CHINESE New Year celebrations will return to Southampton next weekend after they were cancelled last year because of cuts.

Colourful dancers and martial arts experts will stage performances in the city centre to mark the day.

The lower floor of WestQuay shopping centre will host the event, which sees the start of the Year of the Sheep or Goat (different areas of China adopt one or the other).

Last year the celebrations were cancelled after organisers, the Chinese Association of Southampton, said that it could not afford to hold it due to a lack of cash, after Southampton City Council slashed the group’s grant.

Now the organisation is hoping that this year’s event, which has been selffunded, will live up to those staged in 2012 and 2013.

This year there will be 12 performances, which include a lion dance and dragon dance as well as a martial arts display by UK Shaolin Temple, Chinese folk song, traditional dance, brush painting, the ancient art of face changing, and an ancient Chinese clothes display.

Daily Echo:

Andy Lai

Chinese Association of Southampton vice-chairman Andy Lai said: “We are very pleased to hold Chinese New Year in WestQuay because no audiences or performers will suffer from bad weather. We hope that people in Southampton really enjoy it.

“People think Chinese people are a quiet community in England, however we are just like other people, we are active, energetic and we have our own culture.

“We just want to share our experiences and enjoy Chinese New Year together with people in Southampton.”

Andy Collyer, general manager at WestQuay, said: "We're delighted to be hosting the Chinese New Year celebrations here at WestQuay.

"The Chinese community is a vital part of Southampton's cultural heritage and it stands to be a great day, with activities for all the family".

The event will take place on Sunday, February 22, between 11am and 2pm.