Showcasing their talents in dancing at the Children of our Homeland Library on Saturday afternoon were the Inatuas Dancers, the Warriors and the Señoritas who performed Chamorro and Carolinian dance steps.
The students also showcased Chamorro and Carolinian arts and crafts such as finished products for beads and jewelry making.
Patricia Ramangmou, mother of Elicia, 8, Kawai, 6 and Trisha, 3, said she was very happy to see her daughters performing cultural dances.
“I do not dance but it is a joy to see my kids learning a lot from the Summer Reading & Cultural Fair,” Ramangmou said.
Her children received Chamorro and Carolinian dancing lessons from Leyda I. Ada.
“The children learned so fast — memorizing in a span of one month the dance steps most adults require months to learn,” she said.
On behalf of the CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Janet U. Maratita told the audience that they looked for funds to sponsor the summer program because “this is one of the ways to keep the children healthy and active, in addition to enriching their knowledge and love for our cultural traditions.”
NMI Library Council Chairman Joe Limes and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library executive director John O. Gonzales extended their appreciation to the parents for allowing their children to participate in the Summer Reading & Cultural Fair program.
“We are very proud of the outcome of the program,” Limes said.
Children’s library associate Erlinda Naputi is inviting parents to continue sending their children to the Chamorro and Carolinian arts and crafts classes which are still ongoing for the next three weeks.
She also urged participants to sign up and join the Reading Challenge with the deadline set for Aug. 14.
Sponsors of the Summer Reading and Cultural Fair include the Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc., the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and the CNMI Diabetes Prevention and Control Program.
For more information, call 235-7322.
