What's Up in Oriental Negros

By Nonito Antonio Cuizon
July 16-22, 2006 issue – Metro Post

The Silliman University Kahayag Dance Troupe was the country’s sole representative to the X International Youth Dance Festival last week in Macau, China.

The dance fest is organized every two years by the Education & Youth Affairs Bureau in Macau, China every two years.

The SU dance troupe, founded in 1961, was the brainchild of Luz Jumawan which first focused on ballet and interpretative movements.

From 1979 to 1982, the late Liwayway Serion-Arabe continued its legacy, and applied their teachings to folk dancing. Then through the efforts of Prof. Joseph Basa, acting dean of the College of Performing Arts, the troupe is now called Kahayag, led by Ronnie Mirabuena from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and assisted by Swyline de Jesus, both trained at the Philippine High School for the Arts of the National Arts Center in Makiling, Los Banos. The dance troupe is in Macao with tour manager Prof. Jocelyn Somoza-dela Cruz