UPDATED: Merchandise - ABDC, Beat Freaks & TM Shirts

People are looking for new ABDC merchandise, though it's 2 weeks into the season. We don't know about Quest shirts (the quest-ion most asked), but here are some other options:

UPDATE: Team Millennia shirts and hoodies are available at TMDance.org
Beat Freaks - Freak the Vote, available from Freakthevote.com and 5andadime.com . BTW -- Freak the Vote makes no money on the shirts -- they're making them as a way to get out the word on ABDC and their favorite crew.
Official ABDC shirts and hoodies from MTV.com, including new designs like this:
And, you can pre-order Fanny Pak sneakers from Milkshake Kicks.

Do-Knock and Phi battle during ABDC Commercial Break

During last week's tapings, SuperCr3w member Do-Knock and JabbaWockeeZ' Phi did some battling to entertain the crowd during a taping break. Here's MTV Remote Control's footage:

MTV - Music Videos - MTV Shows - Celebrity News

Dynamic Edition interview: Merging conflicting styles

The DeKalb Times Journal spoke to hometown hero Melissa Shores and the rest of Dynamic Edition. They talk about the crew's background,why they signed up for the America's Best Dance Crew audition, and the challenge of merging clogging with hip hop choreography: "“It’s really tough because it’s two conflicting styles.Clogging is really rigid, and hip-hop is really low to the ground.”

Playlist for the Britney Spears Challenge

Here's the line-up of songs for each crew on America's Best Dance Crew Britney Spears Challenge:

• Strikers All-Stars - “Gimme More”
• Fly Khicks - “Baby One More Time”
• Quest Crew - “Toxic”
• Dynamic Edition - “Stronger”
• Beat Freaks - “Womanizer”
• Ringmasters - “Circus”
• Team Millennia - “Me Against The Music”

The Ringmasters pair-up was obvious. Thematic pairings that they missed: "Hit me Baby One more Time" done by Strikers and "Oops I did it again" done by Team Millennia. MTV Remote Control also mentions that there will be an additional surprise challenge -- any guesses?

Team Millennia's Reaction after Week 2 Elimination

Pacific Rim Video talked to Team Millennia after they found out that they survived the ABDC elimination. They discuss how upset they were that Boxcuttuhz is gone and what they'll do to step up their game.

Blooper reel from ABDC backstage interviews

Pacific Rim Video has been providing exemplary backsage interviews for America's Best Dance Crew this season. Here's what you DON'T see on those videos:

Interview with Striker Edwin Bennett: ABDC as positive community influence

Tallahassee.com interviewed Striker All-Stars member Edwin Bennett after the Week 2 America's Best Dance Crew taping. Highlights:

• Why being named one of the judge's favorites is both a best case and worst case scenario
• How Bennett's success on ABDC is a positive influence for the kids from his community

Photocredit: MTV

Meet Rino of the Beat Freaks

Beat Freaks released a video interview of member Rino, talking about why she dances and her favorite entertainer:

Win a Trip to Attend the ABDC Finale from Clearasil!

Clearasil is partnering with MTV and offering a chance to attend the final showdown at the Season3 Live Finale. Click here to enter.

Exclusive backstage video - interviews, favorite moves

BABDC field reporters Salima Koroma (UCLA) and Michelle Kim (UCLA) got backstage before the Fit Challenge taping. Here's their video, showing interviews and favorite dance moves for Beat Freaks, Boxcuttuhz, Ringmasters, Dynamic Edition, Fly Khicks, Lil Mama, Shane Sparks, and Layla Kayleigh. Thanks Salima and Michelle!

Week 2 recaps - Weekend Edition

• The New York Daily News thinks that Quest showed that they are the new JabbaWockeeZ
• Spoil the Ending giggles at Dynamic Edition and yawns at Strikers and parts of Quest
• District 78 summarizes the performance and provides ITunes links for the songs
• Tiffanie at Ningin warns against the dangers of holding back
  

Super Cr3w - Life after America's Best Dance Crew

Super Cr3w sat down with Tragic Glory Clothing/Nulife Entertainment for a video interview, on JReyez' channel. Some of the questions are familiar (how the crew was formed, how does it feel to be a champion, advice for dancers), some are touching (the impact on their families), and some surprising (what it's like to run Super Cr3w the business. how they'll make SC3 'more than a household name').

Click here to watch part II.

Got ABDC questions? Here's your chance to get them answered BY THE CREWS on video!

Fanscape is attending this week's ABDC taping and wants the crews to answer questions from Blogging Best Dance Crew readers! This is your chance to help us 'get it right' and let the crews tell you what you need to know!

