Interview: ABDC Audition Judge Napoleon D'umo

Field reporters Brooke and Rebecca talked to Napoleon D'umo, one of the audition judges for America's Best Dance Crew Season 3. Here's the news on how Season 3 will be different from prior seasons, some regional differences in the auditions, and how they'll pick the nine crews who will compete in Season 3.

How have crews changed since auditions for Season 1 and 2? "They are getting more in tune with what it's about. Howard Schwartz has expanded on what was seen in Seasons 1 and 2 and is making it better. We're also seeing that some talented individuals changed crews and are coming back to audiion as part of a new crew."


"Are there differences in crew styles from city to city? YES! Miami -- Salsa and Reggae; New York -- Trannie groups, also known as Voguers; San Francisco - Turfin'; Los Angeles -- Krump; Atlanta -- Crankin'; St. Louis -- Krunk; Baltimore -- Roll.

Once the auditions are over, what's the process for picking the nine crews that will appear on the show? "There will be a big room full of producers, judges, and TVs. We'll watch all the crew video playbacks for many hours, narrowing it down to the final nine...we will have all nine by the end of November. The crews aren't being picked by region. So it's possible that there could be five crews from the LA auditions."

Photo credit: So You Think You Can Dance

America's Best Dance Crew in the Sports News!

You know that ABDC is gaining popularity and becoming mainstream when it's mentioned as a caption for a sports joke. So, here's the first sighting: Errant Balls (great blogname, guys!) captioned this picture: "Being 0-8 just gives us more reasons to devote extra practice time to our audition routine for the next season of America's Best Dance Crew."

Photo credit: AP/Dave Einsel

Some of our favorite crews from LA Auditions: Box Cuttuhz

Field reporters Rebecca and Brooke covered the Los Angeles auditions for Season 3 of America's Best Dance crew. Over the next few weeks, we'll share their videos and interviews.

Here's our disclaimer (get used to it, you'll see it a lot): They watched about 4 hours of auditions, so they didn't get a chance to see all of the crews. In addition, they (and BABDC) have no inside information or control over judges' opinions.

An appetizer for things to come: Box Cuttuhz, from Southern California

• Name Background: They are geeky underdogs, cutting open the box that they've been forced into and showing the world their talents.
• Members: Lando (25), Aris (24), Rocko (22), Diamond (21) Jesse (23), Lydia (18) and Brian (20)
• Dance style: Hood, Funk, Jazz Funk
• Why are they auditioning: they feel they are underdogs, so they have no limitations
• Favorite crews from ABDC past seasons, JabbaWockeeZ, Fanny Pak, Kaba Modern
• What they'd do with $100,000: travel, give it their families, and invest.
  

Mailbox: JabbaWockeeZ lessons, Mario Lopez, SYTYCD at the auditons

• On November 1 and 2, Monsters of Hip Hop descends on Chicago with dance performances, contests and lessons. Instructors include JabbaWockeeZ Phi Nguyen and Kevin Brewer, as well as Napoleon Dumo (one of the judges for America's Best Dance Crew auditions). Click here for details and to get your tickets.
• Monsters and Critics summarizes Mario Lopez' interview with Obama. Best bit (and very timely for this Halloween): Michelle's nickname for Barack is 'Pumpski'. Awww.
• Zap2It reports that So You Think You Can Dance alums Dominick and Hok "killed it" at the ABDC auditions in LA with their crew Quest.
• And, for you techies: an explanation of the grandMA lighting console used in ABDC Live.
  

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail: Barack Obama and Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez gets his shot at history this week, interviewing Barack Obama for Extra. So, what's the scoop -- the economic meltdown, redistribution strategies, international relations? Almost.

Mario goes gonzo, talking about how hard it was to get a suit, get a car, get past road blocks, and get Obama's attention. But he gets in and talks about... Jennifer Hudson's family and Barack's Grandmother.

Upcoming performances: JabbaWockeeZ, Fanny Pak, Boogie Bots, Kaba Modern

• November 5: JabbaWockeeZ in Vancouver at the Bell Performance Centre. For tickets, call the box office: 604-507-6355

• November 7-8: Fanny Pak, Boogie Bots and Kaba Modern in Guam at Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center as part of "Music, Dance, and Wishes II". Doors open at 5 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m.General admission tickets are $35, VIP tickets $50. Tickets are available at DoCoMo Pacific, DNA Evolution, The Talent Box and the Fokai Shop in Tumon.

Los Angeles ABDC Auditions Teaser from Pacific Rim

For the next eight weeks, Pacific Rim Video will post videos of crew auditions and interviews from the Los Angeles ABDC auditions for Season 3. You can get them by going to the Pacific Rim Youtube profile, and by checking back with us.

And in the next few days, we'll start posting our own videos of favorite crews from the Los Angeles auditions, along with interviews with Randy Jackson and Shane Sparks.

First up from Pacific Rim: a teaser video with some stills, audition clips and shout outs from The Hype, Quest (the crew with So You Think You Can Dance alums), Head Hunters, Box Cuttuhz Show, Street Vibe, Foreign Exchange, and Essence.