Ringmasters Latest Dance Reel

Ringmaster members Nugget and Slick (ABDC Season 3) recently released a video showing highlights from their work on America's Best Dance Crew and beyond. This is a good reminder of the power of ABDC -- the guys from Ringmasters were able to move from relative obscurity to a national audience and parlay their abilities into many live and taped venues, despite having a highly unclassical style. I hope to see more of them in 2012. From RingmasterSlick Youtube.

10th day of Crewmas: Stunt Demos & explanations from Ringmasters, Elektrolytes, Plague, 5 Crew Dynasty

I was hoping that the 10th of Christmas gift of Lords A-leaping would translate into some Crewmas stunt explanation. House of Crews did a really nice job on this one with both visuals and explanations for: Elektrolyte's Tower, Ringmasters' jumps, Plagues's crash dive, and 5 Crew Dynasty's Incredible Hulk. As they say: Don't try this at home. If you missed any of the previous Crewmas videos, you can catch them at HouseofCrews Youtube.

7th day of Crewmas: hidden talents of ReQuest, ICONic Boyz, Phunk Phenomenon, We Are Heroes

For the seventh day of Crewmas, the HouseofCrews couldn't come up with any swans a-swimming, so they asked crews about their other talents. ReQuest Crew, ICONic Boyz, Phunk Phenomenon, We are Heroes, Ringmasters, SGBM, and others. There's a lot of singers, as well as some strippers, rappers, knitters, jugglers, and an on-command farter (guess which crew!)

6th day of Crewmas: How ReQuest, Ringmasters, We Are Heroes, SGBM relax

Halfway through the 12 days of Crewmas from HouseofCrews Youtube. Instead of 6 geese a-laying, we've got dancers laying around. ABDC alums from ReQuest Crew, Ringmasters, We Are Heroes, as well as members from Super Galactic Beat Manipulators, 5 Crew Dynasty, In Da Clutch, PLAGUE, and New Styles Crew talk about how they kick back. Here's the previous 5 days of Crewmas videos: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5

5th day of Crewmas: all about boy groups - ICONic Boyz, Ringmasters, Elektrolytes

No golden rings for the Fifth Day of Crewmas. Instead -- the golden boys: all-boy crews. There are interviews with performance footage for Elektrolytes, ICONic Boyz, Ringmasters, and 5 Crew Dynasty. If you missed the first 4 days of Crewmas from Youtube, click here to watch: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3,   Day 4

3rd Day of Crewmas: What makes a chicken of Ringmasters, ReQuest, Rhythm City, Elektrolytes, & more

Instead of 3 French Hens, HouseofCrews Youtube brings us 'what makes you a chicken', where members of Ringmasters, ReQuest, Super Galactic Beat Masters, Phunk Phenomenon,  Plague, Elektrolytes, and Ven15 talk about their biggest fears. Before watching, try to guess who is afraid of: Spiders; dogs; wardrobe malfunctions!

Video: Ringmasters Freestyle

Ringmasters posted a video of the crew freestyling to "Where She Go" by Two Fresh.

Video: Ringmasters' Corey featuring Ptah

HouseofCrews recently uploaded this freestyle to "Houstonatlantavegas" by Sonnymoon. Featured dancers: Corey Batts (Ringmasters) and Ptah.

Video: Ringmasters perform at Coney Island

Ringmasters (America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 and recent appearances on LXD) danced to "Got Nothin on Me" and "American Trash" at Coney Island in July 2011. Video from HouseofCrews. You should follow the crw now on Twitter @theringmasters_-- they're tweeting many of their most recent and best work that is posted on Youtube and Vimeo.

Video: Ringmasters perform at Urban Street Jam

Ringmasters (America's Best Dance Crew Season 3) performed in exhibition at Urban Street Jam on March 5, 2011. From PacificRimVideoPress Youtube.

Today: Urban Street Jam, featuring Beat Freaks, Jungle Boogie, Ringmasters, and dozens of others

The line-up at Urban Street Jam in Los Angeles today (March 5, 2011) rivals any one-day competition you'll find anywhere in the U.S. Exhibition crews include Beat Freaks, Ringmasters, Blended Projekt, Miniotics, Tha Academy, and Unity LA. Among the competing crews: Villains, Jungle Boogie, and Choreo Cookies. The defending champions will be there including Common Ground, AllStylz Champions- Mike Song(KM Legacy) w Victor Kim(Quest Crew), and Viewers Choice Champion tWitch.  If you attend, give us a report! Click here for more information and tickets.

