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Saturday September 7, 2002 Time once again for the New Mexico State Fair. We had a total of six appearances, and, as always, our potent mix of thrilling wushu and kung fu, high flying acrobatics, and the cultural pageantry of dragon and lion dancing was enthusiastically received! We took the isolated and totally deserted Boxcar Pavilion and packed it solid with cheering crowds. |
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As those of you who follow these pages know, Piao
Liang, our new lion, played her first public performance on this day, and we
have to tell you, she stole the show -- especially when she surprised
everyone, including Li, our yellow lion, with a total ad lib on the choy
ching set. During the part where Li sits and puzzles out how to get at the lettuce, Piao's players, Diana Ma and James Esparza, did a stack at stage right, walked all the way across the stage in the stack, then stole the lettuce right out from under poor Li's very nose! (right) Piao Liang strides across the stage in the stack. Li still doesn't realize she's there. |
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(left) "What the HEY?!?" Michael Panto, playing Li's head, tilts it up to try to see just what the heck is going on out there. It just happened to give Li the perfect startled expression. You see, no one but Piao's players were prepared for this little "addition". But that was okay. Ad lib is our specialty! Not only did the other lion dance players fall right into the groove, but our announcer, Kuan Ma, scarcely missed a beat as he explained to the audience that Piao Liang, although our newest lion, had been created as an older lion, and thus was senior to Li. So, as the dominant lion, she gets the best of everything. |
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(right) Piao Liang proudly displays the lucky scroll. A disappointed Li rests in a submissive posture. |
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(left) Piao gives the scroll to our "monk", Danielle Stender, as Li looks on. | ||
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(right) "No lettuce for Li,"
the announcer said sadly. "Poor Li!" To our delight, as one the crowd sent up a heartfelt, "Awwwwww!" Even Piao Liang felt sorry for Li. Here, she lovingly grooms his ear. |
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But, the audience didn't stay sad for long. It's kinda hard to be melancholy when our wushu and kung fu students are soaring like eagles (that's Ann Marie Palmieri at left) . . . | ||
| . . . or crouching like mantises (that's Team Leader Amir Shirkhorshidian at right) . . . |
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. . . or capering about like monkeys (that's
Jonah Donnarumma at left).
(below) Our two splendid lions, Piao Liang and Fu. |
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| (right) Monique Cordova finishes skyward kick with sole by falling in splits. In the background, drummer Kyra Gryphon awaits her cue. Behind Kyra is the backdrop to Dr. Rocks Dinosaur Adventure, with whom we shared the stage. |
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(left) We had a great time horsing around with the giant blue pterodactyl from the Dr. Rock show, especially during the parade. The bird got a bit too bold, however, and attempted to chomp on Sifu's head! A timely intervention by Mushu, our dragon, saved the day. Not even a pterodactyl wants to mess with a 75 foot long Chinese dragon! | ||
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(right) Alex Daniels, Lan and
Nancy Nguyen levitate their side kick (that means hold it aloft, frozen at
the high point of the kick). You can get a bit better view of the Dr. Rock backdrop in this photo. (below) Meanwhile, the crowd continued to overflow, both to stage right and stage left. Boy, did the acts that shared the stage with us love that! |
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We were even invited to join several acts.
T-Bone had our lion come up on stage to join him and all the kiddies as they
did an audience participation version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Li
had a nice nap as the munchkins circled about. (left) James Cole soars over the whip chain in a butterfly kick, much to the delight of the crowd, not to mention Li in the background. |
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| The Greater Jacksonville Disc and Dog Team, featuring Aero Dynamic (World Finalist and 3 Time National Beaches Champion) and sponsored by Purina Dog Chow, also wanted to team with us to help them draw audiences to the other "hidden" stage, in Heritage Square. Alas, insurance snafus spoiled our fun, but they already spoke to us about including us in their policy next year if they come back for this event. One thing is for sure, their performers were a lot cuter than ours (arf! arf!). |
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They were better at frisbee, too.
