Bollywood Recaps -- Second Edition

• After the Bollywood Challenge, AC Slater sees no way that Rhythm City won't win the America's Best Dance Crew title this season
• LeKeith and Howard from We'll Fix it in found it 'shockingly competent', with their humorous snark-by-snark commentary that I've grown to love
• Spoil the Ending thinks Massive Monkees gave the best performance of the entire ABDC 4 season so far
• Too Interesting for Twitter Youtubed their recap:

Exclusive: Podcast Interview with Beat Ya Feet Kings

I spoke by phone with Beat Ya Feet Kings the day after the Bollywood Challenge taping. They told me how the group formed, why they auditioned for America's Best Dance Crew, their favorite memories from the show, which 2 crews they'd like to perform with during the finale, what they did just before they went out to perform, and future plans and aspirations. And, there's one major personal story that never got on MTV: when Jose returned home from the NY audition in June, he found out that his 5-year old daughter had suffered kidney failure and was on life support. She's better now, thank goodness. We wish her and the whole crew health and happiness.

Week 5 of Elimination Challenge open now!

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 4 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.

Nobody got all three points last week, so as of now, the leader is still Diggy Digs with 6 points total. But there are 4 more weeks and 12 more possible points, so everybody still has a chance to win. So, post your votes now, and remember to include your email address in the appropriate field. Here's the rules. Voting closes midnight Wednesday September 2.

Bollywood Recaps First Edition: Dueling opinions on We Are Heroes

• You Love to Watch thought that Beat Ya Feet Kings should have stayed and found We are Heroes' performance sloppy with no innovation. UPDATE: I've learned that some of my readers have been trashing this recapper. Please knock it off -- everyone is entitled to their opinions without personal attacks.
  
• LA Times thought the Bollywood Challenge was a turnaround for ABDC and loved WAH. They show video interviews with Vogue Evolution, We are Heroes (who talk about what went wrong in the Martial Arts Challenge and the Super Cr3w-like money toss) and Beat Ya Feet Kings

Exclusive interview-- Fanny Pak's Glenda 'catfight' with Vogue Evolution

At the taping of the Bollywood challenge, our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales stopped by to visit Vogue Evolution. Glenda was besieged because she didn't bring a promised fanny pack for the crew, especially since it was DeShawn's 25th birthday. They also talk about the prop scarves they used in their challenge.

Our video: Beat Ya Feet Kings Interview and Dance after their Bollywood Elimination

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales met with Beat Ya Feet Kings after the end of the Bollywood Challenge taping. They talk about what they got out of being on America's Best Dance Crew, what they gave up to be there, what they're looking forward to going home, and those "Download this" shirts in response to Shane's Youtube comment. They also give a go-go demonstration for us.

Afroborike interview - dealing with the hate and the love

After the Bollywood challenge taping, our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales spoke to Afroborike about how they felt about their Bollywood performance ("almost perfect"), how they dealt with the fact that they were the underdogs at the beginning of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4, that they are driven by both the love and hate they receive, and exactly how to pronounce their crew name.

Send some Love to Beat Ya Feet Kings!

Beat Ya Feet Kings brought a D.C. style and flair to America's Best Dance Crew and introduced us to a crazy style of dance. I loved the crazy feet style the first time I saw it at the NY auditions and loved how the crew made it work for for very different challenges. ABDC took a gamble at pitting them against bboys and other more familiar styles -- I think the gamble paid off handsomely for MTV, Beat Ya Feet Kings, and the viewing public.

This post is only for kind words about Beat Ya Feet Kings. If you've got complaints about them or other aspects of ABDC, please take it to the Critics Corner.

Survey: Worst performance in ABDC's Bollywood Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Best Performance in Bollywood Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Vote now or complain later!

The online voting is now open for Week 4, from now until 5:30am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now! You can click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online by 11pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.

Then, please come back to our Critic's Corner/Party Room!

Join our Party Room/Critics Corner NOW!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 4 (the Bollywood Challenge) is now open! Share your predictions, impressions, frustrations, hates and loves. Did ABDC crews redeem themselves after last week? Was this a good or a gimmicky challenge? Are you finally starting to feel excited about Season 4? Were the costumes hot enough for you?

After the show is over: Give us your reactions. Jai Ho!

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

This is live play-by-play for tonight's America's Best Dance Crew Season 4 Bollywood Challenge, moderated this week by NancyT. Follow along or keep up with the show if you can't watch it immediately. It's not easy to simultaneously watch the show, write about it, AND monitor the comments, so please leave most of your comments at the Party Room/Critics Corner post above this post!

Preview from the pressbox: Chris Trondsen on the Bollywood Challenge

Chris Trondsen watched ABDC's Bollywood Challenge from the press area, and has some non-spoiler previews for you. Thanks Chris!

