Join us NOW for live-blogging of ABDC's Episode 1! #abdc #abdc8

 This is live play-by-play for tonight's America's Best Dance Crew Season 8 Episode 1.    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 longer comments at the Party Room/Critics Corner post above this post! You should be able to sign in on the platform the first time you try to leave a comment -- this is a different platform for us, so please be patient and kind.

Let's watch!

Video: Mike from Kinjaz

First in what I hope is a new series, Mike from Kinjaz gives us a confessional.

Video: We are Heroes Rehearsal

Marie Poppins and Ebonee tell us what motivates the crew and what they plan on bringing to the stage.

Video: Super Cr3w lets us know how they have changed.

Today's first rehearsal video has Do-Knock and mike Murda talk about how things have changed in their crew.

ABDC choreographers Nappytabs name their all-time favorite ABDC routines #abdc

Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (long-time supervising choreographers for America's Best Dance Crew) announced their all-time favorite ABDC routine in a Yahoo article. Their list:
- Beat Freaks Illusion Challenge (Season 3)

- Poreotics "Love Story" (Season 5) 
- All-star group performance with Jabbawockeez, Super Cr3w, Quest Crew, We are Heroes and Poreotics (Season 5)

- Group performance for Illusion Challenge (mostly notable to me for featuring Lil Mama!)
- I.aM.mE Rihanna Challenge (Season 6) 
- Quest Crew Season 3 Finals
- Super Cr3w Bring the Beat Challenge (Season 2)  
- JabbaWockeeZ Robot Remains (Season  6)

What would YOU pick?

Join us tonight for ABDC 8 Ep. 1! Live blogging, polls, party room ++ and more! #abdc

Tonight is the premiere of America's Best Dance Crew's Road to the VMAs. We'll be watching (11pm ET/PT, 10pm other timezones) and will open our live-blogging post about 15 minutes before showtime. We won't have live surveys and other features this time around (too expensive) but welcome the comments, observations, and clean snark of the community. 

Afterwards, we'll have a Party Room/Critics Corner post for you to comment on what you've seen, as well as a few surveys. And, let us know if you feel inspired enough to write a recap in the next days.

Hope to hear from you tonight!

Video: Kinjaz discuss what motivates them

Anthony and Vinh Nguyen from Kinjaz tells us a bit of their crew's history and what helps to motivate them on the show.

Video: Elektrolytes gets star struck and focused during rehearsals.

Kyle P. & Nico talk about how starstruck they are and how they plan to wow us this season. Watch and enjoy. Love your stage outfits guys!

Video: Jaja Vankova (ex-I.aM.mE) on So You Think You Can Dance

Jaja Vankova will not appear on America's Best Dance Crew because she's in the top 16 of this season's So You Think You Can Dance. She's winning major admiration for her ability to adapt to non-street styles and her expressiveness. Here's her performance on the July 27 show.

Video Promo #6 for ABDC Season 8: Elektrolytes #ABDC #ABDC8

After five FABULOUS!!! promos we close with the most recent winner, Elektrolytes!
This one shows us why they are champs and that they are not resting. Don't count these guys out!

Video: Quest Crew kid around and talk about rehearsals.

Continuing the stepping their game up play MTV has released another behinds the scenes video. This one has Hok and D-Trix messing around and talking about how things have been.

Video: I.aM.mE talk about the new ABDC Season and rehearse a little #ABDC

MTV has stepped up its promo game. Not content with teasers, they've started releasing rehearsal videos with the crews. The first shows Philip 'Pacman' Chbeeb and Emilio Dosal talking about their earlier  America's Best Dance Crew season and how they intend to step it up for Season 8.

What other crews should America's Best Dance Crew bring back? -- Let MTV know! #abdc

MTV made a point of picking past America's Best Dance Crew winners (with one exception) for the upcoming season. Many amazing crews did NOT win, and probably deserve more attention. So, please let a comment: if there was another season of ABDC composed of former competitors, who do you think they should bring back?

Video Promo #5 for ABDC Season 8: Super Cr3w! #abdc #abdc8

MTV is working to build up excitement for the new season of America's Best Dance Crew with their staggered release of video promos for each of the crews. The latest release shows Season 2 winners Super Cr3w! In this short video they bring the moves but this time with more power!

Chachi (ex-I.aM.mE member) sues her mom over Chachimomma pants profits! #abdc

I know many old-time America's Best Dance Crew fans are sad that Chachi is not returning to dance with I.aM.mE for the new season.  Good news (sort of) -- you can still read all about her! TMZ reports today about Chachi's lawsuit against her mother to claim part of the profits from Chachimomma pants sales.

Video Promo #4 for ABDC Season 8: We are Heroes #abdc #abdc8

MTV is working to build up excitement for the new season of America's Best Dance Crew with their staggered release of video promos for each of the crews. The latest release shows Season 4 winners We are Heroes, with a few new members including Marie Bonnevay (aka Marie Poppins). Thanks for the links, Mike!

Meet the ABDC Season 8 crew members! MTV posts the crew profiles #ABDC #ABDC8

MTV just posted information on each of the crews, including the list of members and a description of their styles. Fun fact: I.aM.mE now has members from 8 Flavahz, Phunk Phenomenon & Funkdation. Comment below if there are any factoids you'd like to call attention to.

Video Promo #3 for ABDC Season 8: Quest Crew! #abdc

The next promo for the America's Best Dance Crew Season 8 premiere shows the members of Quest Crew, with more individual tricks than group dance.  For a 24 second teaser -- looks promising. As mentioned in JimmyD's report on the show taping, this season could end up as a stunt battle, given the crews that were chosen for the season. Thanks for the link BABA!

Video promo #2 for ABDC Season 8 Episode 1: I.aM.mE #ABDC

The next promo released by MTV shows I.aM.mE. Most of the old members are back (Jaja being a major exception, since she's on the current season of So You Think You Can Dance).  I am looking forward to seeing how they will deal with challenges, since they were among the most creative during their season.
 

ABDC 8 Episode 1 - Set list information #ABDC

We have a no-spoiler policy on this site, but consider the set lists as fair game. Here's the   information we have so far:

• We Are Heroes: Rihanna-"Diamond"
• I.aM.mE: Iggy Azalea-"Work"
• Super Cr3w: Disclosure-"Latch"
• Elektrolytes: Duck Sauce-"Big Bad Wolf"

In addition, JimmyD reported that the other two crews (Kinjaz, Quest Crew) will be dancing to songs by Bruno Mars and Chris Brown. And, all six crews dance (choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo) to a medley performed by Ne-Yo.