By Aura Sison and Alex Lauricio

Ateneo de Manila High School’s Indayog ng Atenistang Kabataan (IndAK) garnered the championship title under the Kings Division, high school category at Dance Supremacy’s inter-school competition held on January 14, 2023 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theatre. 

Behind The Scenes

Dance Supremacy is the organization’s first since in-person competitions were shut down due to lockdowns. In the past two years of online classes, many dancers have forgotten what it feels like to be at home — on the stage, that is — until IndAK ended Dance Supremacy with a podium finish.

The road to their success was the culmination of months-long of practice, hard work, and perseverance. The team invested in conditioning and technique training and tapped in the special talents of Michael Agas and Ysai Castro to help with the choreography, alongside their coaches XJ Alonzo and Roco Sanchez, as well as organization moderator Julio Morato.

A Delicate Balancing Act

Behind each and every one of IndAK’s members lie not only the passionate dancers within them, but also the budding role of being Atenean students. Pierre Hermosa, IndAK’s team captain, reminded the group of this duality. Pursuing dance and requirements at the same time happened to be a very delicate balancing act.

This demanding combination of responsibilities led to many of them juggling academics, co-curriculars, college entrance tests, and dancing. Blood, sweat, and tears were shed as days went by with dancers going home with calluses on their hands and feet.

But many of them are led by that longingness to set foot upon the stage once more, and this pushed them and gave them the motivation to do both. This, combined with IndAK’s friends at the OSA, gave them the leeway to practice their winning choreography, which netted them first place in Kings division, and 6th place overall in the Queens Division. 

Beyond the Dance Floor

IndAK’s win at the recently concluded Dance Supremacy 2022 is as memorable as it is iconic — it is a love letter for the seniors who have forgotten what it feels like to be at home. With many of them treading on college plans, this may be the last time some of the dancers will experience the thrill of dancing on stage.

For the juniors, this win raises the bar for the next set of competitions of the future, and offers them a taste of what it feels like to return to the competitive dance scene after a two-year hiatus set by the pandemic.

IndAK’s landmark win marks a new era for Ateneo’s dance community. As the gradual return of in-person events allow more and more dance competitions to take place, IndAK and its dancers will take their share of more podium finishes, awards, and recognition. Shaun Pollisco, IndAK correspondent, said it best, “We assure you that this is only the first of many!”

Thumbnail from Dance Supremacy