Marking the end of a nearly decade-long competitive hiatus, the University of Baguio Graces Dance Troupe (UB Graces) orchestrated a historic comeback, placing the crowd in a mesmerizing moment from their performance during the 1st Benguet Open DanceSport Competition & PDSFI Grand Slam (1st Luzon Leg) 2026.
Sanctioned by the Philippine DanceSport Federation Inc. (PDSFI), the two-day tournament drew regional powerhouses. The high-stakes event, spearheaded by One North Luzon President Charibelle Pingawan and presided over by PDSFI Chief Adjudicator Lowell “Louie” Basa Tan, tested the mettle of some of the country’s finest collegiate athletes.
Held on May 9 and 10, 2026, at La Trinidad, Benguet, dedicated members from the UB Graces team stepped onto the floor of the Benguet Sports Complex over the weekend, amongst 19 elite pairs from throughout Luzon and the Visayas, competing against the esteemed partners Mr. Iversen S. Astodillo and Ms. Maria Jillian Calub from the university’s performing arts team.
UB Graces’ Award-Winning Performances in La Trinidad, Benguet
Giving a masterclass in technical accuracy, musicality, and floorcraft in what was the troupe’s first attempt at the demanding discipline of DanceSport. In what served as the troupe’s inaugural foray into the grueling discipline of DanceSport, the duo delivered a masterclass across six highly competitive standard categories.
Through the pairing of the UB Graces team, the pair managed to score and bring home a win for the university in a respectable medal count as a result of their dominant efforts. In the Standard Grade E and Grade D (Close) divisions, Mr. Astodillo and Ms. Calub won the championships. Finishing fourth in a different Grade D Open category to top off their tournament run. They also won Second Place in the Standard Intercollegiate C (Close), Grade E, and Grade D (Open) competitions.
Alt Text: Mr. Iversen S. Astodillo and Ms. Maria Jillian Calub from the university’s performing arts team during the 1st Benguet Open DanceSport Competition & PDSFI Grand Slam (1st Luzon Leg) 2026
Behind the UB Graces Dance Troupe’s triumphant debut was the strong guidance and advice/mentorship of Mr. Dean Marc M. Aguado, together with the steadfast support of the university’s performing arts coordinator, Joanne Fatima Uraga. For the University of Baguio, the triumphant victory represents far more than a collection of medals, signifying a meaningful expansion from traditional performing arts into competitive athletics.
Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4: Quality Education, the milestone reflects the institution’s commitment to holistic student development through opportunities that nurture excellence in both arts and athletics. After nearly a decade, the Graces Dance Troupe’s historic return establishes the institution as a growing and formidable presence in the national DanceSport circuit.
