Dancers and dance enthusiasts from all over the nation gathered yesterday, October 5, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum to witness the biggest interschool hiphop competition of the year: the final round of the SMART Jump In Dance Off 2. The event was participated by the best crews from the elementary, high school, and college levels -- those who survived the regional eliminations which took place in different provinces of the Philippines.
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| The Sayawatha Dance Troupe from Miriam College |
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| Two boys from Pasil Elementary School - Cebu pose for the camera. |
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| UP Fight! The Los Banos team wows everyone with their flawless execution. |
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| UP Diliman Street Dance Club bags the Social Media Favorite award for the college division. |
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| Balloons in SMART's colors shower Araneta. |
Five dance troupes from the elementary level battled it out in the Finals, but in the end the group from Wesleyan University (A1) finished up as the Grand Champion.
The combat in the high school level was much fiercer, as 8 teenage hiphop crews showcased not just their creativity but their overflowing swag and attitude. In the end, defending champion Sayawatha Dance Troupe from Miriam College was able to defend the crown.
Things got even more exciting when the final 9 collegiate teams fired up the dance floor and the entire Araneta with their highly technical and complex moves. Emerging as Grand Champion was the UP LB Street Jazz Dance Company from UP Los Banos—who truly showed everyone was hiphop was all about.
Each champion team from each category took home a whopping 300,000-peso cash prize (PhP150,000 for the crew, PhP150,000 for the school). First and second runner-ups bagged PhP200,000 and PhP100,000 respectively. Aside from almost PhP4M worth of prizes, the winners also get to become brand ambassadors of SMART.
The panel of judges was composed by Lema Diaz of the Philippine All-Stars, Jon Supan of the Maneuvers, and Georcelle of G-Force.
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| Georcelle from G Force fires up the stage. |
The event was hosted by the Boys Night Out trio, together with courtside reporter Riza—who, in my honest opinion, practically wanted to run the entire show herself by keeping on hogging the microphone.
SMART endorsers James Reid and Nadine Lustre graced the event and even rendered a cheesy #kilig song and dance number. The iconic Ramon Bautista, as well as the Younghusband brothers, attended the dance off as well.
Congratulations to SMART Prepaid from such an awesome event! Indeed, through this competition, SMART Jump In shows their support for the youth by encouraging them to pursue their passion. How I wish something as huge as this is also possible for dancesport. :p
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| Dance X from Xavier School did a wonderful, krumping-heavy performance as well. |
Special thanks to Ms. Frances Wayne Rafio of SMART Prepaid – Jump In for our VIP tickets—Patron seats, yeah! I was practically hugging the stage. LOL!
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| I look like a total gargoyle next to Ms. Frances Rafio. LOL! |
I’d let the below photos show you more highlights of the event. Enjoy!
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The Maneuvers, Philippine All-Stars, and G-Force made the crowd wild with a stupendous, explosive opening number, together with the captains of all competing teams.
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| Someone tell me who that guy in the sleeveless shirt is. |
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| That part where the team captains wrote their school names on the graffiti wall was so cool. |
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| First time to see the highly energetic G Force dancers live. Now I know why everyone loves them. |
One of my favorite college teams was the First Runner up: La Salle Dance Company Street, who gave a really fun, energetic number.
A well-deserved win by the UP LB Street Jazz Dance Company. Their girls were so fierce and hot!
Likewise, these highschool girls from St. Pedro Poveda College (Enciende) showed people what a bitch on the stage is like. I was totally surprised they didn’t make it to the Top 3! They were my favorite in the high school division!
Another awesome crew, from the NDDU Generals Mark from Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos. This guy just stood out.
You can’t fake emotion: at least, that’s what the LSGH AirForce seemed to tell us.
The talented group from University of Cebu (Watch Your Step Dance Crew). Why were they not in the Top 3?
UP Street Dance Club from UP Diliman bags 3rd place in the college division. Go, fellow Isko/Iska!
Cute little boys from Aquinas School (Preppy Kidzz) bagging the Texters’ Choice and Social Media Favorite Special awards.
These kids are THE future.
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| Pasil Elementary School (Crew Evolution) |
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| San Roque Central Elementary School (Hupay Dance Troupe) |
The 2014 World Hiphop champions, A-Team, giving a special number at the end of the competition.
Photo-op with 2 members of the Philippine All-Stars.
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