Recapathon :Week 5 summaries, critiques, and video-annotations

--LA Times has got the online media angle sussed, at least for coverage of America's Best Dance Crew. This week, they produce a summary of events, pithy review, and video interviews with illusionist Franz Harare (discussing his role on this week's show, how he got involved) and Fly Khicks and Dynamic Edition.
--You Love to Watch wants MTV to cut the tricks: "Alls I'm saying is that perhaps MTV needs to dig back into its bag of tricks and come up with something a little less...abstract. It's a dance show, after all. This isn't friggen' Sigfried and Roy or some other two-bit Vegas act."
--Reality Television was less than impressed with some of the magic.
--Mia from Ningin thought Quest and Beat Freaks dominated and was amazed that Fly Khicks "made their stretch like rubber challenge look like a lapdance from the movie Showgirls"
--Tiffani from Ningin thought that (with the exception of Beat Freaks), the magic got in the way of the cohesion and choreography
--Spoil the Ending has a crush on Quest's Feng, but worries that Quest hoopla is getting in the way of emotional connection and musicality

SoReal CruTV returns for a new season today

SoReal Cru TV returns for a new season on February 14. Guest stars will include Quest, Beat Freaks, Strikers All-Stars, Tony Tran, Fly Khicks and more. Subscribe on Youtube. Here's the trailer.

Watch the New Lil Mama video, with Fanny Pak

Lil Mama just released two new songs this month -- Diva and Truly in Love. For the Truly in Love video, she enlisted the dancing and singing talents of those America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 favorites Fanny Pak, as well as So You Think You Can Dance Season 4 finalist Mark Kanemura. Watch it here -- I didn't know Lil Mama could dance that well or that the Fanny Pak guys could sing.!

You can STILL win! -- Enter Week 5 of the Top 4 Contest

Thanks to all of you who submitted entries on which crews will be in the top 4 at the end of this season, in the order of their elimination. If you want to change your vote, 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).

Now, the top prize may very well still be up for grabs.. Out of the 96 votes cast in the first 2 weeks, only ONE is still in the running! Not all combinations have been chosen yet, and very few of the Week 3 and 4 submissions included Fly Khicks. So, enter now -- this round will be open until next Thursday morning.

Click here for contest rules and prize. Good luck!

Week 5 recaps from all over - Part 1

• Tamara at Zap2It finds herself agreeing with the America's Best Dance Crew judges all this season and appreciated the extra magic tricks
  
• What's Up USANA loved Beat Freaks and counts down to the finale
• Game Show Kingdom notes that Fly Khicks beat the curse, and that Ellen Degeneres is going to be pissed.

Watch Beat Freaks Week 5 Performance again

MTV will probably pull this video soon, so while you can, watch this video of Beat Freaks dancing to Freeze . For me, it gets better with second and third viewings

America's Best Dance Crew (Season 3) - MTV Shows

Detox goes balls-out for ABDC's Magic Challenge

I don't laugh out loud that often, but Jim Cantiello got me twice in this week's America's Best Dance Crew episode, what with his stupid ball tricks and haberdashery observations. I'm having problems embedding the video, so click here to watch. It's worth the click.

Exclusive : Podcast with Dynamic Edition

I spoke with Dynamic Edition on Wednesday, after their elimination on America's Best Dance Crew's Magic Challenge. They were modest and charming talking about how they started dancing, what it was like to hear that they were picked to be on ABDC, misconceptions about their crew, crew movie night (they all went out to see Notorious!), their experience on the show, and what they're looking forward to. Listen in!

Photocredit: MTV

Fanny Pak News -- Music videos, music, fashion!

Fanny Pak will appear in the video for Lil Mama's new release "Truly in Love". It's set to premiere on Saturday February 14. The crew is also diversifying:

• They're working on an album to be released Spring/Summer 2009
• Their Milkshake Kicks shoes will be unveiled at a Las Vegas tradeshow on March 4 and be in stores or online after that
  
• They are collaborating on two different clothing lines -- one with Randy DeJesus (who designed the lightning bolt shirt) and a higher-end one with Cheryl Koo from "the Other Duck Line". So when will we see Fanny Pak on the catwalk??
  

The End is nearer -- Enter Week 5 of our Elimination Challenge contest!

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 3 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.

