Video: Static Noyze rehearse for ABDC 5 auditions

Static Noyze posted a video of their rehearsal for the America's Best Dance Crew Season 5 auditions in Boston. 

Video: Quest's Hok in Hong Kong

Hokutokonishi Youtube Channel has the first video personally posted by Quest's Hok, and it's a doozy. He filmed highlights from his recent trip to Hong Kong with Moon (Marvelous Motion).

Lil Mama: pagan priestess for preteens with a vision of Dionysian art triumphant?

Esquire Magazine posted a thought piece on Simon Cowell's announced departure from American Idol called 'How Much do we owe Simon Cowell?'. Author Stephen Marche editorializes about how Americans like shows with judges and suggests that American Idol and other competitive reality shows enabled the American people to feel that everyone is now entitled to be a judge "We're all critics now".

He singles out Lil Mama as a judge whose sensibilities reflect mass culture opinion:  "We watch for the judges, not the judged, and to listen to their advice. It is, for the most part, magnificent, and one could not hope for better instruction for the next generation of talent. In every way that matters, Lil Mama from America's Best Dance Crew is a better teacher and critic than James Wood. A pagan priestess for preteens with a vision of Dionysian art triumphant, she enjoins intricacy, innovation, attention to detail, thoughtfulness, energy, and integrity, all in the unending pursuit of the ineffable, the crazy-ridiculous moment of beyond. She wants to use art to live now, in the fullness of experience, with honor. Who can do better?"

Videos: Joesar (Boogie Bots) behind-scene, performing at Lady Gaga's Monster Ball

Joesar Alva from Boogie Bots is one of the backup dancers for Jason Derulo at Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour. There are several videos  Derulo's performance of  "Whatcha Say" with minimal footage of the male dancers; this one clearly shows Joesar's performance. Here's a behind-the-scenes video of the backup dancers in New Orleans. Thanks for the links, abdc!

Upcoming Events: Week of January 15, 2010

• 1/15 B-Girl the Movie screening, including Q&A with Beat Freaks Lady Jules and after-party in Austin, TX
  
• 1/16: Boogie Bots 2nd anniversary party in Washington, DC featuring Rhythm City, Beat Ya Feet Kings and Kick Rocks Crew
• 1/16: Vogue Evolution performing at King Party in New York
• 1/16: Quest with Kobe Bryant in Hollywood
  
• 1/16: We are Heroes Workshop and appearance in Twin Falls, Idaho
  
• 1/16-17:Fanny Pak, Supreme Soul and many others at Empower II in Hayward, CA
• 1/19: B-Girl the Movie premiere in Los Angeles
  

Why 'Third Time May be The Charm': videos of Illmatic's ABDC auditions for Seasons 3, 4, & 5!

A story on MTV.com called "Third Time's A Charm" profiles Illmatic and their third attempt to appear on America's Best Dance Crew.  After reading it, I realized that I taped all three of Illmatic's auditions in New York and could share their growth with you.

ABDC's auditions differ from those on American Idol (at least the parts shown on TV) in one salient way: the audition judges really work hard to give constructive feedback and encouragement for crews to return another season. I think you can see the impact of this coaching in Illmatic's growth.  Their Season 3 and 4 auditions were creative and showed good form, but there were small problems that held them back from going further. To the crew's credit, each time they took the audition judge's feedback to heart and worked on those problems. 

We still don't know if Illmatic will be chosen for the Top 15 crews, but watch this to see how they've gotten themselves in better position.
 -- Season 3 audition (sorry that my video cuts out one crew member for much of the performance):

 - -Season 4 audition (and watch their callback performance here):

-- Season 5 audition:

Re-enter 'Predict ABDC 5 Top 9' contest now!

Readers have been asking to recast their votes for our contest to predict the Top 9 for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. Since we posted the contest last week, new videos, information, and rumors emerged that could change your votes.

So, let the games begin again! But please - reread the original post for rules and updated crew information. IMPORTANT: I am not counting any crew as 'out of the running' unless that crew PERSONALLY and PUBLICLY announced it. PLEASE USE a distinctive name so I can tell you apart from other readers, and PLEASE only enter once a week -- this contest is a lot of work for me! ALSO, because this is the second round, I will give preference in deciding the winner to entries from last week. So for example, if 2 people got all nine right, the winner would be the one who entered those choices Week 1.

Review: 'B-Girl the Movie' - buy it!

