Christine Juliane Opiaza

 Zambales rep named BBP's Best Dancer

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Binibini 34 Cristine Juliane "CJ" Opiaza was selected as the Best Dancer by Addlib Dance Studio during a dance-off session conducted by its creative/artistic director, Jo Aguda, recently. The Zambales representative used to be a dance crew member in her younger years.

Garbed in identical pink tank tops over denim jeans and sneakers, the candidates gamely moved to the varying upbeat tunes. At the end of the session, there was a dance-off between CJ and Floridablanca's entrant, Jessica Rose McEwen. And the dance mentors decided it was the former who grooved better.

"It helps if a candidate has a dance background because it would aid her in the counting, timing, and projection. Besides, Pinoys  have a good sense of rhythm. Dance movements is important especially in production numbers in beauty pageants.

"Today's P-Pop dance class is beneficial for the girls 'coz it will help them with their dancing skills. So, our lesson is all about counting with the music and move with the songs - kasi it's different when you're walking lang in heels. But the proper projection and moving with the music is a different thing, doon sa usual nilang inaaral na pagrampa ," enthused Addlib Studio's creative/artistic director Jo Aguda.

After the dance session, the ladies quenched their thirst by sampling mocktails at the Ounce Manila kiosk just outside the dance studio. The Filipino crafted beverages were sourced from farm produce and Pinoy manufactured labels. The mocktails provided them with enough energy to last the rigorous rehearsals that ensued.

Patrons and guests may, instead of mocktails, opt for alcoholic cocktails and/or coffee concoctions for that much-needed caffeine fix.

With prelims week fast approaching, the delegates are now preparing themselves for the rigors needed in the pageant's final stretch. After the preliminaries, it would only be a matter of days before the new set of Binibini queens are crowned.

The 58th Binibining Pilipinas grand  coronation night will unfold on July 31 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The final show will be beamed live to a nationwide audience through TV5, A2Z, the Kapamilya Channel, and Metro channel networks; and via iWantTFC and the official Binibining Pilipinas YouTube channel globally. Stay tuned!