The Company of Ateneo Dancers: All about making the right move

Groove, glory, and God. These are the core pillars of what makes the Company of Ateneo Dancers (CADs) who they are. With a legacy that spans over 3 decades, CADs has emerged not just as a dance team, but as a community where passion meets precision, and creativity intertwines with discipline. 

Renowned for their electrifying performances, CADs embodies the very essence of street dance, infusing it with a unique blend of contemporary and traditional elements that resonate deeply with audiences both on and off-campus.

Founded in 1994 by a group of friends who enjoyed jazz, it quickly grew into a big community of artists who all share their love for dance, in whatever genre. Shortly after, it developed a street dance team and behind-the-scenes staff. This then developed into the 2 main parts of CADs we know today: the Performer’s and Production Division.

CADs has seen its fair share of success over the years. As a student organization, they’ve been awarded Organization of the Year alongside the likes of Best Project, and Best Marketing from the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA). But they also keep the same competitive spirit in their talents. They’ve gotten 2nd place in UAAP 2014, a regular Sketchers Streetdance Battle title holder winning 1st, 2nd, and 3rd multiple times, and even going as far as to win out of the country events such as 2nd place in Hip Hop International 2019 and 1st place in the College division of the World of Dance National Finals 2023. 

We got to sit down with CADs’ head coach and artistic director, Jesse Gotangco, to get to know more about the team beyond what we get to see on stage. 

Being an alumni of the organization, Jesse fondly looks back on his time as a member, only having to choreograph themselves before he graduated and took it upon himself to lead. “My first run in coaching was back in 2013-2015. It was a big adjustment since it was the first time CADs had a coach.”

After taking a break from coaching to focus on his personal career, Jesse came back in 2019 and has since been with CADs to this day, seeing how the organization and its members evolve throughout the years and even having to completely re-evaluate themselves. 

“From 2019 till now, every batch is very unique. Coming back from the pandemic, it was interesting because it would be the first time for a lot of them to meet and train with each other. A lot of adjusting and weeding out on what works and what doesn't.”

At the heart of CADS is a group of dedicated student dancers, each bringing their own flair and fervor to the stage. The team has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance art, earning accolades and admiration in both local and international competitions. But beyond the trophies and titles, it is the camaraderie, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence that makes them move. 

A typical week is to have training 3 times a week from 5-7 PM. When a competition is coming up, they try to extend it but make sure to avoid doing it every day to prevent burnout. “At the end of the day, we have to consider that our members are still students and their obligation to their education still takes top priority above all.” Jesse says. 

Collaboration is one of the key things that CADs has always kept intact over the years. Jesse emphasizes that it’s not all him when it comes to the choreography. It’s highly encouraged that members would step up to practice their leadership skills. CADs alumni are also invited every now and then to help. 

Jesse sees how being in CADs, regardless if you’re a performer or part of the behind-the-scenes, has impacted its members in multiple ways. “It’s such an empowering thing for an individual if they can create and hold something of their own. We always try to make sure that one of the key takeaways from the studio is that CADs serve as a release and another outlet to which members can explore themselves in a deeper sense.”

CADs’ ability to compete at the highest levels doesn’t come from recruiting world-class performers or spending extra hours in training. It’s their belief that progress is better than perfection. “It’s never defined by how fast you get the move, it’s how much you understand it. The final output will come through eventually. Find the fun in the process.” Dancing is an art. Not a job. 

Despite all the acclaim they get, winning championships in collegiate, national, and international tournaments, one of the most rewarding experiences to have in CADs is the impact they create. Their annual year-end concerts are the epitome of this, acting as a culminating activity for its members and a way to give back to family, friends, and the Ateneo community. “When people approach us and say how much our performances made them feel, it’s always the best.” Jesse says. 

Today, CADs remains to be a strong community of passionate individuals who all move and groove with one unified goal: to be excellent for each other and for God. Just play the music. They got the rest and for sure, you’ll see the best.