The inaugural Guam International Dance Festival (GIDF) will be held Dec. 5-7 and is open to the public. The festival opens Friday with a series of free, hands-on workshops taught by master dancers and choreographers representing both local culture and international dance traditions. All workshops are free and open to all ages and skill levels. Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged.
Free master class on Dec. 5
Friday’s workshop schedule offers a range of genres and instructors:
Frank Rabon — CHamoru Dance 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Sinajana Fine Arts Center Rabon, a longtime cultural practitioner honored with CAHA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and recognized as a Master of CHamoru Dance, leads a session focused on preserving and sharing indigenous CHamoru song and dance traditions.
Brian Esperon — Hip-Hop / Urban Dance 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sinajaña Fine Arts Center Guam-native choreographer and social-media creator Brian Esperon, known for viral choreography and commercial collaborations, teaches a master class in urban dance and performance technique.
Ahtoy Juliana — Salsa / Latin Dance 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Micronesia Mall (Center Court) International performer, choreographer, and educator Ahtoy Juliana — a world champion in Latin partner dance and founder of BAILA Society — leads a Latin dance session blending technical skill and storytelling.
NPher — K-Pop / Urban Dance (Meet & Greet Workshop) 5. – 5:45 p.m., Micronesia Mall (former GameStop) Rising K-pop dance group NPher joins the festival for a workshop and meet-and-greet. Formed in 2023 and active in international festivals and promotional projects, NPher brings K-pop choreography and performance experience to Guam audiences.
Friday’s workshop culminates with a free public showcase from 6 to 8 p.m. at Micronesia Mall’s Center Court. The lineup includes a Japan dance group led by Asami Nohira, Malaysia’s Suluh Tingkah Kesuma Tari, performances from SKIP Entertainment Company, and a special jazz set by Japanese actor and musician Shinji Takeda.
Workshops are free but have limited capacity. For workshop registration, the full festival schedule, and additional details, visit: visitguam.com/gidf.