If you want to stay in contention for the prize -- you've GOT to enter this week. Unless there are stealth voting blocs, the bottom 2 are highly predictable this time!

Last week, 10 people got all 3 points (and I suspect it'll be MUCH higher next week . The current contest leaders are Eddie and Jeff. But the season goes on for 4 more weeks, so there's room for some surprise upsets (especially in predicting the end results!). Enter NOW -- here are the rules and details. Entries for this week will be accepted until midnight, Monday February 16.

Send some love to Dynamic Edition!

Dynamic Edition broke the mold for America's Best Dance Crew teams with their precision, county charm, and steadfast resolution to be true to their own style, educating and entertaining us with the varieties of clogging virtuoso. They excelled every week, but really showcased the dance form with their rendition of Achy Breaky Heart. Please send a comment to let the crew know how much you appreciated them.
This post is for positive comments only. If you have negative things to say about Dynamic Edition or any other aspect of America's Best Dance Crew, please visit our Week 5 Magical Critics Corner.
Photocredit: MTV

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Best Performance in the Week 5 Magic Challenge?

Vote in our survey about America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Episode 5: The Magic Challenge

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Worst Performance in the Magic Challenge?

Please vote in our survey on the worst performance in America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Episode 5: The Magic Challenge

VOTE FOR YOUR WEEK 5 FAVORITES!

The voting is now open for Week 5: The Magic Challenge, from now until 6am 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! We need you!

Week 5 Critics Corner is OPEN -- What did YOU think about the Magic Challenge?

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 5 is now open! Share your predictions, impressions, frustrations, hates and loves. TBone will moderate this reader forum on Thursday night during the show.

After the show is over: Give us your reactions to Week 5 and to the season in general. We'll leave this post open and prominent, so you can comment all the way through to next week!

Live play-by-play blogging of ABDC's Magic Challenge

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.

Preview info -- Killer performance alert!

Several people who attended Tuesday's taping of ABDC's Magic Challenge say that tonight's show has one KILLER performance that overshadows all the others. MTV Remote Control mentions that Shane Sparks calls it the best performance he's seen on all 3 seasons of America's Best Dance Crew (though Remote Control erroneously call it Episode 6...or maybe they have inside information about next week's performances!).

Care to guess who tears it up tonight?

The Quest Biting Controversy continues - new footage

This video from thetruthaboutdance was sent to our attention yesterday. It shows that some of Quest's moves are similar to the signature moves of other crews.This follows on the heels of Quest's apology for a copied move in the Whack Track Challenge. Please watch this video and comment:

• Is this biting, or is Quest using and then refining older moves? In other words, is borrowing plagiarism or is it okay (even necessary) as a way to advance the art?
• Should it matter for America's Best Dance Crew that Quest is doing this?

TONIGHT -- Join us for live blogging,The Week 5 Magical Critics Corner, and polls

Thank God it's Thursday! Watch America's Best Dance Crew and the Whack Challenge with us tonight! The Week 5 Critics Corner opens at 9:30 ET and stays open as long as you want, so that everyone can comment on anything remotely related to ABDC. Did you like the challenge? Did the magic fit the moves? Who should go home next?

At 10pm ET, I'll be doing live play-by-play while watching the show, so feel free to tune in and make fun of me or get a sneak preview of the action (for those of you from the West Coast/Canada/India or other ABDC-deprived zones).

Tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances. Plus, Week 5 of our Elimination Contest and Top 4 Contest will be on-line. Join us!

Week 4 Survey results - Quest 4-sure!

We've tallied the votes in our survey on the best and worst performances for the America's Best Dance Crew Whack Track Challenge. Quest came in at the top for the 4th week running, with 58% calling them the best performers of the week. The voting was much more mixed on the worst performance-- Ringmasters got the most votes (32%), but Dynamic Edition and Fly Khicks also were in the running.

Backstage warmups and clowning

Ever wonder what it's like backstage before the America's Best Dance Crew taping, when the crews are preparing for the show? Monica Monroe shot some candid footage for Allie is Wired during the Whack Track Challenge. Wish I had been there!

