Regional dance on display at Micronesia Island Fair

by John Davis

Guam - A unique thing about this year's 2011 Guam Micronesia Island Fair is that it promises not only to bring great food and people from throughout the region, but also a variety of music and entertainment. One such performance will be done by the delegation from Yap.

John Gisog is an elder from Yap that currently resides on Guam, and says, "There's about three dance troops, two from Yap upper islands and then the men from the outer islands of Weili." From the traditional dance moves and chants, he says, "From way back its something that's been - dancing has always been apart of the culture, we start learning dances at about six or seven and participating in those dances," to the distinctive costumes performers wear that portray the arts and tell the stories about the place each delegation calls home.

"The grass skirts they are colorful those are girls in their teens and the colorful grass skirts the younger girls usually wear the greens, there's no hibiscus in that it is significant of age once they start wearing colorful ones," said Gisog.

The fair is what most would call the "party in the Pacific" catering to visitors from the CNMI, the Republic of Belau, the FSM, the Republic of the Marshal Islands, Nauru, Kiribati, and of course, Guam. 

Creative director of Pa'a Tao Tao Tano Frank Rabon said, "I've always had a passion for dancing - I started in the early 70's as a Polynesian dancer and that's what sparked the interest in me searching for my people's identity."

Rabon says Guam will definitely represent along with the seven other delegations, noting, "Even the Chamoru groups, they might not be performing the Spanish aspect - they may probably focus more on the indigenous aspect, the ancient and that truly represents our people prior to colonialism…we hope that these dancers from the other groups too will perform well and live up to the commitments of the GVB and those arriving for event, we hope everything will go according to plan and we wish everybody good luck," he said.

So no matter what helps you get your groove, this year's Fair will leave will definitely fill your dancing appetite. The 24th annual event begins October 14 and continues through the 16th, all day and all night at the Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Beach Park. In case you didn't hear, it's free!