UP Streetdance Club bags bronze in World Hip Hop dance tilt in Las Vegas

The UP Streetdance Club poses for the camera after their third place finish at the World Hip Hop Championship in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of Life in Vegas Photography

The University of the Philippines Streetdance Club (UPSC) popped and locked their way to the third spot of the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas, USA Friday night (Saturday in Manila). With a score of 7.43, the UPSC emerged as one of the top teams from a group of 15 competitors in the MegaCrew category, and was only edged out by US dance team GRV (7.62) and reigning champions New Zealand's Royal Family (7.91). A video of the medal ceremony may be viewed here. During the preliminary round of the competition, the UPSC placed second and owed their victory to the Filipinos and God. "It's such a big honor and blessing to be representing not only the Philippines but God as well. You saw in our prayer that we were thanking everyone," said one of the dancers interviewed by Pacific Rim Video Press. The De Salle University's La Salle Dance Company Street also made it past the preliminary rounds, placing fourth but eventually failed to rank in the championship round. Social media sites immediately went abuzz over the dance competition, with netizens extending their congratulations to the Philippine team. Facebook user "Gfab Prince Alcazaren" in a comment on the official Hip Hop International FB page said: "kahit na bronze lang for us GOLD kayu gyeah pinaspataas!!" Bulter Calub, also in an FB comment, meanwhile lauded the UPSC for placing in the dance competition on their debut year. "Good job UPSDC for winning bronze on your first time!! You all made us proud! Pinas Pataas!!," Calub said. Several other Philippine dance groups are scheduled to compete in other categories of the competition, including "A-Team" which scored 7.40 in the semis in the Varsity category (age 12 to 18) and will move on to the finals Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila) at the Orleans Arena. "Hip hop is our passion. It's something that motivates us. It strengthens us. It's something that helps us express how we feel. It's been what we've been doing our whole lives since we were kids. And it's something that really means a lot to us," said one of the A-Team members. "Something different we're going to be bringing to the stage is our uniqueness and we all think that everyone here hasn't seen something that we have, something that we've been training for. It's really something different. It's like a box of chocolates," she added. Three Filipino groups, meanwhile, made it to the semis of the Adult category, namely The Crew, Philippine Allstars, and The Project. However, only The Crew advanced to the finals. — Mark D. Merueñas /LBG, GMA News