Pinoy heritage dances at its finest with the Asheville Troupe

by Susan Palmes-Dennis

(Note: Will reserve my column for ‘Gala Of The Carolinas’)

Charlotte. North Carolina--Philippine dance appeals to people across all sections of society and nowhere was this proven than during the 32nd Gala of the Filipino-American Community of the Carolinas Inc. (FACC) held at the Hilton Charlotte Place last Nov. 16.

The Filipino American Association of Western North Carolina (FAS-WNC) dance troupe or “Asheville dance troupe” performed three dances namely the Sinulog, a mix of tinikling and subli and the third set to the tune of “Piliin Mo Ang Pilipinas (Choose Philippines) and they were warmly applauded by the 500 Gala attendees.

The mostly Filipino-American crowd were glued to what transpired on the stage and the display of graceful footwork and movement of the dancers especially the Pit Senyor dance performed during the annual Sinulog celebration in Cebu.

The second dance was a medley of subli/kalatong and tinikling and the crowd can only marvel at the skill and panache of the dancers. 

In a conversation I had with one of the dancers, Brian Rodriguez, he told me that they practice a month or more in advance for the events they were invited to perform. 

For special events like their own gala at Asheville, they even practice five months in advance, he said. 

“Most practices are three to four hours minimum,” said Brian who helps out the choreographer and director for the preparations. As the event draws near, their practices go overtime to eight hours rehearsal. 

The Asheville dance troupe is roughly composed of 50 people of whom 33 attended the 32nd FACC Gala.

'Day' (Mary Ann) and 'Doy' (Brian) 

It was learned the dance troupe was founded in 2001 by Mrs. Mary Ann Tan Ar who is the lead choreographer and director.  Among the dancers Mary Ann is affectionately known as “Day” and Brian is known as “Doy.” 

Mary Ann studied at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu where she was part of their dramatics group.  She is also an entrepreneur and has three businesses here in Asheville.

“The choreography we did at Charlotte, most of it is her original choreography,” Brian said. 

Brian admitted that the dance troupe have been extremely fortunate to have a number of talents here in Asheville.

When asked why he explained “we have a music director who edits our music, artists including myself who design props and backdrops for the stage and a carpenter.”  Even when officers come and go, the core group remains intact, Brian said.

The FACC Gala started in 1998 by spouses Rudy and Lita Joaquin and was first held at Royce Hotel.  Two years after, the FACC’s articles of incorporation was filed at the office of the Secretary of State of North Carolina.  

This year’s Gala carried the theme ‘Celebrating Filipino Heritage Around The World’ and the incumbent FACC president is Muffy Therrien. 

The Gala’s guest speaker was Ann Gonzales, president of the Carolinas American Asian American Chamber of Coomerce.  Other performers were GPI Youth, Krush Krew and the Schindlers Sisters while the opening number was performed by the FACC’s 2019 board of directors.