Sound The Sirens! InVIctus – Vegas 6
November 23, hoist the mizzen, weigh anchor and set sail for a deep sea dance party and a night of fun that won’t ever be defeated!
Shadows Dance Group is hosting Vegas VI: InVIctus, a hip hop dance party that will shiver your timbers. Drawing heavy inspiration from the word “Invictus” which means unconquered, performances echo the unapologetic character of pirates on the seven seas, and the unchallenged supremacy of the mermaids beneath them.
Vegas is Shadows’ long-running dance showcase, each edition exploring a different theme and concept from fierce femininity in Vixen to raw resilience in InVIctus.
Those familiar with Shadow’s Vegas 5: Vixen will know what to expect in terms of the intensity and quality of performance, the cleanness of moves, but with a sharp thematic shift away from the landlubber’s forest fantasy and foxes.
Vegas VI: InVIctus is also donating some of the proceeds to JPCOM Cares & STAC-5 Baguio, a Non-profit organization providing social services and rehabilitation such as therapy and training to help children and young adults with disabilities to live independently. To me, this invokes the spirit of the William Ernest Henley poem also titled Invictus
”In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.”
Despite being tied to the mast (and having no rhythm) I was already dancing to the beat of their siren song when the interview began.
AMBB: For those unfamiliar, what is Shadows and how did the organization begin?
Shadows: Shadows is a duly recognized hip-hop dance organization at the University of the Philippines Baguio. Founded in 1999, our dance crew has been dedicated to honing local talents and providing platforms for dance artists to showcase their skills in public. From 7 members, the group now boasts of more than four hundred inspiring, creative, and competitive modern dancers from different schools in Northern Luzon and Manila, as well as outside the country in Jakarta.
AMBB: What does being the only hip-hop dance organization recognized by UP Baguio mean to your members?
Shadows: Being the only hip-hop dance organization recognized by UP Baguio is both an honor and a responsibility. We are expected not just to perform beautiful masterpieces, but to also hone the talents of the students. The group has been following its motto – One Dance. One Chance. One Family – as we believe that dancing unites us as one, creating a family full of passion
AMBB: How has Shadows evolved since 1999 — in terms of style, mission, and community impact? Are there any original members left within the group or is it entirely a students group?
Shadows: Since 1999, the group has explored a wide range of dance genres. Every member, past and present, has contributed to exploring and passing down these different styles to subsequent batches. Despite the changes in its members, the organization’s mission has remained the same from our founders to the most recent batches. This commitment creates a passionate community of dancers who are all united by the same mission. As for the members, those who have graduated are considered alumni, while those currently enrolled and studying are classified as active members.
AMBB: This year’s proceeds will benefit JPCom Cares & STAC-5 Baguio, how did you choose these beneficiaries?
Shadows: We chose this beneficiary because the sister of one of our members had direct experience with the rehabilitation center. She explained that they are often forced to turn away patients because they lack the necessary budget for materials. We were deeply moved by their story and saddened by their situation, so we decided to use our event to help them. This chosen beneficiary also serves as our participation in the observance of Children’s Month this November.
Other organizations or individuals who wish to help us make this event a success can message us through our official page: Shadows. They can also reach out to our email account: shadowsvegas.six@gmail.com.
Shadows Dance Group believes that the art of dance and the power of movement and expression have no limitations. For Shadows, dance is more than just performance. It is a passion that transcends boundaries and connects people regardless of background or ability. Through dance, we want to be able to share empowerment, joy, and inclusivity to the hearts and minds of children and young adults with disabilities.
AMBB: What makes hip-hop such a powerful form of expression for your group?
Shadows: For Shadows, hip-hop is a powerful form of expression because it embodies our individuality, community, and social awareness. As our members often say, dancing is our escape from the stressful demands of college life. It is where we release and express our authentic selves and identities, resulting in unique dance forms for each of us
AMBB: Red in the morning, sailors take warning, red at night, sailor’s delight, right? What’s the atmosphere like within Shadows leading up to a performance?
Shadows: The second we get called for a performance, the consensus is just pure excitement because we get to choreograph and share what we love doing with a crowd. That energy translates into the creative planning phase where we visualize the set, pick songs, and picture unique moves. A week before the performance, the atmosphere definitely tightens. We practice and clean moves a lot, but we’re very conscious of how suffocating preparations can get. Because our organization goes beyond just dancing, our leaders and members always make sure everyone is in a safe place through filling those intense moments with bonding and laughing breaks. That all builds up to the minutes right before we go on stage where we do our ‘power-sharing’ ritual. We all grip each other’s hands to release tension and nervousness, but mostly to connect as one family. The atmosphere is definitely an adventure that makes the end so fulfilling when we finish our performances, huddling up for our team hand stack shouting who we are.
AMBB: InVIctus is a powder keg set to explode when the crew hits the deck on November 23, what can attendees expect?
Shadows: Anticipate spectacular dance performances by UP Baguio’s hip-hop dance group, Shadows, and guest dance performers from Baguio while enjoying our flavorful drinks. Dance the night away with cool music mixes, play exciting party games, win amazing prizes, and enjoy the hottest and fiercest dance party!
For those looking for things to do in Baguio on a Sunday night, let Shadows take you beneath the waves for a night of rhythm, rebellion, and resilience. Whether you’re a dancer, dreamer, or a peg-legged landlubber, Vegas VI: InVIctus promises a performance that won’t go down without a fight.
DATE: November 23, 2025
VENUE: Gestdan Centrum, Baguio City
TIME: Gates will open by 5:30 p.m.
TICKET PRICES: 385 pesos for regular tickets ; 450 for walk-ins
WHERE TO BUY: Just message the official Facebook Page –
https://www.facebook.com/Shadows.DG
THEME: “Vegas 6: InVIctus” where dark sirens reign in deep waters and fearsome pirates prevail above sea, unconquered and untamed, as they embody being the captain of their own souls with fervor.
I Know I’ll get keel-hauled for going overboard on pirate puns, but a thematic event such as this can have me dancing between the devil and the deep blue wet thing.
Josh Inman is a poet, pun and pirate enthusiast, who loved Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island as a child and Muppet’s Treasure Island as an adult.
