Video: Crews backstage -- dancing, joking, mingling

MTV Remote Control has video of the crews chatting backstage before the Bollywood Challenge, complete with intermingling crews, injuries, subtitles, and some dancing. Click here to watch.

Get Your Battle Kicks during Fanny Pak Week

The long-awaited Battle I Kicks are now available in both Battle I (the multicolored shoes in the poster, and in Battle Black. To celebrate, there's a special promotion from August 29-September 5. Head to MilkshakeNYC.com; if you buy a pair this week, you can sign up for a chance to win a second pair of shoes, an official Fanny Pak, and an autographed Tshirt.

Massive Monkees Merchandise available now

Click here for the official Massive Monkees store. They've got shirts, totes, performance DVDs, stickers, and bandannas.

Does ABDC lack personality and need to become more human?

There's been a lot of debate here in the last few days about MTV's handling of personal issues for one crew. This brings up a related question -- should MTV do more to allow its viewers to really get to know the crews personally? ABDC doesn't spend much time on the people behind the crews. Reader Snoop Doggystyle elaborates (and requested this photo as an example of how SYTYCD does a better job of it):

"ABDC is gradually becoming dry and losing steam. One of the less obvious reasons for this is that the show is lacking PERSONALITY. ABDC is a reality show, but it comes off a bit too strictly as just a competition. Therefore, the producers need to make the show more HUMAN by allowing more FUN and INTERACTION between the crews, host, and judges. So to make this show more fun and interactive, the producers should make these two changes:

(1) Allow the crews to more fully express themselves in the previews shown before they perform. So far, the previews basically have only TWO TOPICS - the weekly challenges, and the sob stories / personal challenges. What about broader topics and more positive things to illustrate the crew members' characters (e.g., interesting things about crew members, their first impressions, goals other than winning ABDC)

(2) Let the crews, host, and judges interact WITH each other. It would be much more interesting if the host asked the crew questions and if the judges, crew members, and host actually talk back and forth with each other, flirt, ask questions, have fun, etc.

If the producers made these changes, the viewers would be able to know the crews not just by their performances, but by their characters as well. It wouldn't make the show perfect, but it would certainly bring something new and make it more enjoyable to watch."

Week 3 survey results: Rhythm City #1; Afroborike least favorite

Our survey results are in for the America's Best Dance Crew Martial Arts Challenge. Click to see the detailed results for Best Performance and Worst Performance. With about 800 votes each, our survey takers say:

• Rhythm City was by far the favorite performance, with 55% of the vote, distantly followed by Massive Monkees (19%)
• 40% thought that Afroborike gave the worst performance, followed by Beat Ya Feet Kings (24%)
  

Compendium: Pacific Rim Week 4 videos

Pacific Rim released some of their Week 4 interviews already, with Quest's Aris as guest interviewer. They've got Vogue Evolution Part I, Vogue Evolution Part II, Massive Monkees on friendships with other crews and personal time, Massive Monkees discussing the derivation of their nicknames and attitudes about Bboys, We are Heroes Part II, and our reader favorite (so far) of Aris on Japanese girls and hitting on the crew:

More on the Bollywood Challenge taping

• I spoke to an MTV insider today who was REALLY happy with how awesomely the crews performed during the Bollywood Challenge. He posited that it went so well because the specific Bollywood challenges were well integrated into the performance rather than just tacked on (as seemed to be the case with the Martial Arts Challenge)

• According to MTV Remote Control Blog and its comments, a crew romance is revealed between Rhythm City members and JC Chasez gets another crew's undergarments thrown at him

First reports from Bollywood Challenge taping

It sounds like the crews improved from the Martial Arts Challenge. Here are excerpts from the first reports:

TimetoFlytotheCheese: I am pleased to say that this week's episode definitely saved the season for me. Last week I went off on how I thought it was a horrible season, but tonight definitely changed my mind. Every crew delivered and the Bollywood challenge was much more interesting than people anticipated. I was shocked about the bottom two however, but mostly on one side. This was the most energetic audience I've ever been a part of, and but there weren't many ABDC alumni except some girls from Fysh N Chicks, Femme 5, and Artistry In Motion. Hopefully next week will be even better, as they bring back the Dance Craze Challenge from Season 1."

