Visayan Sinulog group shines in NZ carnival

MANILA, Philippines –  The Sinulog Dance Troupe of the Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ) was crowned grand champion in the First Auckland International Carnival held at the Ellerslie Event Centre in Auckland City recently.

The KBNZ troupe wowed the judges and the audience with their seven-minute contest piece that mashed up modern electronic beat with the traditional Sinulog anthem. Forty dancers, synchronized in their choreography that had sprinklings of Latin and Zumba, added to the wave-like movements of the dance of praise.

Choreographer Melodi Jam Parado, a Dance Sport champion and certified Zumba instructor, commended the troupe for their performance. What distinguished the KBNZ group from the rest was the presence of its queen (15-year-old Ina Esclamado) who gracefully moved through the troupe and was raised up in the final minutes of the number.

Ching Mandawe, chair of the Cultural Committee of KBNZ, received the award and the $5,000 cash prize. She thanked the organizers for giving opportunity to Filipino migrants to participate and showcase their culture. Camille Nakhid, chair of the board of judges, said “KBNZ was the best.”

The competition featured dances of different ethnicities including Chinese, Thai, Indian, Brazilian, Chilean, Ethiopian, Polish and Korean. Other participants came from Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Ukraine, Eritrea, Burundi and Cook Islands. The Brazilians had five samba groups from the major cities in New Zealand.