May 5, 2003
Press Release
Filipino-American Association of Western Connecticut
Filipino welcome to spring: Aloha!
It's spring again and it's time for the Filipino-American Association of Western Connecticut to stage its Spring Dance 2003. Last Saturday, April 26, the Portuguese Club on Sandpit Road pulsated with the captivating rhythm of Hawaiian and Tahitian dances.
Some thirty strong dancers of the association's Tiare Polynesian Dance Troupe took the stage and thrilled about 200 Filipinos and their American guests with their rendition of Hawaiian and Tahitian numbers. Not exactly a Hawaiian luau but close to it, Filipinos and their American friends came in bright Hawaiian costumes and leis. They greeted and said aloha to each other. Though the weather was still nippy, the atmosphere in the second floor dance hall was as warm as the smiles on their faces.
The barefooted dancers in grass skirts swayed their hips and waved their hands, their bodies undulating to the haunting and hypnotic strains of guitars and drums. For one solid hour, they transformed the stage into an island paradise.
So much love and
labor went into this program. A lot of credit should go to the dance director Chona
Trinidad and to the dancers themselves who put in many hours of practice.
In the photo, standing from the right are: Riela Banez, Joanne Rasing,
Glizhelle Alarkon, Tricia Constantino, Alice Brual, Brenda Rasing, Yssa King, Elaine
Valera, Gigi Ampeloquio. Rita Jones, Mary Ann Weiss, Nona Malaguit, Lani Gonzales,Audrey
King, Christine Jones, Casey Frulla,Judy Evangelista, Camille Sison.
Standing on the back Are: (Pres.) Matty Bautista, (dir.) Chona Trinidad,
Ester Frulla and, Barbara Pretto.
Seated from the left are: Elana Sison, Liza Malaguit, Gillian Valera, Trisha
Ampeloquio, Jules Niedermeyer, Genna Valera, Chelsea Ampeloquio, Brittany Mortera and
Kristine Pretto.
Aloha to everyone!
Submitted by:
Virgilio I. Gonzales
Danbury, CT