Exclusive interview: Nappytabs at SYTYCD Top 16 show: how they choreographed this week's routines

 Riquel Olander (We Are Heroes) interviews Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (aka Nappytabs) backstage at So You Think You Can Dance's Top 16 show. They talk about baby gifts, choreographing about parenthood, the Nappytabs sweats, and choreographing for Cyrus & Eliana

ABDC mailbox; Nappytabs pregnancy!, update on Steve Terada (Quest's) injury

- 2012 is shaping up to be a major year for Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (choreographers for America's Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance). They are busy as choreographers for Fox's MOBBED -- here's a preview clip for the January 4 episode that includes Nappytabs and ABDC alums including Glenda Morales (Fanny Pak). And, they've announced that Tabitha is pregnant. Congratulations to both of you!

- Steve Terada of Quest Crew (ABDC3 winners) was injured while working on the movie "Planet Bboy". In this video, he talks about his accident and recovery. We hope it goes smoothly and that you'll be 100% better soon!

Watch "Mobbed" dance segments here with members of Fanny Pak, AIM, Blueprint Cru, SYTYCD, Femme 5

"Mobbed" is a Fox series that is co-directed and choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo. It features very emotional plots of people trying to dramatize major life events (marriage proposals, pregnancy announcements, reveal of birth parentage) via flash mobs, as well as exposition on how to use flash mobs to make the occasion even more fraught with emotion and drama. Many of you will want to skip past the tears and staged drama (not to mention the ads) to get straight to the dancing. You're in luck, we watch it all for you!

The latest episode involved an 'accomplice' named Ion trying to make up to 'marks' (also his daughter and wife) for abandoning them with a flash mob apology. Really. The professional dancers include alums of America's Best Dance Crew: most members of Fanny Pak, plus members of Blueprint Cru, Femme 5, and Artistry in Motion. There are also alums from So You Think You Can Dance including Neil Haskell, Jason Glover and Lauren Gotlieb. So, if you want the full episode, click here. Here are the two full dance sequences.

Congratulations to Napoleon & Tabitha D'umo on their Emmy win!

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (aka Nappytabs) tied for an  2011 Emmy Award in choreography. They won for their work on So You think You Can Dance for :Scars”,  “Fallin”, and  “Outta Your Mind”. Click here for "Outta Your Mind" danced by Alex and Twitch -one of my favorite SYTYCD hip hop routines ever; click here to watch "Scars" danced by D-trix and Robert.  And here's "Fallin", danced by Adechike and Comfort. 

Mia Michaels also won a choreography Emmy for her work on SYTYCD, with her "Alice in Mia-land", "When We Dance", and "This Bitter Earth/on the nature of Daylight". I am disappointed that no award was given to Stacy Tookey for one of my all-time favorite SYTYCD routines -- "Mad World" danced by Billy and Aday. Click here to watch

Scenes from a MOBBED dance scene shooting, including Nappytabs, Fanny Pak & LXD members

Shahin was visiting Los Angeles this week, and happened to find himself at a taping of Mobbed! He took loads of photos and a short video. We can spot Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, members of Fanny Pak, some LXD regulars, and a few other dancers. Click here for a brief movie of the shoot taken by Shahin. What other dancers can you name here?

 Click here to see many more photos from the shoot. Thanks Shahin!

Video: Hiphop on SYTYCD's Top 8 show

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (Nappytabs) and Marty Kudelka choreographed several hip hop routines for the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 show. My favorite (despite judge Lady Gaga's criticism of the props: Nappytab's choreography of P.Diddy's "Bad Boy for Life" danced by Marko and Ricky. Other hip hop routines for the night: Rihanna's "Take a Bow" danced by Jess and Lauren G., choreographed by Nappytabs (click to watch); Mario's "Let me love you" danced by Caitlynn and Ivan (click to watch), choreographed by Kudelka. Videolinks from trandrew.com

Videos: Nappytabs choreography on 6/22 SYTYCD + reminder: Quest dances on tonight's show

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (aka Nappytabs) choreographed two dances for the Top 20 dancers on So You Think You Can Dance on June 22, 2011. Click here to watch the first --Miranda Maleski and Robert Taylor Jr. impersonate woodpeckers.  In the second,  Alexander Fost plays/dances a soldier returning from Afghanistan to reunite with his "wife"Sasha Mallory. What do you think about these two dances?

