Trounced by champion La Salle Dance Company and 2nd placer Technological Institute of the Philippines’ Talent’s Guild, CADs bagged P40,000 for winning 3rd place.
“It’s really amazing to just be there and show other dancers what we can do and what we can contribute to the whole dance community,” says Rosalia Anna Medina (IV AB Eu), CADs Externals Vice President.
Fruits of labor
Owing to a month of hardcore training, Medina said it felt rewarding to win 3rd place in what she considered to be the most prestigious dance competition of the Philippines.
“When Ateneo was announced as 2nd runner-up, it was kind of okay, because after the performance, it felt nice that out of the many schools who competed, we were able to get this far,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
For CADs Street Head Alden Daveson Ong (IV BS Mgt), it did not matter whether they won or lost, since the point was to dance for God, he said.
“During the competition, the air of competition towards the other competitors was present, but it was mostly towards ourselves. It was our inner battle for us to be better. So even if we win or lose, it’s okay,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
CADs’ theme for their street battle dance was that of the dance group’s journey as an org, said Ong. He said the group also tried to break out of their usual formula when dancing for the street battle.
Backstage
Despite the rivalry anticipated between them, Medina said CADs is happy for the La Salle Dance Company.
“We’re really happy for La Salle. I guess with all the rivalry, people expect us to be really competing against each other, but backstage, we’re really friendly with them,” she said, referring to an incident in the Freestyle showdown portion.
In the Freestyle portion, two representatives of one group face two representatives from another group with freestyle dance moves. The La Salle and Ateneo representatives surprised the audience with a short dance number after having their showdown.
Last year, CADs won 1st runner-up, following the University of Philippines (UP)-Diliman, who dominated the first three years of the competition until they decided to take a break this year. UP-Diliman however, graced this year’s event with a special intermission number.
Step up
Judging the competition were famous dance personalities like choreographer of Whiplash Dance Company Wilson Ong, President of the Philippine HipHop Federation Jungee Marcelo, and Street Boys group members Jhong Hilario and Meynard Marcellano.
The Philippine All Stars, who are the 2008 World Hip Hop Champions, performed three intermission dance numbers during the battle.
