Celebrating 18 Years of Passion and Connection – A Valentine’s Gathering Filled with Love

Helen Huang's beautiful homemade cake celebrating 18 years of Jasmine.

After completing two major Lunar New Year performances, Jasmine gathered once again — this time to celebrate a meaningful milestone: 18 years of journeying together. Choosing Valentine’s Day, a day devoted to love, was especially fitting for our theme: “We met and came to know one another through our shared love of Chinese culture.”

More than 40 students and family members joined the celebration, creating a lively and heartfelt atmosphere.

With the help of her husband, the President/Executive Director Jinsong Zhang personally decorated the venue, beautifully blending the festive spirit of Lunar New Year with the warmth of Valentine’s Day. Red accents and thoughtful details filled the space with joy. They also took great care in preparing the refreshments for the evening—personally purchasing and arranging a wide variety of foods, including spring rolls, sweet mandarins, fresh vegetables with dip, assorted mixed nuts, snacks, and bottled water.

Guests enjoyed a colorful spread of snacks and refreshments, surrounded by festive decorations.

In the midst of the preparations, there was even a small but touching moment of teamwork. Just two hours before the gathering, it was discovered that spring rolls had been forgotten. Chunyan Qiu, an adult class member, immediately stepped in, went out to purchase them, baked them at home, and brought them to the venue in time for the celebration. She later kindly declined reimbursement, insisting it was her small contribution to the team.

Adding to the warmth of the gathering were two especially meaningful contributions from our parent community. A beautifully crafted fruit cake, lovingly homemade by Helen Huang, mom of a student from the class age 12 & above. The cake was adorned with a shining “18,” stood proudly as both a centerpiece and a sweet symbol of our milestone year. In addition, 260 potstickers were generously cooked by Yi Lin, mom of student from the class of age 5-8, who owns a local restaurant. Their delicious aroma filled the room, reflecting not only culinary skill but heartfelt support for the team.

A student shares her introduction, connecting families across classes during the celebration.

To help strengthen connections across different classes and between families and organizers, everyone introduced themselves. It was a meaningful moment of sharing. Several parents expressed their deep appreciation for the dance team and affirmed the dedication and hard work of the organizers over the years. Their words were both touching and encouraging.

During the gathering, Jinsong, the President/Executive Director, summarized the team’s volunteer performance achievements in 2025. Over the past year, our performers participated in nine cultural events of various sizes, continuing our tradition of offering community service through dance. As always, the team received high praise from event organizers, reflecting both artistic excellence and a spirit of commitment.

A group photo of four of the six award recipients who were present—from left to right: Katie Chen, Tiffany Han, Sophia Yu, and Daphne Valenta.

A special highlight of the evening was the presentation of trophies to six youth members who contributed the most hours in volunteer performances and internal service throughout 2025. Their dedication set a wonderful example for their peers. Following the awards, the current youth volunteer project leader shared a heartfelt reflection on her personal growth through the dance team over the past few years—how responsibility, teamwork, and cultural engagement shaped her confidence and leadership.

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2025-2026 Jasmine Giving Heart Youth Program Director, Cindy Jiang, reflects on her growth and leadership with Jasmine.

The celebration concluded in an atmosphere of warmth, laughter, and connection. It was more than a gathering—it was a reaffirmation of why we began this journey 18 years ago: love for culture, love for community, and love for one another. Together, we look forward to many more years of dancing, growing, and sharing beauty with the world.

Over the past 18 years, the growth and continuity of our dance team have been made possible by the steadfast support of generations of students and their families, dedicated dance teachers and board members, community associations, and generous sponsors.

A group photo of most of the party participants.

On this meaningful occasion, we extend our sincere appreciation to every individual and organization who has contributed to the founding, development, and sustainability of the team. Your trust, encouragement, and support have laid the foundation for everything we have achieved.

~Photography by Melody Yin, Jinsong Zhang, and Helen Zhang