If you want to appreciate "B-Girl the Movie', think back on high school or college when you had to study 'The Odyssey'. There are great adventures along the way, but at heart the story chronicles the struggles of someone trying to return to their lost world.  In both stories the hero is flawed, the road is treacherous, and the results uncertain, with no easy answers. But along the way,  there is beauty, hope, and the allure of deliverance. And, unlike 'the Odyssey', this story's realistic to our time; I bought it. And the dancing is intense. 

The movie celebrates b-boy dance with high-level performance and in-your-face camera action. Casting emphasized hiring dancers who could act (instead of actors who could dance). Veteran dancers and 'dance movie actor' Ivan 'Flipz' Velez choreographed the performances.   Legacy Perez (from So You Can Dance Season 5) is another cast member recognizable to the TV-watching public. LA hip-hop luminaries including members of Skill MethodZ make the screen B-boy battle almost as intense as live dance. 

This movie is going straight to DVD. I recommend you get a copy -- you'll want to watch it more than once. Click here to order your copy. 

Click here to read the rest of my review of  'B-Girl' the Movie

Video: Rhythm City dancing with Dominique on 106ths and Park Live

Dominique performed "Get it Started" on BET's 106 & Park, featuring Rhythm City (ABDC Season 4).
 

Video: MTV site covers Illmatic

MTV.com has started posting audition videos for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. The first crew they profile is Illmatic from New Jersey. The video talks about how they got started, their earlier auditions, and how ABDC would change their lives. There are also excerpts from their audition. Click here to watch our exclusive video of their full audition routine.  Update: on the clip, Illmatic talks about how they've auditioned 3 times and learned from the experience. I realized that I taped all 3 auditions (!) and am now busy converting and uploading them, so readers can see the evolution and growth of the crew. It should be ready tomorrow, so stay tuned!  Thanks for the tip, Czar2010!

America's Best Dance Crew (Season 4) - MTV Shows

Fan-made ABDC5 promo - Highlights for Seasons 1-4

Grnuoh created  another great fan-made promo for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. In under 5 minutes, it takes a look at each ABDC season in order, showing many of the dance highlights of that competition. The video has some slick editing and sequencing. Take note, MTV!

Update on Vibe 15: Poreotics and Unity LA added to the exhibition team list

VIBE 15 added 2 more exhibition crews to their January 31 show: Poreotics and Unity LA. Click here to  Read more about the event -- which also includes Kaba Modern, Boxcuttuhz, Sheroes, and many other great crews -- and purchase tickets.


No, we do not know if this means that Poreotics won't be on America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. It is possible that they are given the time off to help with this charity event. We'll find out soon enough.

Video: Fanny Pak and Kaba Modern Legacy dancing together for commercial spot

This video from Arnel Calvario (manager for Fanny Pak and Kaba Modern) shows the two crews dancing together for 'a commercial spot'. I wonder what product 'Bad Romance' would sell? Thanks abdc!

Video: Lil Wayne's On Fire, with Fly Khick's Karelix as primary dancer

Fly Khicks member Karelix has the main/lead role in the new Lil Wayne video as Lil Wayne's love interest in the 'On Fire' music video. This is her third music video since ABDC Season 3. Thanks for the tip, ThePrez!
         

Video Update on ABDC5 Auditioners: Asylum audition routine

Asylum (aka The Asylum) just released a video of their audition routine. This is not the performance in front of the ABDC judges at the ABDC auditions, but I'm glad they taped and posted it. Thanks for the tip, abdc!

Update and video on ABDC auditioners: N3M3S!S

When we prepared our original post on the Atlanta auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5, we didn't have information on N3m3s!s. Here's an update: Nemesis Crew is from Huntsville, Alabama.  The crew members are all college students at Alabama A&M University, and part of a team with over 30 members. The group has been together for four years. Some of the member have danced onstage for Flo Rida and Wade Robson and have appeared in music videos. Their founder is Jay Battle, a  member of Southern Movement (ABDC Season 4). Recent videos  include their Annual Spring Showcase and a November 2009 performance:

JabbaWockeeZ Kevin Brewer at NY ABDC5 auditions: "I wouldn't turn down being a guest judge"

JabbaWockeeZ member Kevin Brewer was one of the callback judges at the New York auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. We talked about what he thought of the ABDC5 audition callbacks, who he'd like to see on an All-Stars ABDC season, and whether he'd like to appear on ABDC as a guest judge.

Is Shane Sparks being replaced for ABDC Season 5?

