Watching cheerdancing in silence

I watched this year’s UAAP cheerdance competition in silence.

Not intentionally, really. I ended up in a restaurant that showcases sports events on multiple screens.  I’m sure they turn up the volume for the PBA, Gilas, NBA and UAAP games.  But this was the usual Saturday night dining crowd that just wanted the atmosphere and the food and not the noise.

The silence allowed one to appreciate visually how large the cheerdance competition has become.  Beginning from simple dance routines anchored on school cheers and songs, the competition has now become a showdown of production numbers that you normally see in a variety show or concert.

Schools with long and storied traditions of dance and performance have dominated the competitions.  But through the years, the choreography—both the dance steps and the cheering staples like lifts and pyramids—has become more intricate.

One can only imagine the amount of time and energy spent rehearsing.  Unlike a sports team with an extended tournament, the cheerdance performance is one shot, with no semifinals or finals to advance to.  There is an emotional investment because of the practice time spent, the injuries managed and the egos that were kept in check.   This is why you see tears mixing with cheers at the end when the results are announced.

National University has now won four titles in a row and its commitment to the competition is clear.  When one is a champion squad, there is an aura that translates into buoyant stage projection. NU’s performance this year had a few slips but were amply covered by confidence.

For a long stretch, University of Santo Tomas was the gold standard all the other schools pursued.  Then, University of the Philippines had its own sterling run of titles.  Far Eastern University has also won.  But just breaking into the top three is quite an achievement, which Adamson University did this year by finishing third, 15 years after taking second in 2001.

It’s unfortunate that UP did not participate this year because of its disappointment with last year’s judging.  Over the years, many measures have been instituted to make the judging as fair as possible but the event is still assessed in part subjectively, making it open to debate.  That’s nothing new to sports like boxing, gymnastics or diving where judges play a role.

It is hoped that UP can return next year because the team really gives the competition a gritty edge that many schools have to overcome.

Cheerdance is no longer just a UAAP side event. It’s a spectacle to relish whether or not you know the cheers, understand the intricacies of a pyramid or are up to date with the mashed up songs the performers grind to.

You can even enjoy it in silence.