Saturday, February 7, 2009

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"

Friday, February 6, 2009

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?

Thursday, February 5, 2009

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

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

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

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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!

Monday, February 2, 2009

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:

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.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

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"