YOU may have seen the Bendigo Filipino Cultural Dancers make appearances at the Easter parade and other events around town.<\/p>\n
Now the group is seeking to add members to its ranks, and president of the Bendigo Filipino Foundation Maria Gillies is inviting people who might be interested in joining to get in contact.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is starting to get people to reconnect with our culture,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSecond-generation [Filipino] Australians and also Australians who might want to experience our culture through dance. It\u2019s open for everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes the misconception is that we only want Filipinos, but no, we would like to invite others that would want to experience our dance also.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe core dancers usually perform at White Night, Harmony Day, and Bendigo Easter Festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t need to perform in public if they are too shy, they can just all come in and enjoy it with us.\u201d<\/p>\n
In celebration of the upcoming 125th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, the group will perform as part of celebrations at Springvale Town Hall in suburban Melbourne on 18 June.<\/p>\n
The Bendigo dance group will join others from around the state for the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ll be some from Geelong, Ballarat; some would be coming in from Shepparton, Swan Hill, and also from all over the Melbourne area so it\u2019s going to be a big event,\u201d said Ms Gillies.<\/p>\n