Bahaghari dancers sweep competition in dancesport

Champions Jan Jherico Marciano and Janne Gladys Tiosen

pose during their routine for the Waltz in the Standard category
of the Dancesport Competition.

Defending champions Rainbow Institute of Learning, Inc. (RILI) dancers finished strong with two podium finishes in this year's Dancesport Competition of the 2014 Pila District Meet, Sept. 18, at the Pila Gymnasium. RILI's dancesport team claimed the championship for the second straight year in the Standard category. They landed in 2nd place in the Latin category.

The Standard category was the first contest to commence. RILI's delegates were Jan Jherico Marciano (Grade 9) and Janne Gladys Tiosen (Grade 8). They competed against two other pairs from Linga National High School (LNHS). Contestants danced the Waltz, the Tango, and then the Quickstep.

Mark Herson Vargas and Careyn Lyn Abogado tease the
audience while dancing the Cha-cha-cha which landed them
in 2nd place in the Latin category.

The Latin category was next where 18 pairs competed, two of which were from RILI. The category was divided into two heats with nine pairs each. Heat 1 included RILI's Mark Herson Vargas (Grade 7) and Careyn Lyn Abogado (Grade 7). King Rowan de Castro (Grade 9) and Vanessa Oca (Grade 8) were part of Heat 2.

All pairs danced the Cha-cha-cha, the Rumba, and the Jive. The 18 was narrowed down to nine including Herson and Abogado. The remaining nine pairs were then asked to dance for another round. The number of dancers and was then reduced to six pairs who were asked to dance individually. The six finalist pairs were called one by one in no particular order. Vargas and Abogado were last to be called.

The awarding ceremony followed. In the Standard category, Marciano and Tiosen landed in 1st place. The LNHS pairs landed in 2nd and 3rd spot.

King Rowan de Castro and Vanessa Oca show
off their moves while dancing the Rumba.

In the Latin category, Vargas and Abogado landed in 2nd place. A pair from Don Manuel Rivera Memorial National High School (DMRMNHS) got top spot while a pair from LNHS landed in 3rd.

This year, four schools competed in the event—RILI, DMRMNHS, LNHS, and San Antonio de Padua College Foundation of Pila, Laguna, Inc. (SAPC). Among the participating schools, RILI had the fewest number of representatives with a lone pair in Standard and two pairs in Latin. LNHS was represented by two pairs in Standard and six pairs in Latin. DMRMNHS and SAPC sent five pairs each in the Latin category.

RILI's dancesport team was trained by Mr. Bryan Mon Rosa (Grade 9 adviser) and Mr. Freddie Boy Sorromero (Grade 5 adviser). Vargas, Abogado, de Castro, Oca, and Tiosen are members of the Bahaghari Cultural Dance Group, the official folk dance group of RILI. Marciano was a former member of the group.