Another field report on the crews auditioning for America's Best Dance Crew in Chicago

Finn the Human reports on the America's Best Dance Crew auditions in Chicago on January 21. Thanks, Finn the Human!

I attended the Chicago auditions and was surprised at how many crews did NOT show up considering this is the first time in 2 or 3 seasons the Midwest was back in the picture. I'd say about 15 to 20 crews were there. Amongst all of the auditioning crews I recognized quite a few of them:

• 8 Count as we all know to be affiliated with Blueprint Cru. Their choreo was very clean and precise! A mixture of Fanny Pak and Blueprint! Def a team we should all watch out for. 
• A group with really big terrible masks on called Incognito.
• There was an awesome group of guys from Canada called The Union. As they were running through their set everyone stopped and watched in awe! They are also a team we should look out for. 4 crews out of Indianapolis attended the audition.
• Dynasty, who brought a different style to the show called Buckin. They give off the vibe that Ringmasters gave off. Kind of unkempt but they made the shortlist. Too much dance.
• A group of about 10 with members no older than 17. The youngest girl in the group is 8 and she is definitely the star but with RNG auditioning, I doubt this crew will see any time on the show.
• J'Dore, All girl crew all scantily clad who sadly didn't make it past the first cut. 
• My favorite crew from the Chicago auditions and they went by the name D2B short for Destined 2 Be. They have been a crew to look out for ever since the Auditions for Season 2 so hopefully this is their year. The group is very different from the group we've all seen on America's Got Talent: Only 1 original member and the other 6 are all from other Midwestern states.   
• 787. A group from Puerto Rico. Amazing dance team with amazing stunts and an amazing look. They all look like little Puerto Rican Dumbos with a mix of hype 5-0.
• Vixenz crew that has a team of 7 GORGEOUS ladies. The whole room froze when the entered the room. They could be trouble for other crews solely on their look. 
• N-10City. A group of 5 guys with wild colors and crazy hairstyles. Looks like a vogue crew. 
• Stereo Junkiez from Chicago with members from A.S.I.I.D. They had a fresh look and choreo that puts you in the mind of Fanny Pak. 
• Puzzle League from Chicago. If any crew from these auditions could make it based off of choreo alone then this would be the crew. Insanity!
• There were about 3 crews there that were foot work crews so maybe we will see some footwork on the show.

Advice for crews auditioning for ABDC6 from the Casting Director

Here's some advice on auditioning for America's Best Dance Crew, from ABDC Casting Director Michelle McNulty. We posted many of these word of advice (with some modification for Season 6) just before Season 5, and it still applies:

• How to register: For audition location, registration, how to apply, and other details, go to ABDCCasting.com
• Key success factors are the same as earlier seasons: branding, versatility, being true to yourself, engaging the audience, staying non-defensive. Details here.
• Who should audition: Season 6 has slightly different rules: it is the first season that will allow dancers of all ages. Crews should have 5-7 members (if you want to include more members, contact ABDC@mtv.com for permission). They welcome crews that auditioned for earlier seasons. Details here.
• Advice to new crews: If you are forming a new crew, make sure that all performers are at the same high level. One weaker dancer can pull down the entire crew
• Show something new! Traditional hip hop styles are welcome -- they want the b-boys and choreo crews to come out to audition. But crews have to show something different than what's already appeared on the show. Example: since Ringmasters were successful in Season 3, several crews auditioned for Season 4 showing similar bone-breaking moves. MISTAKE!
• NO BYTING of other crews' signature moves, whether or not the original appeared on ABDC!
• Common mistakes: here are three common problems with audition routines that should be avoided

Video: LXD Appearance on Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien's show on December 8 featured villains (including some representation from Ringmasters) from all the Season 2 LXD episodes. Thanks, PerezOverride!

Podcast with Ringmasters Slick and Nugget -- what it's like to work on The LXD

When The LXD wanted to scare the bejeezus out of its viewers for the Halloween episode of The LXD, they called on Ringmaster members Nicholas "Slick" Stewart and Adedamola "Nugget" Orisagbemi. Watch the episode here to see what I mean.