"Is one of the crews who are top contenders for being America's Best Dance Crew for Season 4 going to break up? Are they even going to finish the season? That was the biggest story for this week's episode of the show. You'll get a backstage look at the drama centering around one crew who had a member not finish a dress rehearsal and walk out on it saying that they "want to go home." And, you'll hear what the rest of the crew's members think about having one of their top performers not sure about finishing the season."

Click here to read the rest of Chris' preview, including some shocking info!

Exclusive video: Fanny Pak's Glenda on ways to revitalize ABDC 4

This weeks' interviewers for BloggingBestDanceCrew.com and Dancetag are Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales. Chris interviewed Glenda before the America's Best Dance Crew Week 4 taping on what it was like for Fanny Pak midway through Season 2, how Fanny Pak turned around their reputation starting with their Week 4 Speed Up performance, what she thinks the crews should consider doing to improve their performance, and how she wants to talk to the judges to understand how they're feeling about the season.

Video: Quest OrQUESTra 2.0

From Beckytiq's Youtube channel, some goofing around by Quest's Dtrix and Ryan, titled OrQUESTRA 2.0. Thanks for the tip Adobostreak!

Exclusive Interview with Afroborike at Bollywood Challenge

Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales talked to Afroborike before the Bollywood Challenge taping, just before they went onstage. They talk about their reaction to Shane Spark's critique of their Martial Arts performance and their injuries.

Exclusive Interview with Beat Ya Feet Kings Before ABDC Tapings

Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales talked to Beat Ya Feet Kings about what it's like to be around while other crews leave, how they judge their performance for the Martial Arts Challenge, what they do to deal with stress, how they mixed their style with the Bollywood music, and how they create their performances.

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

Ready for Bollywood? Join us tonight for Week 4 of America's Best Dance Crew 4! The Party Room (aka Critics Corner) opens at 8:30pm (East Coast time) and stays open until whenever for everyone who wants to comment about America's Best Dance Crew Season 4 Episode 2 (or any other related topic).

After the show, let us know what you thought --Did the right crew go home? Have you changed your opinions about some of the crews? Are you now ready to go rent some Bollywood movies? Amazement, befuddlement, and emotional outbursts are always welcome! At 9pm, 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, we'll have recaps, week 3 of our challenges, some backstage videos, etc. Join us!

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

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

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

Video: Crews backstage -- dancing, joking, mingling

MTV Remote Control has video of the crews chatting backstage before the Bollywood Challenge, complete with intermingling crews, injuries, subtitles, and some dancing. Click here to watch.

Get Your Battle Kicks during Fanny Pak Week

The long-awaited Battle I Kicks are now available in both Battle I (the multicolored shoes in the poster, and in Battle Black. To celebrate, there's a special promotion from August 29-September 5. Head to MilkshakeNYC.com; if you buy a pair this week, you can sign up for a chance to win a second pair of shoes, an official Fanny Pak, and an autographed Tshirt.

Massive Monkees Merchandise available now

Click here for the official Massive Monkees store. They've got shirts, totes, performance DVDs, stickers, and bandannas.

Does ABDC lack personality and need to become more human?

There's been a lot of debate here in the last few days about MTV's handling of personal issues for one crew. This brings up a related question -- should MTV do more to allow its viewers to really get to know the crews personally? ABDC doesn't spend much time on the people behind the crews. Reader Snoop Doggystyle elaborates (and requested this photo as an example of how SYTYCD does a better job of it):

"ABDC is gradually becoming dry and losing steam. One of the less obvious reasons for this is that the show is lacking PERSONALITY. ABDC is a reality show, but it comes off a bit too strictly as just a competition. Therefore, the producers need to make the show more HUMAN by allowing more FUN and INTERACTION between the crews, host, and judges. So to make this show more fun and interactive, the producers should make these two changes:

(1) Allow the crews to more fully express themselves in the previews shown before they perform. So far, the previews basically have only TWO TOPICS - the weekly challenges, and the sob stories / personal challenges. What about broader topics and more positive things to illustrate the crew members' characters (e.g., interesting things about crew members, their first impressions, goals other than winning ABDC)

(2) Let the crews, host, and judges interact WITH each other. It would be much more interesting if the host asked the crew questions and if the judges, crew members, and host actually talk back and forth with each other, flirt, ask questions, have fun, etc.

If the producers made these changes, the viewers would be able to know the crews not just by their performances, but by their characters as well. It wouldn't make the show perfect, but it would certainly bring something new and make it more enjoyable to watch."

