Calendar of Events

$600,000 Tournament by PGA in Panama

The PGA will return to Panama with the Panama Movistar Championship Golf Tournament From January 24 to 27 at the Panama Golf Club in Panama City. With a $600,000 purse, the tournament will put Panama in the international golf spotlight through international media coverage. Panama is the first stop on The 2008 Nationwide Tour which will continue on to other countries as far apart as Mexico and New Zealand.

Of the 25 players competing, Mike Norman is the only national who will participate. Last year, the tournament was won by Argentine Miguel Carvallo, who finished four rounds in 274 strokes. The event is open to the public. Visit www.pgatour.com/h/schedule to see scores during the event and visit www.clubgolf.com.pa to see the course.

Motorcycle clubs meet over weekend

The Third International Motorcycle Meeting will be held with a series of two-wheeled events in Panama City from January 10 – 13. All clubs and individual riders are welcome to participate in the event. Inscriptions will be open throughout the event, beginning at the Amador Causeway at 1pm on Thursday January 10.

Other activities include a welcome dinner at Fiesta Casino at 6:00 pm on January 10, a ride over both the Bridge of the Americas and the Centennial Bridge on Friday at 10:00 am, lunch on the way and then dinner at Hooters. On Saturday the bikers will leave the Causeway at 9:00 am and tour the Miraflores Locks, up to Gamboa and then find their way back depending on traffic.

For more information call 214-9174, write apmpanama@cableonda.net or visit www.apm-panama.com

“The Expat Party”

Foreigners networking social promotes jobs, businesses and fun

Try a new way to promote your Panama business in Panama City. "The Expat Party" is catching on and attendees are growing in numbers at this new kind of get-together. Conceptualized by two local entrepreneurs, the party is an opportunity for all foreigners to mix, mingle and network with an international business crowd.

Instead of a traditional "open house", Ursula Kiener Ford (professional model and owner of Forlacol Insurance Company) and Steve Houston (General Manager of Panama Real Estate Group) decided to throw a party to promote their business and want others to join them to do the same. At previous Expat Parties, some newly arrived foreigners even found work with businesses owners seeking new talent. It is a great way to reach out into the local foreign business community and make contacts.

Parties have been held at local nightlife spots like "Crème Bar" in Bella Vista and "The Gallery" at New York Plaza off Calle 50. They start early, which allows people who work the next day or do not like to stay out too late an opportunity to have a drink and maybe even dance a little. And as if you didn't have enough reason to go already, drinks are always on "special" and they give away great raffle prizes!

Celebrity Golf for Charity

Celebrities like MLB big-hitter Ken Griffey will play golf for a good cause on January 17 at the Panama Golf Club in Panama City. In the First Golf Celebrity Tournament, 28 celebrities will participate under the The Omar Moreno Foundation to benefit children.

For $500, golfers can pair up in teams of four where one player will be a celebrity like MLB greats Ken Griffey, Dave "La Cobra" Parker, David Ortiz and Panamanian Manny Corpas. Panamanian boxers Esusebio Pedroza and Pelenchin Caballero will also participate along with Colombian soccer player El Pibe Valderrama and singer Fernando Villalona.

IPAT Minister Rubén Blades , Roberto Vásquez, Candy
Maldonado, Roberto Kelly, unknown, US Embassador
William Eaton, Omar Moreno, unknown, Laffite Pincay,
Tony Pérez.

Omar Moreno is a Panamanian baseball player who won the world series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Along with his family, he carries out charity works here to benefit Panamanian youth.

After the golf tournament, a dinner gala will be held at the US Ambassador's residence the following day, January 18.

Visite www.clubgolf.com.pa.

Country fairs calendar

Chiriquí and Veraguas are cattle and cowboy country.

The dry season in Panama means the start of country fair season. In the interior countryside towns and villages, each celebration has a distinct flavor, presentation or theme that reflects the people and traditions of the places they are held. But what they all have in common are throngs of visitors enjoying the music, food, arts and crafts and activities and a chance to connect with local culture.

Here is the calendar covering the coming months' country fairs for:

January 10 - 20: The International Flowers and Coffee Fair in Boquete, Chiriqui Province
January 7 - 20: The Agriculture Fair of Tanara, Chepo, Panama Province
January 16 - 21: The San Sebastian Fair of Ocu, Cocle Province
January 16 - 27: La Chorrera International Fair, Panama Province
January 25 - February 3: La Candelaria in Bugaba, Chiriqui
January 26: The Fair of Homemade Desserts will be in San Francisco de la Montaña, Veraguas Province
February 1 – 3: Santa Fe Fair, Veraguas Province
February 2-3: The Great West Indian Fair at the West Indian Museum, Panama City
February 13 – 18: Sona Fair, Veraguas Province
February 28 - March 2: The Santa Fe Fair, Darien Province
March 6 – 16: The San Jose International Fair in David, Chiriqui Province
March 12 – 16: The San Jose de Tole Fair, Chiriqui Province
March 16 -18: Chitra Fair in Calobre, Veraguas Province
March 27 - April 6: The National Fair in Colon, Colon (city)
March 28 through April 2: The Valle de Tonosi Fair, Los Santos Province
April 24 - May 4: The Azuero International Fair, Los Santos Province

Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece

Panamanian ballarinas, foreign dancers in The Nutcracker

By Jacob Ehrler

Panamanian ballerinas and several international male danseurs entertained audiences with a first-rate production of “The Nutcracker” in Panama City during two shows on December 26 and 27 at Atlapa Convention Center. The Panama City Mayor's office also sponsored a special performance for children from low income families to enjoy the presentation for free on the morning of December 26.

