Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review - Season 4, Episode 6: VMA Challenge

Please note: I did my best to track down legal copies of the original routines and was not able to find them.  I originally was going to link the original video to this and have us watch it first then the crews interpretation of it.  Since I could not do that I am not judging them against the  original performance but against the spirit of the original performance.

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Group routine:
AfroBoriké, Massive Monkees, Rhythm City, and We Are Heroes dancing to "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson
My thoughts- While this is not the best top four routine (Season Five has that honor to date), it was the first one that felt like all four crews were one unit.  Except for the extended solo sections, the four crews worked very well together and made a good routine.  I put this one above season Three's group performance and just below the ones for Seasons One and Two.
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Note- Costume designerKara Saun really outdid herself this episode for all four crews' wardrobes.  I love how she took the classic look of the original performance costumes and modernized them.  I know a lot of the people behind the scenes don't get enough credit for their contributions on the show but she really does good work for these crews.
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SAFE CREWS

We Are Heroes dancing to "Vogue" by Madonna
Was it clean? For the most part, they stumbled here.  They had been getting better week by week in this department, but there were many small timing errors in this set.  Add in a almost messed up ending where Nichelle almost didn't hit her mark.  With that said, they did add more oomph and energy to this routine than the original. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes it was.  This is another great example of a routine that constantly builds on itself.  Really good transitions and framing helped them to have some great moments. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They really shone here.  They not only captured the spirit of the routine -- they made it better, from the amazing visuals they did with the fans and the couch to just the attitude they brought to it. 10 pts
What were the highlights? the couch sequence
What, if anything, took away from the performance? the near-slip up at the end.
Total points- 25 pts

AfroBoriké dancing to "I'm a Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears
Was it clean? Not that much.  While they delivered the sexy and brought energy to this, they had numerous timing and formation errors. Most of these happened with the guys in chains and in the middle of the routine.  The challenge level of the routine did help them to a degree, but I think it may have been too much for them. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? Not so much.  While the individual sets for this piece were lovely, the transitions were clumsy and took away from the overall effect. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did okay.  It was not perfect, but they at least brought the spirit and attitude of the original routine to this set. 8 pts
What were the highlights? besides the guys starting off chained up there was really nothing memorable about this routine.
Total points- 22 pts
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THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right? Gimme a second to get my jaw off the floor.  I fully expected either Rhythm City or Massive Monkees to be in the bottom this week -- but not both.  We are Heroes definitely earned their pass to the top three but Afroborike really should have been in the bottom.

Massive Monkees dancing to "Tearin' Up My Heart" by *NSYNC
Was it clean? For the most part but, like the other two crews who already performed tonight, timing errors hit them throughout the routine.  Granted this was mostly in the first 16 seconds and after that they rallied and everything was on point and fun.  8 pts
Was it well thought out? Extremely well thought.  The transition were dope and the framing work helped make every little thing stand out for us. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They were flawless in this area.  They brought the spirit of the original and incorporated aspects of many of NSYNC's famous routines into this performance.  They really had a ton of fun with this routine and that added alot to it. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The puppet section.
Total points- 27 pts

Rhythm City dancing to "Wall To Wall" by Chris Brown
Was it clean? All four crews tonight had trouble with this tonight.  Their timing issues were present throughout the entirety of the routine.  In addition, their formations were not on point as they had been in past weeks.  I appreciate the added challenge they did, but it could have been a bit more together. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? To a degree.  The moves were hot and the challenge made things harder but the transition didn't connect well to what they were doing.  Add in more of my biggest pet peeve of stunts-for-stunts-sake and it was just okay. (8)pts
How well did they do the challenge? Okay, I know I just ripped them a new one in the other categories but they were simply amazing in re-imagining this set.  The use of the set was well done and they yet again raped the huge set pieces that were given to them. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The prop work
Total points- 26 pts

Did the judges get it right? Despite what my ranking says,  this one was too damn close to call.  There was no right call in this bottom two and I think the fans are the ones to suffer for it.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- A good crew that was apparently the' chosen one for this season.  I think this elimination is what pissed most folks off about Season 4.  Personally, I could take or leave them.
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Tonight's Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. Massive Monkees 27 pts
2. Rhythm City 26 pts
3. We are Heroes 25 pts
4. AfroBoriké 22pts

Power rankings (based on placement average)
1. We Are Heroes (7)
2. Massive Monkees (6.7)
2. Rhythm City (6.7) eliminated
4. Vogue Evolution (6.3) 5th place
5. AfroBoriké (5.3)
6. Southern Movement (4.3) 7th place
7. Beat Ya Feet Kings (4) 6th place
8. Artistry in Motion (3.6) 8th place
9. Fr3sh (1) 9th place
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ABDC6 auditions spotlight - taped tryouts: Chaos Theory Crew, Ol' Skool Cru, Sinigang, Smash!

More on dance crews who auditioned by video and were invited (we heard) to a callback.

