Sign of the Hop

You can’t turn back the clock to December 31, but perhaps you can pledge to lose weight after seeing fit bodies perform a traditional Chinese dance. Or maybe it would just make you hungry for sweet-and-sour pork. Either way, according to the Chinese calendar, we are entering the Year of the Rabbit. Resolve to attend one or more of the following related events.

The Kansas City Chinese Association’s Chinese New Year Celebration is so popular that the pre-show banquet was already sold-out at press time. So hurry to kcca-online.org to reserve a $10 seat to tonight’s dance and cultural performance (7 p.m.) in the Bell Cultural Events Center (MidAmerica Nazarene University, 2030 East College Way in Olathe). Good luck — there’s a lottery at the end of the night.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak, 816-751-1278) hosts tea demonstrations, Chinese games, calligraphers, performances and more on Friday, January 28 (plus a children’s dance performance January 29). Some events require tickets. See nelson-atkins.org.

The Society for Friendship with China Inc. puts on a fancy party January 30 at the InterContinental Hotel (401 Ward Parkway). Individual tickets cost $80 and include a feast, as well as performances by a drum roller and the Silk Road Dance Troupe. See chinagardensociety-kc.org.

The Confucius Institute of the University of Kansas teams up with the Edgar Snow Memorial Fund and the Kansas City Chinese American Association for a 7 p.m. gala on February 5 at Johnson County Community College’s Yardley Hall (12345 College Boulevard in Overland Park). See kcca-ks.org. — Crystal K. Wiebe

Sat., Jan. 22, 7 p.m., 2011