Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe, the official dance company of the Lyceum of Batangas, was established and organized in 1995 in an attempt to preserve and share the Philippine cultural heritage in the dance art forms among the youth of Batangas province. In its initial year, the performances of the group were limited to school-organized programs and activities, most especially during the school’s Foundation Anniversary Celebration. However, the succeeding years saw the group soar to greater heights as they venture on outside competitions and invitational performances.
In 1999, their performance of Lemlunay: T’boli Festival of Lights earned for them the 2nd runner-up slot in the Balayan Folkdance Festival. In the following year, they bagged the Championship crown of the same festival with their Muslim suite. In 2001, they emerged 1st runner-up for their Maria Clara performance in the Timpalak Parangal kay Apolinario Mabini for their rendition of Jota Española. And in 2002, they bagged the Championship title of the same competition for their dance Panderetas. In 2003, they were once again 1st runner-up in the competition via their performance of the Mantones de Seda.
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| Members of the Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe | | Starting as a fledgling university-based dance troupe, Lahing Batangan gradually made a mark in Batangas province as they joined several dance competitions and consequently, earned numerous triumphs. On top of their cultural obligations to the school, the group endeavored to do outreach performances outside the province that included Olongapo, Bulacan, Cavite, Tagaytay, and Oriental Mindoro.
As an accredited performing group duly recognized by the Provincial Tourism Office of Batangas and the Department of Tourism, the group is a regular performer in several formal tourism activities and functions in and out of the province.
In February 2002, the company was one of the featured artists for Intramuros' Concert Night at the Old Walls, organized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT). They participated in the 2002 Philippine Independence Day Celebration at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta as part of the WOW Philippines contingent. The group also performed with the Zuellig Chorale at the RCBC Plaza and served as guest performer during DBP’s Pasiklaban and the Gawad Urian.
In January 19, 2003, Lahing Batangan staged their first full-length concert at the Concert at the Park in Rizal Park, Luneta featuring Mindanao Festival dances. The group also represented Region IV during its performance at the launching of the Visit Philippines 2003 by the Department of Tourism in Intramuros, Manila. The group has also been a participant in the Cultural Center of Philippines’ major dance production, "Sari Saring Sayaw, Sama Samang Galaw: Mga Tradisyon at Interpretasyon" held at the CCP Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo on February 6, 2003. They have performed with outstanding dance groups including the Bayanihan Philippine National Folk Dance Company and the Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group. From then on, the Lahing Batangan is a regular performer at the CCP and is so far the only university-based dance group in the region to be part of this distinguished national project for three years in a row.
Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe staged its first major dance concert dubbed, "Lahing Pilipino: Mga Sayaw para sa Pagkakaisa" on February 27 and 28, 2003, showcasing two hours of full-length Filipino repertoire. The concert is proudly at the height of the recognition of the guild by the NCCA, as an accredited proponent.
Indeed, the Lahing Batangan Dance Troupe takes extreme pride and honor as the National Consumer Affairs Foundation (NCAF) and the Rizal Day National Celebration Committee chose the group as recipient of the 2003 Top Entertainer Award as the Most Promising Cultural Dance Group. While in years 2004 and 2005, NCAF bestowed the dance group with the Dangal ng Pilipino Award as Most Outstanding Cultural Dance Group. The dance group was also chosen as one of the performers during the opening ceremonies of the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
The group is under the choreography of Rodel Fronda, renowned choreograper of big musical CCP plays such as Ang Awit ni Florante at Laura, Ibong Adarna, Orosman at Zafira among others. It is under the supervision of its Director, Eric Orolfo.
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