Leyte dance troupe wows audiences in Switzerland

A dance troupe from the Leyte province wowed audiences in Switzerland after it represented Asia at an international festival held there late August. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Switzerland, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine Leyte Kalipayan Dance Company (LKDC) impressed the audiences at the International Folklore Festival held in Fribourg, Switzerland from August 25 to 30. “The public was particularly impressed by the projection and artistic performance of the Singkil as executed by the LKDC, who were later featured on national television because of its unique choreography, gracefulness and colorful costumes," it said. The DFA said the troupe joined participants from Argentina, Armenia, Benin, Colombia, Cook Islands, and Poland as “goodwill ambassadors" from the five continents. The opening ceremonies were held at the University of Fribourg on August 25 where the local government and university officials, as well as guests from the diplomatic corps and international community, were invited. The International Folklore Festival Fribourg in Switzerland was founded in 1975. It is a member of the International Council of Organizations for Folklore Festivals and Folk Art 8CIOFF9, a non-government organization affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is the only Swiss event of its kind to be held annually. The festival invites authentic or traditional groups accompanied by music on period style or faithfully reproduced instruments and traditional. Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Maria Theresa Lazaro said the LKDC’s participation in the event “is a recognition of the Filipino artistry, ingenuity, and creative sophistication." The LKDC has been performing in the country and abroad since 1961. The group continues to educate and entertain audiences while promoting Filipino culture with the support of its alumni, the Kalipayan Cultural Foundation, the governments of Leyte province and the city of Tacloban, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Commission for Culture and Arts. - GMANews.TV