Chinese New Year At Federation Square

Join a vibrant Chinese New Year celebration at Federation Square in Melbourne to welcome the Year of the Sheep. 

Electric Dragon

26 February – 1 March | 8pm

Each evening from 26 February – 1 March, see one of Melbourne’s most exciting multimedia artists, Georgie Pinn present the specially commissioned work, Electric Dragon on the Big Screen and Main Stage. The interactive performance uses original animation and score to tell the story of Fang, a dragon character animated with motion graphics technology, shadow puppetry and live performance by artist Anna Yen.

Following the introduction of Fang, you will be invited up to the Main Stage to make your own dragon by choosing silhouetted images of animal parts and corresponding sounds. The audience will see your dragon animated in realtime as motion tracking technology records your silhouette behind a screen on stage and feeds it live to the Big Screen!

Electric Dragon is the latest commission by Fed Square’s Creative Program.

In addition to Electric Dragon, Chinese New Year at Fed Square also includes a variety of cultural activities and performances:

Saturday 28 February

1pm – 1.45pm | Melbourne Chinese Choir
2pm – 3pm | Tai Chi and Health Qigong performance
3pm – 5pm | Mahjong lessons

Sunday 1 March

Qunyi Lion Dancers

12pm – 1.30pm
See a lively performance from Melbourne’s premier lion dancing troupe, Qunyi Lion Dancers. Join the troupe as they carry out the traditional dance in The Square and various locations around Fed Square, bestowing ritual blessings for the coming year and culminating with a colourful performance on the Main Stage.

Chinese Art Demonstrations

1pm – 4pm
Explore traditional Chinese art activities and demonstrations including lantern making, calligraphy, Chinese painting and other handcrafts.

Main Stage Program

1.35pm – 1.45pm | Qunyi Lion dance
1.50pm – 2pm | Dragon dance
2.05pm – 2.25pm | Official opening address followed by drum dance
2.25pm | Children’s dance: Auspicious Day
2.30pm | Vocal solo performance
2.40pm | Fan dance: Spring
2.45pm | Chinese YI ethnic group dance
2.50pm | Chinese acrobatics
3pm | Introduction to traditional emblems of Chinese New Year, Fu, Lu, Shou (Happiness, Fortune and Longevity) and Chinese New Year blessing.
3.10pm | Music performance
3.20pm | Youth dance
3.25pm | Classical Chinese dance: The Silk Road
3.30pm | Vocal solo
3.40pm | Group dance: Swan Goose/Meet in the Yurt
3.50pm | Children’s dance: The little lion dance girls
3.50pm | Chinese square dance and children’s lantern parade
4pm | Event closes

Where: The Square
When: 26 February - 1 March
Price: Free