Artist///Frank Rabon
Cultural Calling Keeping Chamorro history alive through dance Guam’s Master of Chamorro dance Francisco B. “Frank” Rabon doesn’t dance to impress, but to express. Story and photos by John I. Borja
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s a seasoned cultural performer and mentor, Rabon says his performances always come from the heart. It’s not about putting on a show, but rather, representing the identity of the island’s indigenous people. That’s what he teaches his students as the founder of the Taotao Tano’ Cultural Dance group. The group was established in 1983 and since then, more than 15 cultural performing groups from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Japan and mainland United States formed under the tutelage of Rabon. He makes sure the groups are unified in the goal of representing the Chamorro people. “[Performing arts is] the first thing you come in contact with that introduces you to the people’s identities,” Rabon says. Prior to 1983, Rabon says cultural performances depicting ancient Chamorro history barely existed. He began dancing in 1971 and recalls only performing Polynesian dances at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa. Furthermore, popular dances from the mainland United States also made their way to Guam. Rabon says locals have since adapted those dances with some variations, but they weren’t authentically Chamorro. “I remember my instructor asking me, ‘Why aren’t
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