UAAP Cheerdance Competition

UAAP Cheerdance Competition

Sport	Cheerleading
Founded	1994
No. of teams	8
Country(ies)	Philippines
Most recent champion(s)	University of the Philippines (7th title)
TV partner(s)	Studio 23, Balls

The annual UAAP Cheerdance Competition (CDC) is held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines

The UAAP Cheerdance Competition is an annual one-day event of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines for cheerleading. However, it does not count in the tabulation to determine the UAAP Overall Championship. Studio 23 received the right to televise the UAAP Men's Basketball. Along with it came the coverage rights of the annual UAAP Cheerdance Competition. The hosts of the event usually start with an audience roll call. After each participating university's name is called, the audience from that school chants their most popular cheer along with their official drummers. However, the dancers of their respective pep squads are not shown to viewers, on site and over live streaming, until their performance. The sequence of the roll call are random and solely the discretion of the hosts or producers. The sequence of the performance are determined by drawing of lots prior the competition. Since 2006, side-court reporters of each participating universities join the main host of the event. Before the announcement of winners and after all squads have performed, a recap is shown during the telecast. Only the champion and first and second runners-up are announced at the end of the competition. Except in 2008, 2010 and 2011, the host(s) reveal the average scores before announcing the winners. University of Santo Tomas has the most championships (8) followed by University of the Philippines (7). University of the Philippines is the current defending champion. The 2008 Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition was the most attended UAAP event with a record-breaking 23,443 paying audience.

2011 Results

The University of the Philippines Pep Squad bested the other teams in the 2011 UAAP Cheerdance Competition. It is followed by second placer DLSU Animo Squad, which made a surprising comeback at the podium after 12 years, and third placer, perennial runner-up, Far Eastern University Cheering Squad. Eight-time champion UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe crashed out of the top three once again as it ranked fourth in this year's edition. The remaining teams were ranked as follows: Adamson Pep Squad (5th), National University Pep Squad (6th), Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion (7th), and UE Pep Squad (8th).

2010 Results

For the UAAP Cheerdance Competition 2010 Edition, the University of the Philippines bagged the championship crown gaining four first place marks from the judges. The Far Eastern University placed second with 3 second place and 2 third place marks, while the University of Santo Tomas received 2 second place and 3 third place nods from the board of judges. The following are the scores of the top three teams out of a possible total score of 500 points from 5 judges:

1. University of the Philippines - 440.9 points (88.18%)
2. Far Eastern University - 421.4 points (84.28%)
3. University of Santo Tomas - 407.5 points (81.50%)

Participants

School	Cheerdance Team
Adamson University (AdU)	Adamson Pep Squad (with AdU Drummers and Yellers Online)
Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU)	Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion
De La Salle University (DLSU)	DLSU Animo Squad (DLSU Pep Squad: 1994-2007)
Far Eastern University (FEU)	FEU Cheering Squad (with FEU Green Bisons and FEU Boosters)
National University (NU)	NU Pep Squad
University of the East (UE)	UE Pep Squad
University of the Philippines (UP)	UP Pep Squad (Filipiniana Dance Troupe: 1994-1996)
University of Santo Tomas (UST)	UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe (with the UST Yellow Jackets)

Rules

The competition rules has been revised through the years since it began. The following is based on the most recent rules drafted in 2008.

Basic Rules

1. One official team per UAAP-member university
2. 15-25 UAAP-eligible students
3. Max of 5 spotters/propsmen, in all-black garb
4. Up to 2 substitutes 12 hours before the competition
5. No interaction between members of the panel judges and participants, coaches and spectators
6. No abusive and profane language
7. No inappropriate and disrespectful action

Performance

1. Routines must have:
   • School cheer yelled live
   • Dance techniques, variety of formations, synchronization with music and cheers
2. To count, 50% of the squad must perform:
   • Min 3 jumps/leaps
   • Min 3 lifts/stunts
   • Toss
   • Gymnastics/tumbling
   • Min 3 pyramids (Max 2.5 high)
3. Maximum of 7 snares and 12 bass drums
4. Routine should be between 4–5 minutes long
5. Cheerleaders may not perform outside the boundary line of 15x20 meters performance area

Judges

In 2009, UAAP replaced the panel of judges with representatives from various cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics organizations. Prior 2009, the panel of judges compose of representative from 8 UAAP-member schools and a representative from a credible gymnastics organizations.

