UP and Claret reign supreme at the Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 Final Battle

The crowd of 10,000 could hardly contain their excitement as they waited for their home streetdance crews to take the stage at the Big Dome for a crack at the ultimate streetdance title in the country – the Skechers Streetdance Battle championship. As minutes ticked by, high school and college crew supporters and dance enthusiasts cheered, paraded school colors, and chanted rah-rahs to release their pent-up excitement and tension. After all, it was the Final Battle of the Philippines’ most prestigious dance competition.

Aside from pitting the fiercest and most skilled streetdance crews in the country, the Final Battle also set the stage for the much-awaited showdown of the country’s two streetdance heavyweights – the De La Salle University’s La Salle Dance Company Street and the University of the Philippines - Diliman’s UP Streetdance Club for possession of the Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 college category crown. High school crews were also itching to challenge the 2008 high school champions – Miriam College’s Sayawatha, for the title. In the end, it was UP and Claret which reigned supreme over all.

After a month-long elimination round and close to 100 possible contenders, the Skechers Streetdance Final Battle line-up was trimmed down to 25 crews. Only 10 high school and 15 college crews survived to strut it out in the finals. The question was, could they bring it?

First up was Miriam College’s Sayawatha who dared their rivals with an intense routine. The School of the Holy Spirit’s Aglaia 0.9 Dance Troupe took on the challenge with a spirited piece.

Ateneo de Manila High School Indak didn’t take things sitting down as it blasted onstage with their booming moves. Xavier School Dance X lobbied their bid for the championship with a series of high-powered maneuvers. La Salle Greenhills Airforce answered back with precision flips and aerials. It was no surprise though when Claret School Hataw was announced as the 2009 Skechers Streetdance Battle high school winner as they stayed true to their name by delivering a bold and commanding routine.

La Salle Greenhills Airforce won 1st runner-up, and Ateneo de Manila High School Indak was awarded 2nd runner-up.

Claret Hataw’s team captain Michael Carreon said that their hard work paid off. “Parang naging tradition sa team na sumali sa Skechers Streetdance competition kaya nag-try kami. Summer pa kami nag-train."

Due to the intense build-up of the La Salle Dance Company Street and UP Streetdance Club face-off, college crews were compelled to go all out with their routines.

Technological Institute of the Philippines-Quezon City TIP Talents Guild executed Beethoven and Christmas-inspired numbers, while the University of the East’s Extreme Squad flaunted their troop of high flyers.  Far Eastern University’s FEU Dance Company blew the crowd’s breath away with their paparazzi and masked breaking performance.

But it was UP Streetdance Club’s showstopping piece that shook the Big Dome the most amidst deafening cheers of the crowd. Despite their year-long break from competitions, the crew displayed their fiercest form with non-stop stunts and “watertight” execution, which earned them the crown as this year’s Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 champions.

La Salle Dance Company Street’s high energy number landed them 2nd place, and Ateneo de Manila University’s Company of Ateneo Dancers took 3rd with futuristic, well-defined movements.

UP’s tremendous come-back win was a huge relief and incredible reward for the crew as they had been preparing for the Skechers Streetdance Battle since summer.  According to co-captains Samuel Abriza and Ariel Alba, they screened and assessed the skills of club members to come up with this year’s crew. They prepared months ahead of time as they didn’t want to disappoint their supporters, teammates, friends, and schoolmates.

"Talagang pinaghandaan naming yung pagbabalik namin kasi marami kaming supporters na tumitingin sa amin, at gusto uli nilang makita ang pagbabalik namin. Pinaghandaan namin na ma-meet yung standards ng competition kasi every year nag-step up yung skills and techniques ng dance movements,” said Ariel Alba, co-captain of the UP Streetdance Club.

Aside from their year-long hiatus due to the dance ministry that they conducted at various colleges and universities, they had to intensify their training since most of the members were new to the competition. The crew had to train thrice a week to ensure that everyone had their A-game come the Final Battle.  “Pinakamahirap na ginawa namin ay yung training na lahat kami maging kapit sa isa’t-isa – na gumalaw kami ng iisa,” said Sam Abriza, co-captain of the UP Streetdance Club.

To do this, they had to approach the competition from an athlete’s perspective. Aside from re-learning and mastering the basics of dance movements, they also prioritized their fitness and food intake and worked out. Their efforts were not in vain as they delivered an outstanding performance.

"Sa tulong nung mga dating team members namin nabuo yung routine namin.  Salamat at maayos yung kinalabasan and nagustuhan ng mga tao. Salamat rin kay God kasi hanggang ngayon nandito pa rin kami,” said Sam.

Considered as the streetdance scene’s version of the United States’ NCAA, the Skechers Streetdance Battle 5 drew in close to 100 high school and college streetdance crews.  Prior to the championship, only 10 high school crews and 25 college crews managed to make it past the elimination phase to slug it out in the Final Battle at the Big Dome.

After the performances, a fashion show featured the best and latest offerings from the global footwear brand, including hot new collections like Punk Rose by Skechers, which featured vibrant color combinations and get-noticed prints as its trademark and Shape-Ups from the Skechers Fitness Group.

The Skechers Streetdance Battle Year 5 is presented by Skechers in cooperation with ETC, Skechers Time, Punk Rose by Skechers, and Shape-Ups from the Skechers Fitness Group. Its media partners are Manila Bulletin, Fudge, Stella, Clavel, Chalk, Magic 89.9, Wave 89.1, and Jam 88.3. For exclusive pictures and videos of the Skechers Streetdance Battle Year 5, click here.