Arzen Rose Dulzura

MaSh is back! Maja Salvador and Shaina Magdayao relive their glorious “ASAP” dance era

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741657547097Thumb-Feature (12).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>Long before the word “collab” became a social media buzzword, Shaina Magdayao and Maja Salvador had already been serving iconic collaborations as millennial dance idols, setting the &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>&quot; stage on fire long before viral trends and TikTok challenges ruled the scene.  Years later, the queens are back as a dance tandem. Shaina and Maja just made their much-awaited “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” dance floor homecoming, and it was a full-circle moment, a celebration of their legacy as two of the fiercest performers “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” has ever seen. <script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVP7ZNUQLObyd4x"></script>Shaina, who first joined “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” in 1999, actually had her brief return to &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>&quot; for a year in 2022 after an eight-year hiatus. Even then, fans and the production team kept asking when she and Maja would share the stage again. She thought the MaSh reunion would remain just a distant dream, assuming that Maja getting pregnant that same year meant the end of her dancing era.  But they knew they couldn&#x27;t let a milestone as grand as “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>”&#x27;s 30th anniversary pass. They had to make their schedules work no matter how hectic. And as if the universe conspired, they managed to align everything in time for their highly anticipated homecoming prod last Sunday, March 9. In a way, this performance was their form of giving back to the show that shaped them, the audience that supported them, and the legacy they built together. <script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVW7EIvJFBNlPql"></script>“In a way, thanksgiving sa ating viewers na sumuporta,” Shaina said. “Kasi ako, I started 1999. Ang dami na naming pinagdaanan ni Maja sa dance floor. We did Full Circle, UD4, and Supahdance [segments] hanggang sa nabuo ang MaSh.” Maja, from “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>”&#x27;s Batch 2003, jokingly added that Shaina forgot to mention they were also the show’s “It Girls.” But to us viewers, they were more than that. They were queens. Back in their peak years, they would typically do five to six dance prods in a single episode, on top of hosting spiels in between. Their “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” days were jam-packed, or as they put it, “ngarag.” After one performance, they&#x27;d quickly change outfits in whatever corner they could find, then go straight to hosting duties, only to rush into another costume for the next prod. And these weren’t your usual bite-sized numbers—each one ran for almost five minutes, yet they would deliver everything flawlessly without running out of breath. They joked, finishing each other’s sentences, “Tapos ngayon, hati na tayo sa two minutes, at hingal na hingal na.” That was their youth. They belonged to an era when TV production was evolving and modernizing but still holding on to traditional elements. And that’s exactly what shaped them into the disciplined performers they are today. If anyone thinks dancing on &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>&quot; is as simple as learning a few steps, Shaina and Maja are here to debunk that myth. It takes countless rehearsals, hard work, and yes—even the most seasoned dancers had to go through training and workshops with none other than legendary choreographers Georcelle Dapat-Sy of the G-Force dance group and hip-hop virtuoso Dennis Sahagon.  Both can vouch that training under these dance masters meant you’re in for an intense experience. Maja remembers dreading her scheduled classes with Georcelle, because Georcelle’s style leaned towards jazz—far from Maja’s comfort zone, which was hip-hop. Meanwhile, Shaina felt the opposite—hip-hop made her nervous since jazz was her forte. But beyond just dance techniques, their training instilled in them a deep respect for the craft, the process, and the people who made every performance possible. Shaina and Maja may have started with different dance specialties, but they had undeniable chemistry on the “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” stage, prompting the creatives pull them out from the “Full Circle’ segment and give them their very own spotlight, thus, “MaSh” was born. It was in this segment that they truly found their shared rhythm. Looking back, the gorgeous stars are filled with nostalgia and gratitude. For Maja, “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” was a defining force in her career. &quot;Iba &#x27;yung tinulong ng ‘ASAP’ sa career ko. Ano pa &#x27;yan, ‘ASAP’ tapos se-segue ako sa mga fiesta. So forever grateful ako kasi nakilala &#x27;yung Maja sa pagsasayaw at dahil &#x27;yun sa ‘ASAP.’&quot;  Shaina added that they&#x27;ve found a family in “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>,” from their fellow performers to the production and creative teams, and most especially their mentors. &quot;Since I was 13, every Sabado ng buhay ko was devoted for ‘ASAP,’ and on the ‘ASAP’ stage every Sunday. I gained a family hindi lang sa mga kasayaw ko sa stage kundi sa mga nakasama namin behind the cameras.&quot; She also never expected dance to become such a huge part of her artistic identity, &quot;I started as an actress pero na-discover ko na &#x27;yung dancing pala is my second love.&quot; That’s why her comeback on the ‘ASAP’ stage in 2022, after an eight-year break from dancing, reignited something in her. After that performance, she even took to social media to thank everyone who had been part of her dance journey. “Nabuhayan ‘yung isang side ng pagkatao ko, ng pagiging artist ko. Na-remind ako na ito rin pala ‘yung nagfu-fuel sa akin, hindi lang pala ‘yung acting but also ‘yung dancing. And it all happened because of ‘ASAP.’” That’s why it brings them so much joy to see a new generation of dance idols carrying on the legacy they helped build on the “<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap">ASAP</a>” stage. “Ang sarap nilang panoorin kasi alam mong very passionate sila,” Maja shared, before joking, “Pero hindi masarap kasayaw,” teasing that they probably wouldn’t be able to keep up with today’s fast choreography without running out of breath. But in all seriousness, they’re proud. The new breed of performers brings their own unique flavor to the dance floor, which reflects the new generation’s style and energy. And while dance trends will continue to evolve and their own movements may slow down over time, one thing remains unchanged—Shaina and Maja’s imprint on &quot;<a href="http://abs-cbn.com/entertainment/studios/tv/asap" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ASAP</a>&quot; history as dance floor royalties. They are, and will always be, icons who defined an era of “ASAP” dance.

Maja Salvador and Shaina Magdayao reminisce about their dance era and how “ASAP” shaped them into the performers they are today.

Maja Salvador and Shaina Magdayao reminisce about their dance era and how “ASAP” shaped them into the performers they are today.