Coming back from last year’s slumber, the 73rd Ateneo Fiesta brought back the Group Dance Showdown (GDS) category, one of the most anticipated events during the fiesta season. Streamed via Facebook Live last Friday, this year’s theme for GDS was “Night at the Movies.”

Various clusters portrayed their chosen movies with their own choreography and styling. Among the many films conceptualized from were Jumanji, La La Land, The Greatest Showman, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Joker, Kill Bill, Cruella, and Show Me How You Burlesque.

School of Nursing (SON) Panthers’ Ednar Carlos Dayanghirang, Carl Vincent Gempesaw, Johnnel Ople, and Elaine Mae Caballero emerged as champions of this year’s GDS, with their performance inspired by ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’.

Securing the fourth gold for their cluster, this win had ensured SON Panthers’ first runner-up standing in the Ateneo Fiesta’s overall rankings.

Gempesaw expressed how their hard work paid off by finishing as champions, expressing his gratitude to his teammates for encouraging him to join the competition again.

Unable to place in top three in his first try, Gempesaw shared how their win was greatly significant for him, with no expectations to win at all. 

“Grabe ka happy ko. Masarap sana sa feeling if face to face yung GDS [Winners Announcement] kay nag takbo na ako sa stage at ambak ambak. After ilang years, na top 3 na talaga ang nursing, milestone siya for me,” he said.

Because of the quarantine restrictions,  Gempesaw shared how tiring and difficult the practices were as they were held individually and online. He said that the Panthers got the competition notice late, giving them limited time to complete their entry. 

“Five days [practice] sa whole routine tapos four days ang shoot. Ang remaining hanggang sa deadline ng pagpass ng video kay editing, tapos sa editing [nag-cram] pa kay may abrupt changes,” he added. 

The Computer Studies’ Chameleons bagged first runner-up, followed by the Accountancy Griffins who placed second runner-up.

Seeking a four-peat reign, defending champions School of Engineering and Architecture [SEA] Tigers failed to enter this year’s Top 3.

The announcement of winners was part of 73rd Ateneo Fiesta’s Closing Ceremony, live on Facebook Saturday evening.