Week 3 survey results: Rhythm City #1; Afroborike least favorite

Our survey results are in for the America's Best Dance Crew Martial Arts Challenge. Click to see the detailed results for Best Performance and Worst Performance. With about 800 votes each, our survey takers say:

• Rhythm City was by far the favorite performance, with 55% of the vote, distantly followed by Massive Monkees (19%)
• 40% thought that Afroborike gave the worst performance, followed by Beat Ya Feet Kings (24%)
  

Compendium: Pacific Rim Week 4 videos

Pacific Rim released some of their Week 4 interviews already, with Quest's Aris as guest interviewer. They've got Vogue Evolution Part I, Vogue Evolution Part II, Massive Monkees on friendships with other crews and personal time, Massive Monkees discussing the derivation of their nicknames and attitudes about Bboys, We are Heroes Part II, and our reader favorite (so far) of Aris on Japanese girls and hitting on the crew:

More on the Bollywood Challenge taping

• I spoke to an MTV insider today who was REALLY happy with how awesomely the crews performed during the Bollywood Challenge. He posited that it went so well because the specific Bollywood challenges were well integrated into the performance rather than just tacked on (as seemed to be the case with the Martial Arts Challenge)

• According to MTV Remote Control Blog and its comments, a crew romance is revealed between Rhythm City members and JC Chasez gets another crew's undergarments thrown at him

First reports from Bollywood Challenge taping

It sounds like the crews improved from the Martial Arts Challenge. Here are excerpts from the first reports:

TimetoFlytotheCheese: I am pleased to say that this week's episode definitely saved the season for me. Last week I went off on how I thought it was a horrible season, but tonight definitely changed my mind. Every crew delivered and the Bollywood challenge was much more interesting than people anticipated. I was shocked about the bottom two however, but mostly on one side. This was the most energetic audience I've ever been a part of, and but there weren't many ABDC alumni except some girls from Fysh N Chicks, Femme 5, and Artistry In Motion. Hopefully next week will be even better, as they bring back the Dance Craze Challenge from Season 1."

Mee: "It was really interesting to see how they do it. Kind of annoying with the constant clapping, but eh. That was my first taping and I'm going again next week. Anyway, I have a feeling a lot of people will be happy by who goes home this week. Or at least I was...Leyomi is such a diva!...I don't know what else to say except that I now know who I'll for sure be rooting for - Rhythm City"

Got ABDC Questions? Here's your chance to get them answered

Do you have some questions for the ABDC 4 crews or judges? Our backstage interviewers want to use some of our readers' questions at the ABDC tapings. This is your chance to help us 'get it right' and let the crews tell you what you need to know! And, they'll give a shoutout to the people whose questions are used.

Submit your questions in the comments section. Guidelines:

• They're never sure which crews they'll interview, so submit both general questions for all crews as well as questions specific to any one crew
  
• 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
• Be original! There are a lot of interviewers out there, so we want things that are relevant but will surprise and delight the people being interviewed.
  

Exclusive Interview: Fanny Pak's Glenda on returning to ABDC tapings

Our regular interviewer Chris Trondsen surprised our guest interviewer Glenda Morales from Fanny Pak by putting her under the interview microscope. They talk about what brings back the most memories (the scary elimination music - "it makes me cringe"), how America's Best Dance Crew has enabled Fanny Pak to devote all their time to dancing, how to reach FP's members, and upcoming performances including World of Dance San Diego.

Video: SoReal Cru's Hometown Tour

SoReal returns to Houston, and parts of the tour action are documented here:

Let us know if you attend tonight's taping!

The Bollywood Challenge Arts on America's Best Dance Crew tapes tonight -- August 27. If you are lucky enough to attend, please leave a comment or email us at BloggingBestDanceCrew@gmail.com about your experiences! We'd love to hear what it was like!

BUT PLEASE NO SPOILERS ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE BOTTOM AND WHO WENT HOME! Thanks! If you feel a need to leave a spoiler -- GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO IT!

Next week - The Dance Craze Challenge

TV Guide posted information on America's Best Dance Crew's Week 5. Up next: The Dance Craze Challenge: "The remaining crews put their own spins on the hottest dance crazes sweeping the nation." Any predictions?

Video: "Office Life" by Quest's Hok + Marvelous Motion's Pacman and Moon

From Pacman's Youtube Channel: a marvelous dance video to "Office Life" (with a credits shout-out to "The Office) starring Quest's Hok Konishi and Marvelous Motion's Phillip Chbeeb (aka Pacman) and Di Zhang (aka Moon). You gotta watch this one! Thanks for the tip, Mason!

Beat Ya Feet Kings and Fanny Pak's Glenda doing the 'This N That'

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales met with Beat Ya Feet Kings before the taping of ABDC's Martial Arts Challenge. They talk about what they want to get out of ABDC, what they're doing about being the underdogs, and dealing with losing their friends (including Artistry in Motion) each week. Then BYFK teaches the 'this n That' step and Glenda gets DOWN!

