Maximum Groovity 10: The Ultimate interschool Dance Showdown
Maximum Groovity is an annual inter school dance competition, which is open to all non-professional, CHED accredited, school based dance groups to showcase their talent in different genres of dance. It could be hip-hop, streetjazz, or a combination of any genre.
This groundbreaking contest was launched on 2004, with 15 dance troupes from different colleges and universities competing. UP Filipiniana of University of the Philippines – Diliman emerged as the winner for their grand theatrical dance piece. Miriam College’s Company of One, doing a hiphop routine and UP Diliman’s Dansa, performing a jazz dance, bagged the 1st and 2nd runner-up trophies respectively. The premier dance guru Douglas Nierras (yes, The Douglas Nierras) was a member of the distinguished panel of judges.
The success of the first run was only exceeded by the second one in 2005, when a leading fitness center tied up with MegaEventsManila to present a grander event.
The second year only featured hip hop, and the winner became the country’s official delegate for the World Hiphop Competition. ALL STARS came away as the winner of both Maximum Groovity and the World Hiphop Competition, and is now known both locally and internationally.
The third and fourth editions held in 2007 and 2008 went back to the original concept – an inter-school dance showdown showcasing different styles of dancing. In 2007 Douglas Nierras returned to the judging panel, joined by Jay Masta, a master in street and break dancing. Ateneo’s CADS Street claimed the title for 2007 while San Beda BDT and TIP QC Talents Guild were the 1st and 2nd runner-up respectively. In 2008, various groups won different honors. UP Manila Indayog was the Sugarfree and Blue’s People’s Choice Award winner, while AMA Dance Troupe, La Salle Jazz Company, TIP QC Talents Guild were the runners-up. First-timer Ramon Magsaysay HS New Systems Dance Troupe, practically jumping off the stage, came away as the Champion.
In 2009, the TIP Talents Guild of Quezon City emerged as the competition’s victor. The third time proved to be the charm for TIP Talents Guild, whose feat in the Maximum Groovity history might as well go down as one of the most inspiring dance success story in the world of Philippine inter-school dance competitions. It was a double win for the Ateneo de Manila University as well as they bagged the first runner-up award for the Company of Ateneo Dancers – Jazz, and the second runner-up award for the Company of Ateneo Dancers – Street. The People’s Choice Award meanwhile went to the De La Salle University Dance Company – Street. In 2010, 20 groups from 20 different colleges and universities compete for the title not only in the metro, but as well as those from the north and south provinces. La Salle Dance Company – Street took home the grand prize of 50,000.00 pesos while TIP Talents Guild of Quezon City and Company of Ateneo Dancers – Jazz were the runners-up. In 2011, La Salle Dance Company – Street became the first group to be hailed as Grand Champion for two consecutive years.
AMA Dance Troupe came in second and Company of Ateneo Dancers – Jazz in third.
Year 2012 marks another breakthrough in Maximum Groovity history. A high school category has been added to the competition, in which, IndAK of Ateneo de Manila High School emerged as the winner while Dance X of Xavier School and Enciede of Poveda College were the runners-up. In the college category, La Salle Dance Company – Street once again brought home the grand prize making them MG first time three-peat title holder. In 2013, IndAK of Ateneo de Manila High School once again took home the grand prize in the high school category while FEU Diliman Crew became the new champ in the college category.
2014 marks the 10th year anniversary of Maximum Groovity. Set on September 06, 2014, in The Crossroad 77 Convenarium at 77 Mother Ignacia Avenue cor. Scout Reyes, Quezon City, this event promises to bring together the best high school and college dance groups for one extraordinary dance battle! With Dance Manila and WhenInManila.com as our media partners, this will be another great year and let us wait and see who brings “it” to the floor, and will have the claim as the next… “Maximum Groovity Ultimate Grand Champions!”
