With colorful costumes and poised performances, students at PS 203 in Oakland Gardens, Queens, welcomed in the Year of the Horse at the school’s annual Lunar New Year celebration on Jan. 24. From prekindergarten to 5th grade, students took part in songs and dances that showcased Chinese and Korean cultures. As a packed auditorium looked on, 3rd-grade girls in turquoise satin robes performed “Moo Goong Hwa,” a Korean fan dance, lifting paper fans decorated with pink and green flowers. Later, students unveiled a scroll depicting a classic Chinese folktale — a form of Japanese storytelling known as “kamishibai,” or “paper drama.” The performances also featured a Suzuki violin arrangement, a Chinese ribbon dance and a demonstration of Korean Nanta drumming. Of course, no event celebrating the Year of the Horse would be complete without a horse — in this case, a large puppet horse big enough for three students to fit underneath, with a glittery pink saddle labeled “PS 203.” Preparations for the annual event kick off as early as October each school year, when students — under the direction of PS 203’s music, theater and dance teachers — begin learning their parts. Parents donate costumes and Korean and Chinese food for a luncheon that follows the performances, and teachers dress in traditional Korean and Chinese attire. “It gets bigger and bigger every year,” said Chapter Leader Denise Balabushka. With nearly 80 percent of PS 203’s students coming from a Chinese or Korean background, Balabushka said, “It’s nice for them to learn about their culture, and for children who are not Asian to learn about Asian culture.”