MOVMNT covers ABDC, starting with ABDC judges and Dynamic Edition

MVMT.com does an irreverent take on the America's Best Dance Crew interview circuit. Their star reporter is Ivan Koumaev a hip hop dancer who competed on So You Think You Can Dance. Watch as he drives through LA (and gets lost looking for the Warner Bros. Studio, grills Lil Mama on fashion, and gets Dynamic Edition (lounging on their hotel beds) to tell their favorite joke. He's got captions, cartoons, and other grabbers. Here's installment 1 -- more will follow in the next few weeks.

Readers -- what are some themes ABDC should NOT use!?

It seems to me that America's Best Dance Crew has been getting 'creative' with their weekly themes, what with the Whack Track and Magic challenges. I'd like to suggest some ideas I don't want to see. Here are 3 of mine -- please submit your own in the comments. And may the worst ones lose!

• MTV stars gone bad - e.g. The Chris Brown Whack attack, TI's prison challenge
• MTV tie-ins: dances and moves based on past and present hit shows (Jackass, The Hills, My Super Sweet 16, Sex with Mom and Dad, Detox).
  
• The Bail-out: dances based on endangered industries (banking, automotive, real estate)

Dynamic Edition - Clogging and Relaxing at the Mall

The DeKalb Times Journal caught up with Dynamic Edition after they made it through the America's Best Dance Crew Britney Spears Challenge. Highlights:

• They are NOT going to take JabbaWockeeZ' Kid Rainn's advice to incorporate more hip-hop into their dance. "Our game plan is, like Shane Sparks said in week two, to incorporate better hip hop while continuing to do what we do best: clogging."
• They feel that "all the crews pose a threat to them"
• In their spare time, they go to the mall.

Photocredit: MTV

Supercr3w in Guam: in performance and as judges

Super Cr3w (America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 champions) hit Guam this week, performing both at large venues and at local high schools. Here's some news coverage from Guam Pacific Daily News about their Guam performances and their role in judging local talent to appear in their show. My favorite quote: SC3 choreographer Jesse Santos said, "Every time I see one little Chamorro kid or any little kid from the island do these moves, I try to hold make my tears...on the one hand it makes me shameful that I have not been back to my island in 20 years to help, but on the other it makes me proud as a Chamorro man, to see the children from my island strive to excel."

Another cool thing about the visit: Super Cr3w also performed for the local kids at area high schools. Here's a video from Julene95 documenting the crew visit to St. Francis Catholic School. Thanks for the tip, Super Cr3w and friends!

Super Cr3w: Pepsi Smash video

Pepsi Smash featured a video/ad with America's Best Dance Crew Season 1 winner JabbaWockeeZ, and now it's Super Cr3w's turn. The video even has a plot (of sorts): first there's a battle between members of Full Force, Battle Monkeys, and Knucklehead Zoo wearing shirts from each of the 3 crews. This reflects the way the crew members met. When each dancer takes a sip of Pepsi Smash -- they have an instantaneous shirt and attitude change, becoming the Super Cr3w that ABDC fans came to know and love.

UPDATE ABDC Week 5 - playlist and challenges

MTV Remote Control announced the playlist for this week's America's Best Dance Crew.

• FLY KHICKS - “Diva” by Beyonce. Challenge: stretch like rubber
  
• STRIKERS ALL-STARS - “Swing” by Savage. Challenge: walk through a solid object
  
• BEAT FREAKS - “Freeze” by Chris Brown & T. Pain. Challenge: make something float
  
• QUEST CREW - “Got Money” by Lil Wayne & T. Pain. Challenge: pass an object through their bodies
  
• DYNAMIC EDITION - “Starstruck” by Lady Gaga & Flo Rida. Challenge: one member must appear out of thin air
  

Quest apologizes for unoriginal Whack Track move

Last week, several of our readers pointed out that Quest's 'upside down' move in America's Best Dance Crew's Whack Track challenge had been done before. Follow-up: Quest's D-trix responded on BboyWorld with an apology:

"... Myself and the rest of Quest would like to apologize to all the bboys/bgirls and creators of the gimmick we had performed last week on the show!!!... I can promise you all that we had no idea that some one else had thought and performed this same gimmick long ago!... Here we thought we were being all creative and then the morning after the showed had aired... people posted a clip from youtube saying "Quest bit this move"... and it was footage from Project Seoul doing the same gimmick in uk champs 2002!!... at this point our whole crew was frozen and we were all ashamed... We had no intention of stealing ideas and especially accepting credit for it!!... It is totally our fault for not doing our research!! this incident has heavily affected us since we normally pride ourselves in being original and creative. Ive personally been in the bboy scene for many years.. entered many jams.. watched tons of footage.. and its unbelieveable how something like this could escape my attention!!!... we hope most of you can believe that things like this do happen by total coincidence, but Quest will make absolutely sure to prevent it from happening again. "not knowing" is not an excuse, and we do not intend on ever using the gimmick again, out of respect to those who have done it before us."