These are the judges for 2011:

• Paul Alexander Morales, Artistic Director of Ballet Philippines
• Damien Ng , Representative from International Cheer Union Singapore
• Michelle Tang, Representative from International Cheer Union Singapore
• Javier Beren, Representative from International Federation of Cheerleading - Philippines
• Ai Hasegawa, Representative from International Federation of Cheerleading - Japan

The following are the judges for 2010:

• Anatoly Panassiukov, Ballet Master of Philippine Ballet Theatre
• Jasmin Ortega, Coach of Women's Artistic Gymnastics International School-Manila (International Judge)
• Evangeline Navarro, Vice-President of the Cheerleading Association of the Philippines
• Robbie Hayden, Member of Technical Committee of Asian Cheerleading Federation
• Javier Beren, Technical Director of Pilipinas Cheerleading Association

Judges for 2009:

• Dr. Sylvia Chua, President and Founder of the Cheerleading Association of the Philippines
• Douglas Nierras, Powerdance Artistic Director
• Evan Alvia, Pilipinas Cheerleading Federation president
• Joy Garcia Valenton, representing Gymnastics Association of the Philippines
• Ai Hasegawa, Foundation of Japan Cheerleading Association

Criteria

The criteria for judging varies year-on-year. In 2008, the criteria was changed to a more cheerleading-focused point-system giving a maximum score for each element of cheerleading and/or dancing.

Element	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Dance Technique	5	5	10	10
Choreography	10	10	10	10
Synchronization	10	10	10	10
Formations	10	10	5	10
Degree of Difficulty	10	10	10	10
Pyramids	10	10	10	10
Lifts & Stunts	10	10	10	10
Tosses	5	5	5	5
Tumbling	5	5	5	5
Jumps & Leaps	5	5	5	5
Audibility/Clarity of Cheers	10	10	5	10
Audience Impact				5
Overall Effectiveness	10	10	10
Uniforms & Props			5
References

Sponsors

Major Sponsor	Competition Name	Year(s)
Jollibee	Jollibee Chi-Cheer Kayo Challenge	1994–1996
Nestlé Ice Cream	Nestlé Crunch Ice Cream Cheering Competition	1998–1999
	Nestlé Non-Stop Cheerdance Competition	2000–2005
Samsung	Samsung UAAP Cheerdance Competition	2007–2011

Results

Year	Host school		Champion	2nd place	3rd place	Stunner award		Group Stunt winner	Gate attendance	Ref.
1994	NU		UST	DLSU	FEU
1995	ADMU		UST	DLSU	UP
1996	DLSU		UST 91.70	UP 88.86	DLSU 86.43
1997	AdU		The competition was suspended for a year.
1998	UE		FEU	DLSU	UP
1999	UP		UP	UST	FEU
2000	UST		UP 92.75	UST 89.12	FEU
2001	FEU		UP 81.22	AdU 77.11	UST 76.32
2002	NU		UST 87.38	UE 84.88	UP 84.00
2003	ADMU		UST 89.50	UP 88.16	FEU 88.00
2004	DLSU		UST 93.61	UP 90.56	FEU 87.09
2005	AdU		UST 90.98	UP 90.76	FEU 88.72
2006	UE		UST 94.96	FEU 93.20	UP 91.70
2007	UST		UP 92.66	UST 92.16	FEU 91.66
2008	UP		UP 93.30	UST 85.03	FEU 83.96	Frances Fleta			23,443
2009	FEU		FEU 86.10	ADMU 83.40	UP 83.10	Sari Campos			20,500
2010	DLSU		UP 88.18	FEU 84.28	UST 81.50	Nikka de Dios
2011	ADMU		UP 96.40%	DLSU 91.80%	FEU 90.60%	Nesza Salvador		UP	20,842
2012	NU		To be held