Team Millennia galore this week - Summer Intensive, Auditions, more!

A plethora of Team Millennia events and news:

• Saturday August 29 is TM's Summer Intensive 6 in Glendora, CA with performances by all the different Team Millennia Groups, plus Poreotics, Sheroes, and more. Click here for details and to buy tickets
  
• TM Auditions begin Tuesday September 1. Click here for details.
  
• Tuesday September 1, is als0 the application deadline for groups that want to compete in Prelude SoCal (to be held December 2009). To apply, email teammillennia@aol.com
  

Video - Bollywood Week Promo

Video: Closing Circle Dance after Martial Arts Challenge

From MTV -- a video of the crews dancing together at the end of the taping of the Martial Arts Challenge. It won't embed properly on this site, so please click here. Thanks for the tip, Erica Nicole!

Coming to MTV this Fall: "My Super Psycho Sweet 16"

Okay, I know this has almost nothing to do with America's Best Dance Crew beyond the MTV connection, but I have to share! I just got a press release about upcoming MTV original movies. They include:

• Turn the Beat Around" - "a struggling young dancer gets the opportunity to fulfill her professional dreams when she convinces a wealthy club owner to open a modern disco where young people come to connect through dance". It involves choreography and talent from SYTYCD Canada, but nobody from ABDC...AND
• "My Super Psycho Sweet 16"- "Madison Penrose gets everything she wants, including her wish to re-open the desolate Rollerdome for her sweet sixteen party. The site of several grisly murders a decade earlier, things become 'psycho' when the killer returns to crash her party." This is set to air on MTV in October. I am totally game for a play-by-play party on this, if you are!!

Interview: Quest's Steve Terada backstage at ABDC on mentoring and studliness

Chris Trondsen talked with Quest Crew's Steve Terada before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew's Martial Arts Challenge. Steve helped all the crews learn their martial arts moves for the challenge. He talks to Chris about the difficulty of the challenge, Quest's preparing some new moves for their performances, the crew's reputations as studs, and their backstage non-dance activities.

Reminder: last day for Week 4 Elimination Contest Entries

Since the next episode of America's Best Dance Crew tapes tomorrow, you have until midnight tonight to get in your entries for our Elimination Challenge contest. Details here.

And, while you''re at it, please vote in our surveys for the best and worst performance in the Martial Arts Challenge!

Dance Videos: Fanny Pak, Kaba Modern Birthday Tributes

On Monday August 23, Level 3 in Los Angeles was the site of a joint birthday party for America's Best Dance Crew alums from Fanny Pak, Super Cr3w, and Kaba Modern. Click here for the Kaba Modern dance, from the Pacific Rim Video Youtube Channel. And here is Fanny Pak's birthday tribute performance. Man, I want a birthday party like this!!

We Are Heroes Part II -- how we create our performances

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales talked to We are Heroes after they taped the Martial Arts Challenge for America's Best Dance Crew Season 4. They talk about their feelings on the week, the process for creating and refining their performances, the pressures that come with being considered a top contender for the ABDC 4 crown, and Hiro's efforts to make her grandmother proud. Thanks to Dancetag for collaborating with BloggingBestDanceCrew.com on this season's interviews!

Exclusive: Ambushed at the We are Heroes Interview, Dance Lesson

While our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales were interviewing We Are Heroes backstage, they were subject to a sneak attack from Matt Cady and Megan Lawson. Watch for this, a quick dance lesson, and We are Heroes' feelings about their Martial arts performance. Thanks to Dancetag for collaborating with us on the ABDC interviews this season!

World of Dance San Diego this weekend - Quest, Fanny Pak, Super Cr3w, Strikers All-Stars, Kaba Modern, more!

Reminder: The World of Dance Tour hits the San Diego Convention Center on August 29. Exhibition crews at the event include Quest, Super Cr3w, Strikers All-Stars, Fanny Pak, and Kaba Modern. There will be dozens of crews competing, booths with the latest merchandise, and a LOT more. If you like America's Best Dance Crew on TV, you'll be blown away by watching live dance, so go! Click here for details and to purchase tickets.

Week 4: Enter our Top 4 Contest now!

If you want to change your vote on which crews will be in the top 4 at the end of this season, here's your weekly chance.

At the end of the season, I'll post who won, and who else got the right combination (and in which week). So, even if your choice has already been taken, you can enter a new one now and get some bragging rights. And, there are still some combinations that haven't been picked. Click here for contest rules and prize. Good luck!

ABDC Bollywood Week - Songs and challenges

MTV Remote Control just posted the songs and challenges for ABDC 4's Bollywood Week. They also did a good job of describing the challenges, which look to be matched to each crews' particular strengths. And -- Rhythm City is the only crew that got Jai Ho!

