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PDM Promoters, partners extol success of 8th Awaodori Festival
The 8th Awaodori Festival last Friday evening enjoyed a large turnout, prompting Paseo de Marianas Promoters, Inc. and organizers to declare the annual Japanese street dancing performance a success.
Presented by the non-profit group PDM Promoters, Inc., the annual festival featured more than 30 members of the Saipan Awaodori Team performing alongside over 10 Awaodori dancers from the Tokyo Tensuiren, Aoeshin-Ren, and Benkei-Ren groups from Japan.
They kicked off their performance at the Fiesta Resort and Spa followed by a three-stage dance performance at PDM.
The group showcased choreographed street dances accompanied by music from traditional Japanese instruments, to the delight of visitors and community members.
PDM Promoters coordinator Sonia Siwa said the turnout was very good.
“It was successful. We had a lot of guests attend to watch the performers and the other performances during the festival,” Siwa said.
Aside from the Awaodori dancers, CNMI Do Matsuri Group and a ukulele performance by Larry Lee and Mike Johnson wowed the crowd made up by tourists and members of the local community.
A raffle drawing was also held, to the delight of everyone who attended the program.
The Awaodori groups performed as well in front of hundreds of community members and visitors at the Garapan Street Market last Thursday.
The Saipan Awaodori Festival is a platform for cultural exchange between the two island nations in the Pacific. It promotes the tourism industry and tourism-related activities not only to potential Japanese visitors but also to the Saipan Awaodori dancers as they participate not only in dancing but also in conducting monthly cleanups in the Garapan area.