Mee: "It was really interesting to see how they do it. Kind of annoying with the constant clapping, but eh. That was my first taping and I'm going again next week. Anyway, I have a feeling a lot of people will be happy by who goes home this week. Or at least I was...Leyomi is such a diva!...I don't know what else to say except that I now know who I'll for sure be rooting for - Rhythm City"

Got ABDC Questions? Here's your chance to get them answered

Do you have some questions for the ABDC 4 crews or judges? Our backstage interviewers want to use some of our readers' questions at the ABDC tapings. This is your chance to help us 'get it right' and let the crews tell you what you need to know! And, they'll give a shoutout to the people whose questions are used.

Submit your questions in the comments section. Guidelines:

• They're never sure which crews they'll interview, so submit both general questions for all crews as well as questions specific to any one crew
  
• Keep it simple -- something that can be answered in 30 seconds or less
• This is video, so questions that require visual responses (e.g., dance steps) are cool
• Be original! There are a lot of interviewers out there, so we want things that are relevant but will surprise and delight the people being interviewed.
  

Exclusive Interview: Fanny Pak's Glenda on returning to ABDC tapings

Our regular interviewer Chris Trondsen surprised our guest interviewer Glenda Morales from Fanny Pak by putting her under the interview microscope. They talk about what brings back the most memories (the scary elimination music - "it makes me cringe"), how America's Best Dance Crew has enabled Fanny Pak to devote all their time to dancing, how to reach FP's members, and upcoming performances including World of Dance San Diego.

Video: SoReal Cru's Hometown Tour

SoReal returns to Houston, and parts of the tour action are documented here:

Let us know if you attend tonight's taping!

The Bollywood Challenge Arts on America's Best Dance Crew tapes tonight -- August 27. If you are lucky enough to attend, please leave a comment or email us at BloggingBestDanceCrew@gmail.com about your experiences! We'd love to hear what it was like!

BUT PLEASE NO SPOILERS ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE BOTTOM AND WHO WENT HOME! Thanks! If you feel a need to leave a spoiler -- GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO IT!

Next week - The Dance Craze Challenge

TV Guide posted information on America's Best Dance Crew's Week 5. Up next: The Dance Craze Challenge: "The remaining crews put their own spins on the hottest dance crazes sweeping the nation." Any predictions?

Video: "Office Life" by Quest's Hok + Marvelous Motion's Pacman and Moon

From Pacman's Youtube Channel: a marvelous dance video to "Office Life" (with a credits shout-out to "The Office) starring Quest's Hok Konishi and Marvelous Motion's Phillip Chbeeb (aka Pacman) and Di Zhang (aka Moon). You gotta watch this one! Thanks for the tip, Mason!

Beat Ya Feet Kings and Fanny Pak's Glenda doing the 'This N That'

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales met with Beat Ya Feet Kings before the taping of ABDC's Martial Arts Challenge. They talk about what they want to get out of ABDC, what they're doing about being the underdogs, and dealing with losing their friends (including Artistry in Motion) each week. Then BYFK teaches the 'this n That' step and Glenda gets DOWN!

Team Millennia galore this week - Summer Intensive, Auditions, more!

A plethora of Team Millennia events and news:

• Saturday August 29 is TM's Summer Intensive 6 in Glendora, CA with performances by all the different Team Millennia Groups, plus Poreotics, Sheroes, and more. Click here for details and to buy tickets
  
• TM Auditions begin Tuesday September 1. Click here for details.
  
• Tuesday September 1, is als0 the application deadline for groups that want to compete in Prelude SoCal (to be held December 2009). To apply, email teammillennia@aol.com
  

Video - Bollywood Week Promo

Video: Closing Circle Dance after Martial Arts Challenge

From MTV -- a video of the crews dancing together at the end of the taping of the Martial Arts Challenge. It won't embed properly on this site, so please click here. Thanks for the tip, Erica Nicole!

Coming to MTV this Fall: "My Super Psycho Sweet 16"

Okay, I know this has almost nothing to do with America's Best Dance Crew beyond the MTV connection, but I have to share! I just got a press release about upcoming MTV original movies. They include:

• Turn the Beat Around" - "a struggling young dancer gets the opportunity to fulfill her professional dreams when she convinces a wealthy club owner to open a modern disco where young people come to connect through dance". It involves choreography and talent from SYTYCD Canada, but nobody from ABDC...AND
• "My Super Psycho Sweet 16"- "Madison Penrose gets everything she wants, including her wish to re-open the desolate Rollerdome for her sweet sixteen party. The site of several grisly murders a decade earlier, things become 'psycho' when the killer returns to crash her party." This is set to air on MTV in October. I am totally game for a play-by-play party on this, if you are!!

