Far Eastern University Street Alliance have been in fifth place for the past three UAAP Streetdance Competition seasons.
But this year, the squad pulled off a major breakthrough.
They barged in the podium and took it all advancing past street dance powerhouses, UP Streetdance Club and LSDC-Street.
Aside from this being FEU’s first title and first podium finish ever, what made the championship extra special for the Street Alliance is the fact that nothing really was expected of them considering that they are a young team but they were still able to create such a feat.
“Ang focus ko talaga mairaos, feeling ko yun ang tama na term eh. Mairaos lang namin ng maganda at matutuwa ang FEU, masaya na kami. Kaya nakita niyo naman yung saya namin kanina [nung nanalo na kami],” coach Randell San Gregorio shared.
They performed an old-school gangster themed routine complete with printed pants and suspenders. San Gregorio was the mastermind of the gangster peg.
“Naisip ko lang kasi uso yung mga tema eh.
“So parang nung binuo yung team, yun na kagad pumasok sa isip ko eh dahil nga pressed for time na ayaw ko na mamili kaya pinanindigan na lang namin. Gangster 1920’s yung peg pero may twist nung modern ngayon sa music,” he shared.
The team, which was only formed last January, had the heavy burden to complete the team, complete the props, and complete the routine in a span of two months to make it to the competition in March.
“Up to the last minute nagaayos kami eh kasi nga pressed for time, pati costume. Halo halo yung dancers eh. Most of the members nanggaling sa FEU Dance Company, tapos three from Cheering Squad tapos yung iba independent na,” shared the coach, who bared that they even had to call auditions and referrals just so they can complete the team.
Team captain Rei Sioson, a Financial Management major, even shared the hardships they underwent for the competition.
“Sobrang thankful po talaga ako kay coach kasi di ko naman po ineexpect yung first place. Akala ko po talaga third or at least perfect run,” Sioson said. He shared how he had to always travel back to Morayta for street dance training after finishing his classes in the Makati campus of FEU.
In the end, their scramble to complete everything since January was ended by a complete turnaround as they took home the gold to Morayta.
With this achievement, FEU majorly established that in terms of streetdance, one should never sleep on them.
But as for Coach Randell, when asked what is the first thing they are going to do after this championship, with a smile he answered: to sleep.
“Honestly, matutulog muna kami kasi lagi kaming puyat sa training eh.”
