DAY 4 – CHILEAN PAVILION – Sweet, smooth sounds! We were greeted with warm hospitality by the staff and ambassadors.
We were even escorted to our seats and served beverages and food which included white wine with peaches, red wine with strawberries, and tasty cheese empanadas. The dancers were accompanied by a terrific band. The drums, guitars, singers, and other instruments filled the pavilion with beautiful music. Some of the dances also had a Polynesian influence, as the dancers swayed their hips with graceful arm movements. At the end of the show, I even had the chance to meet one of the youngest members, Sheylin, who was dressed in the most adorable costume. Lovely night.
DAY 5 – SUDANESE PAVILION – Diverse dances! We were welcomed by friendly hosts and ambassadors.
The show included songs and dances from different tribes. There was even a fun part of the show that involved everyone singing and either stomping their feet or clapping their hands to the sounds of drums. Councillor Mike Pagtakhan, who sat at my table, even joined along?. The dancers moved with passion to the rhythmic beats. The men stomped their hearts out as the women screamed out with jubilation. A new, unique pavilion with great hospitality.
DAY 6 – PARAGUAY “HEART OF SOUTH AMERICA” PAVILION – Engaging performers! I was impressed with the grace and charm exhibited by the dancers.
We were first greeted by the friendly ambassadors, and also offered a nice sample of empanadas, chipa (cheese rolls), and sopa paraguaya (cornbread). It was great having a narrator introduce and explain the different dances throughout the show. Their famous bottle dance wowed the audience as the dancer balanced ten bottles on her head. One part of the show depicted a Carnival celebration as the lovely dancers showed off their colourful, extravagant costumes, while engaging the audience to dance along to the music. After the show, I also had the chance to meet the ambassador of the Paraguay Embassy of Canada, Manuel, who also enjoyed the performance. Some of the performers with the fancy costumes were available for pictures after the show – I ended up also taking a pic with one of the many adorable kids, Sergio. Awesome show.
ROMANIA PAVILION – Talented, young musicians! Before the show, I had the chance to meet Doreen, a volunteer, Rodney, a Romanian dancer from Regina, and Constantin, the adult ambassador. They were all nice and hospitable. We were also served generous portions of great food, which consisted of chicken dracula, cucumber salad, stir-fried carrots, and a dinner roll. The chicken dracula, which is an oven roasted chicken with spices and traditional garlic sauce, was especially tasty. We washed everything down with traditional fruit soda and Romanian red wine. The performance was full of traditional dancing and folk music. I was impressed with the young musicians on accordion and guitar. The violinist also showed impressive skills as the music got faster. Great first time at the Romanian pavilion.
DAY 7 – DOTC FIRST NATIONS PAVILION – Powerful drumming! We were greeted by the friendly pavilion coordinator, Robert, who also escorted us to our seats.
We were then served a sample of bannock, elk, potato, and rice pudding. I also tried a nice warm herbal tea which went well with the meal. The show included various dances and music. The musicians did an excellent job beating the drums as the dancers moved to the beats. All the dancers wore beautiful costumes decorated with feathers and beads. I always look forward to watching the Hoop Dance, a crowd favourite. The hoop dancer showed off his skills, creating various forms and shapes with the hoops. The crowd also got involved by singing a traditional song led by a talented local musician named Ray. The show ended with Ray’s great voice singing a song meaning “until we meet again”.
ITALIAN PAVILION – Amazing voices! The ambassadors and staff were hospitable and accommodating.
I was also pleasantly surprised to finally meet the popular Folklorama Llama. The show then started shortly and we were served nice portions of pasta, salad, Italian sausage, and bread…so good. The show paid tribute to the immigrant Italian pioneers. Their story unfolded on stage through the talented acting, singing, and dancing abilities of the performers. I was really impressed with some of their powerful voices, hitting all the right notes. At the end of the show, I got my gelati fix –pistacchio and hazelnut – yum! A great night with a great theme – Che sara sara!
DAY 8 – CELTIC IRELAND PAVILION – Visually pleasing! The friendly staff guided us to our seats – front-row centre.
We were then served tasty samples of Yorkshire sausages, stuffed potatoes, and coleslaw. Special lights, fog, and curtains set the mood for the great performance. The dancers from the Brady Academy of Irish Dance were amazing, displaying fast, precise footwork. The girls’ bouncing hair curls, glittering costumes, and everyone’s endless smiles added to the visual spectacle. To top off a great performance, it was a pleasure listening to a local talent, Sierra Noble, and her musicians. She has a great voice, and boy, can she play the fiddle! This show was definitely one of my faves.
INDIA PAVILION – Great hospitality! We were first greeted by the nice youth ambassadors Fanishq and Shivani. Shivani even gave us a tour of the pavilion, informing us about the various food, clothing, and places in India. We were then served sample dishes of samosas, and a new dish I had never tried called gol gappas (round crisp wafers filled with chickpeas, potatoes, and spices, served with mint water). Shivani offered to show me how to eat the gol gappas …I had to poke a hole in a wafer then fill it with the chickpeas, potatoes, and water. It was a surprisingly cool, and refreshing dish. The performance showcased various dance styles from India. There was also a neat sari demonstration shown between dances. All the dancers and musicians were full of energy and enthusiasm. Good job!
DAY 9 – PABELLON DE ESPANA – SPAIN PAVILION – Beautiful, classy ladies! Before the show, Julia, one of the ambassadors, gave us a brief tour of their cultural display, which focused on Spanish wines and of course, winning the World Cup.
We were then escorted to our seats and offered samples of shrimp, tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette), olives, and chorizo sausage. Sangria, a wine punch with fruit, was our special drink of the evening. As for the performance, all the young ladies danced with beauty, grace, and class. Throughout the dances, you would hear stomping heels and clicking castanets, while they danced with their lovely fans, shawls, and hats. It was neat seeing similar dance movements and music with the Spanish dances of the Philippines. The evening ended with a fiesta atmosphere and a tribute to the World Cup, as the ladies danced and the audience clapped along. Olei!
DAY 10 – PAVILION OF PORTUGAL – Cute kids! We were greeted by the friendly ambassadors when we arrived.
Mario, the pavilion coordinator, was very hospitable. We were shortly served delicious meals of chicken, fries, salad, and passion fruit drinks. The chicken was especially tasty. The performance was unique as the dances were incorporated in an act depicting a road trip through Portugal. The actors were great in describing the history and various sites in Portugal. I thought the kids, wearing cute hats and handkerchiefs, were especially adorable during their performance. They looked like they had a lot of fun on stage. We also enjoyed the singing performance of John Pimentel…what a great voice! Another great evening.
DAY 11 – ARGENTINA “TANGO” PAVILION – Passionate performers! We were lucky to get front row centre seats as the pavilion had a packed audience.
All the ambassadors and staff were hospitable. We were served warm empanadas, one filled with spinach and the other, meat – both delicious. The show had adorable girls dancing, a live band and a singer with smooth, strong vocals, and of course, more dancing. The dance group from Buenos Aires, Malon del Sur, were fantastic. They danced with so much passion and power. Their famous Tango showed off intricate footwork and sexy spins, and their skills on the drums and other props captivated everyone’s attention. A must-see show – Vamos!
