Playlist for ABDC Season 3 Episode 1

Here's the playlist for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Episode 1, for all of you asking about this week's musical selections. Keep in mind that the crews used master mixes, so they may not be available on line in the form you heard on MTV.

• Strikers: "Swing Your Rag" (T.I.)
• Beat Freaks: "Din Da Da" (George Kranz)
  
• GOP Dance: "Rompe" (Daddy Yankee)
• Quest: "Hero" (Nas)
• Fly Khicks: "Milkshake" (Kelis)
• Ringmasters: "Welcome Back" (Young Jeezy)
• Boxcuttuhz: "Bonefied Lovin" (Chromeo)
• Dynamic Edition: "My Humps" (Black Eyed Peas)
• Team Millennia: "Beating Heart Baby" (Head Automatica)
• Elimination Battle: "Live Your Life" (T.I.)

JabbaWockeez &Super Cr3w shirts - 40% off!

To celebrate the fact that America's Best Dance Crew is back on the air, Armory Survival Gear is running an online-only blowout sale -- 40% off on all their JabbaWockeeZ and Super Cr3w merchandise. No discount code needed -- the savings are taken out at checkout! So check it out here at armoryhiphop.com.

Mailbox: Lil Mama, GOP Dance, Kallusive Clothing and ABDC

• Lil Mama talks to Netscape Celebrity about how she changed the rap game but does not get sufficient respect
• MTV Remote Control talks to GOP Dance Crew after the elimination
• LAist has an entertaining interview with the creators of Kallusive clothing. On one show in Season 3, ASIID competed in Kallusive shirts. The company has close ties with the hip hop community, with Mike Song (Kaba Modern and Kallusive Dance Company) as their representative. The post's picture shows Mike in a Kallusive hoodie. Kallusive also sponsors the upcoming VIBE dance competition.
  

Talk of Fame interviews: "Nothing else matters when ABDC comes around"

Talk of Fame is back on the America's Best Dance Crew beat, exhibiting their usual off-beat humor. Here's their interview with Randy Jackson, Mario Lopez, Layla Kayleigh, Lil Mama (showing 'Minnie Mouse chic'), and Kid Rainen.

Recaps From all over, Round 1

• Zap2It gets rapturous about ABDC's return, loves that there are strong girl crews, and bemoans the fact that they cut a crew in this Episode. I'm with you on that.
• Reality TV Online loves Quest and Ringmasters, and thinks that GOP got robbed.
• Mia at Ningin identifies the music and rates the performances. Favorites:Beat Freaks and Quest
  

Season 3 Contest #2: The Elimination Challenge

Blogging Best Dance Crew will run several contests during Season 3, two of which will extend from Episode 1 through the finale.

Contest #2: The Elimination Challenge: Which crews will be in the bottom 2 each week? Who will be eliminated? Enter each week and the person with the highest cumulative score for Season 3 will win an ABDC crew shirt of their choice and size (up to $35 retail).

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, leave a comment with the name of the bottom 2, specifying which one is eliminated. For example, last season a winning entry for Week 8 would have read: "BOTTOM 2 WEEK 8 - Super Cr3w, Fanny Pak. Eliminated: Fanny Pak." You will be awarded 1 point for each crew you name in the bottom 2 that week, and an extra point for identifying the eliminated crew, for a total of 3 possible points per week.

Entries will be accepted from Thursday (after the episode airs) until Midnight (Pacific Time) the Monday afterwards, so that nobody can use insider info from the Tuesday tapings. **IMPORTANT**:

• Make sure you include your email address in the email field of the comments (not in the comment itself); any answers without email address will not be used.This way, I'll be able to see the email address but it won't be published.
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS 'BOTTOM 2' in the comment (so I can search for them easily).

Only 1 entry per email address per week, please. Each week, we will only accept the FIRST entry from each email address.

Good luck!

UPDATE: the contest is closed for this week. Next week's round will be posted on Thursday.