AFROBORIKE "Dance Bailalo" Kat De Luna
Challenge: KATHAK - Kathak performers are noted for their fast turns and stomping footwork, whose rhythms, exaggerated by ankle bells, develop into complex metrical sequences. Kind of like tap dance, but without the shoes.

BEAT YA FEET KINGS "So Fine" Sean Paul
Challenge: GARBA - People dance around the center, bending sideways at every step, their arms making sweeping gestures, each movement ending in a clap. Formation changes, switching partners and barrel turns make a diverse and difficult Garba.

RHYTHM CITY "Jai Ho" A.R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls
Challenge: BHARATA NATYUM - The movements are ample and precise, always symmetrical. The technical vocabulary comprises jumps, spins and balanced attitudes. This style has a lot of bending, squatting and large arm movements.

MASSIVE MONKEES "Bang" Rye Rye Ft. M.I.A.
Challenge: BHANGRA - Bhangra is considered to be the most energetic dance style of India. The movement requires lot of athleticism. Bhangra is somewhat graceful, but the moves are large and powerful. It’s a very masculine form of dance.

VOGUE EVOLUTION "Calabria 2008" Enur
Challenge: RAJASTHANI - Rajasthani Dance comes from the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a folk style performed during Indian celebrations. The style is fluid with swaying movements, hand gestures and small hip movements. Women generally perform this in a circle wearing brightly colored veils and skirts flaring out as they twirl in circles.

WE ARE HEROES "Arab Money" Busta Rhymes & Ron Brownz
Challenge: GIDDHA - Performed in a circle, Giddha consists of clapping and often becomes a friendly battle between two people trying to out do each other, with a story. This style is performed by women only and is considered the female version of Bhangra.

Jai's Take on ABDC's Martial Arts Challenge

Reader Jai was inspired to write a full review of this weeks ABDC Challenge:

"After the martial arts episode, I felt compelled to toss my two cents into the review jar! :-) Now, I am by no means a dancer; in fact, I am far from it. LOL! However, I can appreciate what these crews do to show the viewers their versatility and skills each week because I know I could not do it. With that said, I kept the criteria Nancy posted on BABDC in mind while I watched the martial arts episode again without interruption (i.e. laptop & cell phone)…"

Click here to read the rest! Thanks Jai!

Southern Movement & Fanny Pak's Glenda discuss ABDC elimination experiences

Our interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales caught up with Southern Movement after the crew learned that this was their last week on America's Best Dance Crew. Glenda and SM's Sherita hug asn the crew discusses their feelings - "we leave our problems on the dance floor", Glenda talks about what it was like when Fanny Pak was eliminated, and she gives them some advice.

Exclusive Podcast with Southern Movement after their ABDC Elimination

I spoke with Southern Movement the day after they taped the Martial Arts Challenge on America's Best Dance Crew. Kemmian Beard is the spokesman on the podcast, but they all were there, goodspirited and positive about the ABDC experience. They are a true class act - talking about how they devised the hick-hop style, their favorite moments working on ABDC, their crew friendships, which crew's style they'd choose in a Crew Reversal challenge, and their plans in both Tennessee and Los Angeles. Listen in!

Lil Mama: A Closer Look

Society and Style profiles Lil Mama. She talks openly and passionately about her music career, dealing with life's doubts and hardships, her role on America's Best Dance Crew, and not worrying about critics.

My favorite quote: "If I folded to the media and folded to the press and basically got weak and gave them what they wanted all the time then who would I be? What would make me any different? I would look just like everybody else...There’s nothing unique about wearing the same old same old, made up all the time, it doesn’t describe who you are, only you can do that... I’m going to do it because this is mine not nobody else’s.”

More Week 3 recaps from all over

• RealityWanted and Reality TV Online present just the facts
• We'll Fix It In has a very funny, very snarky play-by-play
  
• LA Times has the facts, some trivia (every crew got a standing ovation from the audience this week), and video interviews with Afroborike, Vogue Evolution, Rhythm City, and Southern Movement

 

Is MTV having 2nd thoughts about ABDC 4?

MTV Remote Control just added a post saying "Remember all those jaw-dropping, "Holy Sh**!" routines we'd see each week on Seasons 1-3 of ABDC? We hate to say it, but we're pretty anxious to feel some of that heat from before. It's not like there aren't a ton of talented dance crews on Season 4 -- but each of them certainly do appear to be competing on a more even playing field."

What's going on? Are they just trying to get their readers to engage, or what?

Enter Week 4 Elimination Challenge now! Anyone can still 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 4 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.

As of now, the leader is Diggy Digs with 6 points total. But the game is young and everybody has a chance to win. So, post your votes now, and remember to include your email address in the appropriate field. Here's the rules. Voting closes midnight Wednesday August 26.