Personally, I think the apology shows class. And here's Project Seoul video:

Shane & Layla summarize the crews in 1 word; Ringmasters after the show

LA Times did their usual insightful debrief at the Whack Attack taping. But that's not why you should read this article. They've also embedded 2 videos worth watching:

• First video: Shane Sparks and Layla Kayleigh talking about the crews. They go into depth on why they respect Ringmasters and why this crew was underappreciated. They also give one word (more or less) summaries of each crew:Beat Freaks=dangerous?; Dynamic Edition=hopeful; Fly Khicks=sexy; Ringmasters=out of here; Quest=sick; Strikers=the bomb?
• Second video: after the show, they went to interview Ringmasters. They had trouble getting through because the other crews wanted to show their support for the eliminated crew. And the Ringmasters interview is poignant but upbeat.
  

Watch Ringmasters Performance - Week 4

Here's Fanscape Video's clip of Ringmasters, as they perform to the Macarena on America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Week 4 Whack Track Challenge:

ABDC 3-- Ringmasters, Week 4

Watch Fly Khick's Week 4 Performance

Here's the video clip from Fanscape of Fly Khicks performing Everybody Dance Now, from America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Week 4 (Whack track challenge):

ABDC 3-- Fly Khicks

Watch Dynamic Edition's Week 4 Performance

Here's Fanscape Video's clip of Dynamic Edition, as they perform to Achy Breaky Heart on America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Week 4 Whack Track Challenge:

ABDC 3-- Dynamic Edition, Week 4

Watch Strikers' performance - Week 4 Whack Attack

Here's the video clip from Fanscape of Strikers doing MC Hammer's 2 Legit to Quit, from America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Week 4 (Whack track challenge):

ABDC 3-- Strikers All-Stars, Week 4

Boxcuttuhz: Answers to fan questions

Loads of Boxcuttuhz fans were extremely disappointed that the crew left America's Best Dance Crew so soon. The crew put together two videos to answer questions that fans keep asking -- why they think they're underdogs, how music and health problems impacted their first week performance, why Lydia was in Boxcuttuhz and not in Quest, who they want to win, where to get a Boxcuttuhz Tshirt, how to keep up with Boxcuttuhz news, and more . Thanks for the tip, Michael and Arlando, thanks for making the videos, Landizeesgbm, and thanks for the shoutout Boxcuttuhz!

Fly Khicks answer BloggingBestDanceCrew Readers' Questions

Fanscape talked to Fly Khicks Gina and Michelle last week, asking some of the questions asked by Blogging Best Dance Crew readers.

Q. How strict is life while you’re on the show? What’s your daily schedule like? (thanks Youuu)
A. All day consists of dancing, dancing, and dancing. We get a break to eat or sleep. But it’s amazing. We can’t get enough of it, we love to dance.

Q. If you guys were able to win ABDC, what would you do with the $100,000 grand prize? (thanks, John)
A. Wow, never thought of it. Of course save most of it. But we’ll have some kind of getaway or party. We also want to open up a foundation for kids to teach them how to dance, give them shoes, etc.

Q. Is there anything special you guys do before you get on stage? Do you have any good luck charms or anything? (thanks Hobbit)
A. We don’t have any good luck charms, but we do say a prayer before. And I think we’re going to start a new ritual today, “breathing,” before we get on. Decompress, focus, and continue on from there.

Q. What advice would you give to hard working, younger dancers that are looking to make it? (Thanks, Archie!)
A. Never give up. Passion and dedication will get you anywhere. I’ve always been turned down and people have told me I’d never be a dancer—even teachers. I made it here because I love to dance. Just as long as you put hard work, passion, and dedication you can get anywhere.

