A group of 27 CPO dancers, musicians and directors will be participating at the International Folklore Festival Moerbeke-Waas, Belguim from July 30 – August 2, 2009 representing the Philippines.
(info: http://www.folklorefestival-moerbeke.be )

24 YEARS OF CULTURE PHILIPPPINES OF ONTARIO

Culture Philippines of Ontario (CPO) is a non-profit, community-based, and child centered organization established in 1985. Its objective is to retain and share Filipino cultural heritage by providing music, dance and performing arts instructions to children in Canada and sharing it with the community. CPO conducts folk dance lessons and rehearsals on Saturdays at the Kalayaan Community Centre at 5225 Orbitor Drive in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Since 1985, CPO has been the host of the Philippine pavilion in a three-day annual Carassauga Festival of Cultures in the City of Mississauga. Because of the famous and the most sought after CPO Dance Troupe, the Philippine pavilion consistently draws the largest crowd and was awarded The Most Outstanding Pavilion for three years (2003, 2004 and 2006). The Philippine pavilion was also awarded the “People’s Choice Award” garnering the largest audience votes in 2007 and 2008.

CPO is also the sponsor of the Annual Filipino Day at Canada’s Wonderland. Cultural and contemporary numbers are carefully arranged to entertain both the Filipino and mainstream audience. In 2002, 2004, and 2007, CPO dancers performed at the Walt Disney World in Florida and the International Festival in Drummondville, Quebec in 2005 and 2007.

Ms. Ma. Eleanor Mescallado-Kalash, a former director-dancer of the world renowned Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, is the Artistic and Dance Director. She introduced indigenous and unpublished folk numbers, new staging and choreography, authentic costumes, and Philippine inspired contemporary dance numbers. In 2005, Carlo Lopez and Julius Calum, also from Bayanihan joined CPO as lead musicians.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) helped the organization in acquiring costumes and musical instruments. Today, CPO performers delight its audiences and the communities with its colourful and vivid array of repertoires.

For more information about CPO please visit the website: www.culturephilippines.ca

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