Exclusive interview and dance lesson with Southern Movement

Our Week 3 interviewers Chris Trondsen and Fanny Pak's Glenda Morales caught up with Southern Movement before the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 4's Martial Arts Challenge. They talk about the difference between dancing live vs. for TV, how they came up with their trademark hick-hop style, and give a 'Jackie D' dance lesson.

Videos: ABDC Martial Arts Performances

Here are the Week 3 performances from MTV. If/when these are removed, we'll substitute links for Fanscape clips.

• MTV has the full Week 3 episode here.
• Rhythm City MTV video (for now) and below.
  
  
• Southern Movement MTV Video link and below
  
  
• We are Heroes MTV video link
• Vogue Evolution MTV video link
• Afroborike MTV video link
  
  
• Beat Ya Feet Kings MTV video link
• Massive Monkees MTV video link

ABDC Week 3 Recaps - First Batch

• You Love to Watch thought this week was only marginally better than Week 2 and appreciates it that Shane Sparks is also bored with the crews.
• Oh No They Didn't is Blunt, but links to individual performance videos to prove his points
  
• Zatzz is giving ABDC ONE MORE WEEK to impress her or else!
  

Send some love to Southern Movement!

I'm going to miss Southern Movement. They showed that their trademark hick-hop style was a successful marriage between country dancing and hip hop, and a lot of fun to watch! They always brought the energy and original twist to their performances. I think the crew will be successful long past ABDC working onstage and on TV with country music acts and 'the mainstream' who are looking for something sassy and on-point.

This post is only for kind words and positive thoughts about Southern Movement. If you want to post negative comments about them or other aspects of ABDC, please comment in the Party Room/Critics Corner.

Survey: Best Performance in Martial Arts Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Survey: Worst Performance in Martial Arts Challenge

poll by twiigs.com

Vote now!

The online voting is now open for Week 3, from now until 5:30am Eastern time. If you want to protect your favorite crew, act now! You can click here to vote. Performance videos will probably be online by 11pm West Coast time, to aid in your choices.

Then, please come back to our Critic's Corner/Party Room! We need you!

Party Room/Critics Corner now open - Join in!

The party room for America's Best Dance Crew Week 3 (the Martial Arts Challenge) is now open! Share your predictions, impressions, frustrations, hates and loves. Did the crews rise to their challenges? What crews really stand out? Do you think we'll end up with an amazing winner at the end of Season 4? Do you really believe in an evil puppet-master behind ABDC?

After the show is over: Give us your reactions. We like it rough.

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

This is live play-by-play for tonight's America's Best Dance Crew Season 4 Martial Arts Challenge, moderated this week by TBone. Follow along or keep up with the show if you can't watch it immediately. It's not easy to simultaneously watch the show, write about it, AND monitor the comments, so please leave most of your comments at the Party Room/Critics Corner post above this post!

Backstage ambush from Fanny Pak's Matt and Megan

For those fans impatient for Sunday night: MTV Remote Control has some quick questions with this season's ABDC crews before the show taped. BTW -- Fanny Pak was definitely in the house this week -- Glenda worked with Chris Trondsen on OUR backstage interviews, which we'll have online very very soon!

MTV - Music Videos - MTV Shows - Celebrity News

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

It's Martial Arts Challenge tonight on America's Best Dance Crew, so join us tonight to see who kicks who's butt! The Party Room/Critics Corner opens at 8:30pm ET and stays open until everyone has exhausted everything they want to say about the challenge. Tell us what you thought of it -- was it the best or the worst challenge ever? What crews from prior seasons would you have liked to see do a Martial Arts performance instead? This is the place for any tirades and paranoid fantasies!

At 9pm ET, Tbone will 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. Early tomorrow, please vote in our polls on the best and worst performances for Week 3. And, we'll have recaps, the next round of our contest, backstage videos (with guest interviewer Glenda Morales from Fanny Pak!), and more! So join us!

Preview of the Martial Arts Challenge: What would Shane Do?

Our field reporter Chris Trondsen watched the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 from the press area, and provides this intriguing preview (and teaser!):

"Right before going out onstage and performing, each crew on ABDC does a group huddle and a prayer. Some needed it this week. There had been gossip going around that perhaps judge Shane Sparks felt this season's crews hadn't stepped it up to the level of past seasons' contestants so far. That rumor was pretty much confirmed at the taping of Episode 3 of this season's America's Best Dance Crew.
After the first act, Shane stared blankly and said, "The choreography sucked, the dancing was boring, and we've already seen this before from you the past two weeks." Not only was it what he said, but how he said it. It cut through the stage with a knife. The audience and the press box backstage was silent. You could hear a pin drop."

Click here to read the rest of this intriguing report. After reading this and other reports from the tapings, I am REALLY curious about what is going on now in the heads of the remaining crews! Thanks Chris!