Mailbox: Strikers, Shane Sparks

• America's Best Dance Crew judge Shane Sparks attended the grand opening of TONYS on February 5. The event supports Tony Riviera's new restaurant and helped raise money for Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Here's Shane with Twitch from So You Think You can Dance. Photocredit: Chris Polk (Polk Imaging)
• Simply Brown Online talks to Strikers All-stars about their distinctive stepping style and how ABDC is the Superbowl of dance

Week 4 Performance videos: Quest

Readers have been asking me to post performance clips as soon as the show airs. Okay, but I'm still not running the bootleg versions. Instead, I'll post 1-2 of the Fanscape clips per day. These are legitimate (though they may be missing a few seconds of the performance) and won't be deleted because of copyright violations.

Here's Quest, performing to the Right Stuff

ABDC 3-- Quest Crew, Week 4

Watch Week 4 Clips: Beat Freaks

Readers have been asking me to post performance clips as soon as the show airs. Okay, but I'm still not running the bootleg versions. Instead, I'll post 1-2 of the Fanscape clips per day. These are legitimate (though they may be missing a few seconds of the performance) and won't be deleted because of copyright violations.

Here's Beat Freaks dancing to "Pretty Fly for a White Guy":

ABDC 3-- Beat Freaks, Week 4

More recaps from Week 4's Whack Attack

More recaps for you, with lots of commentary and lots of performance clips (some of them even legit!)

• Give Me My Remote Loved the Strikers and Quest, and thought they should have used NSYNC's Bye Bye Bye as one of the songs
• Seattle PI is light on words and heavy on nifty photos and videos.
• Reality TV Online is calling the season for Quest and Beat Freaks
• You Love to Watch got off her couch to cheer for Strikers and felt Ringmasters left too soon
  

Mailbox: Mario Lopez:the boy can't help it; JabbawockeeZ:the boys CAN help it!

• OK! Magazine dishes the dirt on Mario Lopez' love life. Notable quote about Mario's charm: "The girls swarm. It's absolutely amazing," says friend and Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis. "It's like when you throw chum in the water and the sharks feed."
• MTV taped a pre-Grammys interview with JabbaWockeeZ, with Kid Rainan demonstrating his footwork and KB showing some popping. Yes, they've still got it.

MTV Shows

Video: Beat Freaks as Britney Spears Backup Dancers

This video from BritneySM15 shows Beat Freaks members Teresa Espinosa and Rino Nakasone as backup dancers for Britney Spears' 2004 tour. Hat tip: Britney Spears Blackout

Upcoming events Part I: SoReal Cru, JBWKZ

• SoReal Cru: February 14 in Fullerton Ca, and February 16 in San Diego. Click on the poster for details
  

• JabbaWockeeZ will be joining New Kids on the Block for at least part of the NKOB tour. They are confirmed for the Canadian tour dates in April. Here's the details. If more dates are added, we'll update our information.
  

Exclusive: Backstage interview with Strikers (with help from Quest!)

Our intrepid reporter Salima Koroma talked with Strikers All-Stars before this week's America's Best Dance Crew taping. She asked questions from BloggingBestDanceCrew.com readers on topics including Strikers' role in being a positive image of African American college students, their favorite dance movies, their daily schedule, which crews they'd like to pair up with, and some unusual talents.
Also, don't miss Quest's D-trix helping Salima with her intro! Thanks Salima!

Recaps: Do you see what they see?

• The Daily News lurvs Quest, analyzing Hok's move: "it looks like he's upside down, but he was really right-side up but had a sweatshirt on his legs and no shoes, and I think I saw a wire and there were mattress springs in his shoes and Tinkerbell was braiding his hair."
• Zap2It was impressed by everybody this week, but doesn't think "Pretty Fly for a White Guy" is whack enough
• GUnitVer1 thinks that only Quest and Beat Freaks made the grade this week

Yet Another chance: Enter Week 4 of our Top 4 Contest

Thanks to all of you who submitted entries on which crews will be in the top 4 at the end of this season, in the order of their elimination. If you want to change your vote, 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, if you want to place a bet on some dark horses.

Click here for contest rules and prize. Good luck!

Upcoming Events Part II: Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak, Super Cr3w,

• Fanny Pak, Kaba Modern, Super Cr3w, on February 20, Anaheim, CA: Feel the Beat, a Benefit for the Childrens Hospital of Orange County. This poster has the details
• Kaba Modern, February 27, Anaheim, CA: appearance at MoneyXLive, "an MTV style award show event promoting financial education that is designed to teach today's youth how to avoid common financial mistakes"

Message from Team Millennia - Thanks and Let TM Know where we should Tour!