Backstage with the Crews - an exclusive report

Our Blogging Best Dance Crew field reporter got backstage to interview several ABDC Season 3 crews before the taping of Episode 1. Here's her report. Thanks for the awesome reporting!

Now in its third season within 12 months. America's Best Dance crew is back with even fresher moves, tougher competition, and most notably, newer styles. "Different" was the word most frequently used to describe the Crews on Season 3, and these people weren't lying.

Escorted into the makeshift dressing rooms, we met up with crews right after their dinner as they geared up for the big season premiere. It reminded me of being backstage at one of my own dance competitions: gold stage makeup, wardrobe malfunction checks,and most importantly, the practicing. Seeing dancers with iPods in ears, counting in their heads, and constantly repeating sections of the routines brings back my memories of nerves, excitement, and anticipation.

I was first drawn to one of the brighter dressed crews -- Fly Khicks -- whose six female members were absolute sweethearts. When asked about their style of dancing, they told me: "We definitely bring something different this year because we bring sass for women, we also bring the strength the guys can bring. We bring diversity, we bring hip hop, we bring jazz, we bring technique. We bring flavor. We're representing different parts of the world, We bring different styles of dance and we're just excited." In terms of their wardrobe, they shared this secret: "It starts from the kicks up; that's how the outfits start. We gotta pick out our sneakers first and then depending on the sneakers, we figure out what to put on. We always have to have some fly kicks."

Click here for  interviews and photos with Dynamic Edition, Strikers, Ringmasters, and Team Millennia. And, join us on Sunday for an exclusive podcast with GOP Dance.

Upcoming Dance workshop in LA featuring members of TM, Kaba Modern, SoReal Cru

Los Angeles will be the site of yet another high-powered dance workshop on February 1. The event is called Male on Sunday: Part 2 LA. Instructors include Andrew Baterina and Brian Puspos (Soreal Cru), CJ "Sauce" Edwards (Team Millennia), and Tony Tran (Kaba Modern). For more information and tickets, go to http://web.me.com/aqureshi, and select "Unleashed ENT." Here's a promo video from Bootlegshaboobs. Thanks, Michael!

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Best Episode 1 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Worst Episode 1 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

VOTE!

Click here to go to the MTV website and vote. Voting closes at 6:30am Eastern time Friday.

The Party Room is NOW OPEN -- Join us!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 1 is now open! Share your predictions, impressions, frustrations, hates and loves. TBone will moderate this reader forum, while NancyT live-blogs and does play-by-play in a separate BABDC post (just below this post). So, if you want to share your comments with other viewers, leave them here.

After the show is over: Give us your reactions and don't hold back. Work it.

Live play-by-play blogging of ABDC Season 3 Premiere

At 10pm, I'll be watching America's Best Dance Crew and live blogging the facts as I see them. So tune in at 10 and feel free to read along!

Even though this software gives readers the option of sending me comments, please post most of them on the separate Party Room post instead (unless you REALLY want me to see your message real-time). Reason: with this software, reader comments must be manually inserted by me and I'll be busy enough between the TV and the keyboard. You can also leave comments about my commentary, of course. But wouldn't you really rather be watching the show and arguing amongst yourselves?

Welcome to our new advertiser - Milkshake Kicks

We just got a new advertiser -- Milkshake Kicks. They sell unique women's sneakers, and are now pre-selling Fanny Pak kicks. Soon, we'll be running a contest with them too. So, click on their ad now and stay tuned.

Yahoo TV Blog: Crew impressions and predictions

Chrissy from Yahoo TV Blog has been an insider from the beginning, attending almost every taping, getting to know every crew, and doing other activities that verge on stalkerdom. Luckily she's a reporter (and a good writer), so her obsession is our gain.
Read her column today, where she handicaps the Season 3 crews.Think of it as the best tip sheet around.

MTV's ABDC Season 3 info now online

MTV posted its lead page for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, complete with photos, member names and ages, and descriptions of the nine competing crews.