Interview: Layla Kayleigh in a family way

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

Video: Marvelous Motion Shirt Ad

Now here's the way to sell your merchandise: Marvelous Motion dances in their crew logo shirts. On the front: "So How Marvelous is Your Motion?" and on the back "Get Marvelous or Get Lost" . You can buy the shirts at marvelousmotion.com. Thanks for the tip, ILogan!

We are Heroes on ABDC: "I feel this is a crazy hell/heaven"

Rafu Shimpo, a Los Angeles Japanese newspaper, published an in-depth profile of We Are Heroes, including information on each of the members. Best quotes:

• Hero: “I feel like this is a crazy hell/heaven,” Hero said, her voice rising with excitement. “Because 24/7, each single second, I’m thinking about the choreograph, the routine.”
• We Are Heroes came together as if by fate, having never met each other before rehearsals. “We just got together for this show, but I feel like we’ve been together for a long time,” Mami said.
• “What Beat Freaks started,” Ali said, “we’re going to try and finish out."

Lil Mama Interview: 'Just like the Female Pinocchio - I'm a real girl!'

After the taping of America's Best Dance Crew Week 2, Chris Trondsen and ASIID's Della Hamby talked to Lil Mama about her style , the diversity of this season's crews, how women's images are tied to their outfits, her surprise at some of the results, and whether it matters if a crew (or a person) is gay, and her upcoming plans (including her birthday party). Favorite quote: when talking about why she's not wearing a hat, Lil Mama replied, "Just like the Female Pinochio - I'm a real girl."

More reports from the tapings

• From ZLenox: 'I was there yesterday it was really upsetting....the bottom 2 was one of the best battles I've ever seen one of the best performances in the history of ABDC and the best two performances of the night and the crew that left should have stayed in the competition. None of the crews that were safe stepped it up"
• From MTV Remote Control- JC Chasez loses his ability to form a sentence after one crew's cat-like performance, Shane Sparks calls out the crews, and Lil Mama claims to have a yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Tomorrow, I'll post the preview from our field reporter Chris Trondsen, giving you a non-spoiler teaser focusing on one of the judges.

Shane Sparks Interview: "I say what I feel"

Chris Trondsen and ASIID's Della (Dellalicious) Hamby interviewed Shane Sparks at the taping of the America's Best Dance Crew 4 Beyonce Challenge. Watch and learn which crew Shane would hire to work with him, if he has any regrets as a judge, where he gets his clothes, and why ABDC is legit.

Week 2 Surveys Say - Best: We are Heroes; Worst: Beat Ya Feet Kings

Our Week 2 ( Beyonce Challenge) surveys are now closed. Results, with almost 900 votes apiece. Click to see details for the best performance and worst performance. Highlights:

• We are Heroes had the most votes for the Best Performance (29%), followed by Vogue Evolution (20%), Massive Monkees (16%), Afroborike (15%)
• Beat Ya Feet Kings had the most votes for Worst Performance (30%), followed by Southern Movement (16%), Rhythm City (15%), and Massive Monkees (11%)
  

Monday 8/23 in LA: Super Cr3w, Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak, Lydia Paek, DoKnock!

Monday August 24 is America's Best Dance Crew alumni night at Los Angeles' Level 3 Club. Among the entertainers are Super Cr3w, Kaba Modern, Fanny Pak, Lydia Paek, Super Cr3w's Do Knock performing his single "Indian Giver", Kaba Modern Legacy, Super Cr3w's Ben on the soundboard, and much more. Before that event, there is also a private party to celebrate the birthdays of DoKnock, Fanny Pak's Tiffani, and Kaba Modern's Cindy. Click here (and enlarge the poster) for more details.

We hope to have some coverage of the event, but if you go -- let us know!

Video: Dtrix Workshop at Quest Learning Center

Members of Quest teach hip hop workshops at the Quest Learning Center in Cerritos, CA each Wednesday. From Victor Kim's Youtube Channel, here's a video of Dominic (Dtrix) Sandoval teaching at a recent workshop.

First Pacific Rim Videos: Southern Movement, Vogue Evolution

As usual, Pacific Rim beats everyone to the punch in posting videos from the Episode 3 tapings at America's Best Dance Crew 4. At this point, they have a talk with Leiomy from Vogue Evolution and this talk with Southern Movement, where their guest interview is Boxcuttuhz' Rocko:

Photos: Super Cr3w with AGT's U4ria

Check out pictures of U4ria (currently on NBC's America's Got Talent) dancing it up with members of Super Cr3w (MTV's America's Best Dance Crew 2) and RJ KoolRaul from Supreme Soul with DJ Ben (B'Boy from Super Cr3w)!

What HAPPENED at ABDC Week 3?

