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G.O.A. Toronto has a blast (See pics at: http://photos.yahoo.com/timdemello)
For a second year, The G.O.A. Toronto organized a '50S - '60S BLAST FROM THE PAST DANCE on Saturday, October 30th, 2004. The previous event was very successful with three bands in attendance. This year there was just one band but with numerous guest appearances. DJ Fatz complemented the live band with a superb collection of �oldies�.
The event was hosted at The Forum Banquet Hall in Rexdale. It appeared that the hall could cater for about 300 to 400 people. The dance attracted just over 250 people made up of a cross-section of Toronto�s multicultural mosaic � although more than half comprised Goans. This was a demonstration of how popular the music from that era still is across racial groups. The band alone comprised of two Goans (rhythm and lead guitarists), an Italian/Canadian (singer and rhythm guitarist), an Englishman (drummer) and an American (bass guitarist).
The ambiance of the hall was reminiscent of that era, with life size Elvis cut-outs and the walls decorated with LP sleeves of that time. People attending were also dressed in attire from that era � men in jeans and tee shirts and women in flared skirts and bobby socks.
The dance committee worked hard to provide an assortment of entertainment through the evening. The main featured band was Les Ombres. It specializes in music of the 50s & 60s. Guest appearances on stage included Auggie Pereira (ex Tanga and ex Auggie and the Blue Notes). He entertained us with his excellent saxophone playing like oldies Sail along Silvery Moon, Morgen, etc. One dancer commented that his music was best appreciated with the lights turned low � and so they were � very low. Terry Pinto (ex- Nairobi) also took to the stage and entertained us with some excellent keyboard numbers. He was introduced as our Goan Stevie Wonder and he did not disappoint. One other person � Jimmy van Rosie (ex Nairobi) together with his drummer � entertained us to a whole selection of popular Swahili hits from the same era. One guest appearance that needs special mention is our own Miss Tammy Pereira. She has an excellent voice and sang some hits made famous by stars like Norah Jones, Linda Rondstat, Connie Francis, etc. A chorus of admirers shouted that she would make a solid competitor for the Canadian Idol.
At 10:00pm there was floorshow by The Habibis. This was a group of three scantily clad women who gave us a riveting performance of belly dancing. In their conclusion they surprised us all by suddenly lurching into the seated spectators and throwing their veils around the necks of three men and pulling them on to floor and challenging them to accompany them in a racy display on the floor. I think the most surprised of the three was Osbert Remedios � but he put on a creditable performance.
There was also a Limbo Dance competition. Many brave souls participated but only one � Clive Ferrao � was selected as the winner.
Les Ombres concluded its performance with its singer Ralph Privitera singing three songs in �different languages�. The first was Marina, sung in his native Italian. This was followed by Mollbailo Dou sung in Konkani, if you don�t mind! He received a rousing ovation for this. He then followed with Claudia and the crowd was ecstatic. One of the members of our table immediately christened him Caetan Santan and granted him honorary citizenship of Sawantwadi.
A recent ex-Mumbai immigrant � 3 months only - to Canada commented that he felt Goans from Africa seemed to enjoy their dancing more that Goans in Mumbai. Looking around the floor at some of my contemporaries � almost all greying or totally grey, others follicly challenged � and almost all acting a lot younger than their age � I would have to agree.
Give the Goans a chance to get together and party (with the help of G.O.A. Toronto, no less) and I do not think there is any other group in this world that can beat us at this.
(See pics at: http://photos.yahoo.com/timdemello)
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