Big Mango stages Tango

All set for the trip to Bangkok.Mark Beales

Sarah Chi (Yr 11C)
Photos by Ritche Guisona
GIS students have been to see a special dance show in Bangkok. The secondary Spanish department organized the trip on October 14 to Bangkok to attend a dance show called ‘Tango Legends’.
The start of the show instantly grabbed the audience as it began with instrumental music that created a calm mood. The stage was decorated as a ballroom with the instrumental group on the right hand side of the stage. This consisted of a piano, a Spanish guitar, a double bass, an accordion and a violin. As the music played, the dancers gathered with their partners and took turns to come to the middle to have small dances.

GIS students with some of the stars of the show.

It was unusual yet interesting to see a small male solo break in between the dances. He performed some songs that are famous melodies.
As the show progressed, the performance became more eye-catching and attractive. The dances became technically extravagant, which made the audience burst into rounds of applause several times.
The costumes added to the greatness of the show. The ladies dresses changed constantly, while the men kept their neat suits and yet managed to pull off spectacular moves.
The most interesting part that our students noticed was the leg movement of the dancers. The legs of each partner would tangle and untangle accurately at speed, and do a swinging, kicking action without making contact. Other acrobatic movements from the ladies, such as jumping and swaying, gave a surreal impression.

Past and present students met up for the trip to Bangkok.

The finale was built up to the maximum by the dancers, expressing their professional tricks magnificently. Each couple of dancers ran into the middle of stage and performed a short yet amazing dance for the final.
This show was an exciting and phenomenal experience for everyone. It impressed the audience and will stay in our memories.
¡Estaba muy fabuloso!

The students and teachers from GIS who went to see ‘Tango Legends’.

Two Chonburi teams make To Be No. 1 dancercise finals

The Zion Dance Crew team, winner of the central and eastern regional final round of the To Be Number One Teen Dancercise Championship.

Warunya Thongrod
Two teams of Chonburi youths will compete nationally for the To Be No. 1 Dancercise Championship after winning at regional semifinals held in Pattaya.
The V-Star dance team from Pattaya School No. 8 won one of two qualifying spots in the Nov. 4 pre-teen competition, while the Hit Me Dance Crew from Chonburi won in the ages 6-9 bracket. Both teams move on to national finals in Bangkok in February.
The dance competition is one of the many programs run by the To Be No. 1 organization launched by HRH Princess Ubolratana to help keep kids off drugs.
At the eastern regionals held at Central Festival Pattaya Beach, Itthiphol Sungkhaeng from the Public Health Ministry and Banglamung District Chief Chawalit Saeng-Uthai awarded prizes to nine teams of youths.

Itthiphol Sungkhaeng from the Public Health Ministry (left) presents the first runner-up trophy to V-Star from Pattaya School No. 8, in the pre-teenage division.

Along with the Chonburi kids, the It’s My Mind team from Municipality 5 School in Ratchaburi won the ages 6-9 category. The other qualifying team in the 10-13 pre-teen bracket was the Awesome Dance Crew in Lopburi. In the teen division, three teams made the finals: the Zion Dance Crew, V.S. Power Team from Visut Rangsee School in Kanchanaburi, and Eastern Dance Crew from Sriyanusorn School in Chantaburi. Winning teams won as much as 20,000 baht.
“I have to praise the youths’ talent and confidence in correctly expressing themselves,” Itthiphol said. “For this competition, the teens have to love dancing and have lots of patience. I want to see children use the experience gained from this competition for their benefits in the future.”
“The teens from this competition, apart from getting to do what they love, have gained experience, patience, attention including discipline in practicing,” said Phota Kaenkaew, professor from Angtong College of Dramatic Arts. “I have seen students determined during their practices including support from parents. I believe that this has helped stimulate better relationships within the family.”
Thanongsak Sribongkot, a member of one of the winning teen teams, said the group had been practicing for more than two months. “We were determined to win and we did after having many letdowns.”

Banglamung District Chief Chawalit Saeng-Uthai (left) presents the second runner-up trophy to V.S Power Team from Visut Rangsee School, Kanchanaburi, in the teenage division

Teenage champs show their moves.

A new start

It is always easy to find help at the school.

Derek Franklin
Mos was living with his grandparents in a village close to the Thai-Cambodian border when at the age of five years he stepped on a land mine which blew both his legs off. He got used to using an adult size wheelchair, the only one available, and when he started school he wheeled himself five kilometers to school and five kilometers home each day, no matter the weather.
By the age of nine his grandparents were no longer able to take care of him, so they brought him to Pattaya where he found a home at the Father Ray Children’s Home.

Mos shortly after he arrived at the Father Ray Children’s Home in 2005.

He made friends, attended school, learned to use prosthetics, became a goalkeeper in the futsal team, played guitar in a band and grew into a teenager. And he also had dreams of returning to his village in Sa Kaeo province, which he did for a while before returning to his home in Pattaya.
Mos is now eighteen years of age and on the morning of Monday 5th November he joined seventy nine other young adults enrolling at the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities here in Pattaya.
While Mos did not have too far to travel, students at the school come from all corners of the country and they all arrive with the hopes and dreams of a better life.
Another new arrival is thirty year old Jim, who gets around on what looks like a go-kart. He lies on a piece of wood and moves the wheels with his feet, steering with two pieces of string. He has tried a wheelchair but finds it too uncomfortable, though by the time he graduates the school may have found a better solution for getting around than what he has now. To enroll at the school he traveled from Chaiyaphum province, accompanied by his family who want the best for their son.
For two years the students will be expected to study hard. The school will provide the education, accommodation, food and medical help, all for free. The school will also find them suitable employment once they graduate.
In the twenty five years since the school was founded by Father Ray Brennan, almost two thousand five hundred students with disabilities have graduated.
In two years time we hope that Mos, Jim and all the other new students will be wearing their graduating gowns, receiving their certificates and going out into the world as equals.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email [email protected]

Mos, left, on his first day at vocational school.

The teachers tied good luck string to the wrists of the students.

Thirty year old Jim wants a better life for himself and his family.

GIS students sing and dance for special talent show

The boarding house girls danced their way into third spot.

Abhigyan Khullar (Year 9)
Photos by Ritche Guisona
Students from Garden International School (GIS) sang, danced and performed a dazzling array of songs during a special talent show.
On October 19, GIS carried out a search for its most talented students. There was a lot of excitement and eagerness as the audience took their seats, awaiting the performances.
To start with there was a melodic duet performed by two gifted singers. Then we had a talented musician sing and play the guitar at the same time, then a fabulous dance by two awesome performers. Next we had a band play Cameo Lover, then there were some more dances and songs along with another band and duet.
There were huge cheers for every performance but there could only be one winner. Although all performers did excellently, a top three was chosen by the students. In first place were dancers Kim and Anna who got 70 votes; in second place was the Yr 11 band with 46 votes and in third spot were the Boarding House Girls with 43 votes.

Talent show champs from Yr 8!

GIS’s Yr 7 girls staged a carefully-choreographed show.

Who shall I vote for? Students weigh up where their vote will go.

Big Mango stages Tango

Two Chonburi teams make To Be No. 1 dancercise finals

A new start

GIS students sing and dance for special talent show