TONIGHT -- Join us for live blogging,The Party Room, and polls

At last Season 3 has arrived. Celebrate with us tonight! The Party Room (aka Critics Corner) opens at 9:30pm (East Coast time) and stays open all night long for everyone who wants to comment about America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Episode 1 (or any other related topic). After the show, let us know what you thought --Is this going to be the best season ever? Did they pick the right crews to compete? Sarcasm and emotional outbursts are always welcome!

At 10pm, I'll be doing live play-by-play for those of you on the West Coast or have other reasons you can't or won't watch at that time.

And, early tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances of the evening. Join us!
Photo credit: MTV

Season 3 mailbox: crew summaries, Fly Khicks pix, Beat Freak's Lady Jules

• Seattle PI calls Season 3 "will definitely be about entertainment and not just dance." They post 1-2 lines about each crew along with the videos from Pacific Rim Press
• The Dekalb Times Journal profiles Melissa Shores (Dynamic Edition)
  
• The 305.com (a Miami-based blog) runs photos of the Fly Khicks
• Beat Freaks member Lady Jules talks to the camera about how the movie "Breakin'" changed her life, her aspirations, and why everyone should dance. Thanks for the tip, Cole!

New SoReal Cru video -- The Lowdown

From SoReal Cru TV, a new video of their rehearsal dancing to Justin Timberlake's Set The Mood and T-Pain's I Can't Believe It.

Groovaloos Dominate Superstars of Dance Again

On January 12, NBC aired the third Superstars of Dance Show. The Groovaloos appeared at the end of the show (why are they always the last act of the night?) and again got the highest group score. As a reminder, here's our first post about the Groovaloos, a group that includes members from JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w and Beat Freaks (though none of these ABDC types appeared on Superstars). To watch, click here, select Episode 103, watch the commercial, then select Chapter 11.

As a bonus: Groovaloos also appeared on Ellen Degeneres. Click here to watch the full performance.

MTV's Official Meet the Crews Video

MTV's Remote Control just posted a Meet the Crews video. If you aren't doing it already, keep an bookmark on Remote Control -- they're a great source for new and exclusive crew information.

Season 3 Contest #1: Predict the Top 4 Teams

Blogging Best Dance Crew will run several contests during Season 3, two of which will extend from Episode 1 through the finale.

Contest #1: Submit the names of the top 4 crews -- in the order that they'll finish. For example, last season the winning entry would have read " FINAL 4: 1. Super Cr3w 2. SoReal Cru 3. Fanny Pak 4. Boogie Bots." I WILL AWARD ABDC MEMORABILIA (choice of an autographed Fanny Pak shirt or an unautographed JabbaWockeeZ mask) TO THE FIRST PERSON TO CORRECTLY SUBMIT THE ANSWER. Note: if you change your mind, you can enter again the next week, but we will only accept the FIRST entry from each email address each week.

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, add a comment with the names of the final 4, specifying the final order. The first entry will be accepted from now until Midnight (Pacific Time) next Wednesday. Subsequent weeks' entries will be accepted from Thursdays until midnight the following Wednesdays. IMPORTANT:

• Make sure you include your email address in the email field of the comments (not in the comment itself); any answers without email address will not be used. This way, I'll be able to see the email address but it won't be published.
  
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS 'TOP 4' in the comment (so I can search for them easily)
  

Good luck and start commenting!

H4 Workshops and Battling this weekend in Torrance, CA

Southern Californians: check out H4 this weekend for inexpensive and high quality classes and dancing. On Saturday January 17 there will be free kid's workshops, followed by battling ($5 admission fee). On Sunday January 18 from noon til 5, there will be workshops and discussion panels taught by dancers like Mike Song (Kaba Modern and Kallusive Dance) and other incredible dancers. Then stay for battling. The price for an all-access pass is only $20. The poster above has the details or go to the Culture Shock LA website.

