Some of the U.S. top-rated professional wrestlers will take part in the "WWE’s Biggest Party of the Summer", scheduled for Thursday, June 1 at Figali Convention Center, in Amador, at 8:00 p.m.

"The Undertaker", "Booker T", "Chris Benoit" and the current SmakDown champion, Rey Misterio, are some of the stars expected to participate in the event, the tickets of which are for sale at Video Avenue stores. Cost is $25, $50, $75, $100 and $150. For more information, e-mail to esther@showpro.com.pa

Sonyeon Lee started her career at age three.

Korean-American pianist Sonyeon Lee will offer the second recital of the 2006 regular season of the National Concert Association. The performance will be on Tuesday, June 13 at La Huaca Theater of Atlapa Convention Center, at 8:00 p.m.

The career of 23-year-old Sonyeon Lee started virtually in the cradle. At age three, Life magazine published a complete article on the virtuosa, who by age 6, was playing at the presidential palace of the Philipines during the administration of Corazón Aquino. Since then, her career has stayed on a high plane with performances at Carnegie Hall and the Avery Fisher Hall.

More recently, Lee won first prize at the 2005 Concert Artists Guild International Contest, and received the Victor and Sono Elmaleh Award, and the R.G. Niederhoffe Audience Prize, among other distinctions.

A chamber-music enthusiast, Lee has participated in the Ravinia, Marlboro and Spoletto festivals and has traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Americas. Holding a master's degree from Julliard School, Lee currently lives in New York.

Tickets cost $30 for the general public, $15 for musicians and $5 for students with ID, and are for sale at the Allegro music shop (Calle 73, San Francisco), Exedra Books (Via España and Via Brasil) and at the offices of the National Concert Association, tel.: 214-7236.

Puerto Rican star Daddy Yankee.

Reggaeton fans will enjoy the upcoming performance of Puerto Rican star Daddy Yankee, scheduled for Wednesday, June 14 at Figali Convention Center, in Amador.

One of the pioneers of Reggaeton, Daddy Yankee (a.k.a. Raymond Ayala), is a native of Santurce, Puerto Rico. Launching his career in the mid-1990’s, Daddy Yankee’s popular hits have reached top positions in the charts of places as far as Spain, Italy and Japan. His best known productions include "El Cartel de Yankee", "El Cangri.com", and more recently, "Barrio Fino en Directo".

A combination of Jamaican reggae, salsa, "Bomba" and other Latin American rhythms, Reggaeton originated in Panama, according to experts, in the mid-1990’s, but soon spread to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the United States and Mexico.

Tickets for sale at all Video Avenue stores.

Panama’s Alliance Francaise presents the spectacle "El Ensayo" ("The Rehersal"), a modern dance show featuring Olympic Starz, a French Hip-hop ensemble, on June 3 at the National Theater, at 6:30 p.m.

Olympic Starz is one of France’s first professional Hip-hop groups. It is directed by its founder, Abdoul Djouri, a versatile dancer who specializes in contemporary and classic styles. The group is currently on tour throughout Central and South America.

Admittance is $2.00. For more information, call: 223-7376 or 223-5792

Hello Explorers!

The fun we Explorers are having seems to be spreading by word of mouth (or should I say by word of email) around the world. We have had a number of emails just in the last month from countries as far away as England, Germany, Australia, as well as both North and South America where the sender is asking to be added to our list. Everyone is welcome to join the Explorers, as there is no membership fee, age, country, etc. limitations. The purpose of the Expat Explorers Extra Events is to broaden our horizons in all healthy ways whether living in, or even visiting Panama.

Thus, if you are reading this in "The Visitor" Newspaper - please feel free to write in if you want to join us at any event! New friends are being made, life is being enjoyed, and we are getting to know more about Panama alongside others with the same type of interest.

Extra events are added, and adjustments sometimes have to be made throughout the month, so please be sure to check in, and bookmark our calendar at: http://calendar.yahoo.ca/expatsinpanama

Wednesdays - 7:00PM – Bridge Night: Sheila Hawes. She will be orientating those Expats who fit in any category (beginner to pro). Location: Siciliano's Marilyn Monroe Room - no charge. Please send all RSVP's, and questions to Sheila via email: silversurfer428@hotmail.com

(Today) - June 2nd - Panamanian Typical Dance Performance - Majestic Casino/Jazz Bar.

We have been invited to watch the beautiful performance of Typical Panamanian Dance, with full dress at the Majestic Casino in the Jazz Lounge. The show itself does not start until 9:00pm, and lasts 45 minutes. No admission fee.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4th - Expat Drop-in and English literature Book Exchange - Siciliano's starting 4:00pm.

Emmanuel of Siciliano's Cafe has now offered one of his conference rooms for a regular Expat Explorer Sunday afternoon drop-in and Book Exchange.

TUESDAY, June 6th - Happy Hour and Registration Night - Rino's Restaurant starting at 6:00pm.

Explorer Events now fill up quickly. We have to do a "first paid, first taken" basis. Rino's Restaurant is located on the corner of Fredrico Boyd and Calle 49. An RSVP email in advance of reg night with mention of the event you are interested in would also be appreciated.

THURSDAY, June 8th - ART SHOW - As a premier to a large show coming in August, the Explorers have been invited to preview the unique works of Marco Luque, a talented Panamanian artist at Edu Art Gallery. There will be other local artists' paintings/styles available as well.

MONDAY - JUNE 12th
EXPAT SOCIAL! at JIMMY'S PARRADILLA, in front of ATLAPA.

