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Fafa’någue Saina Eric Reyes Cultural Practitioner | Certified Chamorro Dance Instructor | Composer | Musician | Cultural Ambassador In this workshop, Fafa’någue Saina Eric Reyes will be teaching the History of Chamorro Dance, Song, and Chant: how it started, where we are now, and where it is going, pertaining to the vision of the movement. Fafa’någue Saina Eric Reyes is a dedicated Cultural Practitioner with over 33 years of experience, under the direct continued guidance and tutelage of his mentor, the first ever master of Chamorro dance, Doctor Francisco B. Rabon for over 3 decades; a Certified “fafa’någue” Chamorro Dance Instructor for the past 13 years. A passionate singer, creative songwriter, composer, musician, and producer, he stands as a proud cultural ambassador for Chamorro Arts.  With over 40 years of performing Chamorro music, and 33 years of global cultural advocacy, Saina Eric has shared his talents across Asia, Europe, 18 Pacific Islands, and the United States. His mission has always been to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the indigenous Chamorro culture through song, dance, chant, and historical narrative. A major highlight is bearing the position as Creative Director for Opening Ceremonies for Pacific Mini Games 2022 CNMI. 27 countries participated. From 2022 to the present, he took charge as the first fafa’någue to lead a groundbreaking cultural movement: Guma’ San Lagu, uniting 18 Chamorro cultural houses (guma’s) across the mainland U.S. Under his leadership, he created the Man Danña Antigu (“Ancient Gathering”), a spiritual and cultural “calling” for the Chamorro people. In September 2024, this vision culminated in a historic moment at the largest Pacific Islander Festival in the United States, where all 18 guma’s—over 300 dancers and more than 30 musicians—graced the stage in a powerful display of unity and cultural pride. The mission of Guma’ San Lagu—One Sound, One Movement, One Voice, One Heart – un Marianas—continues. Since 2022, Saina Eric has traveled extensively across the U.S., leading over 20+ workshops to build and support this network. The exposure at PIFA 2024 sparked interest from other states including Arizona and Colorado. Guma’ San Lagu has also been invited to perform at several prestigious cultural events including:  Marianas Festival – Portland, Oregon  Guam Liberation – DFW, Texas  Chamorro Fest – San Diego, California  Pacific Islander Festival – San Diego, California Combined, these events draw hundreds of thousands of attendees annually. Saina Eric’s visionary approach to sharing Chamorro dance with the world was born during a conversation with fellow Fafa’någue Saina Rosemary Mantanona in Las Vegas during a Lalai Project workshop. This dialogue inspired the first-ever Chamorro Dance flash mob—held in a San Diego Walmart. The performance went viral, amassing over 3 million views and igniting global interest in Chamorro culture. From 2003–2024, he has received numerous accolades in the Dinanña Minagof Chamorro Dance Competition, University Of Guam Chamorro Song and Dance Competition, and CNMI Chamorro Song and Dance Competition, Kåntan Minagof Song and Chant Competition  16 gold medals for First Place Chamorro Dance and Chant  5 First Place awards for Chamorro Song Competition  Dance Instructor of the Year (awarded back-to-back in 2006 & 2007)  Preservation for Traditional Practice (2020) He has written and composed 18 original Chamorro songs and chants, now performed by guma’s throughout the Marianas, Japan, and the United States—in schools and community gatherings. These works help tell the story of Chamorro life and values, preserving language and culture for generations to come. Among his most influential compositions are:  Sainan Mami  Ginen Manu  Galaide  Lalai  Taiguini Tutuhon-ta Fafa’någue Saina Eric Reyes continues to be a pillar of cultural preservation, pushing the movement forward through unity, tradition, and unshakable love for the Chamorro people.