IN AN embodiment of grace and flair, the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs) outshone the competition, clinching first place in the Senior B (12 & Up) ensemble: Contemporary category at the Philippine Dance Cup (PDC). The event, which featured several Filipino dance troupes and schools, was held from November 13 to 15 in Malate, Manila.
Alongside their stellar first-place finish, the Loyola Heights-based dance crew secured two additional accolades: the Remedios de Oteyza Award for Best Choreography and the Highest Scoring Entry Award—further cementing their excellence throughout the event.
Under the direction of choreographer Jun Saagundo, contemporary dance members Julia Alarilla, Olivia Atienza, Gabriella Bunag, Ariana Jimenez, Kabrina Ko, Alicia Mitra, Samantha Uyboco, and Stephanie Uyboco delivered the finest contemporary performance in their winning entry at PDC. Completely mesmerizing the Manila audience, the troupe perfectly synchronized to “Sabel” by Ben&Ben ft. KZ Tandingan.
The squad’s every movement gradually layered and embodied Benedicto Cabrera’s iconic figure “Sabel” onto a metaphorical canvas for the crowd, ultimately narrating the theme of resilience and the story of the marginalized. Thanks to the incorporation of their personal experience, the troupe flawlessly embodied the Filipino ability to stand firm even in times of despair. All these elements combined allowed the dancers’ authenticity to shine, resulting in their top-place finish at the PDC.
Contemporary Director Sam Uyboco cited this experience as a full-circle moment, as she and her team won in their first purely-contemporary dance competition since the pandemic. “This win felt like validation for all the hard work and sacrifices we made. It wasn’t just about the awards—it was about proving to ourselves that we were capable. […] After we stepped off the stage, we knew we had given it everything we had.”
Sharing how her team felt after winning three different distinctions, member Alarilla also noted the experience as a culmination of years of hard work and bonding as a unit.
“We realized that we were given that final award not just because of our skill or talent, but because of the chemistry that we showed on stage; to which we are grateful for the relationships that we’ve built and memories made along the way,” Alarilla expressed.
After their stellar performance at the PDC, CADs will continue to chase for excellence, proudly carrying the flag of the Blue and White for future competitions.
