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Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta in Guam
Members of Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta are in Guam to represent the CNMI at the 2015 Dinana Pa’a Taotao Tano Chamorro Dance Competition and Festival.
This is the first time that the group will be representing the CNMI as Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta.
The festival began Friday and lasted until Sunday at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.
“We are able to work on our budget,” Guma founder L.J. Castro said, who has been in Guam since early this week to assist the group.
The group has been soliciting funds from the community and raising funds through various activities and even in a crowd-funding website.
Castro, who is on his 10th festival as an instructor, said their group involves 23 performers and four musicians.
Board chair Elaine Cabrera they have been really busy during the days coming into the festival and that the group has been practicing daily since the start of the summer vacation.
This year’s festival theme is Silebrasion I Manaina-ta (Celebrating our elders) and will highlight Chamorro cultural dance, storytelling, historical play, arts and crafts, and other tradition.
It is the 12th year of the festival and is a signature event that brings Chamorro dance houses together. Aside from the CNMI and Guam, Chamorro dancers from Japan and the United States will also be joining.
Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta, one of the youngest dance groups in the organization of dance groups, is a non-profit that aims to give individuals an opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the Chamorro culture through visual and performing arts.