Notes:

• ^a - The UAAP Board suspended the competition when a member from the UP Filipiniana figured in an accident during practice.
• ^b - In 1998, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe did not join the competition.
• ^c - De La Salle University was suspended in 2006 and was not allowed to join the competition.
• ^d - In 2011, UAAP introduced the Group Stunt Competition. However, only five member-schools competed where Adamson Pep Squad, DLSU Animo Squad, and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe did not participate.

Championship table

School	Last Championship	Rank			Total
		1 !	2 !	3 !
University of Santo Tomas	2006	8	4	2	14
University of the Philippines	2011	7	4	5	16
Far Eastern University	2009	2	2	9	13
De La Salle University	—	—	4	1	5
Ateneo de Manila University	—	—	1	—	1
University of the East	—	—	1	—	1
Adamson University	—	—	1	—	1
National University	—	—	—	—	0

The Perennial Top 3

Since it was introduced, only three cheerleading organizations have won the cheerdance competition: FEU Cheering Squad, UP Pep Squad, and UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. Also, since 2000, the year when Nestlé coined the cheerdance in the competition name, these squads from the three UAAP-members schools have occupied Top 3 spots in most occasions. Since that year, only in four instances that a school has barged into the Top 3 while taking the 1st runner-up award: Adamson University (2001), University of the East (2002), Ateneo de Manila University (2009), and De La Salle University (2011). During those instances, the first runner-up award was taken at the expense of two member-schools: Far Eastern University (2001 and 2002) and University of Santo Tomas (2009 and 2011).

These squads have won the Top 3 spots from 2003 up to 2008, including a three-peat scenario from 2003 to 2005 when UST, UP, and FEU landed as champions, second place, and third place, respectively.

UP–UST rivalry

University of the Philippines	University of Santo Tomas

Chronology of events

The UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe won the first three years of competition from 1994 to 1996. They did not compete in the 1998 season and instead joined the 1st Lipton Cheering Cup Competition. The rivalry between the two squads began in 1999 when UST returned to reclaim the title after their year of absence. However, they only finished second behind UP Pep Squad. In 2001, UP Pep Squad matched the record of UST's three consecutive wins.

In 2002, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe regained the title while UP Pep Squad finished third. The next three years had UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe in first place and UP Pep Squad as runner-up. In 2006, UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe received their eighth title via five consecutive victories while UP Pep Squad finished third on that year. The results for 2005 were however contested due to some allegations that a UST judge cheated. This prompted the UAAP Board to finally replace the set of judges with personalities from different national and international cheerdance organizations. UP Pep Squad regained the title in 2007 and garnered their fifth title in 2008, setting the highest recorded lead over 2nd placer UST. The UP Pep Squad's goal of a second three-peat however was not realized in 2009 with the title going to FEU which has always been just a runner-up and is usually criticized for its lack of originality. That year, UP finished 3rd while the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion dislodged UST out of the top 3 with a surprise 2nd place finish. In 2010, UP edged out FEU to regain the title, while UST regained a spot in the top 3.

For the 2011 edition, UP maintained its top form and grabbed the top plum, bringing its total number of championships to seven; and registering the highest score in the history of the competition. Trailing UP are the DLSU Animo Squad and the FEU Cheering Squad which were placed second and third respectively - displacing UST again out of the top 3.

Popular cheers

UP's most popular cheer is "U-ni-bersidad-ng-Pi-li-pi-nas", which is chanted while the crowd clap their hands in the air. UST's cheer is "Go USTe!", accompanied by the waving of either yellow hotdog balloons or raised right pointing fingers in circular clockwise motion.

See also

• UAAP Street Dance Competition
• NCAA Cheerdance Competition
• List of domestic club championship attendance: UAAP Cheerdance Competition in a global context.

External links

• UAAP Official site cheerdancing coverage