In my mailbox, I received this message from Jeff Viray of Team Millennia, to be shared with TM fans. His main point - visit their Myspace page or TMDance.org to keep up the conversation and let them know if you want them to tour near you! The message:

"Whad up ya'll!!!! Now I know lots of you are bummed that we got the boot (for the send time) so early... but hey! No need to dwell on it, it is what it is. Now it's time to move on and grow for this! BC u know us, MTV called us the "come back kids," so lets run with it. We know in our hearts, we're never gonna stop what we love to do and thats dance and perform (teach too!) So lets hear it from you guys! I wanna know what city we should hit up first! I wanna take a poll... myspace msg, comment on my blog, put it on the TM website guesbook... make yourselves heard, and we'll do the rest to make it happen! GO TM!!!!" Jeff of TM7

*** ps. keep checking out tmdance.org for updates! we have so much planned for the future!

Detox: Whack Tracks = Max flashbacks

Last night's America's Best Dance Crew triggered a severe flashback reaction for Jim Cantiello (and apparently for JC Chasez). Join him as he reminisces about the ABDC performances and does a public service announcement. Note: please don't leave Jim 'Home Alone' again!

Exclusive : Podcast with Ringmasters

I spoke by phone with Ringmasters on Wednesday, after they were eliminated on America's Best Dance Crew 3, Week 4. Listen in as we talk about their name change, how their style has changed because of ABDC, what they accomplished by going on the show, a typical day preparing for the show, and their favorite crews.

You can also watch Ringmasters on Extra tonight and this weekend.

Enter Round 4 of the ABDC Elimination Challenge Contest!

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 3 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.

Last week, only Eddie and Alexis got all 3 points . The current contest leader is Eddie with 6 cumulative points over the first 3 rounds. But the season goes on for 5 more weeks, so it's anybody's game. Enter NOW -- here are the rules and details. Entries for this week will be accepted until midnight, Monday February 9.

Send some love to Ringmasters!

Ringmasters brought a new dance style to America's Best Dance Crew and won over many early doubters. While their contortions made have made some people uneasy (or even queasy), their performances were arresting and original. Even in the auditions, their humor and personality shone through.

Tune in later for my podcast with Ringmasters, taped after the elimination.
This post is only for positive comments about Ringmasters. If you want to negative comments about them or about other aspects of ABDC, please leave them in our Party Room.

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Best Whack Performance?

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Worst Whack Performance?

VOTE!!!!

The voting is now open for Week 4: The Whack Challenge, from now until 6am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now!

Click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online by 11pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.

The Party Room is NOW OPEN -- Join us and Make it Whack!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 4 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. Carry on!

Live play-by-play blogging of ABDC's Whack Challenge

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.

Sneak peak #2 - backstage and onstage

Field Reporter Salima Koroma was back on the Warner Brothers lot this week, watching the ABDC taping and talking backstage to crews and ABDC regulars. Here's her non-spoiler report:

"I had so much fun Tuesday night at Week 4's taping of America's Best Dance Crew! Having interviewed the guys of Quest last week, I was excited to see them again since they were so friendly last time. In fact, as friendly as all the crews are, they're even more friendly with each other. I was happy to see Ringmasters hanging with Beat Freaks, and Dynamic Edition chillin' with Quest. It was a reminder that, although these crews are all competing, they're also good friends.

I spoke with Striker All-Stars for the first time, and asked them a few of the questions that all your readers wanted answers to. That video will be up on BloggingBestDanceCrew.com soon.

Click here to read her 'teaser' report on the taping, plus a photo of Shane Sparks in his JabbaWockeeZ shirt!

