Impressed with this year’s contestants, that is the reaction of Salinggawi President Adams Bernabe for everyone who competed in Musika Dansa, the dance troupe’s 26th annual university-wide dance competition. Held in the Medicine Auditorium last August 16, 2011. the competition featured three categories—Solo, Pair/Trio, and Group.
An audience enough to fill the 1, 200 capacity of the auditorium bear witness to the performers who danced to the theme of the competition: Broadway, featuring famous musicals with their songs and stories. And because it’s musical in theme, the performances are not just about dancing, but also acting; they also have to depict “unified melody in motion.” Present in the event were Prof. Evelyn Songco, Ph. D, Assistant to the Rector for Student Affairs, who also gave the opening remarks, and Rev. Fr. Romulo Rodriguez, O.P., J.C.D, Regent of the College of Education and College of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
The Solo Category had six contestants, which consisted of three representatives from the College of Fine Arts and Design, one each for the College of Commerce, College of Education, and College of Architecture. After all the emotional and colorful pieces, Maria Ena Zarah Santos from the College of Education reigned supreme. “Actually, I misunderstood the announcement,” says Santos, thinking that it was her when the announcer called for second place, which was really Maria Eliza Ramos form CFAD. Upon the initial reaction, she “felt that it was okay not winning [because I was able to] dance my heart out on stage.” Mary Catherine Supnel from Architecture won first place.
In the Pair/Trio Category, five contestants battled for the top spot. Each of them grooved intensified performances, making the audience go loud every after one pair or trio. There was one entry each from the College of Commerce, College of Education, College of Fine Arts and Design, and the Faculty of Engineering. Another, which is also the one who won as the Champion, has Neal Aldrich Chug (Engineering), Mhicel John Unas (Science), and Marvin Leslie Yuan (Education) forming one group. They attributed their victory to their passion in dancing and in their rehearsals even if there are problems. Educ and CFAD respectively won first and second places.
The last category of the dance competition, the group category, were joined by seven groups—the College of Science Dance Troupe, PaciRuthmos Dance Troupe, Arki Dance Troupe, Engineering Dance Troupe, Intenzync Danzerge (CTHM), One Shade Dance Squad, and Commerce Dance Troupe. Bragging the rights to be called Champion was the Commerce Dance Troupe, who performed a zombie-themed dance. “We actually needed to change our piece, different from the one we used in the auditions,” shared the troupe. Because of that fact and their tight schedule, they really have to practice everyday. “Thankful kami kay God dahil nasuklian ‘yung pagod namin.” First place in this category is the Arki Dance Troupe and second is the Intenzyc Danzerge from CTHM.
The UST Singers graced the event, singing the Circle of Life, Seasons of Love, and Special Memor hosted by Reena Patricia Rodriguez and Marc Alcala.
Judges to the contestants of Musika Dansa were Ms. Hanna Sollano, Ms. Japs Treopaldo, and Mr. Dexter Santos. Ms. Hollano shared her opinion on the dancers, saying that she is “surprised by their motivation and creativity, [taking in consideration the] theme. It’s a pleasant surprise.”
By Miguel Villon
