Audition Choreography Callbacks : an outstanding tool for picking ABDC Crews

America's Best Dance Crew incorporated choreography callbacks in the Season 4 audition process. The practice had been used in the Season 1 auditions, but dropped for Seasons 2 and 3. According to audition judges Napoleon D'umo and Michelle McNulty, the callbacks were reintroduced for several reasons:

• they allow MTV to see how crews respond to conditions similar to the ones in the actual show, where dancers must quickly learn steps from the ABDC choreographers, as well as creating and modifying their own dance routines under intense time pressure
  
• they show how crews can respond to 'challenges' while maintaining their distinctive styles and competencies
• they give crews a chance to correct problems cited by judges during their initial auditions (e.g., appearing too similar to prior ABDC competitors, not performing to the audience)
• the free-style section in the callbacks gives crews a chance to show other skills that aren't included in their 1-2 minute audition routines

How it worked: after each crew auditioned, they were told whether they would be asked to return later that day for the choreography callbacks. The invited crews returned en masse after all the initial auditions were completed. In NY, that translated to over 125 dancers assembled in the audition room. Then, Napoleon D'umo spent about 10 minutes teaching them a short and simple routine (aided in NY by some of the Boogie Bots). The same steps were taught in all 4 auditions. This video shows some highlights from the NY lesson:

After the lesson, crews were given one hour to put together a 1-3 minute routine. The first part of the dance had to incorporate D'umo's choreography, but adapted to the crew's own style. In the second part of the routine, every member of the crew had to free-style with a commando transition between dancers. After the hour, the judges brought back 5-8 crews at a time to the audition room. In those groups, each crew performed for each other and for the judges.

It felt like a really joyous dance-off, with incredibly high energy for groups that had worked hard over a very long day. The callbacks were also successful in providing judges with all the added information they sought. Napoleon told me, "When we did this in LA last week, at first I was wondering why we would go to all this trouble. Then I watched them perform and said to myself, 'THAT'S WHY!"

Judge for yourself. Here are two crews with 'classical' hip hop choreography (not tap dancing or other styles). They are R2D2 (a Boston crew led by Jamal from ABDC Season 1's Status Quo) and E3 (a Connecticut crew with a 'boy band' vibe). They both nailed the choreography section, and held true to their distinctive styles.