And, as a reminder, Quest Crew will dance with LMFAO on tonight's SYTYCD results show.

Mailbox: New ABDC choreographers, 787 Crew, Instant Noodles

• Chonique Sneed and Lisette Bustamante of Creating Opportunities are taking the place of Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo as choreographers for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6. Congratulations!
• Latina profiles 787 Crew, including how crew members came back after the GOP elimination in ABDC Season 3: "We’ve been practicing for a year and half, from 8pm-1am every day...“It’s like something religious. We see each other more than we see our own families.” 
• The Other Asian profiles Instant Noodles including team inside jokes, guilty pleasures, worst injuries, bonding experiences, and favorite brand of Instant Noodles. Thanks for the link, Teldon!

Video: "Mobbed" episode -- Nappytabs choreograph flash mob dance using hundreds of dancers including ABDC alums

The first episode of "Mobbed" on Fox focused on planning a flash mob wedding proposal. Howie Mandel works with Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo, over a thousand dancers (including members of Strikers All-Stars, Glenda from Fanny Pak, and other past ABDC competitors) to make an over-the-top dance to "Everlasting Love". Click here to watch the preview that features Strikers All-Stars. Here's the full episode (the dance routine starts around 28:21). Thanks for the tip, Roberteus!

Videos: ReQuest dance samples, interviews, and scenes at the LA auditions

Though ReQuest members have had as much (or more) buzz for America's Best Dance Crew as almost any other auditioning group, due to their stellar performance at 2010 Hip Hop International. Here are two videos showing them at the Los Angeles auditions: 
-- an interview with Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo, who talk about New Zealand haka dancing, which ReQuest then demonstrate, and an interview 
-- an interview with the crew, where they introduce themselves, talk about the New Zealand accent, their excitement at auditioning for ABDC, their favorite junk food, and the potential for more international crews on the show. Videos by MOVeMedia, our partner for the ABDC6 season.

Exclusive Interview: Napoleon D'umo talks about memorable ABDC6 audition crews, all-star seasons, and Chipmunks

Chris Trondsen, Glenda Morales (Fanny Pak) and Josh Ulep (Hype 5-0) interviewed choreographer and ABDC audition judge Napoleon D'umo at the Los Angeles auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6. They talk about  the benefits of having ABDC held only once a year, how crews prepared differently for the ABDC6 auditions, new styles at the auditions, I.aM.mE's audition, the impact of allowing younger crews to audition, the upcoming Alvin and the Chipmunk movie (with Glenda playing one of the chipmunks!), and how an all-star ABDC season might work . Video by MOVeMedia

Upcoming Events: November 19 and beyond

11/19 - whenever: MUS.I.C. starring JabbaWockeez, with Super Cr3w appearing also, opens an extended run in Las Vegas at the Monte Carlo
11/19: Quest Crew perform at Dynasty IX at Fordham University in Bronx, NY 11/20: Blueprint workshop in Quebec City
11/20: Glenda Morales and Kyle Hanagami among the teachers at Mischief Makers workshop in Alhambra, CA
11/20: Pride 3 dance competition at Rutgers University
11/20-21: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo among the choreographers at the Monsters of Dance workshops in Kansas City
11/21: Quest Crew, Beat Freaks, Legacy among the performers at Showdown III in Visalia, CA
11/21-24: Poreotics in ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure Park
11.24: Rhythmology Jr. auditions in Bergenfield, NJ
11/24: Poreotics at Tent Club in Los Angeles
11/27: Poreotics, Royal Flush, and many other dance groups at World of Dance Chicago

 Leave a comment if you want to add to this calendar for this period or in the future. Thanks!

