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| COMPANY B TRADE AD FOR ISETANN,1994 |
In the late 80s and 90s, the MANOEUVRES were one of the
hottest male dance groups in the country, along with Streetboys and Universal
Motion Dancers. Established in 1984 as
WEA Dynamics, and later Octo-Manoeuvres, by WEA Records, the original dancers--
Uriel Policarpio, Ronnel Wolfe , Jon-Jon Supan, Rene Sagaran and Jojo Lapena—promoted
music records by way of dance on TV and in events. Brothers Jason and Joshua Zamora, and Jon
Cruz later joined the group.
The dancers gained notice when they supported Gary
Valenciano in his blockbuster major concert “Pure Energy” at the Folk Arts
Theater in 1987. Their career as male dance group would be linked with Gary V,
when Genesis Entertainment—a talent management group under Gary’s wife, Angeli Pangilinan—signed them
up. They became simply known as MANOEUVRES.
The MANOUEVRES took the concert scene by storm with their
participation in the concerts and other events of the country’s biggest and
most popular entertainers—from Regine Velasquez, Sharon Cuneta, Jaya to Martin
and Pops. But it was with Gary V that they were most associated with; head
choreographer Uriel Policarpio choreographed many of the “hataw” moves that the
energetic singer did in many of his
concerts.
The group became visible in TV dance shows, noontime
programs and even had stints in Southeast Asian countries, Canada, U.S., Italy
and East, performing for the overseas Pinoy market. In time, the MANOEUVRES
were holding their own dance concerts (even a 25th anniversary
concert) that were always sold out.
With the measure of fame the group achieved, the MANOEUVRES
managed to snag a few commercial endorsements
that included blue chip clients like Magnolia, Royal Tru-Orange and
Coke. One fashion brand they also promoted in 1994 was CO.B (COMPANY B. ) a flagship brand of Tri-Union International,
a big apparel company that created a youth line of denims and tops.
Four members—Uriel Policarpio, Jonjon Supan, Jason and
Joshua Zamora appeared in trade ads of CO. B, on leading newspapers and
magazines. They were featured in a TV
30s spot ,”Voices/Dances/Strings”, which
became a Creative Guild Ad of the Month in 1994. The commercial was created by
Hemisphere-Leo Burnett, led by Creative Director Maun Bondoc, Lilit Reyes and
Betsy Baking.
Many of the members used their showbiz exposure to venture
into other fields like Acting and directing, in the case of the Zamora brothers.
Jon Supan became a managing Director of Hotlegs. But almost all of the original
members including Uriel Policarpio (who fully recovered from a quadruple
bypass) and Rene “Mr. Flex” Sagaran
continue to be involved in dance, conducting workshops and choreographing
numbers for shows.
UPDATE! The 4 MANEOUVRES Today
The MANOEUVRES are still very much around and
active today, with new generation members. Their FB group states that they are
now under the management group of Artistation, Inc., handler of some of the
biggest names in show business today.
SOURCES:
Photo Updates: FB Maneouvres FB Page
Photo Co.B. 1994 Souvenir Program Creatuve Guild Ad of the Year
Retro-5: Memorable Dance Groups in Recent History,
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