I’ve been tuning in here and there on America’s Best Dance Crew and seen some pretty nice stuff. Crew dancing is not usually my bag (although the kids are certainly talented), so I don’t normally jump up and down about it.
But last week was Disco Week on ABDC, and first that made me perk up. The crews were going to be given a disco song, and they had to incorporate some movement from the song/video clip AND put in a disco dance lift. Easy peasy, right? Well, just tell that to the Heavy Impact Crew who are just that–heavy. AND sooooo much fun to watch!! Just look at these guys. They embrace their differences, rub the bellies and just get to work. Sincerely, although there were great things about all the dances that night, I don’t think I enjoyed any group as much as Heavy Impact. Plus their song was “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees. Nuff said.
Just watch them tear up the dance floor. That is passion, enthusiasm, and love for dance:
I am nothing if not nostalgic. While watching the latest episode of America’s Best Dance Crew I spied this amazing clip of the Jackson 5 performing live on Soul Train. I quick did a search for it.
This is classic, timeless and pretty darn cool. Sure, it has the standard group moves in it, and “Dancing Machine” was such a huge hit for the Jackson 5, it really put them on the map.
But just watch MJ take stage do the robot. Smooth, effortless, super quick and very robot-like. Watch him do a fast turn, walk with his head moving side to side, then smile like “hey, that was FUN!” Amazing.
Michael Jackson was certainly a born artist and entertainer. We miss you. Sigh.
…where there is some pretty darn great crew dancing going on. Now, I admit it, I’m not usually a stand up and cheer fan of this type of group dancing, I tend to prefer more contemporary-style dancing where more communication of emotion is involved. But that absolutely does not discount this type of high-energy, super complicated, tricky-tricks, high rhythm and syncopated dancing. It’s pretty amazing at times to watch, you just go “wow, how did they do that?” In addition, there’s the necessity for everyone to be completely in-synch with each other and look exactly the same. Also not something I’m a huge fan of (I like it when people dance and look like individuals). But then, that would defeat the idea of a “crew” right??? Of course. I’ve learned to love the synchronicity. ;o)
When the show first debuted on MTV, I loved the commercial for it, which showed a kind of a “melting pot” of dance: cloggers, ballerinas in toe shoes, break dancers, hip hoppers, etc. etc. I looked and looked for this video online and had no luck >o(. Oh well, onward!
Of course the most famous of the crews to come out of America’s Best Dance Crew is the Jabbawokees. You can’t turn on a dance show without seeing them. And rightly so, they are super skilled and really fun to watch.
The are so recognizable as a unit, as a team, the masks really contribute to that so all you are aware of is the movement, sometimes as one. They’re style is just really interesting, very almost laid-back, relaxed, easy going. But still full of energy. I also like this commercial for ABDC season 2 (right after they won). This is Jabbawokeez cranked up, dramatic and full of force:
I love the camera work on that bit as well, really added to their dance.
Another crew that’s made their name from ABDC is Quest Crew, they are super. Here’s their commercial for ABDC after they won:
Pretty snazzy, huh? Ok, that move where the guy flips in the air while two other guys pass above and below him? C-R-A-Z-Y. Nuts. Slammin! And I really dig the whole church theme. Didja see the pictures of the other crews in the stained glass?
OK and finally, a bunch o Girrrrlz won the competition last season, We are Heroes. And they give it as good as the guys do:
Was that enough hoppin’ videos for ya? Hope you had fun. Do you have any other ABDC faves? Let me know!