Summary - Profiles of Season 3 Crews

Over the last week, we've posted info and videos about the 9 crews selected for Season 3. Here's a summary:

• Beat Freaks
• Boxcuttuhz
• Dynamic Edition
• Fly Khicks
• GOP
  
• Quest
  
• Ringmasters
  
• Team Millennia
• The Strikers
  

Pacific Rim Video Fest -- Interviews with the Crews

Pacific Rim Video Press just uploaded 15 video interviews from last night's taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Episode 1. Go to their channel to watch L0st Kids interview Beat Freaks, Boxcuttuhz, Team Millennia, Dynamic Edition, The Strikers, GOP Dance, Ring Masters, Fly Khicks, Quest, Kid Rainen, and Layla Kayleigh. Here's a taste -- an intriguing interview with Quest:

Season 3 Episode 1 -- Surprise!

Our field reporter this week, just sent me an email about her experience. We'll post a an more in-depth teaser tomorrow or Thursday (with no spoilers). BUT -- the big surprise was that there was an elimination already, even without viewer votes. In the comments, speculation is welcome BUT NO SPOILERS PLEASE. Sorry, but I'll have to block anyone who posts spoiler info.

ABDC Hoists the Season 3 Banners

MTV Remote Control reveals the banners for the Season 3 crews. Interestingly, they still name the region. I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to guess the significance of the symbols. Any suggestions?

Hat tip: Jeff, who beat me to it again!

Win a Date with Boogie Bots in Times Square

On March 4, Boogie Bots and other America's Best Dance Crew teams (to be announced later) will be part of a friendly competition ("The Fight Against Acne") to promote Clearasil's new Pimple Block Pen. The event will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, NY and feature a celebrity guest MC, lots of acts, giveaways, and dancing. Boogie Bots wants to share the experience with fans and is running a contest. How to win: "Submit your best, most creative, funniest, heartfelt 'I love Boogie Bots' 90 second-minute video and upload it onto Youtube. Then send an email to boogiebotscrew@gmail.com with your name, age, mailing address, email address, best phone number to reach you, AND a link to the video clip. Deadline: February 18, 2009. The winner gets 2 VIP tickets to see the event. First runner up receives a Boogie Bots Tshirt and 3 2nd place runners up will receive an autographed Boogie Bots poster. So start taping and good luck! This tip from VB2DC. Photocredit: LA Times

Season 3 Crew: GOP Dance Crew

Back in December 2008, GOP Dance Crew contacted Blogging America's Best Dance Crew with information about the crew and a video. We loved the video and posted it. That post (click here to see it) generated more reader comments than almost any other story we've ever run. And, we're pleased that GOP will appear on Season 3.

GOP (which stands for Group of Peace) are a Puerto Rican dance group that has worked with more than 4800 disadvantaged teenagers. Getting on America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 means a lot to GOP, whose members have overcome numerous hardships and obstacles. One was in a car accident and was left with a paralyzed arm. Others served in Iraq or dealt with drug issues. They almost had to miss the auditions because they didn't have enough money for plane tickets and had trouble raising the needed funds.

The crew members are Kano, Mr. P, B-Boy Crash, B-one Smoke, Sherhan Rodriguez, and AV Caribbean Heat. Contact them at Facebook or MySpace. Here's an intro to the members from the GOPDance Channel:


Beyond their personal story -- they can MOVE. The original videos that we used have been removed but here's a new video where the crew members dance both individually and with a crew called Floor Rockers.

Season 3 Crew: Ringmasters (aka Main Eventt)

Ringmasters may be the most controversial pick made for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. To illustrate, let me contrast them with Quest (at least what I know about the 2 crews at this point). Members of both crews have years of dancing experience, strong and characteristic moves, and their own charm. BUT -- where Quest is polished, Ringmasters is raw. Where Quest has an established following, Ringmasters are outsiders. Where Quest takes many of its inspiration from more classical dance, Ringmaster is street.

