Cebu's Dancing Reputation makes it to Guinness thanks to DanceSport Team Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - After first getting plenty of buzz with our dancing inmates, then recently with the dancing flight attendants, and then our dancing tax collectors over at City Hall who swiftly followed suit in this trend of dancing-to-get-everyone’s-attention, Cebu’s reputation as a dance-loving island has just been officially entered in the books!

DanceSport Team Cebu City’s (DTCC) feat of holding the world’s largest dance class was included in the prestigious Guinness Book of World Records 2011 Edition. DTCC head and current Cebu City Sports Commission chairman Edward Hayco recounted how he and his wife Eleanor happened to spot a cover of the book while they were in Canada. Curious of its contents, he scanned the pages and saw DTCC’s record given top-billing on page 100 under the category Popular Culture-Mass Participation along with 29 other record-breakers around the world.

The entry was given special emphasis on the page layout, using the image taken by photo hobbyist Francis Dunque who was among the volunteers from Images Camera Club who helped in the documentation.

DTCC organized the attempt on June 27, 2009 and even if the Guinness World Records confirmed the breaking of the record on July 20, 2009 from previous record holder Budapest, Hungary, it did not automatically guarantee them a citation in the book that is printed annually. Guinness World Records retains the discretion of selecting what records to feature in the book.

DTCC shares the honor with Manny Pacquiao who also made it into the 2011 edition for the most boxing world titles in different weight divisions.

“The event dramatized the Cebuanos’ innate artistic and intellectual passion for dance. It also epitomized Cebu’s much-envied spirit of volunteerism. We can now proudly claim the title of Cebu City as the Dance Capital of the World!” Hayco exclaimed.

The Guinness World Record of the Largest Dance Class in the World had an unprecedented 7,770 participants dancing 10 minutes non-stop, synchronized to the tune of “Cebu” by Dandin Ranillo, “Choochoo Chacha” by Rinky Dinks, “Candyman” by Christina Aguilera and “It Had Better Be Tonight” by Michael Buble.

Participants, who included volunteers from Cebu City’s 80 barangays, private colleges and universities, public schools like the Abellana National High School, hip-hop and other dance groups and organizations, were trained for more than three weeks prior to the event to ensure its success.

Hayco was proud of DTCC’s achievement and waxed nostalgic how 10 years ago, their team was made up of merely six people. But because of their partnership with the Department of Education and the Sangguniang Kabataan, they were able to teach dancesport to 30,000 kids and transform their lives in the process.

“We taught them for free and in turn, we encourage them to teach back because it will help them build their characters. During rehearsals for our Guinness World Records attempt, we had these children teaching participants who were way older than them,” said Hayco.

Aside from the announcement of the book inclusion at their dance studio in Abellana, DTCC together with Cebu Photoworks also held the awarding of winners for the 2010 World DanceSport Open (held last September 26 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel) Photo Contest.

The contest was organized just two weeks prior to the event, so DTCC was amazed with the overwhelming response from photographers who were made up of amateurs, hobbyists, professionals and even those coming from the media.

Hayco shared: “This is the first time we held a photo contest and at first we were apprehensive. But we were very impressed by the photos submitted.”

Out of 497 entries, 45 photographs were selected as finalists then each was scrutinized until nine winning photos emerged.

There were three categories, the first being “Elegance and Grace” where the image should capture beauty in movement of a dancing couple while performing. First prize winner was Jade Saducas (her win was amazing because she submitted only four photographs), second prize Jose Teresito Ybañez and third prize Daniel Ybañez.

“Character” was another category where the image should exude a certain quality that defines the individual and/or couple from the rest. Awarded first prize was Catherine Angeles, second prize Ma. Elizabeth Ybañez and third prize Henry Chua.

The last category was “Emotion” where an image should show a projection of any strong feeling like joy, sorrow or elation. Jose Teresito Ybañez bagged first prize, his relative Teresito Ybañez Jr. Won second prize while third prize went to Atty. Gerald Serbise.

DTCC hopes that the photographs will serve as an inspiration for dancesport students and volunteers to aim to be medalists and international competitors someday, just like the photo subjects.