"Sources tell Zap2it that Shane Sparks, who has been with the series since its first season and who is also a regular choreographer on FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance," is being replaced...Insiders say auditions for a new expert panelist have just begun, but the early candidates include recording artists Missy Elliott and Ne-Yo and "Step Up 2: The Streets" director Jon Chu.Neither MTV nor the studio have responded to calls for comment."

Videos: Quest Practice Session and interview

MTVIggy (with sponsorship from Subway) has two new videos with Quest, winners of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. In the interview, they describe how the crew formed, their emphasis on developing individual members' ideas and talents, the emphasis on including personality into their dance, and desire to be role models. The second video shows the crew freestyling at their dance studio. Thanks Stevie's Purple Terada!

ABDC almost gets a shout-out on The Simpson's 20th Anniversary Special

Fox TV aired The Simpson's 20th Anniversary Special! In 3D! On Ice! on January 10, 2010. At the end of the show, creators and others try to imagine a world without The Simpsons. Actor David Cross (Arrested Development, both Alvin and the Chipmunk movies) muses: "We'd still have 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'America's Next Dance' and 'Now That's What I Call Dancing'". Get it right, David!

Videos: Beat Freaks + Vogue Evolution = Freak the Vogue

Vogue Evolution (ABDC Season 4) members Pony and Daschaun and Beat Freaks (ABDC Season 3) members Lindsay B, Maryss, Rino, and Keeley worked together on a documentary called "Freak the Vogue". You can watch excerpts now that cover  the history of voguing, how to do the dip and the hands, and this video showing how to do the catwalk and the duckwalk. Thanks for the links TK!

Field report from Chris Trondsen: LA ABDC5 auditions

Chris Trondsen covered both days of the Los Angeles auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5 for us and for dancetag.tv.  Here's his written report, which gives a feel for the audition process and what's different about Season 5.  

Around 400 people showed up to represent the over 40 crews that auditioned in LA to be on this season of “America’s Best Dance Crew.”  So many different styles of dance were represented at the auditions.  There were BBoys, Poppers, House Dancers, Dancehall, Bollywood, straight hip hop, choreo crews, even a guy on stilts.  Not only were there a bunch of different styles represented, but different locations as well.  Of course you had many crews from the LA/Southern Cali area but you also had many crews from Northern California, Washington, Portland Oregon, and even a crew from Hawaii, Jamaica, and the mid-west.  They lined up as early as 7 in the morning and some crews were there till 8pm auditioning.

Click here to read the rest of Chris's report including how ABDC auditions differ from American Idol, one key difference about this season's auditioners, Randy Jackson, and more! Thanks, Chris!

Videos: 'Blaze the Show' UK Streetdance auditions

"Blaze the Show" is a live show that will feature b-boys and other street dancers. It is set to tour Europe in Spring 2010. The show has been conducting auditions in London and sharing some of them on BlazetheShow Youtube Channel. Here's a sample:

Empower II featuring Fanny Pak and Supreme Soul Jan 16-17

Soulciety presents Empower II in Hayward, CA on January 16-17, 2010. This year's show  features Fanny Pak, Supreme Soul, Headhunters Crew, Rocko from Boxcuttuhz, and dozens of other dancers. The event is a benefit for The Bridge, which provides education and resources to disadvantaged kids overseas. Click here to learn more and to buy tickets -- pre-sale ticket buyers will have a chance to meet Fanny Pak.

Mailbox: Sugar Bowl without Shane Sparks, GradNites with Quest and Beat Freaks

• No word yet on whether Shane Sparks will be part of America's Best Dance Crew in Season 5, but his recent arrest resulted in his absence from the Sugar Bowl this year. According to a report in Cincinnati.com, the 300 cheerleaders who had already learned a Shane Sparks routine for the Sugar Bowl show were greeted with the news that Shane would not be in attendance. Instead, Dave Scott filled in for Shane at the last minute, so that the 300 dancers from around the country had to start from scratch when they arrived Dec. 30. Early morning rehearsal and 12 hours to 14 hours of dancing a new routine followed on New Year's Eve day.St Columban coach Brend Elmore said. "I told them it would be hard; that they might even want to cry." 
• Quest and Beat Freaks will be among the special entertainment at this spring's Grad Nites at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Graduating high school seniors can read all about it and sign up here.
  

Update on ABDC auditioners: Second 2 None

Second 2 None auditioned in Houston for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5. Since we didn't have the video for them for the original post, we wanted to share it now -- here's a practice for their ABDC5 audition. NOTE: This loads EXTREMELY slowly, but does work eventually. Thanks for the link Hi :)