|
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Parade ‘off-limits’ to guest dancers
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
UNLIKE previous Sinulog celebrations, guest contingents will not be allowed to join this year’s grand parade to avoid inconsistencies and confusion.
Officials of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. said yesterday that once a contingent registers, it is automatically considered a participant in the street dancing contest.
Ricky Ballesteros, executive director of the organizing committee for Sinulog 2004, said that last year, guest contingents affected the flow of the parade because of lack of coordination in choreography.
“So, we decided that there will be no more guest contingents this year. There are groups that want to join for the sake of offering themselves to the Sto. Niño but because there is no coordination, the parade is affected,” he said.
Experience
At least seven foreign and local guest contingents joined the parade last year.
No foreign delegation will take part in the grand parade on Jan. 18.
Ballesteros lamented that guest delegations that joined did not follow the guidelines set by the committee for the Sinulog-based and free interpretation categories.
Instead of dancing and following the prescribed movements, the dancers simply walked, which created a gap in the parade.
As of yesterday afternoon, 27 contingents from Cebu and other provinces already registered with the Sinulog Foundation office.
The 20 winning contingents in the Sinulog sa Lalawigan and Sinulog sa Kabataan will also be joining the parade, which will still follow the carousel route.
A special committee was also formed to monitor the costumes, props and choreography of the contingents to avoid any mishap.
Schedule
Novena masses for the opening salvo will be celebrated at the Basilica del Sto. Niño pilgrim center starting today.
At the City Council session yesterday, Sinulog 2004 over-all chairman Michael Rama urged all councilors to attend the 1 p.m. mass sponsored by the City Government.
There will also be a 4 a.m. “Walk with Jesus” procession from Fuente Osmeña to the basilica.
The annual puppeteer, higante and float competitions will also be held this year.
New awards will also be given, including the search for the Sinulog Festival Queen, the contingent with the “best musicality” and the best five-minute Sinulog video documentary.
On Jan. 16, the board of judges will choose 15 from among all female lead dancers, who will all be semi-finalists in the search for the 2004 Sinulog Festival Queen.
The best female lead dancer, who will be judged according to beauty, dancing talent and costume, will be awarded on Jan. 17, the day before the grand parade.
(January 8, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
|
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
