VOTE NOW while you still can!

The online voting is now open  from now until 6:00am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now! Click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online after 11:00pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.  If you want to phone or text instead, the numbers are: Phone: 1-877-96-CREW + (number):
Text: 22444 then (number):

• Jungle Boogie: 1
• Poreotix: 2
• Hype 5-0: 3
• Blueprint Cru: 4

Party Room/Critics Corner now open -- join us!

The Party Room/Critics Corner for ABDC 5's Usher Challenge is now open! Join lots of other readers, fans (or not) as they vent on what they love and what they hate. IMPORTANT: If you want to write a long comment, write in in NotePad or Word and then paste it into the comments field. Otherwise, all your work may disappear if someone posts something new while you're in the middle of writing. 

After the show is over: The party has just started, so stick around for more action, reaction, and interaction. Is this the best season EVER? Why do we need another Magic Challenge anyway? Who shone and who faded? This is your party -- snark, humor, recriminations, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!

Live Play-by-Play, ABDC's Usher Challenge

Del and maybe Nancy will be co-hosts of this live play-by-play of America's Best Dance Crew Usher Challenge. Feel free to follow along (particularly if you cannot watch it until later). Please be aware that your comments might not be posted immediately (or at all) as we have to moderate them, watch the show, and type at the same time.

Video: Sneak peek at tonight's episode

From the RickeyTVX Youtube Channel.   FYI -- I checked with MTV and they gave out this video to the post-er, so it is sanctioned:

Video: Happy birthday Lisa Brown of Saltare!

A short and sweet video: Chris and Glenda present a present to Saltare's Lisa Brown who turned 21 this week!

Exclusive video: Blueprint cru take on a reader challege to impersonate the other crews

Because most of our interviews at the tapings this week were conducted AFTER the taping of ABDC's Usher Challenge, we have to wait to share them. One exception: Chris Trondsen and Glenda Morales (Fanny Pak) talked to Blueprint Cru before the taping. They answer a few reader questions and rise to a reader challenge -- impersonate the style of the other remaining ABDC crews. Vote for your favorite impersonation here. Tomorrow, we'll have more crew interviews and challenges, to show you including spontaneous raps and booty shake contests.

Preview from the Pressbox: Chris Trondsen reports on the Usher Challenge taping

In tonight’s show you will see people on wheels, lots of sexy shirts and cleavage, booty shaking from some of the men, comedy, and a jump from up high into an amazing move. Tonight’s show will be more enjoyable then last weeks because of more modern music and better performances.

The bottom two is most shocking this week.  When one of them was announced as one of the bottom two crews, people in press gasped.  They both had solid performances but tonight’s elimination may not have been based on tonight's performance alone.  Everyone in the press room -- even the ones who were not fans of the crew going home -- agreed that this crew killed it tonight. Two crews this week had performances that stood above the rest.  One crew keeps improving and shows why they belong there. 

Click here to read the rest of Chris' report. Thanks Chris!

Mailbox: Profile of We are Heroes' Hiro, Quest wedding performance, Sass X7 at benefit

• Pacific Citizen has an in-depth profile of We Are Heroes member Hiroka McRae. Favorite quote:"When I was on the show I decided to think even if I die tomorrow I’m not going to regret anything. So even in the bathroom — even though I’m rolling toilet paper — I’m thinking about our routine. … I had the time of my life when we were on ABDC.”
• No video or even posted pictures, but Project Wedding has a report that Quest performed at her wedding: "the best part though was his wedding gift to me - a surprise performance by Quest Crew...I was stunned and had no clue until I saw them troop onto our dance floor and start performing! My husband and I love watching the show and I had jokingly once mentioned to him that it'd be amazing if they performed at our wedding, never dreaming it could actually happen! Well, it seems my husband took a mental note of it, sought out their manager and somehow arranged for it to happen. All our guests went crazy!"
• Sass X7 performed at a benefit for the Human Society in New York, according to Guest of a Guest. No video, but some good photos of Sass X7 and dogs.

Join us tonight for partying and play-by-play of ABDC's Usher challenge

Join us tonight to see if the crews are up for Usher.  The Party Room/Critics Corner opens at 9:30 ET and stays open as long as you want, so you can talk about whatever you want, preferable as it relates to America's Best Dance Crew

At 10pm ET, we'll have live play-by-play while watching the  show, so feel free to play along  get a sneak preview of the action (for those of you from the West Coast/Canada/India or other ABDC-deprived zones). Del will be in charge; I may or may not be in there, depending on whether I get back my power, cable, and internet access.


Tomorrow morning, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances. Plus we hope to have recaps, more backstage interviews, and more.   We'll  have week 8 of our Bottom 2/Elimination  contest. On Saturday, I'll post the next round of the Top 4 contest. So stay with us!

Survey says: Poreotix had the grooviest disco challenge performance

Results are in for our surveys on the best and worst performances for ABDC's Disco challenge. NOTE: there was significant spamming of the 'worst' survey, so that I had to throw out over 1,000 votes cast in the first 5 hours. This week, please don't ruin it for everyone with a repeat of rudeness like this.

• Poreotix received 51% of the 1374 votes for Best performance, followed by Blueprint Cru with 15%. Full results here.
• After discarding the 'spammed' results, 1357 votes were cast for Worst performance. Saltare received that dubious distinction with  40% of the vote, followed by Hype 5-0 with 27%. Click here for full results.

Ridonkulous' Footwork 2010 event and workshops with Fanny Pak and Static Noyze - April 3

MIT's Ridonkulous is holding a dance event on April 3 with prizes (yay!) and some of the best crews seen in the East Coast (or elsewhere).Scheduled performers include Fanny Pak, Static Noyze, Wrush, Phunk Phenomenon, Lil Funk, and more. If it's sponsored by Ridonkulous, it'll be good -- trust us.  Click here for the details.

