Chicago Kalinangan Dance Ensemble

By: Ryan Tejero

 

This newest cultural dance group in the FilAm community was organized out of the need to represent the Philippines at the Asian American Coalition Lunar New Year Dinner Gala held on February 8, 2020. With so many talented FilAms in Chicago, the group quickly formed through the coordinating efforts of Robert Chavez. While the dancers are signing up, a choreographer stepped in the plate in the person of Maritess Wynkoop. The challenge posed to the group was to present a Filipino folk dance. With the commitment and rehearsals of the dancers, the Chicago Kalinangan Dance Ensemble was born. It was a defi ning moment for the group where they received a roaring applause from a crowd of more than a thousand.

The Asian American Community hosts annually the largest Asian American gala event. This year marks its 37th year, and the event was held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare. This event was also participated by different Asian Americans to include the Bangladeshi, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Malaysian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Thai and Vietnamese communities. The Filipino group is represented by Lourdes Mon.

During the event, the group performed, Bulaklakan. It is a dance that displays the beautiful fl ower arches held by the dancers as they move gracefully in different formations. It is a dance to honor Santa Cruz de Mayo celebrations. Historically, the dance depicts the celebration of the fruits of labor, the beauty of the community and the simple and happy life of the natives. Following the huge success of the group’s debut performance, Kalinangan Dance Ensemble is looking forward for more performances. The goal of the group is to lead the FilAm community in staging traditional Filipino dances in a classy and tasteful renditions.

Chicago Kalinangan Dance Emsemble has formalized its group by electing their offi cers: President – Maritess Wyncoop, Vice President – Robert Chavez Secretary – Flor Castil, Treasurer – Gina Del Rosario, Auditor – Edwin Pineda, PRO 1 – Lindy Tan, PRO 2 – Lodi Po, Social Media Director – Neriza Pineda, Advisor – Lourdes Mon. Board of Directors: Susan Francisco, Mario Francisco, Sally Rose Gardner, David Belvis, Chaz Patron, Zanty Dela Cruz, Rose Lee, Jun Patron, Froilan Cabrera, Jessie Viado, and Julia Chavez. If If you want to support this group, please contact the Social Media Director, Neriza Pineda on her facebook page.