Ever since the UAAP adapted the new academic calendar for their season, November has been the month for the much-anticipated UAAP Cheer Dance Competition, but sadly this 2020 it’s not going to happened as Pandemic struck the country forcing the league to abandon their calendar and move the 83rd season in the latter part of 2021.
This November we’re going to feature past and present cheer dancers as our Guys for the Month and we are starting off with Mark Chaiwalla from the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe.
Mark started off his CDC adventure back in 2009 that was UAAP season 72 (If I remember they performed a gladiator themed performance with the epic moving pyramid), although unluckily Uste failed to made it to the podium that year, they were able to made it back to the podium the following year and Mark considers that year his favorite routine.
Fast forward 11 years after, Mark is still active in the world of cheer dancing as he is now part of the coaching staff of the Salinggawi Dance Troupe, outside the mats Mark is a Registered Nurse as well, he actually has a Masters Degree in Nursing.
Let’s get to know Mark Chaiwalla’s Cheer dancer side with our Q&A with him.
How’s life after UAAP CDC?
Every time the CDC gets finished; life would go back to its own normal pace. We usually go on a 2-week break depending if there wouldn't be any shows or performances. We'd have some time to rest, time for ourselves and time to catch up with academic matters.
What’s your most memorable Cheer dance Competition Moment?
My most memorable one was during my 1st year in the team where luckily already had my 1st competition too. 2009. That moment before entering the mats and I remember hearing Lady Gaga’s Just Dance being played as part of our intro video. All the feels, that cold air breezing out through the black curtain. Damn. I could almost freeze up from the nerves but once I got into the mats, started the routine and landed my back tuck in the opening part of our routine, it was nothing less but game on mode.
Favorite Routine that you’ve perform in the CDC?
I think I'd go with our 2010 routine where we placed 2nd runner up.
Most difficult part of being a Cheer dancer?
To be honest, I think I really wasn’t caught up that much with the hard parts of being a cheerleader because I was really enjoying my time as a member of the team. But technically, the things which would be affected are your time for studies which you should really balance out, time to rest since you get home late after training and would have classes 7 in the morning, time for family since mine was in Ilocos and I really wouldn’t have the time to go home. But with perseverance, taking things positively, I was able to surpass all those hard parts of a cheerleader’s life.
Favorite thing about being a Cheer dancer?
Favorite thing about being a cheerleader is just being able to enjoy the sport that you love, with your teammates and the school. From trainings, to performances, to competitions, all of those experiences make my stay a memorable one
How would you compare the CDC now from your time?
Technically, cheerleading is more advanced now, of course. The skills being shown are more difficult compared to before. But that at all doesn’t disregard the skills during those times. Teams are as good as how they really were 10 years ago. You can't say a winner now is better than a winner before just because the skills set now is more advanced compared to before. That logic is a bit twisted.
Common misconception about Male Cheer dancers?
The usual misconception, that male cheerleaders are gay. Sad to say, a lot of people still don't know how athletic cheerleading is. It demands an intensely high level of athleticism, strength, endurance and grit. If they're basing the gender of someone based on the sport that he does, then perhaps they need to know that cheerleading is in fact even more dangerous than American football, where they would assume the athletes there are straight. Time to debunk shallow-closed-mindedness when it comes to this. Unless they want to get tossed 20 feet up in the air with no one next to catch them after 😜
On our part two, we get to know Mark’s fitness routine and more, do follow him on instagram at @marky.chaiwalla
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