For the Love of Dancing, a 24-hour dance marathon to help survivors of Haiyan, the deadly typhoon that recently struck the Philippines, will be held at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in Forrestal Village, Plainsboro, on Saturday, December 28. The event is being coordinated by Marie Alonzo Snyder of West Windsor and Grace Sunga Asagra, founder of Web of Compassion, a Princeton-based non-profit organization.
“More than 3,000 individuals are reported dead, more than 50 individuals have been reported missing, and more than 2,000,000 families have been displaced,” says Alonzo. Both Alonzo and Asagra were born in the Philippines and have been in constant contact with family and friends in the Philippines during relief efforts.
“Haiyan has taken lives from across the Central Visayan region and has deeply sowed destruction of properties, economic hardships, devastations, and chaos. The rehabilitation needs for the communities affected are insurmountable and unfathomable,” she says.
Alonzo, a dance educator, choreographer, and faculty member at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, and Asagra have brought together diverse dance professionals.
Dance activities offered include modern, ballet, social dancing, and choreography workshops. World dances such as Flamenco, salsa, Zouk, Bachata, Indian, Korean, Costa Rican, hula, and Filipino will be offered. There will also be yoga, stretching, pilates, creative dance, and dance competitions. Improvisation, Dance for Parkinsons, Zouk on Wheels, belly dance, and open rehearsals are also part of the event. Take one class or two, stay for all 24 hours, or stop by throughout the day and night and keep dancing.
Web of Compassion has been creating multicultural dance and music events to raise awareness and generosity in the communities for five years. The enterprise is known for donating proceeds to organizations that help victims of natural and man-made disasters. “We seek donors, sponsors, teachers, students, and all support from the community to make this event a success,” says Asagra. “There are also so many American citizens living in the Philippines who were affected and remain challenged in their recovery. We also seek U.S. veterans to support us in memory of the help of Filipino guerrillas during World War II.”
Alonzo, the founder and artistic director of Tangerine Dance Collective, is a founding member of the West Windsor Arts Council and in 2004 she co-founded the “I’ll have what she’s having” dance project, a dance cooperative of female choreographers in New Jersey ages 40 plus.
“The Filipino survivors and affected communities welcome all help,” says Alonzo. “Their spirit is positively high for recovery as they say, ‘We may be in misery but we are not miserable. This, too, shall pass with everyone’s help.’”
For the Love of Dancing, Web of Compassion, Princeton Dance and Theater Studio, Forrestal Village, 116 Rockingham Row, Plainsboro. Sunday, December 29, 7 a.m. 24-hour dance marathon to raise funds to support survivors of Haiyan, the typhoon that hit the Philippines recently. $20; $10 for ages 5 to 12. E-mail dance4good@webofcompassion.org. 609-203-5854. www.webofcompassion.org.