On April 4, the group will hold workshops taught by Fanny Pak's James Alsop (who is also the Footwork Host), Beau Fournier and Megan Lawson; Static Noyze artistic director Mike Patlingrao, and Artistry in Motion's Donyelle Jones. Info and signup here.

Quest Interview: secrets revealed, favorite video games and what got them into dancing

May Pang's AMIN (a website devoted to Asian American news) has a fun interview with new information on Quest. Among the topics: the impact on them of having Asian Americans in the White House staff, what got them started in dancing, their favorite video games, a secret revealed for each answering member, cereal with or without milk, who they'd like to dance for, and what they'd be doing if they weren't dancing.

Talk of Fame talks with Saltare about the fire ropes & learns to jump with his butt

Albert Lawrence at Talk of Fame visited with Saltare a few days after the Disco Challenge. They talk about the risks they took in jumping with fire, and the issues with mistakes during this season. They also teach him how to jump rope while sitting. Albert, you make it look easy!

Report from the Usher tapings

Several readers of BloggingBestDanceCrew were in the audience at the taping of ABDC's Usher Challenge. Look for Drewski wearing red and 808 Roann's green Hawaii hat. Crush! has again provided us with an account of what to watch for this week. Note: she described the crews in alphabetical order, so as not to give away any spoiler info.

Hey guys! Well i got to say tonight was an awesome episode! It may even rival the Lady Gaga Challenge! Well let me start off by saying that both Heavy Impact and Static Noyze attended the taping! I loved seeing them again! oh and Usher unfortunately did not attend the taping.. :[ 

Ok lets start with Blueprint. Their song was Hey Daddy and they had to incorporate the part of the music video where the girls have their hands all over Usher's body. Let me say they definitely brought the tight precision that we all love, but also got sexy on us! The highlight for me was when Bboy Hero slid and did a freeze. Oh and JC also started flirting with one of the Blueprint girls. lol. 

Click here to read the rest of Crush! report. Thanks Crush!

Interviews at the Usher Taping from DancePlug, Pacific Rim and BakIt Why

DancePlug and BakItWhy joined Pacific Rim in the race for the earliest posts of  pre-ABDC taping interviews with the crews.DancePlug talked to Saltare and Hype 5-0.


Pacific Rim interviewed Poreotix, Jungle Boogie, Saltare, and said hi and bye to Blueprint Cru. 
    BakItWhy talked to Blueprint Cru and Hype:

Let Us Know if you attend tonight's taping!

The Usher Challenge episode of America's Best Dance Crew Season 5 tapes tonight, with 5 crews from from the United States and Canada battling to be in the top 4. If you attend the taping, leave a comment and let us know what it was ALL like -- Usher's appearance,  the judges, returning crews in the audience, the performing crews, celebrities, you name it. Please DON'T just focus on who stays and who goes, since that will be deleted as a spoiler. Tell us about other aspects, so we can live vicariously through your experience.

AND REMEMBER -- NO SPOILERS!! DO NOT SAY, HINT, OR IMPLY THE FATE OF ANY OF THE CREWS !! REPEAT OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED FROM COMMENTS. AND -- ANYTHING YOU HEAR HERE STAYS HERE -- DO NOT POST ANY COMMENTS/TWITTERS/EMAIL MESSAGES ON WIKIPEDIA, MTV.COM DISCUSSION BOARDS, TELEVISION WITHOUT PITY OR ANYWHERE ELSE. IF YOU IGNORE THIS RULE, WE COULD LOSE OUR PRESS PRIVILEGES AND I CERTAINLY WILL NOT HAVE A POST LIKE THIS NEXT WEEK OR IN THE FUTURE. I MEAN IT!! For the most part, the system that commenters used in the past worked. But again, some people persisted in leaving the wrong things up and leaving me cleanup work. That will have VERY bad repercussions this time, so don't do it again!

Video Channel to watch: Academy of Villains

Academy of Villains (the Second Generation crew for Supreme Soul) has a Youtube channel with several must-watch offerings, shot like music videos but featuring their best dancing. A recent post: "DayDreaming"-- dancing starts at 1:30.Thanks for the tip, Tiensi!

Video: Beat Freak Maryss in commercial for Windows France

Maryss from Paris is the star of a 15-second commercial for Windows France. Thanks, Ravoo!

Awesome photo gallery of Super Cr3w's Ronnie in Paris

Ronnie -- Super Cr3w member and Red Bull BCOneWinner 2007 winner -- visited Paris to judge Chelles Battle Pro. To commemorate the visit, RedBull took some amazing wide-angle photos of Ronnie at some of Paris' landmarks. Here's the translated story -- be sure to view all the images (right hand side of the page). Thanks Supercr3w.com for the link!

Video: Heavy Impact talks about their favorite ABDC moments

Pacific Rim met up with Heavy Impact on March 11 at the My Ninja 1st Anniversary party. They talk to Chris Trondsen about their favorite memories of America's Best Dance Crew.

