Thundering drumbeats resonated throughout the confines of HUB Alumni Hall last night as more than 200 people gathered to ring in the Lunar New Year.

The evening's festivities, sponsored by the Taiwanese Student Association (TSA), included an eclectic array of presentations -- from Chinese folk dancing to playful drum performances.

The celebration was designed to commemorate the year of the goat, a symbol of calmness, peace and harmony, said Shih-Chiung Solomon Lai, president of TSA.

While the New Year began on Feb. 1, celebrations can last for weeks afterward and can include social gatherings complemented with ethnic dancing and music, he said.

"It's a time for people to come together and express our happiness for the future," he said.

The evening's entertainment featured dancing by Julienne Shaw (freshman-international politics and communications), Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2002.

Her first performance included a Peacock Dance, a symbolic Chinese folkdance, taken from the Dai tribe in southeast China.

"The peacock symbolizes prosperity and good fortune for the New Year," Shaw said.

The dance uses free-flowing arm movements to symbolize the elegant motion of the peacock, she said.

The costume also helps add color to the performance she said, adding that the choreography consists of a lot of turning, in which the long skirt flows out freely, like a peacock.

"It [the peacock] is highly respected in Chinese culture, so its definitely good luck for the New Year," Shaw said.

Drum performances traditionally start off New Years' celebrations, said percussionist Edwin Shaw (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies), Julienne Shaw's brother.

The 46-inch diameter drum uses pints of wood and a leather-skin top to create a powerful sound. Choreography is also included to enhance the performance, Edwin Shaw said.

Julienne Shaw said she has been dancing since she was young, and has always enjoyed the chance to enlighten others through her performances.

"It's nice to have the opportunity to bring a cultural awareness to the university," she said. "You don't typically see a lot of cultural shows here at Penn State."

Jan Jacobs, vice provost for undergraduate education and international programs, agreed with Julienne Shaw on the importance of cultural programming at the university.

"In these very hard times, it's critically important to welcome international scholars and students," she said during an opening speech. "We can learn so much from you."

The celebration also included a dinner of traditional Chinese cuisine and ended with a dance party.

For many students the night allowed them to do more than just gain appreciation for the arts and Taiwanese culture.

"I just came to socialize and spend some quality time with friends," said Frank Lin (graduate-economics).