Submit your questions in the comments section. Guidelines:

• They're not sure which crews they'll interview, so you have a MUCH better chance of having your question used if it pertains to ALL crews, not just your favorite
• Keep it simple -- something that can be answered in 30 seconds or less
• This is video, so questions that require visual responses (e.g., dance steps) are cool
• Deadline: Monday January 26, Noon West Coast time

Second chance: Enter Week 2 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. UPDATE: I'm going to pull this post until after this week's show airs, to give everybody the same chance. See you soon

Click here for contest rules and prize. Good luck!

MTV Detox Strikes again, with ICONic accomplices

Jim Cantiello releases his latest Detox about America's Best Dance Crew Week 2. Think of it as ham on wry. On hand to further confuse the commentary are ABDC Season 1 crew ICONic acting as Jim's dancing camerapeople. Oh, if only this man's brain could be harnessed for good...

MTV Shows

Week 2 Recaps - Friday edition

• Tamara at Zap2It reviews the performances and the fashion. She adds: "I got to go to the taping and when Mario said it was a tough decision, it was. The judges talked about it for a good chunk of time. During the down time, Do-Knock from Supercr3w and one of the Jabbawockeez lead the audience in some dances. It was good times." Wish I had been there, Tamara!
• Mia at Ningin critiques the dances, giving her biggest praise to Beat Freaks ("these girls are just beyond") and Quest:"I can only say holy snap; did I just see the guys sliding on their heads and then back flipping over their peers?... I actually thought it was a special effect and had to rewind it nine times!"
• BDCMOVIEZ is back, outspoken as ever. It's a 3-part broadcast. Here's part 1; click to watch Part 2 & Part 3. As he says, "Lighten up, it's just Youtube."
• 
  

Exclusive Podcast with Boxcuttuhz AFTER the Week 2 Elimination

I spoke by phone with Boxcuttuhz on Wednesday January 21, after the taping where they were eliminated. Listen in as we talk about why they feel they were eliminated, what they' re most proud of during their time on America's Best Dance Crew, their favorite crews, and what's ahead for the crew. For more on Boxcuttuhz, tune into Extra this weekend (no, they are not interviewed by Mario Lopez).

Enter Round 2 of the ABDC Elimination Challenge Contest!

Okay, 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).

Last week, NOBODY got all three points. And, the season goes on for 7 more weeks, so it's anybody's game. Enter NOW -- here are the rules and details. Entries will be accepted until midnight, Monday January 26.

Send some love to Boxcuttuhz

We're sorry to see the Boxcuttuhz go. In their two weeks on America's Best Dance Crew, they showed humor, finesse. and great choreography. They brought a theatricality to this season that will be difficult to match.

This post is only for positive comments about Boxcuttuhz. If you want to negative comments about them or about other aspects of ABDC, please leave them in our Week 2 Party Room.

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the best Week 2 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Worst Week 2 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

VOTE!

The voting is now open for The Fit Challenge from now until 6am Eastern time. If you didn't like what happened this week, make sure it doesn't happen again!
You can vote online here. They will probably have the videos online by 11pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices

Week 2 Party Room is NOW OPEN -- Join us!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 2 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 and don't hold back. Kick butt, name names.

Live play-by-play blogging of ABDC's Fit 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. You can also leave comments about my commentary, of course. But wouldn't you really rather be watching the show and arguing amongst yourselves?

Exclusive Week 2 Taping Field report + Interview with Boxcuttuhz, Lil Mama, Shane Sparks

This week, Salima Koroma (UCLA, Daily Bruin) and her cameraperson Michelle Kim (UCLA) attended the Week 2 tapings for America's Best Dance Crew as field reporters for BABDC. Here's her written report (with a teaser!) We'll post her videos in the next few days. Thanks Salima!

"I was able to drop by the set of America's Best Dance Crew this week,and it was probably the most exciting, chaotic event I've ever been to. All the crews were hanging out, having fun, and getting pumped up backstage for the show to begin. The episode's theme was to incorporate a specific dance move into the choreography. This week's installment of ABDC was in two words: vividly vibrant. Almost all the crews were rocking their bright oranges, reds, fuchsias, and highlighter greens with a kind of wild abandon. Luckily enough for me, I blended in just fine with my multi-colored FUNK shirt (and since I was blending in so well with my bright shirt, I strongly contemplated running on stage with the extremely colorful Beat Freaks [see above], but I figured that since I didn't know the dance moves, I had to bail on that plan)."

Click here to read more of her report and interviews and see more crew photos (Salima is right about those insane costumes). And -- Salima told me that the elimination will be a SHOCKER to many ABDC fans. So watch tonight and get ready to re-vote in our Top 4 contest tomorrow!

