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The Confucius Institute at the University of Texas at Dallas celebrates its first anniversary on Saturday with events that include a Chinese film festival (all films subtitled in English), performances of Chinese folk dancing and music, calligraphy demonstrations and even a fashion show. The institute was founded to promote the teaching of Chinese language history, literature and intellectual thought at UTD and spread an understanding of China to the wider community. Dennis Kratz, Dean of the School of Arts & Humanities at UTD affirms that "the relationship between the U.S. and China is one of the most important of the century." Plans for the institute's second year include a calligraphy course, a two-week residence at UT Dallas of the Lily Cai Dance Company and Texas' first international symposium on Chinese translation, to be held in April 2009. The anniversary celebration takes place at the Conference Center, located near the corner of Drive A and Rutford on the UTD campus, beginning at 3 p.m. Admission is free. For information, visit utd.edu/dept/ah/confucius/index.html or call 972-883-4860.
Sat., Nov. 8, 3 p.m., 2008