As each day passes, the 80th season of the UAAP continuously draws nearer and nearer to its conclusion. With the highly competitive nature of the tournament, the competitive spirit has travelled from the court, field, pool, and now it is about to ignite the dance floor.
The La Salle Dance Company-Street (LSDC-Street) will aim for back-to-back titles in this year’s edition of the UAAP Street Dance Competition. After ending a three-year championship drought at the expense of a dominant title run by the University of the Philippines Street Dance Club, LSDC-Street was able to snatch the crown back with a strong party themed routine. In the sixth year of the Street Dance Competition, last year’s victory marked LSDC-Street’s third championship title, while the UP Street Dance Club bagged the other three titles.
Defend the land
As defending champions, the expectations are high for LSDC-Street. Company Manager Claudine Inocencio emphasizes the high competitive spirit of the competition stating, “The UAAP has always been one of the most competitive dance competitions in our community. The level of admirable talent increases every year as we all strive to be at our best.”
This year’s roster will showcase some new faces given that majority of last year’s roster have already retired from the UAAP due to graduation. When asked about what makes the team this year different from last year, Inocencio explains, “This year’s team is a whole new lineup, mostly rookies to the competition. Considering the fact that the majority of our members are new, you’ll see a fresh personality from the team united by a mindset to uphold the legacy that was passed on to us.”
The experience of the few remaining members from last year’s lineup will be vital for the performance of the team’s rookies. To obtain a podium finish, the team’s veterans must be ready to lead and guide the younger members for a proper mix of youth and experience.
March madness
March Madness is the only way to describe LSDC-Street’s hectic month. A week ago, the team competed and placed fifth in the 2018 World of Dance Manila qualifiers. A week after the UAAP, the team will also be competing in the 2018 Dance Supremacy Competition on March 18. To top it all of, the company will also be having their annual thanksgiving concert, Danz Dish 13: Before Your Eyes, on March 23. That is three straight competitions and one concert all in the month of March.
Inocencio states, “On top of preparations for their annual concert, juggling different competitions happening one weekend after the other and all in one month was the challenge this year.” Time and priority management were the keys of balancing training, administrative work, and studies. The team will stick to its game plan by taking things one day at a time. Aside from the need for organization, mental toughness and drive are also essential factors that will define the success of the team.
Family, excellence, and legacy
The group emphasizes that unity is a necessary component for success as it keeps everyone on the same page. Regardless of what the circumstance may be, excellence is one factor that LSDC will never compromise in their endeavors.
As the group’s leader, Inocencio made sure that excellence both on and off the dance floor is evident stating, “I expect my teammates to be able to showcase the victories we’ve won in every training we’ve done excellently, not just during the performance but even beyond the competition itself. It has always been our goal to have a mature understanding of our routine and to beat the standard we delivered last year.”
Inocencio has instilled accountability in the team by making sure each member has an “I got your back” mentality. She concludes, “As the leader of the group and with the help of our trainers and former competing members, I made sure to provide an avenue wherein we did not just train to compete but more importantly to develop more leaders and a sense of accountability for one another.” Now on its seventh year, the Taft-based squad is locked in and ready for the seventh UAAP Street Dance Competition.
Catch the LSDC-Street tomorrow, March 11, at 2 pm at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