JabbaWockeeZ' Phi: Season 3 reflections and prediction

Buddy TV spoke to Phi (aka Jeff Nguyen) of JabbaWockeeZ. Read and listen to it here: Highlights:

• He predicts that Beat Freaks will win Season 3
• He thinks that the season 3 crews are more well rounded than the Season 1 crews, and have benefited from watching the first two seasons of America's Best Dance Crew
  

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

TGIT! Celebrate and watch ABDC's Fit Challenge with us tonight! The Party Room (aka Critics Corner) opens at 9:30pm (East Coast time) and stays open all night long for everyone who wants to comment about America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Week 2 (or any other related topic). After the show, let us know what you thought -- What did you think of the challenge? Which crews need are all-stars and which need to go to the showers? Sarcasm and emotional outbursts are always welcome!

At 10pm, I'll be doing live play-by-play for those of you on the West Coast or have other reasons you can't or won't watch at that time.

And, early tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances of the evening. And, week 2 of the Elimination Contest will be on-line tomorrow. Join us!
Graphic credit: MTV

Week 1 BABDC Poll results: Quest Best, GOP Worst

Our readers have spoken on the best and worst performances of America's Best Dance Crew Week 1:

• Quest was the overwhelming favorite, receiving 41% of the 742 votes for best performances. Runners up were Beat Freaks (28%) and Boxcuttuhz (9%)
• GOP was voted the weakest performance, getting 34% of the 603 votes for worst performance. Runners-up: Ringmasters (19%), Team Millennia (13%), Fly Khicks (12%)

We'll have the Week 2 polls on-line early on Friday morning, so come back and vote!

Dynamic Edition Member faints during Week 2 Challenge

According to MTV Remote Control, "Dynamic Edition's Cara Petrunich fainted during a commercial break. Her crew was slated to dance next, but the routine was put on hold so Cara could regain her composure after the sudden collapse." Probable cause: overheating due to warm costumes plus excitement.

We hope that it didn't aversely impact Dynamic Edition's performance and that Cara is feeling okay today.
Photocredit: MTV

New Quest Interview: Ready to get twisted out of shape!

Pacific Rim Video interviewed several crews before the Week 2 taping of America's Best Dance Crew. Here's their Quest video. Highlight: Quest members would like a dance challenge where crews have to 'trade' skills (e.g., steppers have to do clogging). The crew they'd like to trade with: Ringmasters and their contortionist moves!

Bravo! to Improvements for ABDC Season 3

MTV made two helpful innovations for America's Best Dance Crew: linking performance videos to the MTV.com voting page while fans can STILL vote, and having bottom crews battle to the same music. Description:

• Performance videos on-line tied to voting: A few hours after the show airs in NY (after it ends on the West Coast perhaps), video clips of the performances are on-line on the MTV voting page. This gives access to performances for those unfortunate people who couldn't watch the show at air time but still want to vote. It is also a useful reminder for those people who want to 'vote right'
  

• Elimination challenge with crews performing to the same music: Before the show, all the crews were given the same 'elimination' master mix. The crews have time to prepare a 30-second routine to this mix and then perform the routine if they face elimination. This added challenge allows judges and viewers to compare the crews 'apples to apples'. It also reduces the handicaps that some crews faced in past seasons when they were assigned music that wasn't as appropriate to the challenge as the songs given to other crews

Readers: Do you have other CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions for MTV on improving the show or the voting process?

JC Chasez: What's so special about ABDC and Season 3

PopWrap interviewed JC Chasez. Read it here. Among the highlights:

• "I don't consider this [America's Best Dance Crew] to be reality TV because it's more of a talent competition"
• "Once I heard the crowd inside the theater yelling and screaming for the crews, I knew we had something special"
• On the question of what makes a good challenge: "Each one needs to be creative and multi-diminensional...if you stick one thing on someone, they can overcome that in a matter of seconds, but these routines are more than a minute long, so there needs to be more to them"
• About a possible NYSYNC reunion tour: "I know nothing about one."

Mailbox: Kollaboration 9, Team Millennia, JabbaWockeeZ Meet &Greet

• Kollaboration 9 is billed as the biggest Asian talent show in history and will feature Kaba Modern and Fanny Pak. Tickets for this February 21 event in LA are available now at Kollaboration.org
• Popfix spotlights Team Millennia
• Opportunity for LA area fans: You can attend a meet & greet and participate in a phot-op with JabbaWockeez on January 30, but you need a VIP pass. To get a VIP Pass, just purchase a JBWKZ t-shirt at the Shiekh Shoes store at 294 Fox Hills Mall in Culver City between January 16-29.

