By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s last Chinese New Year celebration Sunday may also have been one of its best.
Diana Stern, who has organized, produced and hosted the unique celebration in downtown Del Rio, announced earlier this year that this year’s Chinese New Year event would in all likelihood be her last. Stern and her husband, Del Rio attorney Jack Stern, initiated the event here some 15 years ago.
Sunday’s festivities began with a parade on South Main Street, featuring two traditional dragon “puppets” carried by local youngsters and dozens of children and adults in richly embroidered and jewel-toned Chinese costumes.
Support staff for the event included Diana Stern’s sister, prominent Dallas businesswoman Nancy Lin and Del Rio’s own Annie Marshall of Miss Annie’s Straight Up Dance, as well as Mayor Bruno “Ralphy” Lozano, City Manager John Sheedy, Ricardo Rios of Mariachi de Medianoche, Linda Guanajuato-Webb, the Del Rio Downtown Association, Jessica Guanajuato, Jeanne Roe Slover, Philia Rifai, Alana Talamantez, Joelda Esquivel, Amanda Padilla Dali, Tania De Leon, Marti Kinsey, Esmeralda Meza, Alma Ruiz, Dina Dotson, Araceli Faz, Paulina Sorola, Flor Charles, Melinda Brijalba and Patricia Barrera.
Following the parade, Del Rioans who attended were treated to a number of traditional dances on the stage at the Paul Poag Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Performing with Mariachi de Medianoche were Abram Ortiz, Amanda Ong, Alexa Robles, Marissa Westlake, Davin Garcia, Juan Lopez, Guadalupe Gonzalez, Anali Rivera, Jocelyn Villa, Christina Fernandez, Rocio Guerrero, Kianna Valdez, Itzel Yanez and Sandraluz Vargas Hernandez.
The “Dynasty” event included Linda Guanajuato-Webb, Dina Dotson, Esmeralda Meza, Ben Rivera, Ralph Howard, Araceli Faz, Jeanne Roe Slover, Virgil Armstrong, Marie Lopez and DeeDee Chattler.
The “Pink Dragon” performance featured Laura Aguero, Aysle Delgado, Breanna Ramirez, Isabella Saucedo, Keyla Chat, MaKayla Prado, Camila Guerra, Princessa Rocha, Lali Guadalajara, Miss Del Rio Nayeli Duran, Miss Del Rio Pre-Teen Jazel Sanchez and Junior Miss Del Rio Zoe Levendecker.
Cardwell teachers involved in organizing the performances included Joelda Esquivel, Tania DeLeon, Amanda Padilla Dali, Paulina Sorola and Flor Charles.
Dance performances in the Paul Poag included the “Fair Ladies Umbrella Dance,” performed by Linda Guanajuato-Webb, Jessica Guanajuato, Marti Kinsey, Alma Ruiz, Jeanne Roe Slover, Lisa Traslavina, Alanna Talamantez, Araceli Faz, Marisol Mendoza, Pat Barrera, Helen Bomar, Andrea Friday, Esmeralda Meza, Dina Dotson and Salyna Guanajuato-Galvan.
The “Ribbon Dance” was performed by Victoria Lomas, Genevieve Abrego, Kaileigh Maldonado and Sophia Marshall.
The “Umbrella Dance” was performed by Kamila Gonzalez, Regina Gonzalez, Sarita Kinsey, Layla Rodriguez and Heidi Salas.
The “Fan Dance” was performed by Genevieve Abrego, Carmen Cbello, Nicole Meza, Isabella Narvaez, Camryn Nowlin, Jacqueline Ortiz, Natalia Pena, Marianna Pena, Emma Rios, Larissa Rosas, Mariana Suarez and Fernanda Tobias.
The “Kung Fu Fan Dance” was performed by Sarita Kinsey, Victoria Lomas, Genevieve Abrego, Kaileigh Maldonado and Sophia Marshall.
The “Shanghai Dance” was performed by Linda Guanajuato-Webb, Jessica Guanajuato, Marti Kinsey, Alma Ruiz, Jeanne Roe Slover, Lisa Traslavina, Alanna Talamantez, Araceli Faz, Marisol Mendoza, Pat Barrera, Helen Bomar, Andrea Friday, Esmeralda Meza, Dina Dotson and Salyna Guanajuato-Galvan.
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Contact the author at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