Week 4 Sneak Peak - crew skin, crazy moves

From MTV Remote Control: more on the specific challenges. The crews had to incorporate some old dance fads, to make a truly cheesy routine:

• Beat Freaks - Dancing Fresh Prince's The Carlton to "Pretty Fly for a White Guy"
• Dynamic Edition - Country Line Dance to "Achy Breaky Heart" (this would have been more interesting if it had been given to, say, Ringmasters)
• Fly Khicks - 'The Running Rabbit' to "Everybody Dance Now"
• Quest - The Pendulum Step x The Prep to "The Right Stuff"
• Ringmasters - The Macarena to "The Macarena" (duh)
• Strikers - MC Hammer hand jive moves to "2 Legit 2 Quit"
  

And, some other non-challenge action during the taping.Watch for:

• Clothing (both tops and bottoms) flying off
• Amazing moves including sick headspins and high-altitude backflips

What probably won't be shown:

• JC Chasez signing an autograph during a performance (but does it impact his critique?)
• SoReal Cru and a Michael Jackson impersonator entertaining the audience during a taping break

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

Thank God it's Thursday! Watch America's Best Dance Crew and the Whack Challenge with us tonight! The Party Room opens at 9:30 ET and stays open as long as you want, so that everyone can comment on anything remotely related to ABDC. Did you like the challenge? Did they miss their opportunity to choose really bad music --what would you have chosen? Do you see conspiracies surrounding the show? Who should go home next?

At 10pm ET, I'll be doing live play-by-play while watching the show, so feel free to tune in and make fun of me or get a sneak preview of the action (for those of you from the West Coast/Canada/India or other ABDC-deprived zones).

Tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances. Plus, Week 3 of our Elimination Contest and Top 4 Contest will be on-line. Join us!

Super Cr3w on the Move!

This month, Super Cr3w is performing in Guam, Hawaii, and California. I wish all these touring crews would get to other parts of the US too!

• February 6 and 7: FDMS Phoenix Center, Guam.
  
• February11: SC3 Release Party at Hush Boutique Nightclub, Honolulu.
• February 11: Release party at Prototype (Pearlridge Uptown), Honolulu
• February 20: Shark Club, Costa Mesa, California

Poll results: Quest pulls a 3-peat!

Here are the results from our reader polls on the best and worst performances in America's Best Dance Crew Britney challenge. Come back early Friday to vote on the best and worst in this week's Whack Challenge.

Quest was the most popular, for the third straight week, with over 50% of the votes!

Dynamic Edition was the least popular, followed by Ringmasters.

Exclusive Interviews with Kaba Modern members

Field reporters Ashley, Beverly, and Angela caught up with America's Best Dance Crew Season 1 favorites Kaba Modern at VIBE XIV. Here are their interview with Mike Song:

Interview with Mike Song from Kaba Modern from ABDC Season 1 from Nancy Taubenslag on Vimeo.
And their interview with Lawrence Kao and Tony Tran:

Interview with Lawrence Kao and Tony Tran from Kaba Modern from ABDC Season 1 from Nancy Taubenslag on Vimeo.

Click here to watch their video of the Kaba Modern Legacy Performance at VIBE XIV.

Upcoming performances: Supreme Soul, ASIID, Jabbawockeez

Catch your favorite crews from America's Best Dance Crew Seasons 1 and 2:

SUPREME SOUL: Feb. 21, San Jose, CA: Guest stars at BattleFest Live 360. Click here for more info. Click here for tickets
SUPREME SOUL and ASIID: Feb. 28 and March 1, Alameda, CA. The two crews will perform and sign autographs at a charity event for Soulciety.org. Click here for information and to buy tickets.
JABBAWOCKEEZ: February 15, Phoenix, AZ: JabbaWockeeZ will be part of a pre-game performance at the NBA All-Star game. It will also be broadcast live on TNT, and in other countries starting at 8pm ET (thanks for the tip, Chrystal!)
KABA MODERN and FANNY PAK: February 21, Los Angeles: Kollaboration 9. Click here for details and click here for tickets

Backstage Interview with Team Millennia, featuring Reader Questions

Last week, Lauren from Fanscape interviewed Team Millennia before the taping, asking questions (with shoutouts!) from BloggingBestDanceCrew.com readers. Here's her video:


Thanks Lauren!

Season 3 Master Mixes Available from District 78!

District78.com is home to the America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 master mixes. Visit them to hear the mixes or to ask questions about the songs used in them.