I have been without an internet connection and am just now catching up. But it sounds like The Martial Arts Challenge taping was upsetting. I still want this to be spoiler free here, but I am now nervous about watching this week! Here's my first reports:

Time to Fly to the Cheese: At first I tried to keep an optimistic view of this season considering I love Heroes, Vogue Evolution, and Rhythm City. But in my honest opinion, this was the worst episode of America's Best Dance Crew I have ever seen. Im not sure if its the combination of the pointless and stupid challenges, the voting results, and the less than impressive routines from the rest of the crews, or just the fact that every week so far, a crew has gone home that doesn't deserve to go home. They may not be the best but some crews that are saved ARE NOT as entertaining as the bottom 2 crews. This is the first time where almost every crew had more negative commentary than positive commentary. I really wish ABDC would adopt the elimination format of SYTYCD so it can be fair. The crews that perform the worse that night go home. I actually found myself quite bored during half of the performances. I even heard hints of regret from the judges concerning previous eliminations. I've even thought of not attending these tapings anymore. America better start voting correctly or this will DEFINITELY be the worst season of Americas Best Dance Crew past and/or future.

Czar: Ok, just got back from the taping and i'm happy it was better than last week!! The show started off slow but near the end it brought everybody to their feet. All the crews had a good performance but there was one crew that killed it, and got everybody hyped up. The bottom two crews were once again, unexpected! The judges said that the bottom two crews had the best performances of the night. I agreed with the judges decision. Overall it was a great week and I had fun!! I got to sit in back of Quest!!! . . .ABDC alumni that attended: Quest/ Artistry in Motion/ Matt, Meagan, and Glenda from Fanny Pak/ Rocco of Boxcuttuhz/ some Ringmasters/ Taeko and two others from Beast Mode.

Massive Monkees: "Bboying is Like Walking. I can't live without it"

Hip Hop Lives Blog retrieved a 1997 interview with Massive Monkees that was originally published in Oneso Magazine. This one is for the die-hard Massive Monkees fan, going into how they formed from two crews (Untouchable Style Monkees and Massive), their years on the bboy scene, the problems, with travelling, and what they'd be doing if they weren't dancing.

In the article, they deride You Got Served” and “Kicking It Old School" and other current mainstream bboy depictions since it "makes b-boying out to be a joke. They’re definitely trying to make it like another fad, like this is just another fad that’s gonna go out the door." Their conclusion: "B-boying’s more than just tricks, more than shows and competition. It’s a whole lifestyle."

Shane Sparks Part I: his roots in Cincinnati ghetto hip hop

Cincinnati Hip Hop Music Examiner goes back with Shane Sparks to his roots in the Cincinnati hip hop scene. He describes the local style as "'ghetto'--large groups of dancers, sweaty but synchronized who don't, as he puts it, "dance pretty." Instead, the Cincinnati style comes across as raw, tribal and energetic."

The article nails his early dance experience and exposure. Favorite quote: "That’s why I think I’m so successful in the choreography world, because I come from a world of, '(battling) is all you did.' We battled in a group point of view. We’d call out five or six routines in one battle and people would be done! After the second or third routine, people were like,’ Oh, my God! They can’t come no more! ' And we’d keep coming. Then we started freestyling and would come with another routine. So I think that’s kind of the edge that I have over a lot of choreographers out here because I think from a ‘choreography-battling routine-group’ point of view.'”

Video: Brand New ABDC Promo!

Hot off the editing machine: a new promotional video for America's Best Dance Crew Season 4, using clips from the first two weeks.

ABDC's 2nd Martial Arts Challenge: Match the crew to the footwear

MTV Remote Control has a guessing game today: match the crew to their footwear for the Martial Arts Challenge. I think they're taking a lesson from Manolo's Shoe Blog. Any guesses from my astute readers?

Let us know if you attend tonight's taping!

The Martial Arts on America's Best Dance Crew tapes tonight -- August 20. If you are lucky enough to attend, please leave a comment or email us at BloggingBestDanceCrew@gmail.com about your experiences! We'd love to hear what it was like! BUT PLEASE NO SPOILERS ABOUT WHO WAS IN THE BOTTOM AND WHO WENT HOME! Thanks! If you feel a need to leave a spoiler -- GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO IT!

Exclusive Vogue Evolution interview - "Beyonce is my Idol"

Chris Trondsen and ASIID's Della Hamby (aka Dellalicious) had fun interviewing Vogue Evolution backstage at the taping of the Beyonce Challenge. Leiomy describes why Beyonce is her idol, they teach our interviewer the Vogue 101 terminology, describe the ball scene, and talk about how there was some improvisation going on during their Week 1 performance. Thanks to Dancetag for collaborating with BloggingBestDanceCrew.com this season on the America's Best Dance Crew backstage tapings!