Korean orchestra a highlight of cultural festival

Park Song Jun (centre) leads Korean dancers during a traditional concert, or gugaki, to celebrate the annual Mooncake Festival on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

The Rotorua Chinese and Korean communities were treated to a vibrant display of traditional and modern dance performers and music at the annual Mooncake Festival on Saturday.

Festival spokeswoman Waitsu Wu said the festival was well received by around 100 people who attended the event held at the Nina Hogan Performing Arts Centre at Rotorua Girls' High School.

The ancient Mooncake Festival shared its historical links with both Chinese and Korean communities, she said.

The appearance of the Iksan Korean traditional orchestra at the festival was a highlight, she said.

The orchestra did not miss a beat at the two and a half-hour concert in spite of having given a performance at the Netherlands Hall in the afternoon.

"They were very good and brought the diversity of the two cultures together very well," Waitsu said.

The Chinese festival also featured traditional Chinese dances including the Lion dance, Tai Chi Fan dance, Peacock dance, Mongolian dance, Dai Zhai Qing (a folk dance) and Ta Ge (a traditional dance from the Han Dynasty).

There was also performances of traditional Chinese music and displays of Chinese calligraphy.