27 bets joining MassKara streetdance

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Groups from 15 barangays and 11 schools are participating in the 2011 MassKara Festival street and arena dance competitions.

Streetdance committee chairman Rudy Reveche said the streetdancing barangay category participants, which will perform on October 16, are Brgys. 3, 4, 9, 11, 17, 23, 26, 28, 37, 39, Alijis, Bata, Banago, Tangub, and Felisa.

The barangay category will use live music using drums and percussion instruments, a first in the 32-year history of the festival, Reveche said.

Reveche said the first of a series of workshops for the live music instrumentation for the streetdance barangay category will be held today (August 19) from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the BAYS Center.

Gerry Grey, music committee chairman, will conduct the workshop that will guide choreographers and musicians of the participating 15 barangays to come up with a "uniquely MasssKara beat" from drums and percussion instruments.

For the Electric MassKara performing float competition on October 14, the participants are Brgys. 2, 3, 11, 23, 30, 39, Alijis, Bata, Cabug, and Taculing.

The school contestants that will perform on October 15 are: In the elementary schools category: Banago Elementary School (District I), Bata ES II (District II), Asuncion Lizares ES (District III), Graciano Lopez Jaena ES (District IV), J.R. Torres ES (District V), Education Training Center Schools (ETCS) I (District VI), and Sum-ag ES (District VII).

For secondary schools: Domingo Lacson National High School (Unit I), ABKASA NHS (Unit II), Luisa Medel NHS (Unit II), and Rufina E. Nessia NHS-Sum-ag Extension (Unit IV).

Festival director Eli F. J. Tajanlangit, Reveche, music committee Gerry Grey, assistant festival director for marketing Rahkee Villarosa and Nenita Cordova, education program supervisor of MSEP/MAPEH of the Bacolod City Schools Division and overall chairman of the streetdancing schools category, met with choreographers and representatives of each competing school to discuss the guidelines and preparations for the contest.

The representatives drew the lots for their sequence and each school presented its remixed version of the official MassKara streetdance music from 2004 to 2009, to be used in the arena dance competition.

Reveche noted that the festival has reached the third phase of MassKara music-covers of foreign music from 1980s to 2003, original canned Ilonggo music from 2004 to 2009, and live music starting 2011. "It's actually the dawn of the MassKara rhythm. It will be exciting, and a challenge for all (participating groups), since we have to be distinct from other cities," Grey added.

Meanwhile, the operation of MassKara Festival kiosks at the Bacolod Public Plaza, the MassKara office will start accepting applications at 9 a.m. on Monday (August 22), festival site manager Ma. Carmen Arrieta announced.

There are 125 kiosks on the three sides of the plaza available for rent with the following rates: P10,500 (at the San Juan side); P10,000 (Gonzaga side); and P9,500 (Gatuslao side). Awarding of selling rights will be on a first-pay, first-served basis, said Arrieta, adding that operation of these kiosks will run from October 1 to 19. - THE FREEMAN