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Folklorico Filipino Canada, a Canadian-Filipino dance company drew
acclaim in the 6th Annual Asian Heritage Month Gala Concert held at
the Theatre of the Canadian Museum of Civilization on April 26.
The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa arranged the
participation of the dance company to represent the Philippines in
this dance concert sponsored by the Asian Heritage Month Society.
The concert was a cultural fusion that brought
together the traditional and contemporary featuring many exceptional
Asian Canadian performers. It showcased ten performing groups from
across the pan-Asian spectrum.
Besides Toronto’s world renowned Folklorico
Filipino Canada, performers included the veteran Chinese Beijing
Opera singer William Lau; the jazzy South Asian sound of guitarist
Adam Duncan, accompanied by saxophonist Linsey Wellman and Tabla
musician Ravi Singh; the renowned Montreal Er Hu artist, Shen Qui,
with the accomplished cellist Luo Di; the Upasana School of Dance,
featuring contemporary classical Indian dance; Japanese Soprano
Noriko Hashimoto; the Indonesian Gamelan music ensemble with a
Javanese dance troupe; traditional Korean dancer Jayoon Jung;
Toronto’s Folklorico Filipino Canada; Pakistani raag malkauns
music ensemble, and Vietnamese singer Ivy O.
Sen. Vivienne Poy, together with Canadian
government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and
members of various Asian communities applauded the excellent
performance of the Folklorico Filipino Canada and congratulated
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Jose Brillantes together with Consul
Shirley Banquicio and a proud Philippine Embassy staff who were
special guests in the audience.
The Toronto based Folklorico Filipino Canada has
been entertaining Canadian and international audiences for 34 years.
In 1973, a small group of Filipino immigrants formed the dance
company to showcase Filipino culture. The innovative style of
Folklorico Filipino Canada, modernizing the Philippine folk dance
culture, has made them distinct and recognized worldwide.
The company’s mission is to research and
preserve the indigenous Philippine art forms in costumes, forlklore;
and to promote international goodwill through performances in Canada
and abroad. The company has performed in Poland, Ukraine, France,
Spain, Mexico, Estonia and Bulgaria. It is a multiawarded dance
company nationally and internationally.
The Embassy hosted the 17-member Folklorico
Filipino Canada at the Travel Lodge Hotel, Ottawa East. Ambassador
Brillantes thanked the group with a breakfast get-together the
following morning at the Official Residence, Tahanang Rizal. Embassy
staff attended to the Folklorico Filipino Canada during their
performance as well as their stay.
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