The Pasayaw will be held at Grand Park L.A. Oct 4th
For registration and more info please call Geo at 818 523 4097
The PASAYAW at the festival is aimed to give the festival a cultural flavor. The opening number of the program is a RIGODON DE HONOR participated in by the dance pairs who will sign up to the program. At a recent meeting, when some of the young members of the board, (born to immigrant parents and raised in the U.S.) were asked if they know the Rigodon...they admitted that they did not know of it. So, when we explained the history of the dance, they were very excited to the concept of having a dance exhibition of it. It was refreshing to see the excitement on the faces of our second generation Filipinas. They are hungry to learn. I was so moved and inspired by their reaction.
Right here, we see the value of this program. As an immigrant, I try to infuse the Filipino heritage to my children, so they do not ever forget their roots. As a Filipino, we must undertake to do this at large. AND, Pasayaw is an opportunity! Please help us find dance pairs who will be willing to participate. Here are some reasons why.
- They will dance to Filipino music in the dance number beat that they will draw randomly at an appointed time, i.e tango, rhumba, cha cha, waltz, fox trot.
- The costumes will have a Filipiniana motiff but they will be allowed to "modernize" it. Some designs will be suggested to them, from the Thumbelina Atelier, designer of haute couture gowns and craft maker of Julia Roberts' tiara, custom made for her wedding.
- There will be 2 rehearsals of the Rigodon de Honor as the opening number before the dance exhibition starts.
- The program will be emceed by Ms. Jannelle So.
- 3 judges will be invited.
- I am trying to reach out to Cheryl Burke as a special guest....I hope I can pull this off.
- TFC is a media sponsor, the Pasayaw may be featured.
- The PASAYAW will be introduced at the festival for the first time this year and will be called PASAYAW 2014. It is hoped that subsequently the program will be titled by year, and will create an alumnae/alumnus base of dancers. This then puts a cultural significance to the program, year after year, after year. Who's to say that this cannot grow into an actual cultural program of prominence and be the mainstay of a Filipino American Cultural Center?
- This year's dancers will be the pioneer group. I will propose to the board that during the 25th anniversary in 2016 the pioneer group will be honored as the groundbreakers. They will become part of the history of FilAm ARTS.
- Winners will have the opportunity to be invited to other events for dance exhibitions, one of which is on Oct. 18th at a FASO big band all night dancing event.
- A live big band will be playing; Filipino American Symphony Orchestra
- Many other exciting plans are in the works.
So you see, dear kapwa Pilipino...in our humble way, through this program of FilAm ARTS we will be contributing to an elusive dream; to be culturally present in mainstream America. If you have the resources and the ability to boost this program, I urge you to do so. It is very Filipino! Represent! Represent!
