University of the Philippines Streetdance Club “The Crew” will represent the Philippines in the hip-hop category of World Dance Championships in Germany later in October.

The club’s core group consisted of 13 talented dancers grabbed the 1st place in all categories of World Dance Championships National Selections held in Festival Mall Alabang last October 2002.

“The Crew” won in the group category beating the professional dance groups performing already outside the country like Japan. “The Crew” members Rosie Anne Pajela and Sherwin Casepe won in the duo category and Nico Garcia in the solo category in the event conducted by Philippine Professional Dance Sports Association,.

For some members of the group, the experience has nurtured dreams of becoming professional dancers, while others simply see it as a source of income. Even before they leave schools, some of the students are already coaching dance troupes and pep squads of scholls like Miriam College, Poveda, Holy Spirit and St. Mary’s College. Others conduct workshops at ABS-CBN and Danza Studio.

The club president who is also a member of “The Crew” says club members have one goal, “That is to improve our craft.” UP Streetdance Club’s driving force is Jerome Dimalanta, the director and choreographer.

“The Crew” is often invited in and outside UP. It has won in several dance competitions, taking the first prize, for instance, in Dancelebration (Streetdance Category), Levi’s Engineered Groove Hip Hop Competition, G4 Ayala Open Dance Competition, and Danztek@2001.