THE MassKara Festival dancers from Barangay Granada in Bacolod City will compete in Madison Square Garden, New York City in June this year.
Councilor Jason Villarosa, chairperson of the City Council committee on tourism, said Monday, March 13, that they received an invitation from the Philippine Independence Day Council in New York, United States of America (USA), in November 2022.
He said they are now processing the visas of the participants.
Barangay Granada was adjudged champion in the street and arena dance competition in October 2022.
Barangay Granada, which is already in the Hall of Fame, also bagged the awards for Most Disciplined and Best in Music.
They also won in the 2014, 2015, and 2016 MassKara street and arena dance competitions.
Villarosa said they will bring at least 25 dancers selected by the Barangay Granada team. Barangay Captain Alfredo Talimodao will also join the trip.
He said the expenses would come from the private organizations, and the local flights would be covered by the city government.
Villarosa noted that the Philippine Independence Day Council in New York earlier invited the Dinagyang Festival dancers and another group from Bohol to represent the Philippines, and this year, Bacolod MassKara dancers will represent the country.
After the performance in Madison Square Garden, Villarosa said the MassKara dancers will also perform in Canada, Los Angeles, and Long Beach, California.
In May 2023, the MassKara dancers were also invited by Korea to perform.
In 2019, the Bacolod MassKara dancers also performed in Long Beach, California.*