Song list for ABDC's Usher Challenge

MTV Remote Control posted the song choices for this week's ABDC Usher Challenge. Here's the list, along with the original videos:

• BLUEPRINT CRU - "Hey Daddy"
• HYPE 5-0 - "U Don't Have To Call"
• JUNGLE BOOGIE - "Love In This Club"
• POREOTIX - "Yeah"
• SALTARE - "Caught Up"

Previous posts on the ABDC Season 7 auditions

MASTER LIST OF AUDITIONERS, w/ links & callback info
- Audition callback mixes from District 78
OUR EXCLUSIVE Chachi/Chris interviews & Dance demos at LA auditions:
- Street Kingdom, Body Poets
- Stepboys mock interview Chris & Chachi!
- Stepboys, Crush on Arrival, Puzzle Peace
- Blank Canvas, Bootz Crew, Flavahz Crew
- Miniotics, Empire Crew, Chi-Town's Finest Breakers
- Praise Team, Knucklehead Zoo, Muse, Persona
- Elektrolytes, Fortissimo, Heart Stopperz, Floorteenth St.
- Instant Bun, Goodfellas, SHMOB Squad, Wrecking Clowns
- Block Rockas, Physical Poets
- Skool Rascals, MVP
Other LA coverage, including field report from INSIDE the LA audition room!
Videos and news from New York auditions
Videos and news from Chicago and Houston auditions
Videos of audition routines/road to ABDC7
Nine Top international contenders for ABDC7

March Madness at ABDC -- Battling quotes!

Big Boy had a great idea for our community: Since it's March, we need to run some bracket competitions. One underappreciated facet of America's Best Dance Crew is the colorful language from Mario and the judges. So, we're going to have a vote for the best quote/catchphrase. Maybe we can even get Chris and Glenda to give out an award!

To start it out, please nominate some catchphrases or great quotes from ABDC. Example of an ABDC-related catchphrase: Randy Jackson's 'Dawg' or Lil Mama's 'the Voice of the Young People'. Quotes can be any pithy or funny statement from Mario or the judges. THINK FUNNY OR ICONIC, NOT MEAN AND HURTFUL. Once I get enough, I'll start posting the preliminary competitive rounds, where you vote for your favorite in the comments. There will be regular eliminations, culminating with a final match-up just after the ABDC finale.

Blueprint Founder Steve Bolton: Can Blueprint overcome their Canadian 'handicap'?

Blueprint founder/choreographer Steve Bolton talked to Chris Trondsen and Riquel Olander (We are Heroes) at the ABDC Disco Challenge. He talks on what it's like to watch Blueprint do most of their choreography without him, how the crew is struggling to overcome bias of people who might not vote for Blueprint because their Canadian, and how the show has changed Blueprint for the better.

Last Day to enter this round of our Elimination Challenge and 'Top 4' Contests

Deadline fast approaching: if you want to have an entry for this week's elimination challenge and top 4 contests for ABDC, you have until midnight tonight. Good luck!

• Click here for the Elimination challenge contest
• Click here for the top 4 challenge contest

Exclusive video: Will there be a Beat Freaks - We are Heroes collaboration?

Chris Trondsen and We Are Heroes' Riquel Olander met up with Beat Freak Maryss at the ABDC Disco Challenge taping. Maryss talks about liking all crews but being especially glad that Blueprint is on Season 5, why she tries to attend the tapings, Beat Freaks plans, and the possibility of a Beat Freaks-We are Heroes collaboration (with a little Quest thrown in at the performance finale!)

Videos from Homeland Cultural Center, including Poreotix and We Are Heroes footage

Homeland Cultural Center in Longbeach, CA provides weekly waacking and locking lessons 
taught by Syrenz crew / Culture Shock LA member Tiffany "Jimini" Bong. Members of We Are Heroes (Hiroka), Poreotix (Jet Li), and Kaba Modern (Yuri Tag) are part of the Homeland community. The vibe at Homeland is to share and give regularly to build up future generations of street dancers.

Here's a promo video for Homeland, along with a video of Poreotix member Can in a battle and KidsMosaicLA's Youtube Channel of other Homeland sessions. And here's a recent video of WAH's Hiro at Homeland. Thanks for all the links, ninjaboi!

Video: Heavy Impact's Isaac in the official "New in Town" Video

District 78 points out that Isaac from Heavy Impact appears in the original "New In Town" video by Little Boots (the song that Static Noyze danced to during the Music Video Challenge). While you're at it, visit District 78 for the Disco master mixes. Thanks for the tip, Tanooki!

What Usher Songs do you want to see on ABDC (and danced by whom?)

This week is the Usher Challenge. He will be at the taping watching the 5 remaining crews dance to his songs. What songs would you like to see on the show? Who do you want to do each one?

Video: KIIS FM teaches Poreotix some dance moves

KIIS FM showed up at a recent ABDC taping and brought along Laffit and Fat Daniel to show Poreotix some L.A. signature dance moves to incorporate into their routines. What are the odds you'll see these moves again?

Video: Isaac's piece to our very own Crush Girl!

Regular readers know that a lot goes on in our Party Room and other late-night posts. Well, to take it to the next level Isaac created a performance for Crush! Warning (from me, not Isaac): haters will be deleted or worse.

Video: We are Heroes dance at Harrahs

We are Heroes and Quest headlined at Harrahs in Atlantic City on March 12. Here's some upclose footage of the We Are Heroes performance, from Cedric Peckham's Youtube Channel. Thanks for the tip, Magic Mike!

Ninjaboi's Review of ABDC5's Disco Challenge

Hey ya’ll. Time to bust out your bell bottoms, afros, and Darth Vader disco balls cause it’s disco week on ABDC! By far this has been one of my favorite episodes yet this season.

SUMMARY OF SCORES:

Poreotix: 39.6 (reduced from 44)

Blueprint, Hype: 39

Jungle Boogie, Static Noyze, Heavy Impact: 37

Saltare: 34 

Click here to read the details. Thanks Ninjaboi!

Re-enter our 'Predict the ABDC 5 Top 4' contest now!