Interview: Quest's Steve Terada backstage at ABDC on mentoring and studliness

Chris Trondsen talked with Quest Crew's Steve Terada before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Martial Arts Challenge. Steve helped all the crews learn their martial arts moves for the challenge. He talks to Chris about the difficulty of the challenge, Quest's preparing some new moves for their performances, the crew's reputations as studs, and their backstage non-dance activities.

Reminder: last day for Week 4 Elimination Contest Entries

Since the next episode of America's Best Dance Crew tapes tomorrow, you have until midnight tonight to get in your entries for our Elimination Challenge contest. Details here.

And, while you''re at it, please vote in our surveys for the best and worst performance in the Martial Arts Challenge!

Dance Videos: Fanny Pak, Kaba Modern Birthday Tributes

On Monday August 23, Level 3 in Los Angeles was the site of a joint birthday party for America's Best Dance Crew alums from Fanny Pak, Super Cr3w, and Kaba Modern. Click here for the Kaba Modern dance, from the Pacific Rim Video Youtube Channel. And here is Fanny Pak's birthday tribute performance. Man, I want a birthday party like this!!

We Are Heroes Part II -- how we create our performances

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales talked to We are Heroes after they taped the Martial Arts Challenge for America's Best Dance Crew Season 4. They talk about their feelings on the week, the process for creating and refining their performances, the pressures that come with being considered a top contender for the ABDC 4 crown, and Hiro's efforts to make her grandmother proud. Thanks to Dancetag for collaborating with BloggingBestDanceCrew.com on this season's interviews!

Exclusive: Ambushed at the We are Heroes Interview, Dance Lesson

While our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales were interviewing We Are Heroes backstage, they were subject to a sneak attack from Matt Cady and Megan Lawson. Watch for this, a quick dance lesson, and We are Heroes' feelings about their Martial arts performance. Thanks to Dancetag for collaborating with us on the ABDC interviews this season!

World of Dance San Diego this weekend - Quest, Fanny Pak, Super Cr3w, Strikers All-Stars, Kaba Modern, more!

Reminder: The World of Dance Tour hits the San Diego Convention Center on August 29. Exhibition crews at the event include Quest, Super Cr3w, Strikers All-Stars, Fanny Pak, and Kaba Modern. There will be dozens of crews competing, booths with the latest merchandise, and a LOT more. If you like America's Best Dance Crew on TV, you'll be blown away by watching live dance, so go! Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

Week 4: Enter our Top 4 Contest now!

If you want to change your vote on which crews will be in the top 4 at the end of this season, here's your weekly chance.

At the end of the season, I'll post who won, and who else got the right combination (and in which week). So, even if your choice has already been taken, you can enter a new one now and get some bragging rights. And, there are still some combinations that haven't been picked. Click here for contest rules and prize. Good luck!

ABDC Bollywood Week - Songs and challenges

MTV Remote Control just posted the songs and challenges for ABDC 4's Bollywood Week. They also did a good job of describing the challenges, which look to be matched to each crews' particular strengths. And -- Rhythm City is the only crew that got Jai Ho!

AFROBORIKE "Dance Bailalo" Kat De Luna
Challenge: KATHAK - Kathak performers are noted for their fast turns and stomping footwork, whose rhythms, exaggerated by ankle bells, develop into complex metrical sequences. Kind of like tap dance, but without the shoes.

BEAT YA FEET KINGS "So Fine" Sean Paul
Challenge: GARBA - People dance around the center, bending sideways at every step, their arms making sweeping gestures, each movement ending in a clap. Formation changes, switching partners and barrel turns make a diverse and difficult Garba.

RHYTHM CITY "Jai Ho" A.R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls
Challenge: BHARATA NATYUM - The movements are ample and precise, always symmetrical. The technical vocabulary comprises jumps, spins and balanced attitudes. This style has a lot of bending, squatting and large arm movements.

MASSIVE MONKEES "Bang" Rye Rye Ft. M.I.A.
Challenge: BHANGRA - Bhangra is considered to be the most energetic dance style of India. The movement requires lot of athleticism. Bhangra is somewhat graceful, but the moves are large and powerful. It’s a very masculine form of dance.

VOGUE EVOLUTION "Calabria 2008" Enur
Challenge: RAJASTHANI - Rajasthani Dance comes from the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a folk style performed during Indian celebrations. The style is fluid with swaying movements, hand gestures and small hip movements. Women generally perform this in a circle wearing brightly colored veils and skirts flaring out as they twirl in circles.

