DRAGON YEAR at the CUPOLA - Marie Laderta

Feel the aura of the mighty Dragon at Divino Ritmo's social dance, next  Tuesday, January 31st at the CUPOLA, from 7-10pm.

CUPOLA is on the 2nd floor of the Honolulu Design Center, corner of Piikoi & Kapiolani, 1250 Kapiolani Blvd.

Admission is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!!! Food and Beverage are available for purchase. Happy hour pupus are $5  if you order before 7p.

Last Monday, January 23rd marked the Chinese or Lunar New Year! In many Asian countries and Chinatowns around the world, streets are alive with firecrackers and Dragon Dances to usher in the Year of the Dragon!

Lion or Dragon dances are performed at New Year typically to scare away evil spirits. During the dance, performers hold poles and raise and lower the Dragon or Lion head. Sometimes a single individual holds up a pole with a head of lettuce hanging from it, symbolizing a "Pearl of Wisdom" as he entices the Dragon to follow him to the beat of a drum, as if in search of wisdom and knowledge.

Combining martial arts and dance, the Dragon dancers move with fluidity and control. They convey the dragon's emotions through movement, but that's often not easy to do with an extra 15-20 pound "Dragon Head" on the lead dancer's shoulders. It is said to require great skill and artistry of movement as well as a team of agile and well-trained dancers.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the Dragon year is the mightiest and most favored of the 12 zodiac signs. The dragon is a symbol of power and strength, and those born under this sign are predicted to have lucky and abundant lives. Their characteristics are said to be strong, intelligent and self-assured.

Famous Dragon Year babies include Salvador Dali, Courtney Love, Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock. But of course, our very own Dragon Year baby is none other than....YES....you've guessed it... Divino Ritmo's mighty YANNA SAMKOVA!!!!

So come celebrate Yanna's year at the CUPOLA, come bask in the glory of the mighty Dragon, have some wine, have a dance, with DJ Lucas at the helm and Jesse Gonzales at the keyboard!

For more information, contact:
Lucas Jaime,
ph:(917)568-3173;
divinoritmo@aol.com

Yanna Samkova,
ph:(732)499-0407;
Yannajs@gmail.com