My favorite dance movie: Sean Pelegrin
From Billy Elliot to Black Swan, dance has provided an intense backdrop to some of the big screen’s most emotional stories. Dancers, in turn, are inspired by films which revolve on their chosen calling. In this series, the artists of Ballet Manila share their thoughts on the dance movies that made an impact on them, that they relate to and which they have grown to love.
You Got Served centers on the intense street dance battles among rival crews.
When it comes to dance movies, Ballet Manila company artist Sean Pelegrin swears by the street dance battle film You Got Served. Sean recalls there was so much buzz about it among the neighborhood boys who were into hiphop like him that he just had to see it for himself. “I watched this po sa VCD pa noon,” he chuckles.
Since he was hooked on street dance then, the movie proved to be the perfect one for Sean. “Gusto ko po kasi ‘yung mga street dance battles po. ‘Yung scene po na pinaka-na-enjoy ko is ‘yung opening dance battle kasi sobrang lakas po ng dating niya para sa akin. Kinakabisado ko po ‘yun ng sobra dati. Kasi ang ganda po ng choreography.” (I love street dance battles. The scene that I enjoy the most is the opening dance battle because, for me, it has such a big impact. I memorized all the steps in that scene before because I found the choreography so good.)
An American flick, You Got Served featured recording artist Marques Houston and the boy band B2K as the main characters. Houston as Elgin and B2K lead singer Omarion as David power the story as friends who head their promising dance crew in street dancing battles. A betrayal by one of their members leads to the group’s loss in a competition, ending in the leader of the winning rival team to mock them: "You're just mad... 'cause tonight you suckaz got served!"
Conflict ensues and results in Elgin and David splitting up and forming separate dance crews. But in the end, the rift is healed and the friends join forces to win over their opponent to whom they’re able to say the exact same line he had dished out to them before.
Securing the No. 1 spot at the box office during its opening weekend in January 2004, You Got Served has since earned a cult following for its brisk dance sequences.
“Gustong-gusto ko po itong movie dahil sa story niya na pinapakita ‘yung ups and downs ng streetdance battles,” Sean enthuses. “I also love the choreography of the dances here. At dahil din po sa isang lead actor nila na si Omarion na sobrang pinapakinggan ko po ‘yung RnB music niya before.” (And also because one of the lead actors, Omarion, whose RnB music I listened a lot to before.)
David, the character that Omarion plays, is naturally the one that Sean gravitates to in You Got Served. Love for dance and competitions and a penchant for challenges are the traits he identifies with in this character. “Kasi parehas po kami na sobrang hilig sa street dance and gustong-gusto po na nakikipag-battle sa iba pang dancers. At parehas po kami na hindi agad sumusuko sa mga challenges.” (Because we are both hooked on street dance and we enjoy having battles with other dancers. And we’re the same because we don’t easily quit when there are challenges.)
There’s a quote in You Got Served that rings so true for Sean, uttered by the street dance battle host Mr. Rad to David and Elgin when their crew ends up unsuccessful in a big street battle. Mr. Rad reminds them, “Now, you lost. Lemme tell you somethin' my father told me: ‘If it don't kill you, it makes you stronger.’”
“I like this line po kasi you don’t always win, sometimes we get the best lesson from losing. Losing makes you stronger and better,” says Sean who points out that ultimately, this is the movie’s essence. “I want people to watch this kasi po sobrang ganda and nangyayari talaga siya sa totoong buhay. And if you love dancing street dance, para sa inyo po itong movie. (I want people to watch this because it is really good and it happens in real life. And if you love dancing street dance, this movie is for you.)
Sean Pelegrin performs in the Beatles-inspired The Winding Road choreographed by Martin Lawrance for Ballet Manila. Photo by Ian Santos
