Dance group from Philippines to perform in cultural festival

Tomorrows celebrations are to mark the 15th International Cultures Day in Hastings, with an aim to unite a wide cross-section of the community. Photo / Warren Buckland

A swirling spectacular of cultures will descend on Hastings tomorrow.

From 11am-3pm in Cornwall Park, a host of colourful performances will light up the stage, alongside 40 craft and food stalls ranging from Chinese to Indian, Russian and many more.

The celebrations are to mark the 15th International Cultures Day in Hastings, with an aim to unite a wide cross-section of the community.

For the first time an Auckland based group from Afghanistan will join the party in support of their national team, who are playing a Cricket World Cup game at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday.

"It adds to Hawke's Bay's culture. The performances are outstanding and we don't really have another opportunity to show people all the different cultures we have here," event organiser Sally Russell said.

Another exciting addition for this year is the Filifest Dance Group, established in Wellington to promote Philippine culture through traditional dance, costume, music and active participation in 2005.

As the Filipino community in New Zealand continues to expand and adapt to Kiwi life there was still a need to cherish ancestral values and cultural heritage, said Brenda Cacho-Bevin, who organised entertainment for the day.

"I'm from the Philippines and lived in Wellington for about 20 years. Filifest are really popular in terms of real, authentic traditional dances. They have been recognised in the Philippines for their achievements," she said.

"They are true to culture rather than adapting culture to a new generation - I was attracted to their originality."

The group presents cultural shows biennially and are regularly invited to perform throughout the country.

They have danced at Te Papa, Dance Aotearoa New Zealand, Royal Academy of Dance Genee Awards, the New Zealand Parliament, Philippine Independence Day celebrations and NZ Annual Filipino Reunions.

Last year they visited Hawke's Bay for a show at Napier Municipal Theatre, which was well received, with 800 tickets sold.

"I was surprised people thought Filipinos are like Polynesians, but we were colonised for 300 years by the Spanish, so it's a big influence. We have been influenced by many different cultures."

The two lead dancers have spent many years in the spotlight and just won a New Zealand ballroom dancing title together last year.

Tomorrow, the audience will be treated to nine dances and one or two songs across three segments.