Thanks to everyone who submitted entries on which ABDC 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.   The prize goes to the first person to submit the correct answer, based on which week they submit it. If more than one person gets it right that week, we'll employ a tie-breaker rule.

Click here for contest rules and prizes.   Only 15% of all the votes cast are still in the running and there is still room for some upsets -- last season the winning combination wasn't picked until 1 week before the finale. Entries will be taken until Midnight on Monday March 15.

"4th ABDC Judge" rules on Disco Week

The 4th ABDC judge is back, talking directly to the crews with constructive and honest feedback.

Wow, a double elimination week. I never thought I’d see another bottom 3 crews again in the same season. But anyway, time for reviews.  

BLUEPRINT CRU: See, what I like about you guys is that you are in great unison. There were so many parts where you were you doing things at the same time, like the floor work with the six people on the floor moving and the splits on the end. It’s important to be together because it makes your performance look clean. Also, the lifts. The helicopters I thought were okay, but the merry go round lift was hot. You defiantly did not waste your immunity. My advice, You need to highlight different people. For a while, we keep seeing the “b-boy hero”. I’m not saying that’s bad, but I know other crew members want the spotlight to. But still, good job.
Slo-mo: When the guy picked up the afro, and put it on while doing helicopter and tornado spins. That was crazy!  It reminded me of when Jabbawockeez caught the bandana, or when Beat Freaks put on the sunglasses. It was cool.

Click here to read the rest of this week's assessment. Thanks, 4th ABDC Judge!

Post-show interviews with Blueprint, Jungle Boogie, Hype 5-0 and Poretix

• Pacific Rim has interviews with Blueprint Cru, Hype 5-0 (Part 1 and Part 2 where they talk about the upcoming Usher Challenge), and Poreotix (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Clevver TV talked to Jungle Boogie after they finished the Disco Challenge and found that they survived the bottom 3 to return next week. 

Poreotix and Hype shirts now available!

 MTV hasn't issued shirts for all the ABDC Season 5 crews, but we did find some crew merchandise:

• Poreotix has restocked their shirts, but they're going fast! If you want one, email shirts@poreotix.com
• Go to Hype's Facebook page for info on buying their shirt

Let us know if you know where there are other shirts or merchandise for the ABDC5 crews.

ABDC Disco Week Recaps A Go-Go

• AC Slater is back from vacation and was grooving on Blueprint Cru and Jungle Boogie
• Too Interesting for Twitter critiques the performances and quotes the favorite judge's comment:
"She held her legs apart, so classy."
• Spoil the Ending is in hater mode, and gives the "Youtube that S**t" award to Poreotix
• LA Times thinks this is the hardest season to handicap given the high quality of all the crews.
• More Youtube recaps:  Big Tashia, ACONNECTIONTV
• We'll Fix it In mixes in discourse on Platonic Ideals, human torches, classic 70s TV, and challenges they don't want to see

 

Video: Kaba Modern's Tony Tran at Team Millennia Studio Grand Opening

Team Millennia just opened a new studio, and Kaba Modern's Mike Song taught during their opening weekend.

Elimination Challenge/Bottom 2 contest for Week 7 now open - predict & win!

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 5 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.

This week, vote for the 2 crews from America's Best Dance Crew's Top 7 that you think will be in the bottom, and name the one that gets sent home, for a possible 3 points total. For example, in ABDC4's Beyonce Challenge, an entry worth 3 points would have read: "Bottom 2 - Afroborike, Artistry in Motion. Eliminated: Artistry in Motion". 
   

Here's the rules. PLEASE REMEMBER TO USE THE SAME DISTINCTIVE NAME EACH WEEK SINCE VOTES ARE CUMULATIVE!   Jai is in the lead with 9 points, but it's still anyone's game to win. This week, 2 people -- Lil Dawg and Jon93-- got 5 points by correctly naming the bottom 3 crews AND the two who were be sent home. Maybe next week is YOUR week.  Voting closes midnight Monday March 15.

Video: Rino (Beat Freaks) in Siren Assassins

Beat Freak member Rino Nakasone danced in Rhapsody James' Siren Assassins LA on March 10. WOW. Thanks for the link, Chris!

Videos: Chris and Riquel debrief on the disco challenge AND Glenda invites you to a charity flashmob!

Chris Trondsen and We are Heroes' Riquel Olander share their thoughts after the taping of ABDC's Disco Challenge, discussing the challenge itself and the eliminated crews. Click here to watch.

In the video, they mention that Glenda (who skipped the taping this week because she was ill) asks that people in the Los Angeles area join her and MANY OTHERS in a flash mob dance event hosted by Travis Payne to benefit the Dream Center. It will take place on March 14 starting at 9:30AM and will be taped and shown on CW. Click here for the details. You need to practice the dance first -- here's the lesson (along with some more info on the event:

BJHayPinoy reviews ABDC's Disco Challenge

The first thing I’d like to say is I loved how many of the crews incorporated wacking and voguing into the performance because they are both such fun, free, and energetic styles that go so well into old school moves like locking. The second thing is that I loved was is that all crews again brought it this week.  I also want to REMIND everyone that this review is based on ONE TIME VIEWING ONLY. I respect everyone for reading and voicing their opinions again.

Week 7 Disco Challenge Performance Ranking:
1. Poreotix, 2. Blueprint Cru, 3. Hype 5-0, 4. Jungle Boogie, 5. Static Noyze, 6. Heavy Impact, 7. Saltare

Click here to read the detailed review. Thanks BJHayPinoy!

Chris Trondsen on what you DON'T see on TV: Crew reactions to Eliminations and on-line haters!

