FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 23, 2023
AAPI COMMUNITY HEALS AND CELEBRATES AT
“A COMMUNITY DANCE” WITH HERO BRANDON TSAY & FAMILY
LOS ANGELES, CA —Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) partnered with Lunar New Year hero Brandon Tsay and his family to co-host a special public event, A Community Dance, on Saturday, May 20th, uniting community members for an afternoon and evening of celebration and healing. The event, held at Lai Lai Ballroom, was one of a series of year-long events celebrating AJSOCAL’s 40th anniversary aimed to showcase the pride, strength, and resilience of the AAPI community.
Brandon Tsay, the Lunar New Year hero who disarmed a mass shooter at his family’s dance studio, and his sister Brenda Tsay spoke about the importance of the event, saying, ” My family and I are proud to open our doors to welcome you during AAPI Heritage Month alongside AJSOCAL and all of our neighbors, friends, families and elected officials. The joy of dance keeps our community strong. While our entire country celebrates us in the month of May, we celebrate at our Lai Lai Ballroom all year long.”
Other members of the Tsay Family at the event included Brandon and Brenda’s grandmother Joyce who founded the ballroom over 30 years ago. Today, it continues to be a central part of the Alhambra community.
The afternoon of festivities kicked off with an exciting acapella performance by Top Shelf Vocal Group, followed by comedy and ballroom dance performances. Attendees enjoyed open dancing, music, and delicious food from vendors including Panda Express, Yang’s Kitchen, Phoenix Food Boutique, Bopomofo Café, and Tochi snacks.
Outside of the ballroom, CEO of AJSOCAL Connie Chung Joe, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, and LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District, delivered remarks emphasizing the importance of unity and celebration within the AAPI community. Onstage, witnesses from the Star Ballroom shooting joined nonprofit leaders and local elected officials. The program included a moment of silence for the victims of the Star Ballroom shooting in Monterey Park, led by Kristenne Reidy, the daughter of victim Valentino Alvero.
CEO of AJSOCAL Connie Chung Joe stated “AAPI Heritage Month is about celebration, joy, and pride. We don’t want Lai Lai Ballroom to only be remembered for tragedy. The Tsay Family wants to remember the celebration, the beauty of ballroom dance and the strength of our community. This event is a love letter to our community, focusing on our strength and reminding us of our resiliency.” Inside the ballroom, Ilie Bardahan, an American Rhythm Champion and member of the Tsay Family, emceed and kicked off a continuation of the program to an audience of several hundred people. Comedian Joe Wong delivered a special stand-up set, followed by a performance by Dancing with the Stars’ Kateryna Klishyna and Ezra Sosa. The indoor ballroom lit up with dances from professionals and amateurs alike, drawing to a close as attendees joyfully engaged in open dancing to conclude the evening.
Among those performing included: Kateryna Klishyna & Ezra Soza (Dancing with the Stars), Millie and Paul Cao, Maks Kapitanchuk, Manon & Kanon Iwata, Pavel “Pasha” Balykin and Charmeen Wing, Vlad Ogurtsov and Kristi Semochko, and Afeenix Rising, a Latin/Hip Hop Dance group from Granada.
A Community Dance was title-sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District.
Event partners included: Mayor of Alhambra Adele Andrade-Stadler; Alhambra Councilmembers Katherine Lee and Jeff Maloney; Alhambra Chamber of Commerce; Asian Pacific Community Fund; Asian Youth Center; Big Time Affairs; Chinatown Service Center; CSC Health; U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu; Mayor of Monterey Park Jose Sanchez and Mayor Pro Tem Thomas Wong; Monterey Park Councilmembers Henry Lo, Vinh Ngo and Yvonne Yiu; Hon. Mike Eng; CA Assemblymember Mike Fong; Hon. David Lau; Creator Advisor Priscilla Lau; Event Consultant, Mark Chinapen; Monterey Park City Treasurer Amy Lee; Monterey Park Community Healing Fund; victim family member Kristenne Reidy; Mountain View School District Board Member Cindy Wu; and Hon. Bryant Yang.
Additional support was provided by Lai Lai Ballroom, Panda Restaurant Group, Phoenix Food Boutique, Big Time Affairs, Bopomofo Café, Yang’s Kitchen, Courtyard Marriott Monterey Park, Granada LA, Home Depot Monterey Park, Tochi Snacks, Studio 7 Graphics, Top Shelf Vocal, Writer/Producer Ed Lee, Producer Kelley Parker and DJ Curtis Toyota.
Select Photos Available Now
COMMUNITY DANCE PHOTOS
photo credit: Photo by Salangsang for AJSOCALCO/REX/Shutterstock