals of Dunhuang to life, telling the story of the Silk Road’s grandeur through graceful steps and captivating movements.

 

 

 

 

 

A grand finale show featuring all the artists on stage rounded off the performance, wishing everyone a Happy New Year and welcoming the new Year of the Snake.

 

Her står IBA's rektor og de optrædende på scenen og takker af.

 

 

Any questions?

Contact

Foto af Ildikó Antal
Ildikó Antal
ilan@iba.dk
+45 25 28 45 47
Director, IBA International & Confucius Institute
IBA Confucius Institute
confucius@iba.dk