Week 2 Playlist

MTV Remote Control just revealed the playlist for America's Best Dance Crew's 'Fit Test Challenge':

• Beat Freaks - Webbie “Independent”
• Boxcuttuhz - N.E.R.D. “Everybody Nose”
• Dynamic Edition - Metro Station “Shake It”
• Fly Khicks - Pitbull ft. Lil John “Crazy”
• Ringmasters - Young Jeezy ft. Kanye West “Put On”
• Quest Crew - Kevin Rudolf/Lil Wayne “Let It Rock”
• Team Millennia - Rihanna “Disturbia”
• Strikers All-Stars - Mims “Move If You Wanna”

ABDC Season 3 is a ratings hit!

According to TV Barn.com, Week 1 of America's Best Dance Crew was a hit:

• The 10p.m. season three premiere of "America's Best Dance Crew" on Thursday, January 15 averaged over 1.56 million viewers between 12-34 years old, making it the night's highest rated original cable series

• Propelled by the ABDC season three premiere, MTV delivered its strongest Thursday rating for the 12-34 age group since August 2008.

Way to go, MTV!

Week 2 Challenge: Are you ready for some fitness?

The challenge for America's Best Dance Crew Week 2: incorporating a strenuous physical activity into the dance routines. Ugh -- makes me shudder, reminding me of Phys Ed and Olivia Newton-John.

How do you think this will affect this week's outcome?

Happy Inauguration Day!

The battling is over and today Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. We'd like to celebrate by sharing a dance with him.Here he is, courtesy of the Ellen Degeneres show and his official Youtube channel:


Click here for a reminder of the hard-fought battle for the presidency. Now, let us hope and pray that indeed America voted right!

Mailbox: Mario Lopez, West Coast Crews, St. Maarten's Best Dance Crew

• TV Guide asks Mario Lopez which is tougher: ABDC or Dancing with the Stars
• BakItWhy covered the West Coast auditions, with a focus on the many crews with Filipino members. Their coverage includes interviews with Boxcuttuhz.
• Morebacchanal posts video for Week 2 of St. Maarten's Best Dance Crew, with a surprise in the eliminations
  

New Feature - Discussion Boards for all crews and ABDC regulars

We added discussion boards for America's Best Dance Crew's crews (Seasons 1-3), judges, and hosts, on the left side of our homepage. The discussion thread will appear in the main body of the blog; just click back to return to the home page. Sorry this isn't a cleaner interface - unfortunately, Blogger isn't the best vehicle for discussion boards.

We hope this will satisfy our readers who asked for a more permanent place where they can share their views and news about the ABDC performers. If you want to include information about fansites, please email us directly (bloggingbestdancecrew@gmail.com) and we'll put the information right on the post.

Talk of Fame's Talks to Kid Rainen about ABDC Judging

Kid Rainen tells Talk of Fame being a judge for America's Best Dance Crew, the Leona Lewis video, the G ad, and their clothing line.

Video Recap of Week 1 from BDCMOVIEZ

BDCMOVIEZ provides two video recaps that are reminiscent of Max Headroom... but eerily fun to watch. Among his major points: GOP Dance Crew should not have been sent home.

MTV Detox Spoofs America's Best Dance Crew

My twisted friend Jim Cantiello is writer and host of an on-line show called MTV Detox, where he spoofs the day's MTV shows. He's already alienated the Icki Twins (Double Shot at Love) and the housemates at Real World, so of course America's Best Dance Crew is fair game. I think he figured out why GOP was eliminated (who knoew that Sarah Palin was a b-girl!), examines anti-clogger bias, and much much more. Click here to watch.

Week 1 Recaps, Round 2

• Buddy TV is back on the America's Best Dance Crew beat, picking Quest and Beat Freaks as their favorites
• RoebbyisRevolutionary returns with in-depth analysis and the realization that "the underdogs can pull a fast one under the main contenders if the main contenders don't watch their backs." Welcome back Roebby!
• JoanneO weighs in, loving Beat Freaks, how the judges never talk down to anyone and "how the words you and your are banished in favor of y'all and y'alls by Shane and Lil Mama"
• Travis Yanan weighs in snarkily
  
• Tiffanie at Ningin has one of the best analyses of Week 1's dance moves. Her take: a solid foundation in hip hop and b-boy were the key success factors for the show
  

Exclusive : Podcast with GOP Dance

Late this week, I spoke with GOP Dance. We talked about their experience on America's Best Dance Crew, how this week's injuries and illnesses affected their performance, their favorite crews for Season 3, and their plans going forward. Listen till the end, even if you don't understand 2 minutes of Spanish (and if you do, please leave a comment translating it for me!) Listen here:

Good luck guys! I'm sure we'll be seeing more from you!