WE ARE HEROES "Arab Money" Busta Rhymes & Ron Brownz
Challenge: GIDDHA - Performed in a circle, Giddha consists of clapping and often becomes a friendly battle between two people trying to out do each other, with a story. This style is performed by women only and is considered the female version of Bhangra.

Jai's Take on ABDC's Martial Arts Challenge

Reader Jai was inspired to write a full review of this weeks ABDC Challenge:

"After the martial arts episode, I felt compelled to toss my two cents into the review jar! :-) Now, I am by no means a dancer; in fact, I am far from it. LOL! However, I can appreciate what these crews do to show the viewers their versatility and skills each week because I know I could not do it. With that said, I kept the criteria Nancy posted on BABDC in mind while I watched the martial arts episode again without interruption (i.e. laptop & cell phone)…"

Click here to read the rest! Thanks Jai!

Southern Movement & Fanny Pak's Glenda discuss ABDC elimination experiences

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales caught up with Southern Movement after the crew learned that this was their last week on America's Best Dance Crew. Glenda and SM's Sherita hug asn the crew discusses their feelings - "we leave our problems on the dance floor", Glenda talks about what it was like when Fanny Pak was eliminated, and she gives them some advice.

Exclusive Podcast with Southern Movement after their ABDC Elimination

I spoke with Southern Movement the day after they taped the Martial Arts Challenge on America's Best Dance Crew. Kemmian Beard is the spokesman on the podcast, but they all were there, goodspirited and positive about the ABDC experience. They are a true class act - talking about how they devised the hick-hop style, their favorite moments working on ABDC, their crew friendships, which crew's style they'd choose in a Crew Reversal challenge, and their plans in both Tennessee and Los Angeles. Listen in!

Lil Mama: A Closer Look

Society and Style profiles Lil Mama. She talks openly and passionately about her music career, dealing with life's doubts and hardships, her role on America's Best Dance Crew, and not worrying about critics.

My favorite quote: "If I folded to the media and folded to the press and basically got weak and gave them what they wanted all the time then who would I be? What would make me any different? I would look just like everybody else...There’s nothing unique about wearing the same old same old, made up all the time, it doesn’t describe who you are, only you can do that... I’m going to do it because this is mine not nobody else’s.”

More Week 3 recaps from all over

• RealityWanted and Reality TV Online present just the facts
• We'll Fix It In has a very funny, very snarky play-by-play
  
• LA Times has the facts, some trivia (every crew got a standing ovation from the audience this week), and video interviews with Afroborike, Vogue Evolution, Rhythm City, and Southern Movement

 

Is MTV having 2nd thoughts about ABDC 4?

MTV Remote Control just added a post saying "Remember all those jaw-dropping, "Holy Sh**!" routines we'd see each week on Seasons 1-3 of ABDC? We hate to say it, but we're pretty anxious to feel some of that heat from before. It's not like there aren't a ton of talented dance crews on Season 4 -- but each of them certainly do appear to be competing on a more even playing field."

What's going on? Are they just trying to get their readers to engage, or what?

Enter Week 4 Elimination Challenge now! Anyone can still win!

Time to enter your votes for The Elimination Challenge for next week: Which crews will be in the bottom 2? Who will be eliminated? Enter each week and the person with the highest cumulative score for Season 4 will win an ABDC crew shirt of their choice and size (up to $35 retail). In case of a tie, we will have a tie-breaker question, to be posted the last week of the contest.

As of now, the leader is Diggy Digs with 6 points total. But the game is young and everybody has a chance to win. So, post your votes now, and remember to include your email address in the appropriate field. Here's the rules. Voting closes midnight Wednesday August 26.

Exclusive interview and dance lesson with Southern Movement

Our Week 3 interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales caught up with Southern Movement before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4's Martial Arts Challenge. They talk about the difference between dancing live vs. for TV, how they came up with their trademark hick-hop style, and give a 'Jackie D' dance lesson.

Videos: ABDC Martial Arts Performances

Here are the Week 3 performances from MTV. If/when these are removed, we'll substitute links for Fanscape clips.

• MTV has the full Week 3 episode here.
• Rhythm City MTV video (for now) and below.
  
• Southern Movement MTV Video link and below
  
• We are Heroes MTV video link
• Vogue Evolution MTV video link
• Afroborike MTV video link
  
• Beat Ya Feet Kings MTV video link
• Massive Monkees MTV video link

ABDC Week 3 Recaps - First Batch

• You Love to Watch thought this week was only marginally better than Week 2 and appreciates it that Shane Sparks is also bored with the crews.
• Oh No They Didn't is Blunt, but links to individual performance videos to prove his points
  
• Zatzz is giving ABDC ONE MORE WEEK to impress her or else!
  

