From Indayog ng Atenistang Kabataan (IndAK)

By Lia Atienza

On Saturday, January 10, Indayog ng Atenistang Kabataan (IndAK) secured double bronze awards in the Dance Supremacy (DS) Kings and Queens High School Division, held at The Theater at Solaire. Beyond placing on the podium, the premier dance organization of the Ateneo High School (AHS) also earned the Crowd Favorite title in both categories and Best Production Design in the Kings High School Division.

IndAK’s Kings scored 85.33 with a dance piece that carried a 1940s theme set to the K-pop song “Gatsby” by JYP. “This piece allowed us to show who we are individually, how we are when we’re happy, when we play around,” said IndAK Captain and Kings’ Captain Wackyboy Buenaventura. 

Buenaventura further explained the goal of showcasing a different aspect of IndAK as a dance troupe by deviating from the commonly used themes in the previous years. 

“It is something very different from what we have done in the past as Kings because we are very known for our maangas or galitin vibe,” explained Buenaventura. 

The IndAK Kings finished behind second-placers La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) Airforce, who scored 86.17, and champions Southridge Dance Crew, who posted an 88.17. 

Meanwhile, IndAK’s Queens scored 89.67 with a dance inspired by the South Korean reality survival show “Street Woman Fighter,” carrying a theme of empowerment to the songs “Whiplash” by Aespa, “Flip Flop (Prod. Papi)” by GUMMY & SINCE, “Shake It Fast (Prod. THE HUB)” by Saweetie, and “ECHO! (Prod. WOOZI)” by HxW. 

“It [the dance] shows a different side of us, a different side of the kind of power that Queens can have,” said IndAK Vice Head and Queens’ Captain, Ali Samaniego. 

Samaniego also highlighted the significance of the piece, noting that it is the first time IndAK’s Queens placed on the podium at Dance Supremacy. She added that the win was extended to the batches of IndAK Queens who came before them. 

“It’s a big stepping stone for the next generation, the next batches … I really hope that in due time or soon, mag-cha-champs na [rin] kami sa Queens,” shared Samaniego. 

IndAK’s Queens finished behind second-placers St. Scholastica’s Academy of Marikina (SSAM) Adhika, who tallied 91.50, and champions University of Santo Tomas Senior High School (UST SHS) Galvanize, who scored 95.83. 

IndAK also received special awards, with the Queens earning the Crowd Favorite award, while the Kings bagged the Crowd Favorite and Best Production Design awards.

Beyond the dance troupe’s achievements, Buenaventura and Samaniego also shared the teams’ preparation leading up to the competition. 

“We always go back to our whys because, at the end of the day, training is hard,” said Buenaventura, after explaining IndAK’s physical and mental conditioning for Dance Supremacy. He added, “My why is my team.” 

Samaniego also added the teams’ focus on building chemistry with one another, highlighting its importance once they go on stage. “Throughout the process, it was all about building chemistry, and on the day itself, it was about showing that chemistry,” she said. 

Both captains concluded by sharing the lessons they learned from their Dance Supremacy journey, emphasizing their increased motivation for the coming year. 

Samaniego expressed, “As leaders, as dancers, and as people, we learned so, so much, and I think that it’s only making us hungrier for more.”

“While we got [a podium finish], we know that we still can do more,” concluded Buenaventura. 

With DS being the first competition of their season, IndAK is expected to compete in the World of Dance Philippines and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Street Dance Competition for the remainder of the athletic year.