I spoke to Slick and Nugget earlier this week, where they talk about how they got involved with the LXD, the process for choreographing the episode, why they are such great villains on the show, their other work on America's Got Talent and Step Up 3D, and their goals going forward. One note: their shoutouts at the end of the podcast include Michelle McNulty, the casting director who was instrumental in getting them their shot on America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. Listen in here:

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Photo: IMG_2538 -Nicholas "Slick" Stewart and Adedamola "Nugget" Orisagbemi as the "Flexors," cast members of Season 2 of THE LXD: Secrets of the Ra Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Digital Entertainment and LXD Ventures

Video: LXD dances in Times Square for The Seven

The LXD came in at #2 (just behind Taylor Swift) on MTV's The Seven countdown on October 26, 2010. The show also had some exclusive footage of LXD members dancing in Times Square earlier this month.  Among the dancers in the video: Ringmasters Slick and Nugget (ABDC Season 3) who play villains in The LXD Season 2.

The Seven - MTV Shows

Video: Ringmasters dance at Freak the Bellz

We haven't seen a new performance by Ringmasters for a while now, but they were back in their usual unusual form at Freak the Bellz. They also have a great intro from Beat Freaks. Video from Pacific Rim.

Video: ABDC and hip hop Who's Who show up for Freak the Bellz

Pacific Rim assembled a montage from Freak the Bellz, including runway modelling of the new Tshirt, interviews, and performance clips. America's Best Dance Crew alums featured: Beat Freaks, Hype 5-0, Ringmasters. And, there are MANY more LA-area dance luminaries stopping by to talk, model, and dance. Thanks for the clip, DirtfaceX!

Today: Freak the Bellz with Beat Freaks, Ringmasters, and other top acts

Another promising LA dance events Freak the Bellz, a collaborative party between Beat Freaks (ABDC Season 3 runners-up) and Hellz Bellz today (September 8, 2010) after 10pm. Beat Freaks will be the featured group, along with Ringmasters (ABDC3 alums), Sonya Tayeh, and others. Click here for the details.

Upcoming events: September 3, 2010 and beyond

9/3: Super Cr3w at Harrahs in Atlantic City, NJ
9/3: Super Cr3w in Toronto 
9/4: Super Cr3w at Canada's Wonderland Event in Toronto
9/3-5: BoogieZone University taught by members of Quest, Beat Freaks, Kaba Modern, L0st Kids, Fanny Pak, and many other crews, in Irvine, CAL
9/5: Poreotics, Quest Crew, and Jay Park among many performers at ISA in Los Angeles
9/6-7: Super Cr3w invade Washington D.C. - Meet&Greet/Cypher in Bethesda 9/6; 9/1:White House!  
9/8: Beat Freaks, Ringmasters and much more Freak the Bellz in Los Angeles
9/8: Eat and Greet with Hypeotics  at Yogurtland in Alhambra, CA. 
9/10-11: Hype 5-0 in Los Angeles area: performance at Rage Night Club in LA 9/10; Workshop at Stylz dance Studio in Fullerton on 9/12
9/11: EPIC Motion auditions in PMT Dance Studio in NY. Contact Epic.M.Dance@gmail.com for more info 
9/11: Members of Supreme Soul/Academy of Villains, Mixd Elements, Rock Force Crew, and other groups teach workshops in Vallejo, CA to benefit Fighting Back Partnership
9/11: Strikers All-Stars teach master class in Oak Island, NC 
9/11: Beat Ya Feet Kings performing as part of Celebrate Mexico program at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. 
9/12: Beat Freaks teaching at Grove4Life in Nashville, TN
9/17-25: Hype 5-0 in NY: 9/17- Club performance at Skat Productions; 9/18-workshop and performance at Alvin Ailey Extension;  9/25- Steps on Broadway workshops. More details soon at Hype5-0.com
9/18: We are Heroes workshop at Stylz dance studio in Covina, CA 
9/18: Heavy Impact and Academy of Villains among the performers at Public Display IV in Sacramento
9/19: Poreotics workshop in San Diego 
9/25: Swagger Crew perform and judge at Filipino Pride Day in Jacksonville, FL
9/26: Hype 5-0 at I am Phresh Workshops in Philadelphia
9/27: Hype 5-0 at Boogiezone in Roselle Park, NJ
9/28: Quest Crew and Kaba Modern at Rutgers University in NJ. Note: you HAVE to go to an art exhibit the day before to receive the (free) ticket to see the show on the 28th. Details on this link.
 Leave a comment if you want to add to this calendar for this period or in the future. Thanks!