For athletes, nothing can compare to the pressure of competing in a new arena, more so if it is out of the country. Being miles away from home, coupled with competing in an unfamiliar setting, can at times rattle even the most disciplined of athletes. Last November, La Salle Dance Company (LSDC) – Street won in the first ever Gigi Art of Dance E-Motions 2015: Heroes of the Year Dance Convention held in Jakarta, Indonesia, not just through their routines and talent, but also with their roots.
LSDC-Street, headed by Kevin Intal and Mycs Villoso, brought home the gold, while Indonesian teams HeavyBuckStylez and Last Minute Street Crew won second and third place, respectively.
International tournaments aren’t new for LSDC-Street as its members have already competed in various tournaments, but the new event was quite unique. Aside from the competition proper, the 10-day convention had various programs that aimed to promote dance education throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
“We were very excited because we were entering something new, something different,” company manager Lianna Martinez (IV-Marketing Management) mentioned. “Not only was it the very first event like this in Indonesia, but it was also our first time to compete in Asia. It was also our first competition after a long break from [competing].”
More than just a competition
Competing in the Tell Your Tale (TYT) Mega Team Competition, wherein teams of 15-40 members worked around the theme “Show Your Impact”, LSDC-Street performed a routine that fused traditional folk dance with contemporary hip-hop moves, a combination that won them both the competition and the hearts of the Indonesian crowd.
“Unlike other local competitions that we usually join here [in Manila], we definitely weren’t in our comfort zone, so we just wanted to take in everything the experience brings and enjoy the journey,” Martinez said in describing the event.
“The event wasn’t a competition for me,” Villoso said, also mentioning that it was geared towards inspiring and encouraging others to dance. “It was a reminder that dance unites everyone.”
On the day of the competition, the atmosphere was electric. Despite representing the Philippines, LSDC-Street heard cheers from the crowd while the support from their competitors showed the respect for the craft and revealed the level of appreciation of the Indonesian dance community.
“That was the thing that struck us the most,” Martinez said referring to the cheers from the Indonesian crowd. “Even though we were from a different country and performed a routine that was rooted in our Filipino culture, they respected it and cheered us on the whole time.”
“My Indonesia experience was literally a dream come true,”Chyn Crisostomo, an LSDC-Street Trainee, mentioned. “Having spent only a month with LSDC-Street, I would have never expected myself to be part of the competition team for Indonesia. Although it wasn’t easy, catching up with the senior members’ in terms of endurance, strength, and skill, with hard work and help from the coaches, I was able to push myself beyond my limits.”
Moving forward
Like in any other competition, LSDC-Street saw positives and negatives they can build and improve on moving forward. More than anything, the experience was fulfilling both for the crew and the individual members who competed in the event. Aside from the awards and the new friends they have gained, they draw inspiration from this experience heading into their future competitions. Other than that, competing in less competitions this year has made them realize that despite the change in their activities, they need to remain in shape.
More than the accolades, however, the crew has been looking at the bigger picture, as they have decided to focus more of their efforts on their upcoming event, the Hip-Hop Dance Convention, and Martinez further explains that though they will take a break from competitions for now, they will continue giving back to the Philippine dance community.
“We are very much grateful for the win and we are honored for being able to represent the Philippines in this competition,” she said. “But for LSDC-Street, we aim for the goal beyond the gold. This championship is just a bonus from the experience we had and the knowledge we gained in this competition.”
Cast: Gela Maulawin, Angelo Villegas, Yang Sebastian, Christel Chongson, Samantha Libao, Chyn Crisostomo, Claudine Inocencio, Eunice Aclan, Gio Martinez, Hannah Cortez, Ella Canuel, Jerri Fong, Jared Enrile, Jess Tumbaga, Kay-Kay Valderrama, Lianna Martinez, Lucas Aviola, Martin Padilla, Jolo Santos, Paolo Deluria, Zion Wuxinyi
Photos courtesy of LSDC—Street.
