Video: Layla Kayleigh at Madonna Challenge on double elimination, crew moods & attitudes, love for 8 Flavahz

Chris Trondsen is on the couch with Layla Kayleigh backstage at the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Madonna Challenge. In Part 1, she talks about how everyone was shocked (including her) at the announcement of the double elimination, how the judges will pick who is eliminated, the mood of the crews at the taping (especially after the double elimination announcement), the optimal crew attitude for doing well, fan bases and forecasts, Layla's hygiene practices, and some personal questions from Layla to Chris. In  Part 2 . Layla talks about  love for 8 Flavahz performance and swagger (though she does love all the crews of course!), how Season 7 returns to the ABDC formula of extremely strong crews, and Chris & Layla's plans to dance together with lessons from Beat Freaks.

ReQuest videos: Tyreek's tribute, Parris' solo "Love of My Life"

Many people (including Layla Kayleigh) wish that ReQuest had lasted longer in ABDC6. Here are two reminders why:

• Tyreek's tribute video for the crew
• ReQuest member's Parris Goebel's beautiful solo dance to "Love of My Life"

Video: Layla Kayleigh talks about the backstage scene, crews she misses, & why she'd join ICONc Boyz

ABDC Insider Layla Kayleigh spoke to Bryan East (Boogie Bots) and Chris Trondsen before the taping of ABDC's Nicki Minaj challenge.  She describes how the crews seem less confident than other seasons, spending time with the dancers acting as their big sister, and why she wished ReQuest and 787 had lasted longer this season. When asked which Top 4 crew she'd join, she compliments all the crews but explains why she would join ICONic Boyz,   Thanks to MOVeMEDIA for the production help!

Video: Eclectic Gentlemen interview after ABDC elimination

Layla Kayleigh talked to Eclectic Gentlemen backstage after their elimination on the Lil Wayne Challenge of America's Best Dance Crew Season 6. They talk about their disappointment and feeling that they weren't given adequate chance to show their skills, and thank their fans and MTV for the chance. Posted on MTV's Remote Control.

America's Best Dance Crew (Season 6) - MTV Shows

Mail: Layla Kayleigh slated for "Live Sex Show" (really!); Poreotix, LXD, Beat Freaks & more in Justin Bieber video

Comedy Central reports that it has a show in production called "Live Sex Show": "It's live, it's late night and there's a whole lot of sex.  Hosted by..Bert Kreischer and wickedly sharp-tongued Maxim model Layla Kayleigh ("Attack of the Show," "America's Best Dance Crew"), "Live Sex Show" is a live, fully interactive panel show that takes a comedic look at all things sex.  Each week the show will feature a panel of celebrity guests, sketches and titillating conversation.  Viewers will be able to interact with the show via Skype, Twitter, email and text."

Tweets have been flying about the next Justin Bieber music video:
--from @Bgirlpeppa: Fun day : @theSyrenz rehearsing with @Poreotics, @theBeatfreaks, LXD Dancers, and Medea Sirkus for a Music VIdeo! Excited to work w/ HIHAT
--from @justinbieber: secret music vid and rehearsals for SOMEBODY TO LOVE with some sick dance crews. Fun day...gonna go chill
--from @poreotics: 1st rehearsal with Justin Bieber today! Excited to be working with both him and Hi Hat...Blessed for this opportunity.
--from @maryssfromparis: Just got done wit Justin bieber rehearsal with @theBeatFreaks :)
Here is some video from the shoot, from PoreoticsHD Youtube Channel:

Exclusive video: MTV's 'Outtakes' on-stage and backstage at the Illusion Challenge

Members of  MTV camera crew felt sorry for us not getting any crew interviews this week due to technical problems at the ABDC Illusion Challenge taping. So, they gave us an outtake video that shows what you don't see on TV when you watch America's Best Dance Crew: Poreotix and Jungle Boogie having some fun on-stage; backstage interactions between all the crews, the MTV 'wranglers', alum crews and the press (including Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales); fond goodbyes to Jungle Boogie from Layla Kayleigh and many others; Jungle Boogie talking about how they feel just after getting the bad news; visits from ABDC alums like Vogue Evolution, and much more. Thanks MTV!!

Mailbox: Layla Kayleigh, Blueprint Cru, Swagger Crew, BF Shorty in Bieber video

• Beat Freak Shorty is briefly the center of attention in Justin Bieber's video of "Baby". You can see her (here's the video) starting at 1:48. Thanks Ravoo!
• Artist Direct runs a video interview with Layla Kayleigh, where she talks about why she loves Randy Jackson and her role on America's Best Dance Crew
• Red Hot (the blog for Much Music, the home of ABDC in Canada) talks to Blueprint Cru about the differences between US and Canada Crews, and the difference between ABDC and Canada's So You Think You Can Dance
• Winston Salem Journal profiles Elizabeth Triplett Martin of Swagger Crew

Mailbox: Blended Projekt, Layla Kayleigh, Beat Freaks

• Pasadena Star-News interviews The Blended Projekt to learn how they beat the odds to get on America's Best Dance Crew's West Coast audition show
• Artist Direct gets Layla Kayleigh to talk about her role on ABDC, her favorite music, and her fascination with seahorses.
• Nike features Beat Freaks in their Celeb Style section. Thanks Ravoo!

Exclusive video of Layla Kayleigh at ABDC taping - She's ba-ack!

Chris Trondsen and Riquel Olander (We are Heroes) interview Layla Kayleigh at the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's West Coast audition. She talks about her role on ABDC, why she likes the audition shows, the differences between East and West coast, her feeling about her role on the show, and how motherhood has scaled back her partying. 