Ringmasters has been performing since 1999 as Main Eventt. I didn't catch all the crew member names, but they include Marty McFly and Nugget the Bone Breaking King. They've won many local competitions and appeared on BET's "106th and Park". Click here for a snippet of them battling The Strikers (who will also appear on Season 3). Click here for the Ringmasters MySpace page.

To meet the crew members, watch this video from Flexentnyc which was taken outside the NY ABDC Season 3 Auditions. The members talk about their history and influences, then battle the new Status Quo.
I watched the Ringmaster audition and loved the crew's intensity, humor, and trademark moves. I posted about them as one of my favorites from the NY auditions long before the final crews were announced. Here's the video of the first time they performed their routine. As with many of the best crews that auditioned, the judges asked them to perform their routine a second time, and the second performance was much smoother and error-free. I'm sorry I don't have a tape of that, since a lot of readers are not giving Ringmasters the chance they deserve.

Click here to watch more Ringmasters (Main Eventt) videos, including a trailer for their DVD "TheTakeover" which gives a sense of this crew's moves and personality, as well as a longer video with more of the "106th and Park" footage.

VIBE XIV Tickets now available -- Win them or buy them!

On Sunday January 25, Kallusive will host VIBE XIV, to be held at UC Irvine. Team Millennia and Kaba Modern will be among the many competing crews. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

Also, you can enter the Kallusive contest to win free tickets to the event. The Take Me To Vibe poster above (featuring Lando and Lydia from Boxcuttuhz) spells out the details.

Here's the trailer from last year's event:

Join us for intense coverage of ABDC Season 3

We're gearing up for Season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew. Here are some reasons you should join us over the next few weeks:

• Our field reporters will cover the ABDC tapings, including sneak previews (but no spoilers) and backstage interviews
• On Thursdays, join us for live play-by-play blogging during the shows
• Comment in our after-show forums about the shows, crews, judges, music, whatever
• We hope to provide exclusive videos or podcasts with crews throughout Season 3
  
• Vote in our polls about the best and worst performances
• Enter our contests to win Tshirts and other stuff
• We'll scour the internet to bring you other coverage from mainstream media, news/entertainment sites, and blogs. If you're going to blog about the show, let us know and we'll try to include you in our links.
  

Season 3 Crew: Quest

Quest is probably the best known and most anticipated of the Season 3 crews on America's Best Dance Crew. Many ABDC viewers remember Quest members Ryan, Dominic and Hok from So You Think You Can Dance and saw Quest perform on SYTYCD back in June 2008. Quest also danced on American Idol Gives Back. The crew wanted to try out for ABDC Season 1, but were not allowed to do so since Dominic and Hok had signed SYTYCD contracts stating that they were not allowed to do another reality dance show for 12 months.

According to their Facebook page, they are called Quest because they work in the Quest Learning Facility in Artesia, California. In interviews, they also say that they're 'on a quest' in that their style continues to evolve. In interviews and on their fan pages, they emphasize that they are a 'team of soloists', using their individual strong skills and personalities to collaborate.

You can reach them through their MySpace and Facebook pages.
Here's the Pacific Rim Video interview with the crew at the LA Auditions:

Click here to watch the Quest audition and another Quest interview clip.

There are numerous performance videos for Quest, each showing the crews' mad skills and polished choreography. Click here to watch their performance at the International Secret Agent Show (make sure to watch it in high quality).

Quest member Steve Terada has his own Youtube Channel, so you can spend a few hours getting to know the crew better. One of my favorites is the Kollaboration 2008 performance:


And click here to see other Quest performances, including LA Best, American Idol Gives Back, and a Lunar New Years festival. Unfortunately, the SYTYCD performance is no longer legally online.

Boogie Bots at Dance4Life

Valski acted as a volunteer at the Dance4Life show on November 29, 2008. While there, she watched and filmed Boogie Bots on-stage. Thanks for sharing, Valski!


Reminder: only a few days left to win the Dance4Life CD that Blogging America's Best Dance Crew won. Click here to enter.