COMING OFF a four-season lull in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs) returned to the limelight in the Season 85 Street Dance Competition with a fifth-place finish. The event was held on Saturday, May 27, at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
Previously placing seventh in Season 81 with a score of 67.45, the troupe vastly improved and climbed the ranks this year with a final score of 88.5.
Boasting a newly-refined lineup of seasoned veterans and promising rookies, the team of 20 was led under the wing of Team Captain Lorenzo Jover.
Throughout their routine, the team maintained impressive synergy and focused on a dynamic and powerful set of moves. Despite failing to secure a podium finish this season, Jover had nothing but high praises for his team’s performance in the contest.
“I’m proud of the performance of the team. Even if it was unfortunate that we weren’t blessed with a podium finish this time, we still met our goal of giving a really good performance and having an amazing run,” he expressed. “The growth of each and every member here was incredible and I was lucky to have been able to witness it.”
Nonetheless, the outcome of the competition also revealed the deep-rooted bond shared by the CADs members that paved the way for an outstanding performance on the floor. Ending the season on a high note, Jover also looks back on the road that has brought the team to this momentous achievement.
“The journey as we made our return was challenging. [However,] we took things one at a time and focused on getting better each and every time. We’ll continue to strive to embody this progressive mindset in everything we do and as we continue to train because our journey as a team is definitely not yet over,” shared Jover.
After wrapping up their Season 85 campaign, the troupe will continue to work on strengthening their artistry, performance, and foundations to propel them back into the limelight both inside and outside of the collegiate tournament.
In the meantime, CADs Street, together with the organization’s Contemporary division, will soon begin preparations for the upcoming World of Dance Finals in Anaheim, Los Angeles from August 11 to 14, 2023.
The lineup of the UAAP Street Dance Competition competing team:
Denise Atanque, Marco Austriaco, Kyrene Espedido, Kurt Garbo, Francisco Garcia, Juancho Garcia, Don Gonzales, Rueben Jorge, Lorenzo Jover, Syou Katsumi, Sarah Perdigon, Gabrielle Robles, Beatriz San Luis, Francesca Sanchez, Kassandra Sanchez, Chiana Santelices, Leyenne Tan, Alecz Vejerano, Julia Villa, and Aljon Yu.
Final Rankings of the UAAP Season 85 Street Dance Competition:
1st – University of Santo Tomas (UST) Prime
2nd – National University (NU) Dance Company
3rd – University of the Philippines (UP) Streetdance Club
4th – Adamson University Dance Company – Street (AUDC)
5th – Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs)
6th – Far Eastern University (FEU) Street Alliance
7th – La Salle Dance Company – Street (LSDC)
