Sinulog 2010 fest to feature all Cebuano music and dances

CEBU CITY, July 14 -– Organizers of the Sinulog 2010 grand parade said they will feature Cebuano music and dances throughout the festival which celebrate its 30th anniversary in January 2010.

Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog Foundation Inc.’s (SFI) executive director, said they will focus on the Sinulog based dances and will feature Cebuano music and dances to educate both local and foreign tourists in the origin of the festival.

Ballesteros said the Sinulog’s theme will remain the same: “One Beat, One Dance, One Vision.”

But he said Sinulog 2010 will feature an all-Cebuano performance from dancers to musicians and other artists and will show the best that Cebu has to offer.

”Since this is a grander celebration, we want to go back to the roots of the Sinulog, to educate the Cebuanos, especially the youth, on how the festival started. We want to show what Cebu was and has become through the years. Everything will be about Cebu and its culture,’ he said.

Ballesteros said some locals don’t know that Cebuano dances exist, that is why the SFI will present them during the grand parade.

From the launching parade in early January to the finale of the grand parade on the third Sunday of the month, Sinulog-based performances will highlight all the programs and nightly concerts.

Although the focus is on Sinulog-based dances, the competition during the grand parade will still have the free interpretation category.

While the Sinulog-based dance can seem monotonous and plain to some spectators, Ballesteros said a lot can be done to make the performances extraordinary.

Starting this September, the organizers will hold dance workshops for all choreographers and Sinulog dances to guide them to explore and innovate to make their performances spectacular.

”We want to encourage them to research on the Sinulog evolution. There is a lot to explore. We have to go back to its roots so we can emphasize that this is the Sinulog. Since this is a bigger celebration, it’s time to showcase the bet of Cebu,” Ballesteros added.

SFI has started sending invitations to out-of-town contingents to ensure their participation in Sinulog 2010.

Since next year is an election year, Ballesteros said they expect more politicians to attend the festival.

He said they also expect more revelers spectators and foreign guests since Cebu will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the “biggest festival in the country.” (PNA) FFC/EB/ad

Source: http://balita.ph/2009/07/14/sinulog-2010-fest-to-feature-all-cebuano-music-and-dances/