Cha-cha-cha: How to dance the stress away

Dubai: They've been shaking, shimmying and doing the tango, all 2,600 students of the Filipino Dance Club, for the past 11 years.

The Club, one of the oldest and most popular Filipino organisations in the UAE, treats dance clinically. "Our dance sessions on weekends are stress busters. Dancing is a good therapy for the body and soul," says Connie Paguidopon, club president.

Dance clinic

It started with 11 students in February 1996 and now the highly-successful 10-week Dance Clinic course has grown to an average of 100 students per batch. The Club was founded by a small group led by Dick Orense, recipient of the "New Hero" award from Philippine President Gloria Arroyo.

The course teaches basic boogie, tango, cha-cha-cha, swing or jive.

Friday afternoons have taken a new meaning in the lives of many Filipino expatriates in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

"Dancing is also a good form of exercise that enhances the physical, mental and social wellbeing of people," said Paguidopon, an events coordinator by day and a professional dance instructor on weekends. She is a winner of various dance competitions. "Dancers have a healthier and happier outlook on life."

The Club goes beyond dancing and the group has also done social work. On its 10th anniversary, the Club donated 50,000 Philippine pesos (about Dh4,500) to Gawad Kalinga (which means "To Give Care"), a non-profit initiative in the Philippines to help build homes for the poor.

Growing

The number of members has steadily grown - from the original 24 to the current 1,600 members and the Club is considered to be one of the largest Filipino organisations in the UAE.

The strength of the Filipino Dance Club is based on a solid foundation made up of dedicated dance instructors, who work without pay. Their greatest satisfaction is on graduation day when they see the transformation of their once-shy students into confident and energetic ballroom dancers.

"Most of our students don't know their left foot from their right, initially," said Paguidopon.

A weekly newsletter that chronicles the dance clinic sessions, plus other activities will also be initiated and distributed to its members.

Footloose : Join the club

Filipino Dance Club Dubai's president Connie Paguidopon's parents are dancers and dancing came naturally to her. An instructor of modern and dance jazz back in the Philippines, Connie became a ballroom dancer when she came to Dubai.

A friend of hers invited her to the dance clinic and she was intrigued as dancing has always been a passion for Connie, and learning ballroom dancing became a challenge for her.

The newly inducted officers have many projects in the pipeline. Members will be regularly updated through the website which will soon be re-launched.

The Club participated recently in the Dubai Salsa Charity Festival held in December last year, where it was the Sponsor for the awards.

The Filipino Dance Club will hold its 44th graduation ceremony on January 18 at the Crystal Ballroom, Radisson SAS (formerly the InterContinental hotel).

The highlight of the evening is the dance competition between the top 10 pairs, who will showcase their dancing skills in both Basic and Advanced dances.

Application forms for membership to the Filipino Dance Club-Dubai will be available during the evening. Membership is open to Filipino nationals and their children. It can be extended to foreign spouses as well.

Annual membership costs Dh75, which brings a host of many benefits, including free ballroom dancing lessons.

FDC-D officers (2007-2008):

• President: Connie Paguidopon
• Vice-President/Membership Director: Lee Olvido
• Secretary: Elva Albay
• Treasurer: Bert Avillanoza
• Sponsorship: Cokkie Villanueva
• Dance Clinic Director: Emil Barcenilla
• Internal Projects Director: Ferdinand Ibay
• External Projects Director: Ricky Rodrigo
• Publication Director: Nane Sisperez

Contact
Connie Paguidopon tel: 050-5841148 or log-on to www.fdcdubai.com

Kudos to all the members and officers of the club. I hope for more success in the future. I think the club should open not only for the Filipino expats but also to other nationalities who wants to learn how to dance and remove their stress away.
R. Roy
Dubai,UAE
Posted: January 12, 2008, 11:42