Now for something completely different -- Win a Dance Lesson with MC Hammer

This news is not America's Best Dance Crew by a long shot, but post-worthy because it's funny with a great prize: DanceJam launched a contest, where the Grand Prize winner is flown to San Francisco for a private dance lesson with MC Hammer.

All you have to do is upload a 20-90 second video of you doing the Hammer Dance. Entries will be judges on creativity (dress up and get crazy!), dance skills, entertainment value, and video popularity. Finalists will be announced on February 5, and winners selected February 10.


Click here for more info, here to enter, & here to watch and rate video submissions

Mailbox - Season 3 crew edition

• MTV posts interviews with each of the crews, including very short clips from their auditions
  
• 21-7 Magazine loves hometown crew Ringmasters and profiles them with background and videos
• The FAMUan (the school paper for The Strikers) interviews the crew about the auditions and preparations for appearing on America's Best Dance Crew
• Tricities High School online talks to alum Tallie Brinson who performs with The Strikers
• Filipino Student Association looks at Season 3's Filipino representation on Team Millennia, Boxcuttuhz and Quest
  
• Ticking News collects all the facts on Lydia Paek, who performs with Boxcuttuhz on America's Best Dance Crew and has also danced with Quest
  

Playlist for ABDC Season 3 Episode 1

Here's the playlist for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Episode 1, for all of you asking about this week's musical selections. Keep in mind that the crews used master mixes, so they may not be available on line in the form you heard on MTV.

• Strikers: "Swing Your Rag" (T.I.)
• Beat Freaks: "Din Da Da" (George Kranz)
  
• GOP Dance: "Rompe" (Daddy Yankee)
• Quest: "Hero" (Nas)
• Fly Khicks: "Milkshake" (Kelis)
• Ringmasters: "Welcome Back" (Young Jeezy)
• Boxcuttuhz: "Bonefied Lovin" (Chromeo)
• Dynamic Edition: "My Humps" (Black Eyed Peas)
• Team Millennia: "Beating Heart Baby" (Head Automatica)
• Elimination Battle: "Live Your Life" (T.I.)

JabbaWockeez &Super Cr3w shirts - 40% off!

To celebrate the fact that America's Best Dance Crew is back on the air, Armory Survival Gear is running an online-only blowout sale -- 40% off on all their JabbaWockeeZ and Super Cr3w merchandise. No discount code needed -- the savings are taken out at checkout! So check it out here at armoryhiphop.com.

Mailbox: Lil Mama, GOP Dance, Kallusive Clothing and ABDC

• Lil Mama talks to Netscape Celebrity about how she changed the rap game but does not get sufficient respect
• MTV Remote Control talks to GOP Dance Crew after the elimination
• LAist has an entertaining interview with the creators of Kallusive clothing. On one show in Season 3, ASIID competed in Kallusive shirts. The company has close ties with the hip hop community, with Mike Song (Kaba Modern and Kallusive Dance Company) as their representative. The post's picture shows Mike in a Kallusive hoodie. Kallusive also sponsors the upcoming VIBE dance competition.
  

Talk of Fame interviews: "Nothing else matters when ABDC comes around"

Talk of Fame is back on the America's Best Dance Crew beat, exhibiting their usual off-beat humor. Here's their interview with Randy Jackson, Mario Lopez, Layla Kayleigh, Lil Mama (showing 'Minnie Mouse chic'), and Kid Rainen.

Recaps From all over, Round 1

• Zap2It gets rapturous about ABDC's return, loves that there are strong girl crews, and bemoans the fact that they cut a crew in this Episode. I'm with you on that.
• Reality TV Online loves Quest and Ringmasters, and thinks that GOP got robbed.
• Mia at Ningin identifies the music and rates the performances. Favorites:Beat Freaks and Quest
  

Season 3 Contest #2: The Elimination Challenge

Blogging Best Dance Crew will run several contests during Season 3, two of which will extend from Episode 1 through the finale.

Contest #2: The Elimination Challenge: Which crews will be in the bottom 2 each week? 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).

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, leave a comment with the name of the bottom 2, specifying which one is eliminated. For example, last season a winning entry for Week 8 would have read: "BOTTOM 2 WEEK 8 - Super Cr3w, Fanny Pak. Eliminated: Fanny Pak." You will be awarded 1 point for each crew you name in the bottom 2 that week, and an extra point for identifying the eliminated crew, for a total of 3 possible points per week.

