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Following the “long overdue” decision to make Diwalii an official school holiday, comes the decision by the state to add Lunar New Year to the school calendar.

The bill was approved earlier this summer and was officially signed into legislation by Governor Kathy Hochul on Saturday, September 9th. It requires statewide public schools to close in observance for Lunar New Year.

“By designating Lunar New Year as an official school holiday, we are taking an important step in recognizing the importance of New York’s AAPI community and the rich diversity that makes New York so great,” Governor Hochul said. “It is not just a day off from school – it is an opportunity for our children to learn about and celebrate their own or different cultures and traditions.”

It’s been a long awaited decision as New York State has the second largest Asian population in the country.

“The Lunar New Year is the most significant time of the year for Asian Americans, and as the fastest growing community in the country, we need to make sure our heritage, culture and traditions are treated with the same respect and reverence as any other American holiday,” said State Senator John Liu.

“Now families don’t have to choose between their education and celebrating their cultural heritage. This act recognizes the contributions of the AAPI community in the diverse tapestry of our great state and brings greater awareness, combatting the hate that AAPI New Yorkers face,” added State Senator Iwen Chu.

The new law comes after New York’s largest investment to date in support of AAPI communities. Governor Kathy Hochul put aside $30 million of the FY 2024 Budget in awards for organizations through Asian American Federation and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families.

Read more in the press release here.

The post New York State Declares Lunar New Year An Official Public School Holiday appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here

The already-striking David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center is about to get even more interesting looking.

SlowDancing/NYCB, a large-scale film installation by artist David Michalek, will be projected on the facade of the building every single night from September 18 through October 1 in celebration of the New York City Ballet’s 75th anniversary season. 

Free and open to the public, the show features over 50 hyper-slow-motion films of the dancers who call the venue home. The installation lasts about 10 minutes and it will be played on a continuous loop on three screens, each one 40 feet high and 28 feet wide, from 7pm to 11:30pm nightly. 

“For this exhibition, I wanted to take a deep dive into the repertory of New York City Ballet, one of the most important and creative mainstays of New York City’s cultural fabric,” said Michalek in an official statement about the project. “We were able to choose a selection of iconic choreographic moments that span the entire breadth of the Company’s history, with a particular emphasis on works by NYCB co-founder George Balanchine.”

This isn’t the first work of its kind by the artist. In fact, Michalek premiered the very first iteration of SlowDancing at this same location back in 2007 during the Lincoln Center Festival. Since then, he’s presented other versions of the installation, each one focusing on a different aspect of the dancers’ routines, lifestyles and career trajectories.

The affair also marks the kickoff to the company’s new season, which takes place from September through the summer of next year. Standout shows on the roster include Kyle Abraham’s Love Letter (on shuffle), featuring music by James Blake, and Gianna Reisen’s Play Time, set to a free-jazz score by Solange Knowles, among many others. 

* This article was originally published here