2008 UAAP Cheerdance Competition: Post-Mortem

Each year, UAAP cheerdance squads become more creative. Although stunts and tosses had become familiar, choreography and originality make each annual competition worth anticipating for.

The UP Pep Squad captured their back-to-back glory, their 5th UAAP Cheerdance title, including 3 straight from 1999-2001. Their routine showcased a tribal-inspired theme, a fusion of creativity and gymnastics moves. Their theme set them apart from everybody else. It was some sort of a sequel to their profound opening ceremony for this year’s UAAP. They host it in this 71st season.

Aside from the unique incorporation of a theme in their routine, the UP Pep squad demonstrated an above average degree of difficulty in their dance technique, tumbling, tosses, lifts/stunts, and building of pyramids. I had to give it to them in those departments. Auspiciously, looking at the body build of the squad’s members, they were able to dynamically execute their routine.


Another highlight in the UP Pep’s program was its choreography. There was a story in their routine and they were able to prudently integrate the story line into the flow of their presentation. It was transparent that anyone who was watching intently could identify that a theme was already being featured. That was unique and profound. It definitely seized the nod of the judges.

At one point I wrote about a transformation in cheering, and that UP spearheaded that revolution. The UP Pep’s routine this year is reminiscent of their 3-peat championship in the past. It was a wise choice to bring back that sort of signature which obviously surprised the judges and led them to score abundantly.


On the other hand, the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe earned a runner-up finish. Coming from a back-to-back 1st runner-up rank, this squad should not be put on the back burner as it has in its sleeves 8 UAAP Cheerdance titles—3 straight from 1995-1997, and 5 consecutive from 2002-2006. This year, the Salinggawi made the most of what they do best: synchronization, stunts/lifts, tosses, and trouble-free assembling of pyramids. Best bits were its clean execution, fluid transitions from one formation to another, and synchronicity of tosses and lifts. They presented classic cheerdancing with members resembling those American cheerleaders we see in ESPN—in costume.

I would concur to the judges’ verdict placing the UST Salinggawi 2nd in rank. Had their tosses seen more height, tumbling elements picked up, and degree of difficulty pushed a notch higher, they would have come really close to UP’s performance (I believe body build has a lot to do with being able to execute vigorously). I say “really close” since UST’s choreography and originality aren’t the same level as it used to demonstrate in the previous years.


The FEU Cheering Squad consistently remained on the 3rd spot. This group emerged as a dark horse in the cheering arena when it bagged its first and only championship in 1998. Since then, it has become reliably skillful each passing year. It has come to be known for its tidy routine implementation. It has mastered the knack for synchronization and difficult pyramids.
This year, the squad showcased Mohawk-styled male constituents and a blazing fire-inspired theme. This theme, however, was not sustained in the routine and was a little bleak if the whole picture is taken. Nevertheless, its degree of difficulty was noticeable in building pyramids and formations were impressive.

The Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion came in with a spectacle of tosses, near to perfect tumbling elements, and a mixture of dance and lifts. This team is also dynamic in execution of lifts and stunts as their body build show. It is incredible how this squad turned from all-male cheerleading into modern cheerdancing—now a blend of males and females. They have improved in gymnastics skills and definitely caught on to the trend.

This year, the degree of difficulty and choreography drew the line between the top 3 and the other squads, including the Ateneo BBB. Synchronicity, a huge 10 pts in the overall judging system, was not on the side of most squads.


The Adamson Pep Squad displayed a variety of stunts and difficult pyramids, yet lacked in the departments of dance technique, choreography, and formations, which affected its overall effectiveness.


The same can be observed with the Animo Squad of DLSU. They improved as exhibited by their firm lifts and swift tumbling elements, but tosses and stunts were lacking. The level of difficulty and choreography weren’t too imposing. Their routine, however, was redemption of their cellar finish last year.


The UE Pep Squad came running with a striking choreography and instantaneous display of pyramids and tosses. Lifts and stunts, however, blurred the impact of their routine. Because of the fast-paced program, synchronicity and dance technique were almost no where to be found.

My utmost respect is vested to the NU Pep Squad in their routine this year. They’ve come prepared with their basket tosses, stunts, and even standing back tucks. I like the part when one showed off his tumbling skill doing some sort of an aerial. They hit their routine and executed in simplicity with a touch of difficulty.

Images courtesy of UBELT.COM

In Anticipation of the UAAP Cheerdance Competition: UST SDT Redemption?

The UST Salinggawi's routine last year showed the squad's vulnerability. Several evident errors cost them the dream of a double grand slam. Regardless, cheerdancing standards and essentials were met and exceeded. Had the team executed without errors, it would have still kept the coveted cheerdancing title.

In about 2 weeks, another cheerdance showdown will occur in the Araneta Coliseum. I’ve already booked my flight just to see this spectacular event. None of its kind had been as celebrated as the UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (UST SDT) will make its first attempt to recover its interrupted dynasty. During the 3-year drought, when UP had its good fortune to win the title, I was a pessimist for the SDT. I was a critic of its halftime performances. I was doing so in comparison to the SDT of the 90’s. When the group snatched the title from UP in 2002, I was dumbfounded. I thought what the heck were those halftime boo-boos for? The group made it up in the actual competition.

Since then my confidence in the SDT went up, although most of its halftime performances remained as practice sessions. They would, nevertheless, compensate for the mediocre halftimes, in the competition. They did this for 5 consecutive years prior to UP’s ‘thank God she fell’ chance for the championship last year.

As each team from the 7 universities now understand and are fully ripe for a chance for the cheerdance title by virtue of their year by year experiences, only UP has come close to Salinggawi’s legacy of cheering in the hard court. I applaud UP for coming this far in its quest to dominate the cheering arena. Every year I look at the competition only between UST and UP. The others fall behind as merely exhibition pieces. UP’s routine last year was a blast, I must admit. They were synchronized for the very first time, although not throughout the routine. Still, there were some parts where they scrambled and seemed incoherent towards the end.

UST on the other hand, capitalized on what they’re known for: excellent choreography, good choice of music, unparalleled synchronicity, perfect poise and grace. These remain to be seen in the other squads programs. Stunts and pyramids had become common ground for all, when UST used to own bragging rights for astounding execution. In fact, it has toned-down in that department as year after year, the same pyramids (although with variations) are used to the dismay of others who look forward to a certain height of caliber from these ‘used to be’ acrobatically trademarked cheerleaders. Besides, they’ve pioneered stunts and pyramids never before introduced in the country. Through the winning years, they’ve come out triumphant nonetheless.

The SDT used to be known as the fastest pyramid builders. Others caught on. UP and FEU can now brag of effecting difficult pyramids. Will this year be a comeback for the SDT in redemption to the banished marks and impressions? Can I anticipate a routine full of stunts and pyramids—another wow experience? Or will they remain compliant to the standards set up by the league and be safe in just accomplishing the requirements? If so, then I look forward to a routine similar to the one in 2004 and 2006. There were formations or parts in the routine that showed their agility and exceptional skills. No other teams were equal in that specialty. I believe that if this year’s routine involves an element where only the Salinggawi can do so well, they can seize the trophy back into their hands.

I am a Thomasian who believes in the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. But then again, as their mentor, Ryan Silva once said: We perform with no thought of winning. We do our best, have fun and make sure that the Thomasian crowd enjoys it.

With that in mind, win or lose the UST Salinggawi remains in the Hall of Fame for cheerdancing and cheerleading. They set the trend—they made everybody stand up and get better. They spearheaded cheerleading and made everyone eager to improve. This is the legacy of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. Too bad, not everyone see and know this fact.

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