by SHAYNE LEE MACARAEG
THE UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) capped off UAAP season 85 with roaring cheers and childhood nostalgia as UST Prime bagged this year’s street dance competition title.
The event marked a first for both the collegiate league and the Thomasian dance team.
It was UST Prime’s first title in the seniors’ division since the competition’s debut in 2011.
Last Saturday’s show of moves also marked the return of the contest after a three-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime accumulated 448 points with their dance routine that showcased bright colors and animated characters at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, May 27.
“The main inspiration of our concept was just having fun, trying to make a concept out of something we couldn’t even imagine like a whole set of different toys,” Prime’s captain Robin Thomas Gavino told The Flame.
The España-based dance group popped and locked to the remix of “Cartoon Heroes” by Aqua, which complemented the concept, and ended up with 92.5 points in overall effect.
“In our case, we had to throw in all different kinds of toys that give not only younger people, but also older people a throwback to their childhood, so at the end of the day, as much as dance is a way for us to express ourselves and have fun,” Gavino said.
With the colorful costumes that featured different kinds of toys, Prime was able to pull off its fun and lively routine, scoring 135.5 points in group execution.
“To the Thomasian community, we just want to say ‘thank you,’ because in 2016, UST Prime just started off as a group of different members aspiring to compete in the UAAP street dance competition… but then now, we’ve really united ourselves and in a way I hope, we were able to unite the whole Thomasian community,” Gavino said
“We thank UST, Thomasians, and the administration for all their support since day one. And we hope at the end of the day, we could make you guys proud,” he added.
The National University Dance Company was a close second with 446 points, while powerhouse UP Street Dance Club placed third with 437.5 points.
Meanwhile, UST Galavanize won its third straight street dance title in the junior’s division with 437.5 points after besting the Adamson University Dance Company – Street SHS, and FEU X. F – with reports from Andrei Duran
