PHOTOS: The Year of the Rabbit, Celebrated in Holmdel

Last Saturday, the young students at the Jersey Shore Chinese School, which is based in Holmdel, shone brightly on stage for the annual Chinese New Year celebration. The brightly colored performers' costumes contrasted against the dramatic red backdrops, and when they paused during a dance, the blue screens of a a hundred digital cameras rose out of the audience to capture the moment. 

Enjoy a slideshow of the annual event. The event was offered free to the community. I brought along six kids, ages 4 through 12, and save for breaks at the vending machine, they mostly sat entranced for the dances with bowls and yo-yos and fans and parasols, and were amazed to see the raucous Lion Dance and Dragon Dances begin by bursting through the rear doors, weaving their way through the audience. (You'll just have next year to come see what I mean.)