HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Dragons and lions danced to life Saturday in southeast Albuquerque as the community celebrated the Chinese New Year. The Chinese Culture Center, Lin’s Martial Arts Academy, played host the annual gathering that features the traditional dragon and lion dances as well as martial arts demonstrations, drumming and other sights and sounds.

This year marks the Year of the Pig, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.

ROBERTO E. ROSALES/JOURNAL A lion dance performance is captured Saturday during the Chinese New Year celebration at the Chinese Culture Center, Lin’s Martial Arts Academy, in southeast Albuquerque.

The head of the 60-foot Chinese dragon, manipulated by a members of the dance team, is spotted as it makes its way onto the performance area Saturday.