The adult male parts of the Tchaikovsky ballet were interpreted by talented men who flew here from all parts of the world for the production. The other 130 dancers were from the National Ballet and 13 other dance schools in Panama under the direction of Mark Cholewa from Poland. Strong commitment to quality was noted at all levels of production. Children brought a special energy to the ballet while the young ladies delivered an excellent performance with poise, control and grace. Top national ballerinas like Maruja Herrera de Victoria and Alexa Gutierrez danced with flawless beauty, impressing audiences that such high levels of excellence in dance are reached in this small country.

Producer Alida Gerbaud de Fabrega explained that her main goal with “The Nutcracker” was to bring culture to her country. She was thrilled to deliver a free performance for children who would not have otherwise had a chance to see the ballet and was conscious not to over-charge for the evening presentations (Tickets were available for as low as $10). Audiences rarely see such a well executed presentation produced locally. All 24 hand-painted backdrops and many costume pieces were shipped in "from Russia with love", framing the production with a superior gloss.

At the December 26 morning concert sponsored by Panama City Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro's office, children from the 21 districts of the city received coloring books with the ballet's characters, explanations of the plot and word games. They also had a quick briefing on "Theater 101": "Welcome to The Nutcracker! This may be your first time in the theater, so cell phones off! Please be very quiet and pay close attention to what you see on stage. This performance requires the utmost concentration by the dancers. And when you see something you like do applaud or shout 'Bravo!' Merry Christmas and enjoy The Nutcracker!"

As the curtain rose, the children were swept away into the fantasy world of this holiday favorite with music, majestic backdrops, fireworks and of course the impressive dancing. They jumped right in, applauding and trying out their best 'Bravo!'s at appropriate times. Few Nutcracker performances must have received such an excited applause when the snow began to fall at the end of the first act.

Series of concerts around the city

Jazz Festival will be big Pre-Carnival attraction

Catherine "Cat" Russell is the daughter of the late great Panamanian
pianist Luis Russell. Jazz enthusiasts are excited to hear this native New
Yorker sing and not only because her father worked with Louie Armstrong
and triumphed in New Orleans, Chicago and New York. With jazz in her blood,
her career has taken her around the world and up close and recording with
artists like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Dollie Parton, Issac Hayes and Joan
Osborne. She also toured with David Bowie. Her style and sound are compared
to that of the great ladies of jazz: Sarah Vaughan, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald
and Billie Holiday.

The Fifth Annual Panama Jazz Festival in Panama City will take place from January 21 to 26 with a series of concerts and workshops around the city. Proceeds from shows will be used to sponsor music scholarships for talented young Panamanians through The Danilo Perez Foundation.

Danilo Pérez is a pianist and composer of contemporary jazz, a
leader of his own ensembles, and a member of many other acclaimed
jazz groups. Notable for his insightful and innovative treatments of
the standard jazz repertoire and as a leading exponent of Pan-American
jazz music, Pérez is a shining beacon in the current generation of jazz
and Latin jazz musicians. He has earned three Grammy nominations,
numerous awards, and critical acclaim for his recorded works and
passionate live performances.

The main event will be a Gala Bolero Concert at the National Theater in Casco Antiguo, Panama City's Old Quarter, on Wednesday, January 23. Tickets are $150. Other performances will be held on January 24 and 25 at the Atlapa Convention Center at 8pm. Tickets are $40, $30, $20 and $15 dollars. Workshops will be held at the Atlapa Convention Center through January 25. The event will wrap up with a free concert at Cathedral Plaza in Casco Antiguo on Saturday, January 26 at 2 pm.

Dave Samuels is the top mallet player of his generation. He is recognized
for his fresh new sound and creative approach to both the vibraphone
and marimba. He has shown his versatility performing and recording
with such artists as Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Stan Getz, Frank
Zappa, Spyro Gyra and the Caribbean Jazz Project.

Workshops will be held by renowned music professors from international institutions such as the New England Conservatory, Berkley College of Music, the Puerto Rico Conservatory, the The Lonious Monk Institute of Jazz and the International Association for Jazz Education.

Tia Fuller Quartet is led by saxophonist Tia Fuller herself. She began
studying music at the tender age of three. She has worked along with
the John Faddies Jazz Orquestra, Nancy Wilson, Duke Ellington and
many others. She presently works as the Director of the Harlem Jazz
Museum and plays backup sax for superstar Beyonce.

Tickets may be purchased at Blockbuster locations or through The Danilo Perez Foundation On Via España at Via Argentina. Call them at 399-8874. Visit www.panamajazzfestival.com.

Kelly Johnson is the vocal leader of the Kelly Johnson Quartet. They have
performed all over the world and recorded at the renowned Birdland Club.
She was named the "Best Jazz Singer of the Northeast" by Earshot magazine
and she presently works as professor at the Cornish College of the Arts.

Stanley Jordan is an excellent guitarist and an improvisational vocalist
who has toured the world. He is known for creating innovative sounds on
the guitar through techniques known as "touch" and "tapping". He has
received several Grammy nominations.