Here are some of Chris Trondsen's main points on what you see backstage at the America's Best Dance Crew tapings but isn't clear from just watching it on camera. Plus, here's the scoop on how Chris helped Gabourey Sidibe attend this week's taping in order to meet JC Chasez!   

As everyone knows by now, two crews went home this week.  What you won’t see on the show is how both crews deal with it. All of the crews have always been nice to us. I just want to put that out there, they just all deal with going home differently. Click here to read the details.

Another thing that you don’t really see on the show but we got from a lot of the crews is that the critiques from the blogs and the internet are really getting to them.  Crews are used to just dancing for fun and for the love of it, so it’s hard for them to deal with all the negative attention that they aren’t used to. Click here to read more on this.

I know a lot of you have hit me up on Twitter and Facebook asking when we will get an interview with judge JC.  I tried this week.  I saw Gabourey Sidibe who plays “Precious” in the movie at the Spirit Awards last Friday before the Oscars.  She talked about how she loves JC and it’s the only NSync member she hasn’t met.  I told her about going to ABDC and how we do press on the show and she should show up to see him.  Well, her manager worked it out and she ended up coming to the set and getting to meet all the judges and Mario.  But before she got there, JC came to the press room to see if she had arrived.  Riquel from We Are Heroes and I tried to get an interview with him but him and his manager said no to interviews for everyone and left.  For some reason he doesn’t like talking to press like the other judges. So hopefully he changes his mind soon and we can ask him those questions you want to know. 

Mailbox: Shane Sparks pleas not guilty; Mario Lopez to be a father!

• PopEater reports that on March 11, Shane Sparks entered an official plea of not guilty to all charges of child molestation. He is due back in court on April 20.
• People reports that Mario Lopez and his girlfriend Courtney Mazza are expecting a child in the Fall. Mario's reaction? "I'm fired up! I don't know what we're having. I'm going to wait to se [the baby's gender] so it will be a surprise."

Send some love to Static Noyze!

 
Static Noyze's departure from America's Best Dance Crew stunned and upset many of our readers. People knew they could expect the unexpected from Static Noyze, be it a novel combination of dance styles, an outre story around the music choices, or some other funny twist in their routine. They had already made a name for themselves in East Coast competitions; let's hope they continue to bring their fresh approaches to live audiences around the US!

This post is only for positive comments on Static Noyze. If you have anything negative to say about the crew or anything else, please take it to the Party Room/Critics Corner.
Photocredit: MTV

Send some love to Heavy Impact!

When Heavy Impact was picked for America's Best Dance Crew Season 5, many thought they were just a new crew with a different gimmick. The guys proved those doubters wrong week after week, endearing viewers with krumping, tricks, and heavy-hitting hip hop along with some sexiness. We'll miss seeing them, but we know there is definitely a place for Heavy Impact in the hip hop dance scene.

This post is only for positive comments on Heavy Impact. If you have anything negative to say about the crew or anything else, please take it to the Party Room/Critics Corner.
Photocredit: MTV

Upcoming events - week of March 12

• 3/12: Quest performing in Year of the Hip Hop in Kawai, Hawaii
• 3/12-14: Groovaloo with Super Cr3w's Mike Murda and Do-Knock and Beat Freaks LindseyB, Keeley, and Alison in Philadelphia
• 3/13: Glenda (Fanny Pak) teaching master class for Haiti fundraiser in San Francisco
• 3/13: Maryss (Beat Freaks) and Frost (Supreme Soul) teaching master classes in Morgan Hill, CA
• 3/14: Pre-competition workshops featuring Static Noyze's Samantha Yu  and others for the Main Event in Matawan, NJ.
• 3/14: LindseyB (Beat Freaks) teaching master class at Phresh Select's studio in Philadelpha
• 3/14: Matt Cady (Fanny Pak) workshop in Minneapolis

Survey: Best performance in ABDC's Disco Challenge

Please vote for your FAVORITE PERFORMANCE DURING THIS CHALLENGE.   Do NOT vote here for your overall favorite ABDC5 crew unless you REALLY believe they were the best crew of the evening!!

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Worst performance in ABDC's Disco Challenge

Please vote for your LEAST FAVORITE PERFORMANCES DURING THIS CHALLENGE. Please vote for only 1 or 2 crews. Do NOT vote here for your overall least favorite ABDC5 crews unless you REALLY believe they were the worst crews of the evening!! UPDATE: It is very clear that the results were spammed overnight -- over 1000 votes with 75% going to one crew. So, I've reset it to zero. If this happens again, I'll just delete the survey for this week. Whoever was responsible -- don't ruin this for other people.

poll by twiigs.com

Vote NOW -- the end is getting nearer!

The online voting is now open  from now until 6:00am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now! Click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online after 11:00pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.  If you want to phone or text instead, the numbers are: Phone: 1-877-96-CREW + (number):
Text: 22444 then (number):
Blueprint: 1
Saltare: 2
Poreotix: 3
Hype 5-0: 4
Jungle Boogie: 5
 
Then, join us back at the Party Room/Critics Corner for clever repartee, or something like that. 

Disco Party Room/Critics Corner now open - Join in!

The Party Room/Critics Corner for ABDC 5's Disco Challenge is now open! Join lots of other readers watching the show and talking love/trash about the proceedings.  IMPORTANT: If you want to write a long comment, write in in NotePad or Word and then paste it into the comments field. Otherwise, all your work may disappear if someone posts something new while you're in the middle of writing. 

After the show is over: Stay and give us your reactions and ideas.  Do you think results would have been different if a crew had been eliminated last week? What do you think about disco -- are we ready for a revival?  What other challenges would you like to see? This is your party -- snark, humor, recriminations, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!
Photo credit: Epic Win FTW. Thanks Ninjaboi! 