Playlist for Whack Week

MTV Remote Control published this week's playlist for America's Best Dance Crew Whack Week. It's cheesy:

• BEAT FREAKS - “Pretty Fly For A White Guy” by The Offspring
• RINGMASTERS - “Macarena” by Los Del Rio
• STRIKERS ALL-STARS - “2 Legit 2 Quit” by MC Hammer
• FLY KHICKS - “Everybody Dance Now (Gonna Make You Sweat)” by C&C Music Factory
• QUEST CREW - “The Right Stuff” by New Kids On The Block
• DYNAMIC EDITION - “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus

Team Millennia Audition Practice Videos

Reader Hendy called these Team Millennia videos to our attention. They show the crew practicing their audition routines. First, here's Geraldnonato's video of TM doing Beating Heart Baby:
Here's TM practicing Gettin Closer to God:
Thanks Hendy!

Visit MissionG for JabbaWockeeZ, Super Crew and more hip hop news and dance

On SuperBowl Sunday, Gatorade launched the MissionG.com website. It has all manner of content for sports and music. There are two features for America's Best Dance Crew aficionados:

• Free Style Sessions documents the 10th Anniversary World FreeStyle finals held in Los Angeles in 2008. Click here to watch the trailer and the battle between Super Crew and Killa Germs. More battles will be posted over the next few weeks
• Leave it on the Floor will feature news from the fashion and dance culture scene. In Episode 1, Nothing but Strings (a hip hop violin duo!) play with JabbaWockeeZ. Here's the link. (I'm not embedding these videos on my site because they launch automatically, which gets annoying really fast!)
  

Mailbox: Beat Freaks, judging the judges, Bboys in the Bronx

• The New York Times profiles Bronx B-boys performing in the NY subways
• Beat Freaks' website has a weekly photo/video contest. Prizes include internet fame, shoe accessories, and autographed pictures.
  
• This is Reality? talks about why America's Best Dance Crew is a better show than American Idol, and judges the ABDC judges.

Photocredit: Nicole Bengiveno, NY Times

JC Chasez gives career advice on Swedish TV

There is a Swedish TV show called Made in Sweden. From what I can tell, it has something to do with launching singing careers, but don't quote me on that. On a recent episode, JC Chasez (America's Best Dance Crew judge extraordinaire) stops by to reflect on his career and give some advice. His words of wisdom (in English with Swedish subtitles): pick your battles, remain true to what you believe in, surround yourself with successful people.

A 'MUST VIEW' for ABDC fans: Interview with Arnel Calvario, founder of Kaba Modern

Field reporters Beverly, Angela, and Ashley interviewed Arnel Calvario backstage at VIBE XIV. He spoke about his behind-the-scenes involvement in America's Best Dance Crew, and his role in founding Kaba Modern. In this articulate interview, he describes what life is like for crews on the show, which crews he's rooting for this season, how shows like ABDC create both platforms and difficulties for the dance world, and advice for dancers. And he ends with his signature popping move!


In the next few days, we'll also post our backstage interviews with Kaba Modern members Mike Song, Lawrence Kao, and Tony Tran.

Shane Sparks on Season 3 crews, ABDC's role in shaping pop culture

Two new interviews with Shane Sparks:

• Buddy TV presents Zap2It's interview with Shane. He talks about the current crews, how Beat Freaks could "influence the world", and whether there will be guest stars on Season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew
• Strife TV has an amazing interview with Shane where he talks about how America's Best Dance Crew and movies like You Got Served are putting b-boying and other dancing on the map. He also talks about why he loves crews like Ringmasters and the future of b-boying.

Week 3 Recaps: Sunday Edition

• Zap2It loves almost all the crews this week, and includes some backstage quotes from Spears' choreographer Andre Fuentes who picks Strikers, Beat Freaks, and Quest as his early favorites
• Admit it, You love to Watch (love that blog name!) finds the song selection hit or miss, but names Quest and Ringmasters as absolute hits
  
• LA Times' take on ABDC Week 3 -- it's all about the diversity
  
• The Ride gets inspired: "ABDC should be appointment viewing for anyone, like me, who loves and is inspired by the craft and the artistry that is dance."
• Celebrity Cafe presents just the facts, but sneaks in some love for Beat Freaks
• Roebby is Revolutionary is back with analysis and his nominees for next week's Whack Song challenge
• Poptimal includes some after-the-taping crew interview quotes along with their recap. They ask Beat Freaks what they do for fun: "We nap..we hang out with the Ringmasters. They make us laugh"