Entries will be accepted from Thursday (after the episode airs) until Midnight (Pacific Time) the Monday afterwards, so that nobody can use insider info from the Tuesday tapings. **IMPORTANT**:

• Make sure you include your email address in the email field of the comments (not in the comment itself); any answers without email address will not be used.This way, I'll be able to see the email address but it won't be published.
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS 'BOTTOM 2' in the comment (so I can search for them easily).

Only 1 entry per email address per week, please. Each week, we will only accept the FIRST entry from each email address.

Good luck!

UPDATE: the contest is closed for this week. Next week's round will be posted on Thursday.

Backstage with the Crews - an exclusive report

Our Blogging Best Dance Crew field reporter got backstage to interview several ABDC Season 3 crews before the taping of Episode 1. Here's her report. Thanks for the awesome reporting!

Now in its third season within 12 months. America's Best Dance crew is back with even fresher moves, tougher competition, and most notably, newer styles. "Different" was the word most frequently used to describe the Crews on Season 3, and these people weren't lying.

Escorted into the makeshift dressing rooms, we met up with crews right after their dinner as they geared up for the big season premiere. It reminded me of being backstage at one of my own dance competitions: gold stage makeup, wardrobe malfunction checks,and most importantly, the practicing. Seeing dancers with iPods in ears, counting in their heads, and constantly repeating sections of the routines brings back my memories of nerves, excitement, and anticipation.

I was first drawn to one of the brighter dressed crews -- Fly Khicks -- whose six female members were absolute sweethearts. When asked about their style of dancing, they told me: "We definitely bring something different this year because we bring sass for women, we also bring the strength the guys can bring. We bring diversity, we bring hip hop, we bring jazz, we bring technique. We bring flavor. We're representing different parts of the world, We bring different styles of dance and we're just excited." In terms of their wardrobe, they shared this secret: "It starts from the kicks up; that's how the outfits start. We gotta pick out our sneakers first and then depending on the sneakers, we figure out what to put on. We always have to have some fly kicks."

Click here for  interviews and photos with Dynamic Edition, Strikers, Ringmasters, and Team Millennia. And, join us on Sunday for an exclusive podcast with GOP Dance.

Upcoming Dance workshop in LA featuring members of TM, Kaba Modern, SoReal Cru

Los Angeles will be the site of yet another high-powered dance workshop on February 1. The event is called Male on Sunday: Part 2 LA. Instructors include Andrew Baterina and Brian Puspos (Soreal Cru), CJ "Sauce" Edwards (Team Millennia), and Tony Tran (Kaba Modern). For more information and tickets, go to http://web.me.com/aqureshi, and select "Unleashed ENT." Here's a promo video from Bootlegshaboobs. Thanks, Michael!

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Best Episode 1 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Which ABDC Crew gave the Worst Episode 1 Performance?

poll by twiigs.com

VOTE!

Click here to go to the MTV website and vote. Voting closes at 6:30am Eastern time Friday.

The Party Room is NOW OPEN -- Join us!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 1 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 and don't hold back. Work it.

Live play-by-play blogging of ABDC Season 3 Premiere

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. You can also leave comments about my commentary, of course. But wouldn't you really rather be watching the show and arguing amongst yourselves?

Welcome to our new advertiser - Milkshake Kicks

We just got a new advertiser -- Milkshake Kicks. They sell unique women's sneakers, and are now pre-selling Fanny Pak kicks. Soon, we'll be running a contest with them too. So, click on their ad now and stay tuned.

Yahoo TV Blog: Crew impressions and predictions

Chrissy from Yahoo TV Blog has been an insider from the beginning, attending almost every taping, getting to know every crew, and doing other activities that verge on stalkerdom. Luckily she's a reporter (and a good writer), so her obsession is our gain.
Read her column today, where she handicaps the Season 3 crews.Think of it as the best tip sheet around.

MTV's ABDC Season 3 info now online

MTV posted its lead page for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, complete with photos, member names and ages, and descriptions of the nine competing crews.

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

At last Season 3 has arrived. Celebrate with us tonight! The Party Room (aka Critics Corner) opens at 9:30pm (East Coast time) and stays open all night long for everyone who wants to comment about America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Episode 1 (or any other related topic). After the show, let us know what you thought --Is this going to be the best season ever? Did they pick the right crews to compete? Sarcasm and emotional outbursts are always welcome!

At 10pm, I'll be doing live play-by-play for those of you on the West Coast or have other reasons you can't or won't watch at that time.