Live Play-by-Play Blogging for ABDC's Disco Challenge open now!

The live play-by-play for tonight's America's Best Dance Crew Disco Challenge is NOW OPEN. Del and Nancy will be co-moderators tonight. Please feel free to follow along, but use the Party Room/Critics Corner post (above this one) if you feel your comments MUST be posted IMMEDIATELY!  Reason: It's really hard for us to simultaneously follow the show, write about it, AND monitor/post the comments.

Preview from the Pressbox - Chris Trondsen on ABDC5's Disco Challenge

I'm splitting Chris' report into 2 parts: Today he'll share some things to watch for on tonight's show. Tomorrow, his post will describe crew reactions to being sent home and to online criticism. 

When we went backstage at first to do interviews, everyone was in good spirits.  A lot of the crews were joking, laughing, and in a good relaxed mood.  But they were also nervous because of the fact that it was disco week.  I know a lot are much happier with next week’s challenge.

On this episode you will see one crew mess up, fire, afros, disco balls, a lit up dance floor, booty shorts, a crew member bench pressing another crew member, a female showing incredible strength, and mostly positive critiques from the judges.  

Tonight’s show is fun, and you will see some of the crews do things I didn’t know they had in them and the judges rewarding that with positive comments. Especially JC, who had been especially hard on one crew this season so far.  You see him give props to them finally.  You also see one crew do some B-Boy moves that they haven’t shown this season yet as well.

Exclusive video: Saltare's Krumping contest!

Saltare answered questions and challenges submitted by readers of BloggingBestDanceCrew.com at the ABDC Disco Challenge taping. The highlight -- a krumping contest! This is one of  my favorite ABDC interviews for Season 5 -- you have to watch!  

Each crew member also describes where they're from (and share Idaho connections with We are Heroes' Riquel Olander), what guest judges they'd like to see, and how jump rope judges differ from the MTV judges.  Many thanks to World of Dance, our partner for the ABDC5 tapings!

Exclusive video: Chris and Riquel (We are Heroes) on what to look for in the Disco Challenge

Chris Trondsen and We are Heroes heroine Riquel Olander made a quick video before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Disco Challenge, talking about the mood backstage. Riquel compares it to her own experience during Season 4.

Video: ABDC Crews play around with the ropes and the dart game

From MTV Remote Control: an inside look at the crews having fun between rehearsals. Saltare gives some jump rope lessons, and inter-crew revenge is afoot in the dart game.

Exclusive Video: Watch & Vote for your favorite Hype 5-0 impression!; plus Hawaiian booty shake, more reader questions

Hype 5-0 had a great time backstage with Chris Trondsen and Riquel Olander (We are Heroes) this week, answering our readers' questions and rising to a reader challenge. They talk about incorporating more Hawaiian moves (will we see fire dancing?) and the girls show booty Shake Hawaiian style. And, they take Jai's challenge to impersonate other members of their own crew, with some very funny results.  

Leave a comment to tell us your favorite impression!

Click on the links at the top of the homepage (center, just below our banner) if you'd like to leave your own questions and challenge for the crews.

Join us tonight for Live Blogging, the Critics Corner/party room, and more!

Join us tonight for boogie and heartache as two crews are sent home after the Disco Challenge.  The Party Room/Critics Corner opens at 9:30 ET and stays open as long as you want, so you can talk about almost anything having to do with ABDC, disco, the heyday of Studio 54, the unfairness of ABDC and life, whatever.

At 10pm ET, Del and I will be doing live play-by-play while watching the  show, so feel free to play along  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 we hope to have recaps, more backstage interviews, and more.   We'll  have week 7 of our Bottom 2/Elimination  contest. On Saturday, I'll post the next round of the Top 4 contest. So stay with us!

Survey Says: Blueprint pwned ABDC's Lady Gaga Challenge; no clear worst

Interesting results for last week's surveys on your favorite and least favorite performances during America's Best Dance Crew's Lady Gaga challenge:

• Blueprint Cru was the clear favorite, with 52% of the 1990 votes cast. No other crew was even close -- the next most popular was Poreotix with 18%. Click here for details.
• Over 3000 votes were cast for the 'worst' performance! This was a close race -- Heavy Impact got the most votes (19%), but 5 other crews received 13% or more of the votes. Static Noyze received the fewest votes here (6%). See full results here.

Photocredit: MTV

Exclusive video: Blueprint Cru answer reader questions on Canadian dancing, ABDC immunity, and more

Chris Trondsen and We Are Heroes' Riquel Olander interviewed Blueprint Cru before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Disco Challenge. They answer our readers' questions including topics like their signature 'chop suey' moves, their mascots and their custom Reeboks,  the crews' many ethnicities, how they differ from US and Western Canadian crews, and the impact of getting immunity during the Lady Gaga Challenge.

Exclusive Video: Poreotix on skydiving, college, sex and Wow moments!

Before the taping of ABDC's Disco Challenge, Poreotix members answered reader questions posed by Chris Trondsen and We are Heroes' Riquel Olander. Among the questions: their plans to go sky-diving, what they studied in college, whether they are planning any WOW moments, how Dumbo got his name, how they feel watching themselves on TV-- they don't like how they look!, their sexual preferences, and more! Thanks to World of Dance, our partner during ABDC Season 5!

Poreotix on Live Call-in radio show today (3/10) at 4:30 PT

Poreotix fans take note: Some members of Poreotix are calling into the Reality Wanted radio show today at 4:30pm PST.  It's live, so fans can call in with questions.  The number: 1-877-242-8212.  You can listen live at www.realitywanted.com/radio or www.chataboutit.com.

