Uwarani Dance Group off to Texas for Black History Month Celebrations
The Uwarani Dance Group from Dangriga left Belize today for Galveston, Texas to take part in activities as part of Black History Month in that U.S. city. The opportunity came about after a group visited Dangriga last year as a part of the same celebration. Their attention was captivated by Uwarani and the rest, as we say, is black history. News Five’s Marion Ali was at the P.G.I.A. to speak with the group before they left. Here’s that report.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The merry-making that we bore witness to outside the Philip Goldson International Airport today was an outward expression of gratitude for the opportunity they have to represent Belize internationally. For the seven members of the Uwarani Dance group that are going, this was an opportunity that’s long overdue.
Darwin Lino
Darwin Lino, Drummer, Uwarani Dance Group
“Mein, this da wa long overdue opportunity fi man like me, yoh know cause then ah di do it fi soh long fi like over twenty-five years now soh this da wa good experience and wa good opportunity fi man like me.”
Mary-Ann Flores
Mary-Ann Flores, Member, Uwarani Dance Group
“I’m going to represent my country Belize and the culture capital, Dangriga.”
Louise Lino
Louise Lino, Member, Uwarani Dance Group
“We work hard, especially when we perform with lone singing and so on so I’m proud of my group.”
Darwin Lino
“My time to shine is now and I’m super excited and ready.”
Unlike Darwin Lino who’s ready to shine, the group leader, Margaret Castillo could not make the trip, but songs that she composed will be presented to Texans at the events they’ve planned. She explained that the group got this opportunity from a past performance that tourists witnessed in Dangriga and made a request.
Margaret Castillo
Margaret Castillo, Leader, Uwarani Dance Group
“They saw us and they loved the performance and right away they told me, “Well, we’re going to take you to the States because you have already done a good job, and I love this group and I love your performance. And that is how this group is going now to Houston. I didn’t get my passport on time, so the boss is not going but my girls are going and I know that they are going to do a good job.”
Robert Mariano helped to facilitate the trip in his capacity of Mayor of Dangriga.
Robert Mariano
Robert Mariano, Mayor, Dangriga
“There’s a Black History group that came to Dangriga sometime last year, and I had asked this group to come and perform for them. According to them, they’ve never seen this before so they asked me to get the group to go to the United States. So I prepared them, got in touch with NICH and NICH assisted financially to pay for their visas and other things.”
The group will be in Texas for five day. Marion Ali for News Five.
