MANILA Prepares for Manila International Dance Festival

Something really big is happening over at the city of Manila, it's the Manila International Dance Festival (also called MIDFestival) happening on September 8, 2023.

In a grand press conference a couple of days ago at the Manila City Hall's historic Session Hall, they announced details about the three day festival aimed to celebrate diversity, peace and unity through dance and music. The word international must have already given you an idea that this will involve several countries in the region that will also showcase their cultural dances at the event. This includes our neighbors Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, plus friends from India and South Korea.

What's quite different about this festival is that it'll be happening in different areas of the city simultaneously. From the biggest malls in Manila like Lucky Chinatown and Robinsons Place Manila, schools, universities and Fort Santiago in Intramuros, they'll be performing in these places then culminate in Rizal Park later on in the evening.

Vice Mayor Yul Servo says "4 of our newest projects in Manila is happening this last quarter, with the help of our Mayor Honey Lacuna and the different organizations in the city of Manila, we are asking for your support and cooperation to make this a very successful one in the coming months to benefit the young Manilenos and Manilenas. We will have 16 dance groups from the Manila and different parts of the Philippines plus other countries like Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Thailand. This project aims to showcase the talent of Manilenos, and our neighboring countries too. We would like to thank those who have cooperated and arranged this project like the National Parks Development Committee, Concert at the Park, Archiestic Events Production, Office of the Vice Mayor of Manila, Department of Tourism, the National Center for Culture and the Arts, Verde Creatives, and the City of Manila who will fully support this much awaited event and prestigious dance festival in the region. We will also be holding the "Mr. Manila" pageant, which is now a separate entity from the previous Mr. and Ms. Manila pageant where talented Manilenos who work, live and study in the city could join and represent Manila in international tilts. We sincerely thank our Mayor Honey Lacuna for her full support on these endeavors."

Here's our interview with Festival Director Archie Dema-ala who also shared some details about the upcoming MIDFestival:

MIDFestival is also supported by the honorable Senator Loren Legarda, Hotel Sogo, Lyf Hotel, and the City of Manila. If you want to become part of the celebrations (for partnerships) you may email them at midf2023@gmail.com or through their social channels facebook.com/manilainternationaldancefestival.

The sheer number of participants just make me feel so excited for what's about to happen. This is a big event for the city of Manila, we can't wait to see this in the coming weeks!