FYI -- Canada CANNOT vote for ABDC choices as far as we can tell!

I've read that some people don't vote for Blueprint Cru because they believe that the Canadians will support them. Well, if you want to keep Blueprint Cru on the show, you better vote for them because it appears that Canadians CANNOT vote for ABDC online or by phone. According to one very reliable source: "to our understanding the voting is only in the U.S. On the website it says that votes from outside the country do not count and when Canadians go to the website the majority are unable to click on the vote button. Calling and texts do not work either. So it's up to US residents to decide who gets sent home."

I emailed MTV about this several days ago, but have not yet received an official response. I wanted to get this message out before the voting opens this week. SO - support all the crews you like and don't count on other people to prop up your favorites!

Reports from the ABDC Disco Challenge Tapings

Crush! and De'Janaro Dior attended the taping of America's Best DanceCrew's Lady Gaga Challenge on March 9.    Here are spoiler-free excerpts from their excellent reports on the  night. 

IMPORTANT: KEEP THIS SPOILER-FREE!  IF YOU USE THE COMMENTS FIELD HERE (OR ELSEWHERE ON THIS WEBSITE) TO LEAVE SPOILERS, I WILL BAN YOU FROM THE COMMENTS FOREVER. AND I HAVE WAYS TO SEARCH THE ENTIRE SITE FOR SPOILERS, SO DON'T GET CUTE.
 

Crush!: Hey guys! Let me tell you that this week's episode was not a let down at all! All the crews had really good performances. I loved that the stage had cubes the light up while the crews danced, and there a bunch of disco balls! There was a huge one in the center of the stage! I loved the atmosphere tonight! Click here to read the details. Thanks Crush!

De'Janaro Dior: Is this show really about America's Best Dance Crew? After tonight I think not! Well this was my first time seeing a live show and it was incredible. I'm just upset the show to me is becoming fake as other reality shows. Click here to read more.Thanks De'JanarO!

Early video interviews from the Disco Challenge Taping - Crews and Campbellock Campbell!

Warning: anyone using the comments field here to post spoilers WILL be permanently banned! Both Pacific Rim and Dance Plug were up late posting videos of interviews from America's Best Dance Crew's Disco Challenge taping. Dance Plug interviewed Blueprint Cru, Static Noyze, Hype 5-0, and Saltare.
Pacific Rim talked to most of the crews before the taping including Blueprint Cru, Saltare,  Jungle Boogie, and Heavy Impact. But my favorite interview from them is Beat Freak Maryss talking to Don Campbellock Campbell (a member of the original Lockers) about dance and about ABDC.

Did ABDC run out of talent for Season 5?

New York Magazine's Intelligencer column  runs an article musing that reality shows have run out of talent. It cites America's Best Dance Crew twice as evidence:"Maybe the telltale moment came when, last month, MTV’s reliably entertaining reality contest America’s Best Dance Crew trotted out a crew that had failed to make the show in all four of the previous seasons...This season, not only did we see the crew of former also-rans, but another crew featured members who’d been bounced in Season One, while yet another has been imported from—gasp—Canada."

The article also cites American Idol, America's Got Talent, Project Runway, So You Think You Can Dance, and other reality shows to support its thesis. What do you think? IMO -- based on first hand observation and coverage of ABDC's audition process since Season 2, as well as some insider knowledge about other competitive reality shows -- New York Magazine may be running out of columnists who adequately understand their subject matter.

Video: Lil Mama talks about Shane Sparks and Omarion

TheMandoShow asked Lil Mama on her feelings about Shane Spark (and her reactions on hearing about his legal troubles) and what it's like to work with Omarion "He brings energy back".

Pacific Rim covers TM Studio Opening: Blended Projekt, Danny Batimana, Sheroes

Chris Trondsen (working for Pacific Rim on this assignment) attended the Grand Opening of Team Millennia's new studio in La Habre, CA on March 6 and talked to  TM director and founder Danny Batimana, Sheroes, and members of ABDC5's Blended Projekt:

Field reports on Kollaboration 10 with We Are Heroes, Prepix, Anbu Black Ops & more

Several readers attended Kollaboration 10 on March 6, 2010 and reported back:


TimetoFlytotheCheese: First of all I want to thank Nancy and the Kollaboration staff for giving some of Bloggingbestdancecrew's readers a chance to attend Kollaboration 10. The night was full of amazing performances of all different varieties. There were comedians, dancers, singers, musicians, and film makers displaying their talents to a jam packed theater. The highlights of my night included an amazing Bollywood performance by Bhangra Empire, and performances by dance crews such as Prepix, Anbu Black Ops (including members of Quest, Boxcuttuhz, and Kaba Modern), and ABDC's own We Are Heroes. All in all, you could really feel the Asian community come together in the theater and it was really nice to see different people of Asian ethnicity congregate from all the world and celebrate the wide array of talent they have. It was an amazing night, and I can't wait for next years.
                                                          
DanceNinja2 covered this as our field reporter, and has details on the the competitors (including the winners) and guest performers (including We are Heroes, Anbu Black Ops, and Prepix -- for whom she also shot video which will be posted soon).  While you wait for her performance videos (there are others online, but they are a little shaky so don't leave comments with their links just yet!), click here for a Pacific Rim interview with Anbu Black Ops.
Click here for DanceNinja2's full report. Thanks DanceNinja2!!
                       

Exclusive video: ABDC4 crew members talk about partying until the police shut them down!

DeShaun Williams from Vogue Evolution and Riquel from We are Heroes describe an ABDC4 reunion (including Massive Monkees) which ended with the police shutting them down! They also talk about Glenda taking DeShaun to Disneyland and dancing, their favorite crews for Season 5, and more.

