国产三级大片在线观看-国产三级电影-国产三级电影经典在线看-国产三级电影久久久-国产三级电影免费-国产三级电影免费观看

Set as Homepage - Add to Favorites

【wap xem sex online】The Right Steps to Healing

Source:Feature Flash Editor:explore Time:2025-07-03 04:00:47
Dancers take to the floor at the Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio in Alhambra on Saturday during a public event to promote community solidarity and healing in the aftermath of a nearby mass shooting in January.

By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS, Rafu Staff Writer

ALHAMBRA – In a glittering gold dress, Kanon Iwata twirled in a corner of the dance floor, delighting the crowd with an energetic routine to the hit song “Despacito.”

The title of the global hit translates to “slowly,” perhaps a description of how the communities of Monterey Park and Alhambra are recovering from a horrific mass shooting that shattered the joy of this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations.

The Lai Lai Ballroom and Studio on Garfield Avenue would have been the second scene of bloodshed on Jan. 21, if not for the heroism of Brandon Tsay, the 26-year-old who wrested the weapon away from a gunman who had arrived after killing 11 innocent dancers at the nearby Star Studio in Monterey Park minutes earlier. The Lai Lai Ballroom is owned and operated by Tsay’s family, after being founded decades ago by his grandmother, Joyce.

On Saturday, Lai Lai welcomed the community back to the ballroom with a community dance and unity event, organized by Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, in partnership with the office of L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

“This is a love letter to the community,” said Advancing Justice CEO Connie Chung Joe. “We will not be brought down by this act of violence. We will be stronger than ever and move forward.”

The gathering, taking place during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, began in the parking lot behind the studio, with musical performances, information and activity booths, photo opportunities and speeches from a host of local and national dignitaries. In stark contrast to January, this day was filled mostly with song and laughter.

“This is an important occasion to help this community continue to heal,” said Rep. Judy Chu, a Democrat whose congressional district includes Monterey Park. “It’s been four months since the shooting happened, and it was devastating and numbing to this community, but we have been starting to process this. Of course, we will never forget what happened, but what we can do is unite and be strong before it.”

Rep. Judy Chu speaks at the gathering. Brandon Tsay is seated at left.

Chu, a former mayor of Monterey Park, also praised the visit by President Joe Biden following the massacre to meet with families of the victims and offer public condolences and a call for action.

“The president’s empathy and outreach was tremendous, and truly helped led this community to a point where they feel like they can dance again,” Chu added.

Several of the speakers called for meaningful gun reform legislation, including Tsay, who has become a national hero for his actions to disarm the 72-year-old gunman, Huu Can Tran, 72, who later took his own life as police surrounded him in Torrance the day after the shooting.

“I want to see the government more active in controlling guns, especially assault weapons,” he insisted. “Why is a person not required to have a permit and training for an AK [assault rifle] when you need one for a driver’s license or to operate heavy equipment? That makes no sense.”

Kanon Iwata performs with her longtime dance instructor, Maksym Kkapitanchuk, as the Lai Lai Ballroom welcomed dancers of all levels and abilities on Saturday.

For his bravery, Tsay was invited by the White House to be a guest at Biden’s State of the Union speech in February. He has since been working to promote mental health services and greater community outreach.

The weekend celebration then moved indoors for what spelled a welcome salve for the local dancing community, a close-knit network that has for decades populated ballrooms across this part of the San Gabriel Valley.

Charmeen Wing of Pasadena never considered herself much of a dancer before a friend convinced her to attend a free class. She was instantly hooked and became a regular at Lai Lai and the Star Ballroom for more than a decade.

“This is a chance we have needed, to reconnect and heal for the ballroom community,” said Wing, whose longtime friend My Nhan was one of the victims killed in Monterey Park. Having not danced since before the pandemic, she said Saturday’s event was filled with loving, giving people who truly enjoy sharing time with one another.

L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis presented commendations to the Tsay family, who own and operate the Lai Lai Ballroom. From left, Solis, studio founders Steve and Joyce Tsay, and their grandchildren Brenda and Brandon, who has became a national hero for thwarting more violence by the gunman who killed 11 in Monterey Park. 

“This has brought me back to life, back to old friends I love but haven’t seen in years,” she said.

Dancers, families and guests filed into the ballroom at Lai Lai to find the facility decorated with streamers and balloons, with tables lining the perimeter of the floor. The festivities kicked off with stand-up comedian Joe Wong and a high-octane performance by Kristi Semochko and Vlad Ogurtson from “Dancing with the Stars,” as well as routines from current and former students.

However, the invitation to the dance floor for the masses of regular attendees was the day’s most magical moment, a return to what had been a joyous part of their normal lives before senseless violence shattered bodies and psyches.

Iwata and her twin sister, Manon, have been students at Lai Lai since the age of 7. Now 14, the students at Westridge School in Pasadena were deeply involved in taking action against violence long before the shooting in January, founding the nonprofit Teens 4 Disarmament and Non-proliferation last year.

On Saturday, both took to the floor and entertained the large gathering by dancing with their longtime instructor, Maksym Kapitanchuk.

“Ballroom dance really means interdependence,” Manon explained. “You must learn to allow yourself to be vulnerable and trust each other.”

She added, “When the music turns on and the lights shine, it’s like you’re wearing a crown and the whole room supports you.”

Support was exactly what the event in Alhambra was all about, an act of solidarity and togetherness to help along a community whose hearts were so cruelly broken. Around two dozen survivors of the January shooting have formed an online support group, to check in with each other and hold regular meetings.

“Dancing is a place where you can make lifelong friends. We never imagined this kind of tragedy could affect the Asian community, but it has,” Tsay said. “I hope with the attention I’ve gotten, now that I have a voice, I can use it to promote healing and positivity.”

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo

0.217s , 10148.359375 kb

Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【wap xem sex online】The Right Steps to Healing,Feature Flash  

Sitemap

Top 主站蜘蛛池模板: 免费永久观看美女视频网站网址 | 精品久久久久久蜜臀 | 亚洲精品一区二区在线看片 | 福利姬一区二区三区在线观看 | 2024久久国产精品免费热麻豆 | 久久久久久精品人妻免费影视网 | 亚洲日韩强奸在线视频一区二区 | 午夜成年人网站 | 日韩欧美不卡在线 | 国产av无码专区亚洲av毛片费 | 日韩一区二区丰满人妻在线不 | 色偷偷色偷偷色偷偷在线视频 | 免费在线亚洲精品视频 | 黄色一级视频在线播放 | 中文字幕一精品亚洲无线一区 | 精品熟女少妇一区二区 | 国产精品亚洲一区二区无码 | 欧美手机在线观看 | 亚洲欧美国产成人综合不卡 | 一区日本 | 无码h黄肉动漫在线观看网站 | 人人干夜夜 | 久久亚洲国产高清 | 亚洲精品久久无码老熟妇 | 精品国产一级二级码 | 丰满岳乱妇在线观看免费 | 精品一区二区三区在线成人 | 亚洲AV无码一区二区A片成人 | 伊人色网站 | 国内精品久久久久久久久 | 国产精品呻吟久久人妻无吗 | 国产精品JIZZ在线观看A片 | 精品久久综合一区二区 | 中文字幕精品一区久久久久 | 午夜性色一区二区三区不卡视频 | 久久久久久国产精品免费 | 日韩手机视频 | 国产午夜 | 在线观看的免费网站 | 老司机午夜精品网站在线观看 | 国产50岁熟妇露脸 |