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Downtown block party will entertain

BY SONNY GANADEN / Special to the Star-Advertiser

For hundreds of years, Mayans recognized Quetzalcoatl, a feathered, serpent god of many things who sometimes took the form of a king. Tribute was paid in blood.

END OF THE WORLD BLOCK PARTY Where: Downtown, Honolulu When: Street party, 6-10 p.m. Friday; clubs, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Cost: Street party: Free, all ages. For ages 21 and over, wristbands, $15, provide one drink and access to clubs Nextdoor, thirtyninehotel, SOHO Mixed Media Bar, Indigo, Loft, Dragon Upstairs, Loading Zone and Hanks; for ages 18 to 20, $20 wristbands allow access to participating clubs; $7 wristbands (ages 21+) allow alcohol purchase on the street. Advance purchase: endoftheworldhonolulu.eventbrite.com Info: oospot.com, facebook.com/OdinWorks, facebook.com/dancersunlimitedhi, facebook.com/SoulgasmHawaii

Through what is arguably a mistranslation of a seventh-century inscription found in the debris of a forgotten Mayan tomb, archaeologists (in the broadest definition of the term) on the Internet and cable TV have inferred that the serpent king may rise up to collect his offerings on a date that coincides with tonight, leading to the destruction of human civilization.

Note: Millions of people of Mayan descent don’t believe that the world as we know it will end after tonight.

Nonetheless, celebrating during the darkest days of winter is a lasting tradition, apocalyptic vision or no.

Globally, ceremonies to mark the transition from winter’s decline to the optimism of an emerging spring are ingrained in tradition, and Dec. 21 also marks the date when days begin getting longer again at our latitude (assuming that we see another day). Communal gatherings, displays of finery and, most important, dancing, affirm our belief in renewal.

Some party like there’s no tomorrow. Some party to celebrate life, in all its potential.

CAMERON PEPPERS, who along with half a dozen other promoters is throwing the End of the World Block Party on the edge of Chinatown, has been planning for tonight’s end-it-all event since February.

“Yes, the world is going to end, and that is an excellent reason to throw a block party,” he says of the event, “but keep in mind we have events planned. We’ve got DJs Kutski and Jordan Suckley flying in from the U.K.”

Those DJs, along with DJ Alex Zelenka, will be playing past Armageddon, until 2 a.m. at Soho, 80 S. Pauahi St.

On five outdoor stages, attendees have their pick of live music to celebrate the winter solstice, including EDM (electronic dance music), tribal, punk, hip-hop and soul.

Demvir Macaraeg, a b-boy, dance instructor and member of the three-time World of Dance award-winning Beat Rock Krew, has teamed up with nonprofit Dancers Unlimited to present a hip-hop, break dancing and exhibition dance competition, “Skillztalk x Bboy in Shanghai,” as part of the rapture on the main stage.

“This is the first time we’re doing a joint event with ‘Bboy in Shanghai’ guys,” Macaraeg said of the battle.

Starting on Friday and continuing to Saturday (if the world still exists), nearly a hundred dancers will battle each other in three-against-three and one-on-one competitions.

“It’s a big deal,” Macaraeg said. “Local b-boys are usually low key, but this raises the stakes for all of us.”

Winners in the team competition will be flown to Shanghai in April to compete in the international Bboy in Shanghai finals. (For more on the Saturday finals in Waipahu, call Dancers Unlimited, 888-9858, or go to DUHawaii.com.)

Solo dancers compete to represent Hawaii in an international tour and teaching showcase in the Philippines.

LYANNE BROOKS, who organizes the popular monthly Soulgasm night for house and hip-hop dancers at thirtyninehotel, has brought in San Francisco house-music DJ Patrick Wilson for the club party. Wilson is described as “one of the true pioneers of the deep soulful house scene in the Bay Area.”

Soulgasm will also present a dance showcase featuring Fishboy, from Japan.

“We throw THE house party in Hawai’i,” Brooks said. “We’re into the enlightenment of the mind, body and soul.”

Joe Agogo, who organized the stage on Hotel Street for punk and alternative acts, also helped put together Nextdoor’s Broadcast night of live bands to follow.

“It’s basically a youth culture explosion,” Agogo said. “Everything is hit. It’s all ages, and we have some really great stuff for the straight-edge kids outside.”

Bottom line: Whether the doomsayers are wrong or right, and even if the world continues after tonight, we still have enough reason to dance.

STAGE PERFORMANCES:

Stage 1: Electronic dance music with DJs Alex Zelenka (Chicago), Errrick, SoundSex, Dirty Secret, CTLGD and a three-man battle between NightMarcher, Technique and Shift

Stage 2: Local reggae and Island music with Rebel Souljahz, Jimmy Weeks Project, DJ Hapa Boy and Cease Fyah

Stage 3: Live punk, indie and rock bands Black Square, Francis Knife, False Crack and The Sufferers

Stage 4: Tribal Hawaii

Stage 5: Skills Talk X Bboy in Shanghai (world b-boy dance battle qualifier)