(above, right) Nick Montoya slaps the ground in the hand-toughening conclusion of a wheelarm technique (get that heel on the ground, Nick!).
(left) Lillie Vosa, the handsome and virile Mr. Padilla and Monique "get those flags outta my face" Cordova present the wind and fire wheels. |
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(right) Piao Liang and Li
perform a stack, while Kuan Ma announces and Kip Barkhurst plays the
cymbals.
(below) Mushu returns to the stage after getting up close and personal with the audience. Right behind James Esparza at Mushu's head is Harry Gomes, who returned California shortly after these shows to be with his family. Hey Harry, if you're checking in with us, drop us a line. James misses your "not-so-passive" restraint lectures! |
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| Now, we don't want to give you the impression that everything was perfect, although it darn near was. At one point, an unsteady, gritty surface and a sneaky chair combined to give Jonah Donnarumma a nasty tumble during his monkey staff set. | |||
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(above) 1) Jonah makes his approach for a back flip over his monkey staff. 2) He begins his leap, but already the treacherous ground has slid out from beneath his staff. 3) Whoosh! The end of the staff flies upward -- 4) -- and Jonah goes down, right into the hard metal chair, which he hit with such force he bent the seat into a V! |
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But, the show must go on! (right) To the audience's amazement, Jonah simply regained his feet, and continued the monkey staff set as if nothing had happened. Can you say, "guts"? (Note Mr. Donnarumma's expression. 'Oh, yeah. This hurts...') |
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(right) Mr. Baca opts for a safer mode of locomotion -- his hands. Here, he's shown walking backward. |
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(left) Team Leader Amir Shirkhorshidian, State Champion Nancy Nguyen and James Cole play the jian, or straight sword, while Harry Gomes and drummer Kyra Gryphon look on. | ||
| (right) Lillie Vosa and Ann Marie Palmieri wield the double daggers, as lion dancers Harry Gomes, Kip Barkhurst and Kyra Gryphon form a perfect tableau in the background. |
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| (below) Our beginners perform the Kung Lik Kuen. From left to right, Ann Marie Palmieri, Kristine Dang, Nick Montoya, Danielle Stender, Erich Vera, Alex Daniels, Albert Vera. | |||
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(left) Team Leader Amir Shirkhorshidian strikes a mantis pose . . . |
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(right) . . . and Jonah Donnarumma demonstrates the meaning of "serious airtime" in an aerial cartwheel. Even his fellow team members are impressed. |
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(below) Reserve National Champion Monique Cordova and James Cole slam the ground like thunder in double head spear. |
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(left) National Champion Chris Baca concludes double broadsword, a set he learned on the 2002 Martial Artistry Shaolin Temple Training Trip. |
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(below) Team Leader Amir Shirkhorshidian, James Cole and State Champion Nancy Nguyen crouch with straight sword. |
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Awesome job, Steel Phoenix! Take a bow! With Li are Harry Gomes, Kip Barkhurst (under Li) and Michael Panto. Front row, in splits are Reserve National Champion Monique Cordova, National Champion Lan Nguyen, Alex Daniels, Kristine Dang, James Cole and State Champion Nancy Nguyen. Second row, kneeling, are Albert Vera, Nicole Neff, Nick Montoya, Danielle Stender, Erich Vera and National Champion Chris Baca. Third row, standing, are Team Leaders Amir Shirkhorshidian and Jason Padilla, Jonah Donnarumma, Lillie Vosa, Johnathan Padilla and Ann Marie Palmieri. With Piao Liang are Lion Dance Team Leader Diana Ma, James "Sparky" Esparza and Kyra Grypon. |
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No rest for the weary! We were off to the
parade...
(right)
(below, left)
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(left) A better shot of some of the other mascots. |
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(right) One last smile for the camera. Great job! Now, get some rest -- we've got four shows tomorrow!
Questions? Comments?
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