RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh martial arts school has ushered in the Lunar New Year with a special celebration.

For East Cloud Kungfu of Raleigh, the students' first public performance in almost two and half years was an opportunity to come together again after a period of pandemic and social separation.

What You Need To Know

  • East Cloud Kungfu students performed Chinese martial arts to celebrate the Lunar New Year

  • The event took place at the N.C. Museum of Art

  • Millions of people in the U.S. observe the Lunar New Year

Imari Colón, a teacher and owner of East Cloud, which focuses on Chinese martial arts, said the school's celebrations feature kung fu demonstrations. 

“The big style at our school is modern Wushu, which is very performance-based,” Colón said, “so think Jackie Chan, Jet Li, very expressive, physical art.”

Lunar New Year is celebrated by millions of people in the United States. Tuesday marked the start of the Year of the Tiger.  

“I think I’m just happy that we are able to do this. COVID has kind of had us all separated for such a long time,” she said.

“There are groups within my school that haven’t even gotten to spend time with each other," Colón said. "So these events really help bring us together and also bring the broader community together.”

Colón inherited the school from her master more than three years ago; the school used to be called the Kungfu Center of Raleigh.

For more information on East Cloud Kungfu, click here.