Sophomore travels to China to demonstrate Portuguese folk dance
Issue date: 10/25/06 Section: Entertainment
This past month, NDNU sophomore Monica Barbuzano was offered an opportunity too great to pass up. She and her Portuguese folk dancing group Alma Ribatejana were invited to represent their country at promotional ceremonies for the 2008 Shanghai Olympics.
While performing at an ethnic festival here in San Francisco, a representative from the group planning the ceremonies in China asked the group and its leader Helder Calvalehiera if they would be willing to perform their routine for audiences in China.
"Tap-Dancing Towards the Olympics" was the theme of the ceremonies, and it was only fitting that each culture be asked to present their cultural dances.
The Chinese government controlled all aspects of the ceremonies. The dancing groups were even limited to designated places where they could purchase food for themselves.
The major countries were well represented at the festivals.
"Besides our group, I enjoyed the dances from the Mexican, Russian and Greek cultures."
The United States representative was an all-girl dancing troupe from the East Coast, who performed a cheerleading dance routine.
Alma Ribatejana performed a total of seven times with each performance consisting of about three to four dances and lasting about five minutes total.
Her volunteer dancing group consisted of performers from age 7 through 50. They practiced twice a week for a couple months and left for China on Sept. 19 and returned on Oct. 1. When they were not performing in China, the group visited landmarks such as the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square.
"I thought it was one of the best things I had ever done," said Barbuzano. "It's something that I would do again, especially because I'm representing Portugal in a place where our culture isn't too greatly known."
While performing at an ethnic festival here in San Francisco, a representative from the group planning the ceremonies in China asked the group and its leader Helder Calvalehiera if they would be willing to perform their routine for audiences in China.
"Tap-Dancing Towards the Olympics" was the theme of the ceremonies, and it was only fitting that each culture be asked to present their cultural dances.
The Chinese government controlled all aspects of the ceremonies. The dancing groups were even limited to designated places where they could purchase food for themselves.
The major countries were well represented at the festivals.
"Besides our group, I enjoyed the dances from the Mexican, Russian and Greek cultures."
The United States representative was an all-girl dancing troupe from the East Coast, who performed a cheerleading dance routine.
Alma Ribatejana performed a total of seven times with each performance consisting of about three to four dances and lasting about five minutes total.
Her volunteer dancing group consisted of performers from age 7 through 50. They practiced twice a week for a couple months and left for China on Sept. 19 and returned on Oct. 1. When they were not performing in China, the group visited landmarks such as the Great Wall of China and Tiananmen Square.
"I thought it was one of the best things I had ever done," said Barbuzano. "It's something that I would do again, especially because I'm representing Portugal in a place where our culture isn't too greatly known."
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