A volunteer-run, non-profit group performing at community and cultural events. History of the Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa (PDTO)
1983 was a quiet year in terms of the Filipino community’s involvement in the National Capital Region’s multicultural events. On January 7, 1984, Danny Arriola and others established the Philippine Dance troupe of Ottawa by recruiting young dance members. The reas
ons for organizing the troupe were: to engender a greater sense of enthusiasm and participation in the community; secondly, continuity of individual involvement over time would help prevent problems for our young people and thirdly and perhaps of greatest importance, it would meet the need to pass on to the children, who are mostly first generation Filipino-Canadians, a part of their heritage. Local parents shared Danny’s belief that the time has come for the children to be given an active role in promoting Filipino culture in the National Capital Region. The task of stirring the children’s interest was a rewarding experience for the adult group. They observed the children’s enthusiasm and eagerness to learn about their culture. Some local choreographers were invited to handle the demanding assignment of teaching folk dance to the children who had almost no familiarity with Filipino music and dance. Shortly afterwards, Nori Melgarejo took on the role of choreographer and was later joined by Maggie Yrenaya. The group, tentatively called the “young Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa”, premiered their dancing skills on April 26, 1984 at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Since then, the group has been active in promoting our culture and has adopted the registered name; the Philippine dance Troupe of Ottawa (PDTO). Concentrating on developing its role in the promotion of Filipino culture through the medium of folk dance, the Troupe has performed as far as Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Rochester and Drummond Ville Quebec. In 1989 and 1991, the PDTO sponsored the visit of the Barrangay Dance Troupe; a professional Filipino dance company from the Philippines conducted by Dr. Paz Cielo Belmonte. The PDTO, during it’s twentieth years of existence, widened its repertoire, provided instruction at an advance level for children, developed a wider range of traditional folk dance and has also provided instruction in the use of the Anklung bamboo instruments. In 1992, Didi Arriola Cole took over the role of choreographer after having been one of the dance troupe’s active founding members for eight years. Her enthusiasm and creative capacity for Filipino dancing combined with an easy rapport with the dancers has created a new and refreshing energy for performers and audiences alike. Chris de Jesus and Zinnia Aldana Bonifacio have assisted her during the 1999 performance at the Centrepoint Theatre. Vanessa Gomez took the reins in 2000 as PDTO’s choreographer. This year as we prepare for our 20th year performance on November 27, 2004 Chris de Jesus and Cheryl Lavoie joined in as choreographers with Vanessa Gomez as Assistant Choreographer. The PDTO has succeeded beyond all expectations and is still doing well after 20 years of representing the Filipino community of Ottawa-Carleton. The members and performers believe they have achieved their objectives. However, they still recognize that future challenges will have to be met with hard work, patience and a spirit of unity. They hope to share this rich culture with friends and relatives for many years to come.
