History and Background
The Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe of the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies consists of students and graduates of the Philippine Studies Program of the university. It had its beginning in November 1994 when the Philippine Studies Program presented an original Filipino musicale at the university乫s annual cultural festival. The presentation included a number of folk dances and songs. However , it was the troupe乫s performance at the farewell party for then Philippine ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon, Jr.(who is again the present ambassador), as well as at a seminar sponsored by the Tokyo office of the Philippine Department of Tourism that gave the impetus for the formal organization of the dance troupe.
The troupe has been active in Japan since then and has performed in about
150 programs organized by both foreign and Japanese organizations. Most
of the troupe乫s performance the variety and uniqueness of Philippine culture.
Local Filipino communities, local governments, non-governmental organizations(NGOs)
and schools have also invited the troupe in many of their cultural events.
In April 1997, the troupe had its first overseas performance in the Philippines
during the International Dance Day Festival sponsored by the National Commission
on Culture and Arts(NCCA) of the Philippines, held at San Carlos University
in Cebu City. It was during this event that the troupe met Mr. Ramon Obusan
of the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group and since then, he and his dance masters
have assisted the troupe in technical training and repertoire.
Ever since the performance in Cebu in 1997, the troupe has been annually performing in the Philippines in connection with the Japan-Philippines Friendship Month sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Manila, as well as the Arts Month by the NCCA, in February and March. The troupe has performed not only in Metro Manila but also in major cities such as Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban and Baguio. Part of the troupe乫s overseas repertoire included several Japanese folk dances and songs, and a Japanese drum performance.
In June 2002, the troupe was invited by then Philippine ambassador to Singapore,
Jesus Yabes, to perform for the Philippine Independence day celebration.
It was the first overseas performance of the troupe outside the Philippines
and Japan. In March 2005, the troupe was invited to perform at the Philippine
Culture Night sponsored by the Filipino Cornell Association of Cornell
University in Ithaca, New York. The troupe also performed in Queens, New
York City upon invitation of the Foundation for Filipino Artists shortly
after that. In March this year, the troupe performed in Singapore again
upon the invitation of the National University of Singapore. The troupe
also performed at the RCBC Plaza in Makati in connection with the 50th
anniversary of the friendship between the Philippines and Japan. This performance
was sponsored by the Japanese embassy in Manila.
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Philippine Cultural Dance Troupe
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