By Virgil Rafael
Long Island, New York
The top dancers of the Philippine Elite Dancers of New York represented the Philippines at the 2013 Multinational Cultural Festival. The festival was sponsored by the Asian-American Cultural Circle of Unity whose mission is to foster awareness and appreciation of the many different groups represented here in the United States.
The event, held on April 27, 2013 at the Roosevelt Hall of the Farmingdale State College in Farmingdale, New York featured a puppet show, martial arts and yoga workshops, multicultural booths, live performances, art and photo exhibits, outdoor food court, children’s activities, raffle drawings, corporate and small business vendors. The raffles were actually won by the two Elite dancers.
Standing from l-r: Heide Briffa, Emie Panganiban, Josie Martil, Virgil Rafael, Cristi Ras, Aileen Reyes, Donna Manzella.
Seated from l-r: Marissa de Guzman, Giselle Limbo Edgar
The Elite dancers who performed two Philippine national dances, the Subli and Tinikling are Giselle Limbo Edgar, Heide Briffa, Cristi Ras, Emie Panganiban, Donna Manzella, Aileen Reyes, Josie Martil, Marissa de Guzman (master choreographer) and Virgil Rafael (director).
The group will do special Tahitian and Hawaiian performances on May 18th at the Tanglaw Hawaiian Luau in Queens, and another Filipiniana performance on June 2 on stage after the Philippine Independence Day parade in Manhattan.
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