Kiwi-Filipinos are grand champions of dance

The Sinulog Dance Troupe of a Filipino cultural group in New Zealand won the first Auckland International Carnival dance competition in early November.

The 40-strong Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ) troupe wowed the judges and the audience with their seven-minute piece that mixed electronic beats with the traditional Sinulog dance. 

Sinulog is a dance ritual in honour of the image of Santo Niño de Cebu, the oldest Catholic relic in the Philippines that has been housed since 1565 at the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño in Cebu. 

Ching Mandawe, chair of KBNZ’s cultural committee, thanked the organisers for giving the Filipino group the opportunity to perform and to showcase their culture. 

The Auckland International Carnival aims to bring Aucklanders of all backgrounds and cultures together, as well as attracting tourists and other carnival fans.

Dancers with backgrounds from Thailand, India, Brazil, Chile, Ethiopia, Poland, Korea, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Ukraine, Eritrea, Burundi and the Cook Islands all participated in this, the carnival’s first year.