FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 1998
Contact: Diane Thomas
(714) 834-6203
Young Chinese Performers
To Visit Orange County
(SANTA ANA) –
Twenty-four young performers, The Cathay Future Children
Art Troupe from Tianjin, China, will arrive January 30
in Orange County as guests of the County of Orange’s
Office of Protocol. The January 30 – February 2 visit,
which is hoped will begin a cultural exchange between
the city and County, was initiated when William G. Steiner,
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, led a County delegation
to Tianjin to establish a Sister City/County relationship.
Since the Sister City agreements were signed last July,
Orange County has become a primary destination for arriving
business delegations from Asia.
"Tianjin is an important port city of more than 9.4
million residents located near Beijing," said Steiner.
"We have hosted delegations from China on a regular
basis and have encouraged the entrepreneurial spirit of
the Chinese people who are experiencing phenomenal economic
growth. There is much we can learn from one another."
The troupe of musicians and dancers, ages 6 to 13, will
be featured in the opening ceremonies January 31 of the
third annual Asian Festival of Southern California. The
group will perform colorful folk dances and ballet in
addition to playing traditional Chinese musical instruments.
The children go on stage at 11:15 a.m. at Westminster
Mall on the main stage at the lower JC Penney Court. The
mall is located at Golden West and Bolsa Avenues in Westminster.
While in the county, the children and their 12 chaperones
will be honored at a January 30 reception at the County’s
Old Court House hosted by the Protocol Foundation, a non-profit
organization which supports the Office of Protocol. During
their stay, the guests will also see an IMAX movie, perform
at the American/Chinese Chamber of Commerce New Year’s
event on January 31 and spend their last full day in the
Orange County at Disneyland.
The delegation will be housed in the homes of Protocol
Foundation members during their stay, said Jean Whitney,
Foundation member and Chair of the Protocol Commission.
"The Office of Protocol and I are delighted about
the children’s visit and the beginning of a cultural
exchange," said Joanne Sokolski, Chief of Protocol.
"This office will be anxious to begin scheduling
auditions for young OC performers when we start planning
our return visit to Tianjin." No dates have yet been
set for that trip.
(Attached is the itinerary for the children’s activities
while in Orange County. The media is invited to all events.)
2:30 - 4 p.m. Reception – Old County Court
House
Santa Ana Blvd. at Broadway, Santa Ana
Host – Protocol Foundation
5 p.m. Children meet host families.
Protocol Commission Chair Jean Whitney's home,
Coto de Caza
(Call 834-6203 if planning to cover this event.)
7 p.m. Children depart with families.
January 31
11:15 a.m. Performance – Asian Festival of
Southern California
Westminster Mall, main stage - lower JC Penney Court.
Golden West at Bolsa Avenue, Westminster.
12:30-2 p.m. Private reception for performers
& dignitaries (Media is welcome.)
host – Westminster Mall
location – Second floor, storefront 2038, Westminster
Mall
3:30 p.m. IMAX theater – Irvine Spectrum
Host - Edwards Theaters
Alton Parkway at Irvine Center Drive, Irvine
9 p.m. Performance – Chinese New Year Dinner
American/Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Location – Lucky House Restaurant
Warner at Bristol, Santa Ana
February 1
11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Disneyland – Official
welcome and photo with Mickey.
Host - Disney
6 p.m. Farewell dinner – Princess Garden
Restaurant
11828 E. South Street, Cerritos
Host - Supervisor William G. Steiner
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