MANILA, Philippines - There are 34 of them, little girls, some as young as seven years old, a few a bit older, who compose this world-acclaimed Children's Folk Ballet of Korea. Organized in 1962, they have been acknowledged as "The best ambassadors of Korea."Middle of this year, their visit and performance before audiences in 16 UN member nations that sent combat troops to South Korea during the Korean War in 1950, drew worldwide interest. The Philippines was their final leg in a World Peace Tour that started last June 6. The goodwill and ''Thank You" tour specifically honors Korean War veterans, this year being the 60th Anniversary of that conflict.The Little Angels dancing with grace and precision can now enjoy comparison with the world's fine traditional corps de ballet. They also sing with golden voices in a style and quality that can position them as the girls' version of the famed Vienna Boys Choir.Their first foreign performance was before US President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the city of Gettysburg in Philadelphia, in 1965. Since then The Little Angels have awed audiences in their 56 overseas tours in 50 countries, spellbinding millions in 6,000 performances.I watched The Little Angels matinee performance last Wednesday, December 15, at the Cultural Center. Mesmerized by the terrific artists-in-motion appeal of these young stage prodigies, I joined the SRO crowd that clamored in standing ovation for more encore numbers from this dazzling troupe.Dr. Bo Hi Pak, co-chairman of the Korean War anniversary celebration, in his talk before and after the two-hour performance, was profuse in paying tribute to the Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea (PEFTOK) that first landed in Busan in 1950, in the middle of the harsh Korean winter. The 80-year official is himself a Korean War veteran, having joined his country's army as a cadre at 19 years old.Of the 12-number, two-part production, my favorites were the fan-dance and the drum-dance, the former executed by 18 dancers each clutching four fans and snapping them in a close-open dexterous manner. Each time they formed into three groups, the dancers became giant colorful representation of flowers and other attractive designs.While the latter, strictly speaking, was not a dance performance, it, nevertheless, was choreographed with grace, and precision and executed in rhythmic elegance, each performer beating on six stationary drums in the same cadence in various positions, executed in precise choreography.The Manila Bulletin was the sole media partner in this goodwill visit. And the Manila Hotel was the troupe's official residence while in Manila.* * *BAYANIHAN'S 'BEYOND FOLKLORE-2'. The country's national dance company - the Bayanihan - presented a gala performance last Saturday, December 18, at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, fresh from its successful coast-to-coast tour of the United States that covered 50 cities in 73 days.Only a seasoned and internationally acclaimed dance troupe can accomplish such a dazzling manner. But then this is just a matter of course for the Bayanihan.The Columbia Artists Management of New York was the coordinating agency of the tour."Beyond Folklore-2" featured the dance company's new choreography, new costumes, new props, blending in 21st century stage design and concept. All these set in international standards, making Bayanihan at par, if not better than any existing folkloric dance company in the world.The Bayanihan Folk Arts Foundation, Inc., with its board of trustees, is the umbrella organization of the Philippines' national dance company.
'The Little Angels' of Korea
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Manila Bulletin
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Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.
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Article
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561 words
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1850L
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COPYRIGHT 2010 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp.
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Gale Document Number: GALE|A244829004