Registration starts at 6:00pm. Cost of the buffet is $12 including tax (but not tip). Jimmy's offers both airconditioned and a beautiful open air balcony. More information and pictures will be posted on www.expatsinpanama.com

FRIDAY- JUNE 10th - We are thinking about renting a Chiva Party Bus - but need a commitment of 20 people. The cost is $20/person and includes three hours of touring the city of Panama with live music and all you can drink (Seco & Beer). Please write in and let us know if you are interested! expatexplorers@expatsinpanama.com

JUNE 16th -18th
HEALTH & WELLNESS INFORMATION & EXPLORATION WEEKEND focusing on information, locations, and services available for mental, physical, and insurance health. More arrangements are being made. Further details will be released on the next update.

FRIDAY, June 16th, - 5:00pm
Self-Awareness Workshop Session #1
Beginner MEDITATION (for all ages) RSVP.
Presented by: Event Host & Life Coach Jamuna Burry.

SATURDAY - June 17th - 9:30am
TO YOUR HEALTH!
Tour & Explanation of BIOFLEX Wellness Center

A Wellness center specializing in the over-50 crowd (but all ages are welcome!) that works directly with your medical history, conditions, and even your doctor! Cholesteral levels, blood pressure, etc. are monitored by certified professionals on a constant basis. We encourage everyone to join us on this tour of a facility that is much more than a fitness center. Visit www.bioflex.com for a peek! Please RSVP, transportation may be available.

TUESDAY - June 20th - 8:00am

METROPOLITAN PARK - Nature Walk and photo opportunity! Just on the edge of the city is the beautiful "Parque Metropolitano". Not only is there wildlife to see, but the most breathtaking views and photo opportunities of the city are at its peak. Minimum 6 people, max 8. Costs are $4/person for guide & entrance.

SATURDAY - June 24th - We're finally going to do it! The Big One.
TRANSIT THE PANAMA CANAL!
Starts and finishes at the Causeway. RSVP & Prepayment necessary

The cost for a partial transit is $105 per person which includes lunch, sodas and water (all you can drink) and a bilingual guide. Check in is at 9:30 a.m. in the Flamenco Marina located at the end of the Amador Causeway.

SUNDAY - June 25th - 4:00pm
SQUARE DANCING LESSONS
Learn or Watch - no charge.

Event Hosts: Richard & Sandy Abell

"Panama Sunday Squares" is now offering square dance lessons. Choice of start dates, either the 18th or the 25th. No charge or obligation to participate in this class. People are invited and welcomed as couples or singles. The class (approximately 1 hour) will be held each Sunday at 4:00 pm in the church hall at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Balboa. Anyone wishing to may remain, watch, and socialize while the regular club dancers continue dancing until around 6pm. Participants usually bring refreshments and have a cooperative participation plan. Persons graduating from this class will have an opportunity to join the club. Location: St. Mary's Catholic Church in Balboa.

MONDAY, June 26th - 5:30pm
TRAVEL THRU SPAIN - On a virtual
WINE TASTING TOUR!

RSVP is a NECESSITY

This weekend:

The spectacle's creater, Kenneth von Heidecke.

This weekend, visitors in Panama City are in for a world-class ballet performance. "Dracula", a choreography creation of Kenneth von Heidecke, will be performed at the National Theater June 1-2, at 8:00 p.m.

Described as a "Gothic spectacle of mystery and passion", the stage performance of "Dracula" will feature 27 dancers of the National Ballet of Panama and Escuela Nacional de Danza of the National Institute of Culture. Von Heidecke has traveled to Panama to coordinate the event, which will include symphony pieces by Franz Liszt. Each show encompasses three acts and lasts approximately one hour and twenty minutes.

Tickets cost $5.00, $10.00, $15.00 and $25.00. For more information, call 211-4942/269-2375.

The Choreographer

Kenneth von Heidecke is the creator of more than 80 opera and ballet productions in Europe and the United States.

His works have been performed in prestigious venues such as the Lincoln Center (during the opening of the 1999 season of the New York City Opera); the Kennedy Center, the Washington Opera and Los Angeles’ Music Center.

In 1995, he was the chief choreographer of the Gymnastic Olimpic team of the United States. In 1990, he founded the Von Heidecke Ballet Festival in Chicago, as well as the Von Heidecke Ballet School.

For one hundred years J.M. Barrie´s heart-warming story "Peter Pan" has been delighting children everywhere. Movies, plays, cartoons have all been dedicated to the theme. The latest interpretation is "Peter Pan on Ice" which Panamanians can enjoy at the Figali Convention Center from May 31 to June 4. The thrills of a spectacular ice show, with its colorful costumes and daring leaps and twirls in addition to the well-loved tale should make for an unforgettable event. The show started its world tour in November in France, visiting Russia, Latvia, Poland, Italy, Germany before making its way to Panama, and thence to Chile.

Visitors are invited to the "Second Universal Festival of Giant Carriages" –an activity organized by Panama’s Hindu community, on June 10.

A parade will start at 2:00 p.m. from Plaza Edison on Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro (Via Tumba Muerto), and will end at the Hindu Temple, (which is located on a small hill overlooking the Bethania neighborhood, off Via Tumba Muerto) where visitors will enjoy dance performances, theater, concerts and cultural exhibits from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Panama’s Hindu community descends from the thousands of laborers brought from India in the early 20th century to build the Panama Canal. A large percentage of Hindu citizens decided to make Panama their home after the Canal’s opening in 1914 and many of their descendants became prosperous businessmen. The majority of the stores located in the vicinity of Plaza Cinco de Mayo are Hindu-owned.