Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan, or the Street Dancing Competition, is considered as one of the highlights in every Kadayawan Festival where contingents in colorful and festive indigenous-inspired regalia dance and perform epic folk narratives along the major downtown streets in the city.

Harold Quibete, organizer of this year’s Indak-Indak, highlighted that this year’s competition will be the grandest and most exciting in recent years with previous street dancing champions returning to reclaim the crown against contingents helmed by acclaimed choreographers from all over Mindanao.

“Last year we held back because we just came from the pandemic. But this year, all-out na ang mga contingents,” Quibete said.

Nineteen contingents are set to participate in this year’s Indak-Indak.. Six of these groups are from Davao-based schools while the remaining 13 hail  from different regions across  Mindanao. Additionally, a guest contingent is flying from Laoag, Ilocos Norte courtesy of Senator Imee Marcos.

“Bongga talaga ang indak-indak ngayon (The indak indak this year will be grand) the contingents really miss the fun and excitement of the indak-indak because we did not have Kadayawan for two years in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic. Then last year it was not really full blast. This year they are also after the fun and the joy of performing, so this Indak-Indak is really something special,” Quibete said.

The two showdown areas are located at the Roxas Avenue-Claveria junction in front of Marco Polo Hotel, the Legaspi- Bonifacio junction in front of Apo View Hotel. The main performance area will be at San Pedro Square in front of Rizal and Quezon Parks.

In an earlier interview, Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, chairperson of the committee on tourism and proponent of changing the schedule, expressed his concern for all the participants and spectators. He said that the afternoon schedule will spare everyone from the high heat index during the morning.  

Around 30,000 people are expected to witness this year’s Indak-Indak. Meanwhile, they will be putting up LED walls where the performances will be shown live for those who cannot catch the spectacle in the streets. The event will also be streamed live on Facebook for those who want to witness the competition, particularly the Overseas Filipino Workers in different parts of the world.

A whopping one million peso prize will be given for the grand winners of the open category and the Davao City school-based category.

This year's Indak-Indak promises excitement owing to the fierce competition among the contingents. Adding to the spice, Sindac Anib, the choreographer behind the grand winners of the open category in 2019 and 2022 from Bislig, Surigao del Sur, will introduce a new contingent. Quibete also disclosed that other Indak-Indak powerhouses have changed choreographers, with previous ones joining new groups. (RGA/PIA Davao)