And, early tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances of the evening. Join us!
Photo credit: MTV

Season 3 mailbox: crew summaries, Fly Khicks pix, Beat Freak's Lady Jules

• Seattle PI calls Season 3 "will definitely be about entertainment and not just dance." They post 1-2 lines about each crew along with the videos from Pacific Rim Press
• The Dekalb Times Journal profiles Melissa Shores (Dynamic Edition)
  
• The 305.com (a Miami-based blog) runs photos of the Fly Khicks
• Beat Freaks member Lady Jules talks to the camera about how the movie "Breakin'" changed her life, her aspirations, and why everyone should dance. Thanks for the tip, Cole!

New SoReal Cru video -- The Lowdown

From SoReal Cru TV, a new video of their rehearsal dancing to Justin Timberlake's Set The Mood and T-Pain's I Can't Believe It.

Groovaloos Dominate Superstars of Dance Again

On January 12, NBC aired the third Superstars of Dance Show. The Groovaloos appeared at the end of the show (why are they always the last act of the night?) and again got the highest group score. As a reminder, here's our first post about the Groovaloos, a group that includes members from JabbaWockeeZ, Super Cr3w and Beat Freaks (though none of these ABDC types appeared on Superstars). To watch, click here, select Episode 103, watch the commercial, then select Chapter 11.

As a bonus: Groovaloos also appeared on Ellen Degeneres. Click here to watch the full performance.

MTV's Official Meet the Crews Video

MTV's Remote Control just posted a Meet the Crews video. If you aren't doing it already, keep an bookmark on Remote Control -- they're a great source for new and exclusive crew information.

Season 3 Contest #1: Predict the Top 4 Teams

Blogging Best Dance Crew will run several contests during Season 3, two of which will extend from Episode 1 through the finale.

Contest #1: Submit the names of the top 4 crews -- in the order that they'll finish. For example, last season the winning entry would have read " FINAL 4: 1. Super Cr3w 2. SoReal Cru 3. Fanny Pak 4. Boogie Bots." I WILL AWARD ABDC MEMORABILIA (choice of an autographed Fanny Pak shirt or an unautographed JabbaWockeeZ mask) TO THE FIRST PERSON TO CORRECTLY SUBMIT THE ANSWER. Note: if you change your mind, you can enter again the next week, but we will only accept the FIRST entry from each email address each week.

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, add a comment with the names of the final 4, specifying the final order. The first entry will be accepted from now until Midnight (Pacific Time) next Wednesday. Subsequent weeks' entries will be accepted from Thursdays until midnight the following Wednesdays. IMPORTANT:

• Make sure you include your email address in the email field of the comments (not in the comment itself); any answers without email address will not be used. This way, I'll be able to see the email address but it won't be published.
  
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS 'TOP 4' in the comment (so I can search for them easily)
  

Good luck and start commenting!

H4 Workshops and Battling this weekend in Torrance, CA

Southern Californians: check out H4 this weekend for inexpensive and high quality classes and dancing. On Saturday January 17 there will be free kid's workshops, followed by battling ($5 admission fee). On Sunday January 18 from noon til 5, there will be workshops and discussion panels taught by dancers like Mike Song (Kaba Modern and Kallusive Dance) and other incredible dancers. Then stay for battling. The price for an all-access pass is only $20. The poster above has the details or go to the Culture Shock LA website.

Summary - Profiles of Season 3 Crews

Over the last week, we've posted info and videos about the 9 crews selected for Season 3. Here's a summary:

• Beat Freaks
• Boxcuttuhz
• Dynamic Edition
• Fly Khicks
• GOP
  
• Quest
  
• Ringmasters
  
• Team Millennia
• The Strikers
  

Pacific Rim Video Fest -- Interviews with the Crews

Pacific Rim Video Press just uploaded 15 video interviews from last night's taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3, Episode 1. Go to their channel to watch L0st Kids interview Beat Freaks, Boxcuttuhz, Team Millennia, Dynamic Edition, The Strikers, GOP Dance, Ring Masters, Fly Khicks, Quest, Kid Rainen, and Layla Kayleigh. Here's a taste -- an intriguing interview with Quest:

Season 3 Episode 1 -- Surprise!

Our field reporter this week, just sent me an email about her experience. We'll post a an more in-depth teaser tomorrow or Thursday (with no spoilers). BUT -- the big surprise was that there was an elimination already, even without viewer votes. In the comments, speculation is welcome BUT NO SPOILERS PLEASE. Sorry, but I'll have to block anyone who posts spoiler info.

ABDC Hoists the Season 3 Banners

MTV Remote Control reveals the banners for the Season 3 crews. Interestingly, they still name the region. I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to guess the significance of the symbols. Any suggestions?

Hat tip: Jeff, who beat me to it again!

