Dressed in choral garb, the defending back-to-back champions University of the Philippines Streetdance Club annexed their third consecutive title with smooth transition of different dance styles and besting six other crews, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
UP Street got the top-spot nod from two of the four judges (Nesh Janiola and James Wong) and was in the podium for the two others (2nd for Wilson Ong, 3rd for Lema Diaz) as they grooved to the top hits of the 90s. The routine is loosely based on riff-off, where people sing songs continuing from where the previous song’s lyrics finished. The Diliman-based crew performed solidly from start to finish as they wowed the crowd inside the Arena.
Senior member Dindin Casillan shared that the routine is a product of their choreographers’ creativity. Another fifth-year member Deo Enomoto added, “In-emphasize namin yung choral, pati yung pagkanta sa riff-off.”
Moreover, the two seniors emphasized that they prepared one month for this competition. Prior preparations for their recent concert hindered the schedule of the three-time champions for this season.
Former two-time champions La Salle Dance Company – Street finished in second place after getting three top-three votes including a first place nod from one of the judges. The Taft-based squad turned to traditional hip-hop music and beatboxing but showed their versatility throughout the routine.
First-time participants University of Santo Tomas Hype surprised everyone with a second-runner up finish with a socially-relevant and timely election-themed performance. UST even garnered two runner-up rankings from the two judges to end up in the podium for the first time in the history of the competition.
Frequent top-three placers Company of Ateneo Dancers placed fourth with a drumline-inspired routine. CADS was supposed to start off the competition but a technical miscommunication between the show carrier and the organizers resulted to a premature performance by the squad during a commercial break. The Katipunan-based dancers were then moved to perform last.
Far Eastern University Dance Company, University of the East Armada, and Adamson CAST rounded-up the order of finish.
The UP Pep Squad served as the curtain-riser for the event while the UP Filipiniana Dance Troupe and world-renowned crew Legit Status provided the intermission numbers.
UAAP Season 78 Streetdance Competition Awarding Ceremony:
2nd runner-up: UST Hype
1st runners-up: LSDC-Street
CHAMPIONS: UP Streetdance Club
