From left, Vianny Mettao, Leon Wabol and Connie Mettao play the flute at the Kitamachi Awaodori Festival in Japan.
THE Saipan Awaodori Team captivated the crowds in Japan, joining their Japanese counterparts to perform at some of the country’s most renowned festivals.
Led by Saipan Awaodori founder and Kinpachi Restaurant President Misako Kamata, Saipan’s young Awaodori dancers performed with their Japan counterparts at the 13th Shirogane Awaodori Festival on July 14, at the Uji-ie Awaodori on July 21, and at the Kitamachi Awaodori Festival on July 27.
Owen Daniel Quitugua with his Japan Awaodori counterparts.
The Saipan Awaodori Team is composed of Cassidy Thompson Wabol, 20; Coddie Franco Villagomez Forbes, 18; Owen Daniel E. Quitugua, 17; Connie Mettao, 15; Vianny Mettao, 17; Marcela Heben, 16; Leon Lexon Wabol, 12 and Santo Baidya, 13.
Prior to their performance at the 13th Shirogame Awaodori Festival, four of the Saipan team members left the CNMI for Japan on July 9, and spent nearly a month practicing.
Vianny Mettao, Leon Wabol and Connie Mettao are the center of attraction at the Kitamachi festival.
Wabol, Forbes, Quitugua and Baidya returned to Saipan to participate in the Liberation Day parade on July 4. Forbes and Quitugua have already flown back to Japan, but Wabol got sick and has to remain on island while Baidya has an important matter to attend to on Saipan.
With only six members, the Saipan Awaodori Team still managed to perform well with Japan’s Awaodori teams.
The Saipan Awaodori Team and their Japan counterparts at the Kitamachi festival.
At the Kitamachi Awaodori Festival where they joined the Sakura Sakura Awaodori team, Saipan’s young Awaodori’s flute players were able to master a song they learned for the first time while preparing for the festivals.
Kamata said, “Even though no one told us about the song, we searched for it, found it ourselves and mastered the song.”
She added, “These children continue to promote Saipan through their dances as they develop self-confidence and have the opportunity to be exposed to other cultural experiences. They help build connections and strengthen relationships between Saipan and Japan.”
The Saipan Awaodori Team will perform at the Higashi Rinkan in Tokyo on Aug. 3, and at the Koenji Tokyo Awaodori Festival from Aug. 23-25. They will return to Saipan on Aug. 27.