Win a Date with Boogie Bots in Times Square

On March 4, Boogie Bots and other America's Best Dance Crew teams (to be announced later) will be part of a friendly competition ("The Fight Against Acne") to promote Clearasil's new Pimple Block Pen. The event will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, NY and feature a celebrity guest MC, lots of acts, giveaways, and dancing. Boogie Bots wants to share the experience with fans and is running a contest. How to win: "Submit your best, most creative, funniest, heartfelt 'I love Boogie Bots' 90 second-minute video and upload it onto Youtube. Then send an email to boogiebotscrew@gmail.com with your name, age, mailing address, email address, best phone number to reach you, AND a link to the video clip. Deadline: February 18, 2009. The winner gets 2 VIP tickets to see the event. First runner up receives a Boogie Bots Tshirt and 3 2nd place runners up will receive an autographed Boogie Bots poster. So start taping and good luck! This tip from VB2DC. Photocredit: LA Times

Season 3 Crew: GOP Dance Crew

Back in December 2008, GOP Dance Crew contacted Blogging America's Best Dance Crew with information about the crew and a video. We loved the video and posted it. That post (click here to see it) generated more reader comments than almost any other story we've ever run. And, we're pleased that GOP will appear on Season 3.

GOP (which stands for Group of Peace) are a Puerto Rican dance group that has worked with more than 4800 disadvantaged teenagers. Getting on America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 means a lot to GOP, whose members have overcome numerous hardships and obstacles. One was in a car accident and was left with a paralyzed arm. Others served in Iraq or dealt with drug issues. They almost had to miss the auditions because they didn't have enough money for plane tickets and had trouble raising the needed funds.

The crew members are Kano, Mr. P, B-Boy Crash, B-one Smoke, Sherhan Rodriguez, and AV Caribbean Heat. Contact them at Facebook or MySpace. Here's an intro to the members from the GOPDance Channel:


Beyond their personal story -- they can MOVE. The original videos that we used have been removed but here's a new video where the crew members dance both individually and with a crew called Floor Rockers.

Season 3 Crew: Ringmasters (aka Main Eventt)

Ringmasters may be the most controversial pick made for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. To illustrate, let me contrast them with Quest (at least what I know about the 2 crews at this point). Members of both crews have years of dancing experience, strong and characteristic moves, and their own charm. BUT -- where Quest is polished, Ringmasters is raw. Where Quest has an established following, Ringmasters are outsiders. Where Quest takes many of its inspiration from more classical dance, Ringmaster is street.

Ringmasters has been performing since 1999 as Main Eventt. I didn't catch all the crew member names, but they include Marty McFly and Nugget the Bone Breaking King. They've won many local competitions and appeared on BET's "106th and Park". Click here for a snippet of them battling The Strikers (who will also appear on Season 3). Click here for the Ringmasters MySpace page.

To meet the crew members, watch this video from Flexentnyc which was taken outside the NY ABDC Season 3 Auditions. The members talk about their history and influences, then battle the new Status Quo.
I watched the Ringmaster audition and loved the crew's intensity, humor, and trademark moves. I posted about them as one of my favorites from the NY auditions long before the final crews were announced. Here's the video of the first time they performed their routine. As with many of the best crews that auditioned, the judges asked them to perform their routine a second time, and the second performance was much smoother and error-free. I'm sorry I don't have a tape of that, since a lot of readers are not giving Ringmasters the chance they deserve.

Click here to watch more Ringmasters (Main Eventt) videos, including a trailer for their DVD "TheTakeover" which gives a sense of this crew's moves and personality, as well as a longer video with more of the "106th and Park" footage.

VIBE XIV Tickets now available -- Win them or buy them!

On Sunday January 25, Kallusive will host VIBE XIV, to be held at UC Irvine. Team Millennia and Kaba Modern will be among the many competing crews. Click here for more information and to buy tickets.

Also, you can enter the Kallusive contest to win free tickets to the event. The Take Me To Vibe poster above (featuring Lando and Lydia from Boxcuttuhz) spells out the details.

Here's the trailer from last year's event:

Join us for intense coverage of ABDC Season 3

We're gearing up for Season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew. Here are some reasons you should join us over the next few weeks:

• Our field reporters will cover the ABDC tapings, including sneak previews (but no spoilers) and backstage interviews
• On Thursdays, join us for live play-by-play blogging during the shows
• Comment in our after-show forums about the shows, crews, judges, music, whatever
• We hope to provide exclusive videos or podcasts with crews throughout Season 3
  
• Vote in our polls about the best and worst performances
• Enter our contests to win Tshirts and other stuff
• We'll scour the internet to bring you other coverage from mainstream media, news/entertainment sites, and blogs. If you're going to blog about the show, let us know and we'll try to include you in our links.