Nappytabs: ABDC Season 6 coming in Spring 2011

Pacific Rim interviewed Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo last night. In a video to be posted soon, they mention that America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 will return early in 2011. From Chris Trondsen's Twitter: Napoleon & Tabatha AKA #NappyTabs confirmed #ABDC Season 6 will be here April 2011! Video up soon on @pacificrimvideo. Get ur crews ready!

Videos: Fanny Pak Release party interviews with NappyTabs, members of Quest, Blueprint Cru, Super Crew, Fanny Pak ++

Pacific Rim covered the Fanny Pak EP release party on August 17 -- they were there beforehand, at the red carpet, and at the party. The interviews really catch the festivities, including talks with Mike Murda (Super Cr3w), District 78 (talking about the production of the "Touch of Fanny" EP). Kim and Vincent (Blueprint Cru), Ryan Conferido (Quest Crew), John Chu and Step Up 3D dancers talking about their movie and the upcoming 3D Justin Bieber concert movie, and Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (ABDC and SYTYCD choreographers). My favorite interview of the night is the chat with the crew of the evening -- Fanny Pak!

Video: Quest Crew performs on So You Think You Can Dance Finale

The finale for So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 overflowed with hip hop highlights, mostly choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo. But the highlight for me was a new Quest Crew routine that included Lydia Paek. Video from Rickey.org.

NAPPYTABS at HHI 2010: Urban Moves Workshop

Adorable husband and wife choreographers, Napoleon & Tabitha, hosted a well attended Urban Moves workshop at HHI2010 in Vegas. Here, some participants work on stage, while the rest were in the filled ballroom dancing along. In the clip, you can see Napoleon videotaping on his cell phone to post on their Twitter page! This was a HOT routine!

Performances from Dance This, including Massive Monkees and NappyTabs

On July 10, Seattle was the site for a Dance This Festival featuring many styles of dance. Hip hop was represented by Massive Monkees (America's Best Dance Crew Season 4) and Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (choreographers for ABDC and So You Think You Can Dance). SeattleTheaterGroup Youtube has dozens of videos from the event, so if you like many styles, check it out. Here's the Massive Monkees performance:

Click here to watch more from the show, including the NappyTabs performance and the finale which includes ALL the dancers from the day. Thanks for the tip, Ninjaboi!

Watch Monsters in the Making episodes, featuring Beat Freak Teresa, Nappytabs and a lot of talented dancers

DancePlug has been posting a "Becoming a Monster" video series showing talented individual dancers preparing for Monsters of Hip Hop performances this weekend in Los Angeles. The second episode (shown below) is "Monsters in the Making", where the dancers prepare 10 numbers, meet with other dancers in the show, and deal with injuries. Featured speakers include Monsters executive directors Napoleon & Tabitha and Monsters choreographers Teresa Espinosa (Beat Freaks), Lisette Bustamante and Peter Chu. Click here to watch.

Video: Dtrix and Robert dance scary NappyTabs clown hip hop

On the August 4 So You Think You Can Dance, Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo choreographed a bizarre number for Robert and Dtrix. Thanks for the tip, Draz!

It's National Dance Day -- get up and dance! (videos)

Today -- July 31 -- is National Dance Day! If you are near a city, there's an event going on today -- click here for the full schedule! The Dizzy Feet Foundation Facebook page has dozens of videos of people competing in the National Dance Day competition. We are hoping there will be some events from Hip Hop International that will be taped and shared, since we can't wait to see what some of those dancers can do!

To get you in the spirit, here's MOMZ-N-Da Hood (our HHI correspondents) performing the routine choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo for the day (watch the original routine here). If you search Youtube, you'll find a lot more. SO GET UP AND DANCE!