Parade to Hindu temple

If you happen to see a magnificent chariot procession in El Dorado on its way north, don’t worry. It is not a lost Catholic procession still finding their way back to the church from Holy Week. It will be the Fourth Annual Ratha Yatra Festival and they will be on their way to the Hindu Temple.

On Saturday, April 5, the procession will leave Edison Plaza at 2:00 p.m. (sharp! -not Panama time) and make its way up to the Hindu Temple in the northern sector of the city. An invitation is open to everyone who would like to join the ceremony.

Mark the date!

Red Bull air race

World Champion air race pilot Kirby Chambliss.

Look up in the sky – it’s the Red Bull Air Race! For the first time ever in Panama, the skies over the Amador Causeway will be used as airspace for a flashy air show sponsored by the energy drink, Red Bull. World champion air race pilot Kirby Chambliss will push the limits of speed in his Edge 540T plane on Sunday, April 20 in what is being called “Formula One of the Air.” The event will be open to the public free.

Called “Red Bull Alas Sobre Amador” - wings over Amador the show will be a test run for Chambliss in preparation for a competition in San Diego in early May. The high-speed pilot will maneuver a 1.5 km course of inflatable obstacles, twisting and turning and defying physics just a few meters above sea level.

Competition.

“My team and I are excited to visit Panama City for the first time. I think it will be an excellent location for a Red Bull Air Race,” said Chambliss about his visit here. Spectators are sure to be equally excited to watch the champion pilot sustain 10 Gs of force at up to 450 km per hour in the skies over Panama Bay.

Movistar Music Fest is a mammoth 2-day show

Joey Montana

Movistar Music Fest is a great big show with multiple musical guests, put on by the Movistar cellular phone company on Saturday, April 5 from 5:00 p.m. late into the night and on Sunday , April 6 from 11:00 a.m. and all day long at Figali Convention Center. On Saturday, rock and pop groups will open up before DJ's spin into the night with electronic sounds and Sunday will be rock and reggeton. Both days, the partygoers will be able to enjoy live music, dancing and the bar.

Carlos Peña

The schedule for Saturday is: the group Post from Panama, Panamanian Alejandro Lagrotta, Panama's ultra-popular rock group Los Rabanes, Mexican pop-rockers Riek, Fiel a la Vega from Puerto Rico, then Panamanian DJs Tom Sawyer and Edward Allen followed by DJs Devero, Armand Peña and Robbie Rivera. Next, DJ Gary"Nesta" Pine, who is most famous for being the "My Dream is to Fly" vocalist for Bud Sinclaire will lead into Ministry of Sound, who will close the night.

Calle 13

On Sunday, American Idol Latino winner Carlos Peña of Guatemala will perform followed by Panamanian rocker Ivan Barrios. Then "Los Reggeseros Nacionales" made up of Junior Rank, Match & Daddy, Makano, Eddie Lover and El Rookie will have their turn. La Quinta Estacion, a Spanish pop-rock group will perform followed by Puerto Rican "reggetonero" Teo Calderon.

DJ Tom Sawyer

Mauricio y Palo de Agua, a Colombia rock group will then be followed by Joey Montana y Angel Lopez, a rock and ballad duo from Panama and Puerto Rico will open for Calle 13, who will perform reggeton zion.

El Rookie

Tickets are available at Blockbuster. General admission for one day is $15 or $20 for both days. VIP tickets cost $60 for one day or $75 for both. Movistar clients get a 30% discount for the purchase of the two day ticket only by presenting a copy of their contract or paid receipt and prepay customers must show a Movistar Music card. Call 223- 6611 or visit www.magicdreamspty.com

Theater Festival

The International Theater Festival of Panama will be held from April 3 to the 11th at locations around Panama City.

Featuring companies from 10 different countries including the United States, Cuba, Spain, Colombia and Mexico, the performances will take place at the Teatro Nacional, the Teatro Anita Villalaz, La Casona de las Brujas and the Plaza Catedral.

Tickets range in price depending on seat and theater locations. To find out more information call 279-1010.

Swiss piano concert

The Swiss Consulate will hold a piano recital featuring the world-renowned pianist Michael Thalmann on April 3 at 7:00p.m. at the Contemporary Art Museum on Avenida de Los Martires at Calle San Blas in Ancon.

Thalmann has played around the world and his interpretations have garnered international praise, especially for his work with other chamber music soloists.

"Musical Opinion" said Thalmann was, "an artist of deep intellect. This is music which is wholly true to itself and seems to owe little to any particular precedent".

For more information on the event contact the Swiss consulate at 262-3380 or 262- 8012.

Belly dance for fitness!

A “Cardiothon” will take place on Sunday April 6 at the Gimanasio Yuyin Luzcando in Betania. A mixture of aerobic exercise and belly dance will feature famous instructors including Sandybelle Stevenson, Leyla Salam and Afet and Malak Farah.

The event aims to promote physical fitness and begins 10:30a.m. It will end at 12:30p.m. and costs $10.