Video: Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) Oscar Performance

The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD) made an appearance at the Oscars on March 7, 2010, dancing to a medley of music from the best score category, which included music from Up, Avatar, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Hurt Locker, and Sherlock Holmes.hanks, Karen Chu!

Playlist (with old videos!) for ABDC's Disco Challenge - there WILL be a bottom 3 battle!

MTV Remote Control has the music choices for ABDC's Disco Challenge this week. I've linked to videos with the music (including some original artists and some movie footage) if you want to listen without buying. MTV also reports that there will be a bottom 3 battle, but didn't name the music choice. Thanks Mike and Daniel!

• BLUEPRINT CRU - Chic "Le Freak"
• STATIC NOYZE - Walter Murphy "A Fifth Of Beethoven"
• HEAVY IMPACT - Bee-Gees "You Should Be Dancing"
• SALTARE - The Trammps "Disco Inferno"
• JUNGLE BOOGIE - Kool & The Gang "Jungle Boogie"
• HYPE 5-0 - Peaches & Herbs "Shake Your Groove Thing"
• POREOTIX - Jackson 5 "Dancing Machine"

Video: Ghost shows their Lady Gaga Challenge performance

This week, Ghost took on VideoPhone from ABDC's Lady Gaga Challenge. This continues their series to show fans what they might have done if they had lasted longer on Season 5 of America's Best Dance Crew. You can see more at the HoustonGhostCrewYoutube Channel.

Last day to enter this week's Elimination challenge and Top 4 contests

Deadline fast approaching: if you want to have an entry for this week's elimination challenge and top 4 contests for ABDC, you have until midnight tonight. Good luck!

• Click here for the Elimination challenge
• Click here for the Top 4 challenge

America's Best Dance Crew a hit with audiences & still growing!

Multichannel News reports that America's Best Dance Crew's audience is strong and growing:
"ABDC counted 2.2 million watchers on average March 4, according to Nielsen data. The show posted a 2.2 rating against person 12 to 34 and a 2.8 among females 12 to 34, the medium's best performance on Thursday night, said MTV officials. The installment of ABDC, which featured the remaining crews infusing the music and fashion of Lady Gaga into their routines, racked up gains over the previous week of ABDC..: 38% among persons 12 to 34, 33% among females 12 to 34 and 19% with total viewers."

Video: Quest and the Michael Jackson tribute picture

Members of Quest Crew dance and talk about Michale Jackson in  a video to support the Michael Jackson tribute picture campaign. The artist - David Ilan -- creates celebrity pictures using dots (Pointillism), but only puts up the dots when people sign up for them. He has a campaign now to get a million dots for a Michael Jackson tribute. It's easy and it's free -- sign up at MichaelJacksonCelebrityPortrait.com.Thanks for the tip, Cynthia!

Video: Dumbo (Poreotix) and 11 year-old ArianaLynn teach BoogieZone class

Arianalynn is the youngest person in history to teach a Boogiezone dance class at age 11 and she has been competing on large stages all over America to her own choreography since age 7. Here's a video of her working with Dumbo from ABDC5's Poreotix, from JamieZari's Youtube Channel. Thanks for the tip and link, ThePrez!

What backstage challenges would you like to see the crews do?

At the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Lady Gaga challenge, Hype 5-0 suggested that we give the crews a challenge as well as using reader questions. Given that this is a make-or-break week, we might not do it this week, but please leave your suggestions and I'll pass them on to Chris and Glenda. Here's the relevant footage from our Hype 5-0 interview:

Video: Student documentary of JabbaWockeeZ visit

JabbaWockeeZ visited Poway High School in California for a charity event. Here's a documentary about the visit created for the school's Digital Media Production Class by Alfred Joseph Pappas and other students.

Ninjaboi's Review of ABDC5's Lady Gaga Challenge

Here's Ninjaboi's review: 
Let me preface this week’s review with this short disclaimer:  I have what some have called “an intensely passionate dislike” for Lady Gaga.  Some combination of the fashion, music style and general manner just doesn’t sit well in my stomach.  But I’ll do the best I can this week.  I’ll probably actually boost a couple crews scores since the more Gaga they brought, the better they gave me the heebie-jeebies, as well as completing this week’s challenge: capture the essence of Lady Gaga.  I apologize to any crew that may feel insulted and feel that I am being way too overly harsh or negative compared to how I usually am, but that was largely a result of the music, I think. 

Click here to read the rest of Ninjaboi's detailed analysis and his power rankings. Thanks Ninjaboi!

Del's Review of ABDC's Lady Gaga Challenge

Hello everyone! It was a lovely episode this week, even without the drama of finding a banner fall at the end of the show. Next week however we’re going to have the most cutthroat episode in ABDC history(if you don’t count those pesky regionals that happened just this season *cough cough*) in which two crews will be ousted from the competition in the same episode. But before we get to that there’s a hell of a lot of reviewing to do!

As a reminder, Del is using a scale introduced to this site last season that was used by judges at Hip Hop International (although he took away and added to a few areas) so you will notice a few alterations) and I went ahead and added a “wow moment and tricks” section like many of the BABDC readers have this season as well. Here is Del's final scale that factors in creativity, showmanship, entertainment value, musicality, execution, difficulty, and the wow factor.


Based on that scale, the week's rankings are (from best to worst): Blueprint Cru (8.2), Hype 5-0 (7.6)
Poreotix (7.5), Static Noyze (7.4), Jungle Boogie (6.7), Saltare (6.2), Heavy Impact (6.1). 
Click here to read the detailed critique. Thanks Del!