The Engineering Pride: KiNeSyX
KiNeSyX, dubbed as the “Engineering Pride” of the University of San Carlos’ College of Engineering (USC-CoE), is a pop jazz team consisting of members from the different engineering courses and headed by Jano Libres. The Engineering Pop Jazz Team, which has garnered a lot of attention from the crowd – be it the engineering crowd or not – continues to inspire people with their impressive, enviable, and groovy dance moves.
Since the creation of the group in 2000, there was not an official name for them. Their group name “KiNeSyX” was first coined when they joined the Penshoppe Slam Dance Contest in November 2004 at Ayala, Cebu. It is read as [kɪˈnEːsɪks] or kee-neh-six and comes from the word “kinesics” – which basically means the study of the way in which body movements and gestures serve as a form of nonverbal communication.
KiNeSyX are widely adored because of their ability to dance very well and for almost always making a spot at the USC Intramurals’ Pop Jazz Competitions. Every year, their performance just keeps on getting better and better, and the crowd is always pleased. This year, the group bagged 1st runner-up next to College of Architecture and Fine Arts.
It is not surprising how group only chooses the best dancers among the population of the Engineering College. The group holds auditions yearly to screen new trainees and encourages them to try and incorporate their dance skills to the group’s genre – the pop jazz. Their auditions usually take a time frame of two weeks wherein they observe the trainees and gradually choose which ones are going to be the part of the new batch.
Like other dance groups, trials are what made the team as strong as they are today. One of the recent trials the team has encountered was the preparation for this year’s pop jazz competition. The group encountered challenges a week before the day of the competition. One of their senior dancers had to be replaced just a week before, and the replacement; a Chemical Engineering graduate student, had to learn all the steps in just one week despite the very hectic schedules. “But still, we were very thankful because the crowd was very ceaseless with their cheers,” they said.
“During the Dance Carnival in 2011 at SM City Cebu, we initially had not intended to join the competition. Not only until the day itself did we buy costumes,” the members accounted from two years back. “Everything was basically crammed but in the end, we won the competition.”
Although they are a dance group with their own academic responsibilities and different courses, the members shared that they had strengthened their friendship through the gimmicks and dance competitions they had attended. “This group is not just a dance group, it’s also a family. We treat each other like brothers and sisters,” Libres said.
The talented members’ secret to a great performance is actually pushing themselves to their limits and great time management. Despite the very arduous training they do every day – even sacrificing their rest to polish their dance moves or make new dance steps – what drives them to keep on dancing is their own passion. Dancing has always been their passion. It is an outlet of all their unexpressed emotions and stress and oppression from all the school work.
Some inspirational words coming from all the members for all the aspiring dancers and future KiNeSyX auditionees: “Follow your passion. If you have the chance, grab it and don’t let it go. Manage your time and don’t forget your other priorities as well. Always keep your feet on the ground. If you can’t achieve what you want, just keep on going; there is nothing wrong with trying. Develop your abilities. And lastly, “Reach for the moon, even if you’ll land upon the stars.”
The legacy of KiNeSyX has continued to be passed on from the talented alumni to its next set of batches. Indeed, this has been proved throughout the entire prominent improvements they showed – from their astounding dance skills, to the creative concepts and execution during the annual Intramurals Pop Jazz Competition.
Catch the performance of KiNeSyX at the Student Ecological Movement (STEM) Night and ECOuture this upcoming September 20, 2013 at the USC Talamban Campus’ Basketball Court, 6 o’clock in the evening.