Send some love to Southern Movement!

I'm going to miss Southern Movement. They showed that their trademark hick-hop style was a successful marriage between country dancing and hip hop, and a lot of fun to watch! They always brought the energy and original twist to their performances. I think the crew will be successful long past ABDC working onstage and on TV with country music acts and 'the mainstream' who are looking for something sassy and on-point.

This post is only for kind words and positive thoughts about Southern Movement. If you want to post negative comments about them or other aspects of ABDC, please comment in the Party Room/Critics Corner.

Survey: Best Performance in Martial Arts Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Worst Performance in Martial Arts Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Vote now!

The online voting is now open for Week 3, from now until 5:30am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now! You can click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online by 11pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.

Then, please come back to our Critic's Corner/Party Room! We need you!

Party Room/Critics Corner now open - Join in!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 3 (the Martial Arts Challenge) is now open! Share your predictions, impressions, frustrations, hates and loves. Did the crews rise to their challenges? What crews really stand out? Do you think we'll end up with an amazing winner at the end of Season 4? Do you really believe in an evil puppet-master behind ABDC?

After the show is over: Give us your reactions. We like it rough.

Live Play-by-Play Blogging now open for ABDC's Martial Arts Challenge!

This is live play-by-play for tonight's America's Best Dance Crew Season 4 Martial Arts Challenge, moderated this week by TBone. Follow along or keep up with the show if you can't watch it immediately. It's not easy to simultaneously watch the show, write about it, AND monitor the comments, so please leave most of your comments at the Party Room/Critics Corner post above this post!

Backstage ambush from Fanny Pak's Matt and Megan

For those fans impatient for Sunday night: MTV Remote Control has some quick questions with this season's ABDC crews before the show taped. BTW -- Fanny Pak was definitely in the house this week -- Glenda worked with Chris Trondsen on OUR backstage interviews, which we'll have online very very soon!

MTV - Music Videos - MTV Shows - Celebrity News

Join us tonight for Live Blogging, the Critics Corner/party room, and more!

It's Martial Arts Challenge tonight on America's Best Dance Crew, so join us tonight to see who kicks who's butt! The Party Room/Critics Corner opens at 8:30pm ET and stays open until everyone has exhausted everything they want to say about the challenge. Tell us what you thought of it -- was it the best or the worst challenge ever? What crews from prior seasons would you have liked to see do a Martial Arts performance instead? This is the place for any tirades and paranoid fantasies!

At 9pm ET, Tbone will 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. Early tomorrow, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances for Week 3. And, we'll have recaps, the next round of our contest, backstage videos (with guest interviewer Glenda Morales from Fanny Pak!), and more! So join us!

Preview of the Martial Arts Challenge: What would Shane Do?

Our field reporter Chris Trondsen watched the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 from the press area, and provides this intriguing preview (and teaser!):

"Right before going out onstage and performing, each crew on ABDC does a group huddle and a prayer. Some needed it this week. There had been gossip going around that perhaps judge Shane Sparks felt this season's crews hadn't stepped it up to the level of past seasons' contestants so far. That rumor was pretty much confirmed at the taping of Episode 3 of this season's America's Best Dance Crew.
After the first act, Shane stared blankly and said, "The choreography sucked, the dancing was boring, and we've already seen this before from you the past two weeks." Not only was it what he said, but how he said it. It cut through the stage with a knife. The audience and the press box backstage was silent. You could hear a pin drop."

Click here to read the rest of this intriguing report. After reading this and other reports from the tapings, I am REALLY curious about what is going on now in the heads of the remaining crews! Thanks Chris!

Interview: Layla Kayleigh in a family way

Chris Trondsen and ASIID's Della (Dellalicious) Hamby talked to Layla Kayleigh after the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4' s Beyonce Challenge. Listen in to all the family talk, including pregnancy jokes, how she wanted to be part of the ABDC family ('when I heard about the show I wanted to be part of it even if I had to deliver coffee), and how she feels like a den mother to all the crews. And, no, she doesn't secretly vote for her favorite crews!

Video: Marvelous Motion Shirt Ad

Now here's the way to sell your merchandise: Marvelous Motion dances in their crew logo shirts. On the front: "So How Marvelous is Your Motion?" and on the back "Get Marvelous or Get Lost" . You can buy the shirts at marvelousmotion.com. Thanks for the tip, ILogan!