Joy and happiness at Folklorama

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This article was published 28/02/2022 (1508 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Four Winnipeggers who have volunteered a combined four decades at Folklorama have been chosen to represent this year’s festival.

The two-week festival, which celebrates global culture through live entertainment at more than 40 pavilions, revealed its ambassadors general for 2022 last month. Sarahdelle Galera, Karman Sidhu, Nicolas Tamayo and Sudan Parke are spending the coming months representing Folklorama at numerous events across Manitoba and internationally.

Selected through a juried interview and public speaking competition, the ambassadors embody Folklorama’s mission of celebrating diversity and promoting cultural understanding.

Volunteering at Folklorama is a family affair for Galera, who was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada at 11. Galera, her husband and their two teenage daughters have been active members of the Pearl of the Orient Philippine Pavilion since 2014.

“My husband and I felt it was important to get (our children) immersed in their culture,” says Galera, 45.

She enjoys being able to share her Filipino culture with people who visit the Pearl of the Orient through food, cultural displays and dancing.

“I think it’s important to showcase what your culture is all about because it increases understanding and empathy,” she says. “We love visiting other pavilions for the same reasons.”

For Sidhu, participating in Folklorama is a way to stay connected to his roots.

The 24-year-old was born in India and moved to Winnipeg when he was six. He began taking part in bhangra — traditional Punjabi folk dancing— around that time, and started performing at the India and Punjab pavilions a few years later.

Eventually, he moved on to volunteering with the Punjab Pavilion’s VIP services and as emcee for its shows.

“Doing bhangra and getting involved in things in my community helped me see the rich aspect of the culture that I come from,” Sidhu says. “It made me be proud of who I am and, as I grew older, it made me even prouder to be able to share it with other people through the Punjab Pavilion.”

Tamayo has been involved with Folklorama ever since he was born, as his parents are longtime volunteers at the Pearl of the Orient. He has memories of participating in the onstage entertainment when he was only four.

“The thing I enjoy the most is going to pavilions, checking out all sorts of different cultures and just being part of the community,” says Tamayo, 18. “I wanted to be an ambassador because I thought it would be a fun opportunity. I’m looking forward to representing the festival.”

Like Tamayo, Sudan started volunteering at the festival at a young age because members of her family were involved with the Pearl of the Orient. The 17-year-old, who is of Filipino and Jamaican descent, loves dance and began performing at the pavilion when she was seven.

“There’s a great sense of community volunteering with everybody, and there’s kind of a sense of family I’ve gotten over the past 10 years,” she says. “It’s just something I enjoy and look forward to every year.”

Sudan is especially excited because 2022 will mark the first in-person Folklorama since 2019. The festival was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was held as a virtual event last year.

“Knowing Folklorama is finally coming back makes me so happy,” Sudan says.

The festival is scheduled for July 31 to Aug. 13.

“I do want to encourage the youth in particular to consider going to check out Folklorama this year,” Tamayo says. “We’re really ready for people to come back.”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com