Mailbox: Brandon Mitchell (Strikers), Brian Martin (Boxcuttuhz), Layla Kayleigh

• Striker All-Stars Member Brandon Mitchell talked to Luxe7 Magazine about 'dance politics', dancing in Florida vs. Los Angeles, and advise for aspiring dancers
• Soundbox Studios in Houston will celebrate its grand opening on January 23 with workshops from Brian Martin of Buxcuttuhz, as well as members of Choreo Cookies, Wyldstyl, and Illovation
• Layla Kayleigh blogs about Christmas with her family, including a picture of Melody Rain with Santa
  

Mailbox: Layla Kayleigh, Beat Freaks, XTreme Dance Force

• Celebrity Pregnancy posted a photo of Layla Kayleigh's baby Melody Rain, along with a description of Layla's life as a new mother
• Beat Freak Teresa Espinosa started her own blog WhatIsHipHopDance for anyone who loves dance and hip hop. The site will discuss how hip hop has evolved and people's positive reactions.
  
• Anjelah Johnson was on The Bonnie Hunt Show promoting her stand-up special "That's How We Do It" on Comedy Central airing December 28th. On the show, Anjelah gave a shout out to the Beat Freaks: "It's women empowerment basically. Like, I'm a female in the game of stand-up comedy, which is mainly a man's world, like a man's game. I incorporate the Beat Freaks. They're an all-girl breakdancing crew. Breakdancing is for the boys but they're out there killing it." Thanks for the Beat Freaks tips, Ravoo!
• Dance Teacher Magazine profiles Sam Renzetti, founder of Xtreme Dance Force (ABDC Season 2). He didn't appear ABDC because he was busy filming an episode of MTV's 'Made'.
  

Congratulations Layla Kayleigh on your baby girl!

Layla Kayleigh (America's Best Dance Crew hostess/mama bear) and her boyfriend, Steve Covino, welcomed their daughter Melody Rain Covino into the world on November 2, 2009. Her tweet on November 4 reads: "On cloud nine. cherishing, savoring, taking in every single moment." Congratulations!!

Layla Kayleigh & Randy Jackson: "Get ready for Season 5!"

Chris Trondsen talked with Layla Kayleigh and Randy Jackson onstage after the ABDC finale taping. They argue about who's the daddy (and Layla pwns both men!), Randy Jackson drops some hints about Season 5, for Layla explains why she's teary-eyed about this finale, and Layla emphasizes that she'll be back! Thanks to Dancetag.tv, our ABDC 4 interview partners!

Layla Kayleigh on Rhythm City's elimination: "Don't get mad at the judges!"

In Part III of our interview with Layla Kayleigh at the taping of the semifinal episode of ABDC4, Layla continued on her charming and outstpoken streak. Here, she talks about her sadness at Rhythm City's elimination and her thoughts about Rhythm City's post-elimination interviews. And, she gives our interviewer Chris Trondsen a hard time for standing a little too close to Shane during the interviews! Layla -- we love you!

Video: Shane and Layla defend Lil Mama's VMA Stage Invasion

In Part II of our backstage interview with Layla Kayleigh and Shane Sparks, the two defend Lil Mama jumping up onstage with Jay Z during the VMAs. They compare her to Lady Gaga, saying "you want people to love you or hate you. And Shane predicts that "one day Lil Mama is going to be called one of the biggest stars on Earth." Part III of our interview tomorrow!

Backstage with Layla & Shane: "I think he's full of crap" & more on Rhythm City/Massive Monkees Decision!

Shane Sparks and Layla Kayleigh banter and let the fur fly when our interviewers talked to them about choosing between Massive Monkees and Rhythm City. They also talk about the differences between what the judges see vs. what's shown on TV, and Layla gives Shane a hard time for wearing his sunglasses during the interview. If ABDC featured more on-camera banter like this, the ratings would soar! This is part I of III in our interviews with Layla and Shane; come back tomorrow for more!

Video - Layla Kayleigh misses Vogue Evolution

Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales talked to Layla Kayleigh at the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's VMA Challenge. After ascertaining that she would not give birth during this season, they talk about why she misses crews like Vogue Evolution and how the crews are dealing with the Top 4 stress.

Layla Kayleigh: "the more I see the dancers the more I never want to dance again"

PopStar interviewed Layla Kayleigh about her job on America's Best Dance Crew, advice to ABDC crews, the diversity of ABDC 4, her support for US troops, and her pregnancy. Highlights:

• "I hang out with the crews, eat lunch with them, and I just go and talk to them. I really feel so protective of them, I feel like I'm the mamma bear of the show."
• Her role as mamma bear: "they also might not be prepared for when they Google themselves. Someone will say something that is whack and that hurts their feeling..what I try to do is toughen them up a little bit"
• How being backstage hasn't helped her dancing: "Tthe more I see the dancers the more it makes me never want to dance again. They are so amazing!..I would get invited to hang out with the crews after the finales; I would just stand in the corner. Yes, I was that girl that just nodded my head. "

Interview: Layla Kayleigh in a family way

Chris Trondsen and ASIID's Della (Dellalicious) Hamby talked to Layla Kayleigh after the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4' s Beyonce Challenge. Listen in to all the family talk, including pregnancy jokes, how she wanted to be part of the ABDC family ('when I heard about the show I wanted to be part of it even if I had to deliver coffee), and how she feels like a den mother to all the crews. And, no, she doesn't secretly vote for her favorite crews!

Layla Kayleigh poses in underwear & offers ABDC taping tickets to help PETA

America's Best Dance Crew host Layla Kayleigh is helping PETA with a new campaign to stop cosmetic and household product testing on animals. To further the cause, she is helping them with a contest to win 2 tickets to watch a taping of ABDC 4. Further incentive (for some of you): she strips down to her underwear and a pair of mouse ears and a tail to emphasize the need to save lab mice. Click here to enter the contest and check out Layla's animal costume. Contest ends August 17.