SEA Games: PH dancers want to waltz way to 13 golds

NEW CLARK CITY—Dance Sports Council of the Philippine president Becky Garcia has a bold goal for the 30th Southeast Asian Games—sweep all 13 golds at stake in dancesport.

“Of course, we hope for the best. We want to dominate,” Garcia told the Inquirer.

Dancesport will be held Dec. 1 starting at 9 a.m., at Royce Hotel here.

The last time SEA Games was held here, the Philippines had a clean sweep, winning two golds and two silvers.

“But there were only two events back then in Cebu (where the sports was played in 2005),” Garcia said. “Now we are prepared to win as much as we can.”

There are six golds at stake in latin, six in standard and one in boys breakdancing which will have its maiden staging in the games.

“Too bad bad because they scrapped the girls breakdance, because it could be a gold for us,” she said.

The team, composed of two pairs in each discipline and one competitor in boys breakdance, just came from Italy to attend dance camp.

The DSCP also recently brought in World champ Alina Nowak who help train the team for a week.

Sean Micha Araner and Ana Leonilla Nualla, and Mark Jayson Gayon and Mary Joy Renigen will compete in standard.

Michael Angelo Marquez and Stephanie Sabalo, and Wilbert Aunzo and Pearl Marie Cenda will take the spotlight in latin. Yer Lord Illyum Gabriel is the main bet for boys breakdance.

Garcia said tickets the competitions will be sold at the entrance.

“They said they ran out ticket, but they can still avail of it, hopefully people will watch our Philippine team compete,” she said.