Sonia Siwa of the Paseo de Marianas Promoters Inc. said the number of the Awaodori dancers from the Tokyo Tensuiren group who came on Thursday — 20 —will be doubled next year.
“The group is planning to bring its more than 50 members for the fourth Awaodori festival here next year, so we can expect a more lavish presentation,” Siwa told the Variety.
She said the number of participants from the Saipan team will also be doubled.
“Right now, the participants are all from the Koblerville Youth Center but for next year’s festival, we will be working with the Gualo Rai Youth Center,” Siwa said.
“The community can anticipate a bigger team of dancers for the next festival,” Siwa said.
The joint Saipan and Japan teams performed at the Office on Aging, the DFS Galleria and the Fiesta Resort & Spa on Thursday morning.
They also performed at the street market in Garapan where they got the audience to participate with the accompaniment of the Ohayashi Band.
“The Saipan group performed so well and we were happy their constant practices paid off,” Siwa said.
The major sponsors were honored after the performances at the street market.
“We appreciate the full support of our major sponsors who helped make everything possible — Fiesta Resort & Spa, NTT Docomo Pacific and DFS Galleria in collaboration with the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs,” Siwa said.
She added the Saipan team practiced at the Koblerville Learning Center under the supervision of Vernon-Lee Manglona.
Awa Odori is a famous festival held during the Buddhist observance of O-bon, the time when the spirits of the dead are believed to return to their ancestral homes.
