Getting Our Start in COLorado
Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu offered its first class in Colorado in February of 1993. Prior to instructing others, Shifu Solow would practice in the aerobics room of the East Boulder Community Center. Lance Melting, the weight room attendant at the Center would often watch Shifu Solow through the windows of the room. After some time observing, Lance asked Shifu Solow to be accepted as a student to which Shifu actually responded with an emphatic “no”… he was not accepting any students at that time. Lance, not being one to give up easily, was pretty determined, kept at it to the point where, finally, Shifu Solow, in February of 1993, gave in with the caveat that Lance find another person to train as so much of Hung Mei’s content is based on applications practice. Lance recruited his brother-in-law and Shaolin Hung Mei – Colorado kicked off.
We purchased our first Lion in November of 1994. At the time, none of our members had ever seen, let alone perform, Lion Dance. Our first performance was for the pre-school children, 3 – 5 year olds, attending the Friends British Primary School… January 27, 1995. From that auspicious start we jumped to the Denver Center of Performing Arts performing for the State’s “Legislators Night”, February 2, 1995.
The first photos we have were taken in February, 1994, at our first promotion.
Everything we owned in 1994
The entire student body at the first promotion in 1994
We purchased our first Lion in November of 1994. At the time, none of our members had ever seen, let alone perform, Lion Dance. Our first performance was for the pre-school children, 3 – 5 year olds, attending the Friends British Primary School… January 27, 1995.
Lion Dance at the Friends British Primary School.
From that auspicious start we jumped to the Denver Center of Performing Arts performing for the State’s “Legislators Night”, February 2, 1995. In preparation for the performance at the Denver Center, the students fabricated banners, hand cutting and sewing characters on to satin cloths all the while enjoying some pizza and refreshments.
Our new banners hanging from the ceiling of the Helen Bonfils Theater, Denver Center of Performing Arts.
Following the performance, SHMKF was featured in “Applause” magazine, the journal published by the Denver Center of Performing Arts.
Within that same month, February, 1995, with the help of the Denver branch of the Organization of Chinese Americans, SHMKF kicked off the first of a long tradition of 28 consecutive years of Chinese New Year performances at Denver’s Far East Center.
Our only mode of transportation in 1995.
The “team” setting up for its first Chinese New Year at the Far East Center – February, 1995.
The article in the Colorado Chinese News covering our first performance at the Far East Center – the beginning of a new tradition.
What’s Chinese New Year without long noodles for long life and some sea bass for prosperity? The team enjoys a meal before our first CNY event at the Empress Restaurant in Denver.
And, after dinner… our first Kung Fu show in a restaurant performed in celebration of Chinese New Year.
Jumping to April of 1995, we celebrated SHMKF’s second promotion for rank conducted in Colorado.
By 1995, we had a lot more “stuff”…
And our members were working pretty hard.
Many prestigious events, such as the highly regarded Cherry Creek Arts Festival (well more than 100,000 attendees over Independence Day weekend), July 1 – 3, 1995, quickly followed.
Performing Arts Festival, September 30, 1995:
Under the atrium at the Denver Center of Performing Arts.
Thank you note from The City and County of Denver for our participation in the Festival.
Denver’s “Passport to Asia” Festival, October 1, 1995:
Mr. John Hsu, Denver’s Asian Philanthropist of the Year – 1995, “dotting the eyes” of our new Lion at the annual “Passport to Asia” Festival.
Thank you note from the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific Development Center for our participation in the Passport to Asia Festival.
We were asked to lead Boulder’s then annual Children’s Halloween Parade, October 12, 1995, leading almost 1,500 children down the Pearl Street Mall wit our Lions and banners.
Thank you note from Downtown Boulder, Inc.
The Grand Re-Opening of the Denver Public Library following major renovations and expansion:
Thank you note from the Denver Public Library
Whew… as reported by these few examples, 1995 was a very busy year…
We managed to also squeeze in our third Promotion for Rank in early December.
By the end of 1995, we had even more “stuff”… Most of our equipment – from the Shrine to the banners to the drum stand to the weapons rack – was built by our own members!
Students demonstrating two-person, application techniques.
Last… and to finish out the year, we performed at “First Night – Colorado”, an event created to provide a family friendly way in which to celebrate the New Year.
“First Night Colorado” at Elitch Gardens” amusement park – with the Ferris Wheel in the background.
