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Cultural dance group to compete in South Korea
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Posted on Sep 16 2011
The Inetnon Gefpa’go Cultural Arts Program has been invited to compete in the Folk Dance Competition in Cheonan City, South Korea from Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.
Only a select group are chosen and invited from around the world, and because of the group’s recent European tour in 2010, they were selected.
“This is an invitation only competition and promises to bring in the very best of folkdance from around the world. It is also significant to our island as this is the first time that Guam will compete in such an event,” said Vince Reyes, executive director of the program and dance instructor.
Just this year alone, they attended competitions in the Philippines and Korea, walking away with the Most Popular Performance and Best Folklore Performance awards, respectively.
Countries participating in the Korea competition include Kosovo, Russia (Khabarovsk), Malaysia, Slovakia, Georgia, Italy, Polynesia, China, Estonia, Indonesia, Guam, Singapore, Poland, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Mexico (Moots), Mexico (Estampas), Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil, Bulgaria, Tuva, Turkmenistan and Sierra Leone.
Inetnon Gefpa’go is an award-winning program whose mission is to promote awareness and pride in the Chamorro Heritage through performance arts.
This is accomplished through youth interaction with traditional Master Artists, community presentations and cultural exchange. Membership in the group begins in middle school, where students undergo extensive cultural arts and dance training to be selected as part of the school’s performing group. Membership then continues into the community-based, high school and adult after-school program. Here they further their cultural learning, continue performing throughout the island and represent Guam at major tourism promotions and festivals around the world.
