Filipinos’ dance mainstay in Toronto off to Azores festival

The Singkil, a regal Maranao dance, as performed by members of the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada. PHOTOS BY MARISA ROQUE

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — A staple of the Filipino cultural scene in the Greater Toronto Area, Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada, flew  to the Azores, Portugal, August 7 to perform at an international dance fest.

Thirty-two members of Fiesta Filipina form the contingent that will participate at the 31st International Folkdance Festival of Azores. The troupe was invited by the Comite Organizador de Festivais Internacionais de Ilha Terceira (COFIT).

Twelve international participants will tour the Azores from August 9 to 15, performing in several venues throughout the island and exposing audiences to the dances and cultural offerings of the12 nations.

Fiesta Filipina founder, Estring Aguinaldo, gets costumes ready for the Portugal trip.

The troupes include Yung Ping Performing Art Group (Taiwan), Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe (Philippines), Dainava (Lithuania), Beykoz Belediyesi Halk Dansiari Ekibi (Turkey), Carney School of Irish Dancing (Ireland),  AVAS Tancegyuttes (Hungary), Ensemble Folklorique Mackinaw (Canada), Halleluya Time Tikva (Israel), Ballet El Trebol (Argentina), Thuringer Folklore Tanzensemble Rudolstadt (Germany), Set Folklorico Mi Orgullo es Panama (Panama), and Folk Group of the House of the Poeple of Sao Caetano, Group of Sargaceiros House of Apulia People, and Folk Group of Corredoura (Portugal).

Only a small portion of the many awards Fiesta Filipina has garnered for showcasing Filipino culture through dance.

Fiesta Filipina was founded in April 1996 by the late Onofre “George” Aguinaldo, together with his wife, Estrellita.

In 2016, Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada will celebrate 50 years of training and sharing Philippine culture through music and dance.

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