WITH A score of 93.16, the Association for Communications Technology Management’s Acteam reigned supreme in this year’s Rhythm in Blue (RIB) dance competition. The event was held on September 22 at the Henry Lee Irwin Theater.
RIB is an inter-organization dance competition hosted by the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADS). Now on its tenth year, the competition was entitled, “Looking for One’s X.”
Captain of Acteam Angeli Villaraza said, “The Acteam’s X factor would definitely be defying the norm. We took a chance this year with our routine, deciding to just put faith in both it and most especially each other.”
Acommpany of the Ateneo Association of Communication Majors (Acomm) and Amaneuvers of the Ateneo Management Association (AMA) snagged first and second runner-up with scores of 93.1 and 92.8, respectively.
CADS President Ross Tan said that he honestly did not know what to expect for the finals. “One thing I really love about RIB is that it’s very unpredictable. Every year, there are new orgs that suddenly dominate the competition thus taking the whole competition to whole other level.”
The second runner-up, first runner-up and overall champion walked away with P10,000, P15,000 and P20,000, respectively with all teams receiving a trophy.
The seven other competing dance troupes were Bestest Dancers of Blue Repertory, Ateneo CODE Dancers of Ateneo’s Consultants for Organization Development and Empowerment, Meamove of the Management Engineering Association, Lexmen of the Ateneo Lex, T Crew of Tugon, ARSA Dance Troupe of Ateneo Resident Students Association and Mecocrew of the Management Economics Organization.
Four special awards were also given out during the event.
Acteam received the Crowd Favorite Award which was based on the loudest and most enduring cheer for an organization throughout the competition while Acommpany was conferred the Best Musical Mix Award.
Lexmen was awarded the Best in Costume Award, while the People’s Choice Award was given to ARSA Dance Troupe for having 2,054 likes in their CADS Facebook page as of that night.
The X factor
“We couldn’t have found our X factor without each other; we inspired and lifted one another, especially during the harder times and late nights of training,” said Villaraza.
Acommpany head Jem Vergara believed that “the X factor of [their] team was each and every one of [them] that makes it.”
“The whole piece could not have been that awesome if one of us is absent. The dedication and growth can be seen in each member. Each team member is a character and personality of one is accepted in our team. That’s why we treat each other like a family,” she said.
Amaneuver Samantha Sy said, “RIB is one of the most awaited events of the year. I felt the intensity of the event and its importance, especially being part of the Amanuevers because we’re defending our title. I felt the sweat and tears of competing and practicing everyday plus the joys of winning and being part of something, of meeting new friends who would stay with you for a lifetime.”
“I felt that through this experience, I didn’t just grow as a dancer but as a person as well,” she added.
Vice President of the Sanggunian Ian Agatep commented, “I can say that…everyone found their spot on that X because it was a truly incredible performance for everyone and a night worth remembering that captivated the whole theater.”
AMA officer Bettina Reyes said, “The X factor is the presence and the power that emanates from that presence; you just feel it.”
Tan said that CADS was initially unsure of the kind of X factor to focus on for this year’s RIB, but finally decided to keep it open-ended so as to challenge the contenders even more.
“At the end of the day, the competition is about creative expression and love for the art,” he said.
On triumph
“The timing of our win was very exact since we placed in the tenth year of RIB for Acomm’s tenth year, too. Those before us said that ‘This year should be big for Acomm,’ and I guess we didn’t fail them,” Vergara said.
Villaraza said, “Winning the championship actually feels so unbelievable. The team worked so hard for so many months and weeks that to be told that night that we made it feels ten times more amazing and fulfilling.”
“We feel very blessed and happy, not just for winning, but for the entire experience itself as well. We all learned so much and grew to become a family in our own right. This definitely is going to be something all 16 of us will never be able to forget and will carry with us for the rest of our lives,” she added.
“This year’s RIB was very competitive and strong. Last year we were champions in RIB. This year we are third. I won’t say that was a step back but instead it’s a consistency,” head of Amanuevers Kim Alcantara said. “I’m very happy that at least we got second runner-up despite the other nine strong contenders.”
With reports from Jose C. Cua
