Star Ballroom Dance Studio opened in 1990, and its website has many photos from previous Lunar New Year celebrations, showing people smiling and dancing in party clothes in its large, brightly lit ballroom.
Most of its patrons are middle-aged or elderly, although children also attend youth dance classes, according to a teacher at the studio, who asked not to be named.
“They are normal working people,” said the teacher. “Some are retired and just looking for exercise or social interaction.”
A flyer posted on the website advertised a Saturday night New Year’s party, which runs from 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
According to 30-year-old Tiffany Chiu, who was celebrating at her parents’ house near the ballroom, some people mistook it for New Year’s fireworks.
“A lot of older people live here, it’s usually really quiet,” she said. “It’s not something you expect around here.”