• Sinigang is a group of five boys from Canada who are part of the PRAISETeam Performance Company, whose mission is to evangelize through performance. They've won several dance awards in Canada.Follow them at PraiseTEAMstudio.com, Facebook and Praiseteamstudio Youtube

• Smash! from Puerto Rico auditioned for ABDC5 (watch their audition here). You can see more dancing on their Youtube Channel. The newest video shows shows some new moves, with a description of the crew and its members. 

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ABDC6 auditions spotlight - LA Pt. 5: The Generation, Unity LA, Urban Empire Kidz, Villains, WHAT

More on the crew at the Los Angeles auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 who made it to the callback round:

• Urban Empire Kidz are a group of dancers age 11-18 with members from the United States, Guam, Japan, and Australia. (Note: they auditioned in Los Angeles under the crew name Empire Kidz). Click here to see our interview with the group, including a short dance demonstration. Follow them on lilbigz.com and tcapitule Youtube.This video shows the full group rehearsing the audition choreography.

• Villains are a subgroup of San Francisco's Academy of Villains,which was founded by Supreme Soul member Pharside in 2009. They've competed and performed at World of Dance events (placing 3rd at WOD Pomona), placed second at Collaboration,  and third at Prelude Socal. Click here to watch our interview (with short demo) at the ABDC6 auditions. And, you can briefly see their audition in this MTV video.  Follow the Academy of Villains on Facebook, Twitter, and AcademyofVillains Youtube.

• I heard there was a crew named WHAT that did well, but I haven't found any reliable information on them. Please leave a comment if you have information and/or videos. 

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review- Season 4, Episode 5 -Dance Craze Challenge

SAFE CREWS: 

AfroBoriké dancing to "Swag Surfin'" by Fast Life Yungstaz   

Challenge Move: Swag Surfin'

Was it clean? Not really.  I know they were nervous with this challenge and it really showed with how apprehensive their moves looked tonight.  Timing was off in almost all of the partner work and one of the girls did not hit her moves as hard as the other two. 5 pts
Was it well thought out? Again, no.  I had no idea what was going on in this routine.  They said they wanted to avoid looking like mad men jumping on a trampoline and that is what they looked like.  I will give them props for the daggering.  It was unexpected to say the least. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did okay with it.  There were times when they just used it to use it, but there were times when they really used it to help add some flair to their lifts. 7 pts
What were the highlights? The daggering.  No one expects you to shove the faces of the ladies in your crew into your crotches.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? Weak jumps off the trampoline.  Also the ending was kinda lame.

Total points- 18 pts

Massive Monkees dancing to "Do The Ricky Bobby" by B-Hamp   

Challenge Move: Ricky Bobby

Was it clean? Not really.  This is the first time this crew really felt sloppy to me.  They focused more on non-bboy moves this week and that is what messed them up.  There was at least one person off sync or missing his mark the entire time. 4 pts
Was it well thought out? For the most part.  While not great, they did put forth effort with decent transitions and good group work.  7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They excelled in this area.  They constantly showed the dance move in all sections, both with and without the trampoline, and kept in the spirit of the song with their use of props. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The middle section with the fire extinguisher.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? poor timing.

Total points- 21 pts.

Rhythm City dancing to "You're a Jerk" by New Boyz   

Challenge Move: Jerkin'

Was it clean? Yet another clean performance for this crew.  Only thing that bothered me was it didn't have the difficulty they normally show. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? yes.  Props to sticking to a storyline, but it did kinda feel forgotten apart from the beginning and end. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did it well.. Like week two, they actually amped it up. It would have been a knockout if they did it just a bit longer and harder. Though on the other hand, I thought they used the trampoline better then Massive Monkees did.  9 pts
What were the highlights? The ending trampoline work

Total points- 25 pts

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THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right? Honestly I don't know.  Both We are Heroes and Vogue Evolution gave strong performances last week, but with a race this close nothing surprises me.

We Are Heroes dancing to "Stanky Legg" by GS Boyz   

Challenge Move: Stanky Legg

Was it clean? It was almost perfect.  Only thing wrong with this was a formation error right before and leading up to the centipede stanky leg.  Other than that, they showed great hard hitting moves and energy. 9 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes it was. They gave great levels and transitions into their different formations.  10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? WOW!!  First off Nichelle is fearless for doing that with an injury like that.  They took their challenge move and actually made it look better than the originators of the move made it look.  The trampoline work was hands down the best of the night. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The whole thing.

Total points- 29 pts

Vogue Evolution dancing to "Halle Berry" by Hurricane Chris   

Challenge Move: Halle Berry

Was it clean? Overall it was.  The level of difficulty I usually get from this crew was not here this week.  Aside from that, they were on point for almost all the routine with only a few missteps at the end. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Really well thought out.  Everyone in the crew got a chance to shine in this piece.  The transitions were fierce as always and they were extremely creative. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Like We are Heroes, they were fearless with this one and they continuously did the specialty move.  There was some good trampoline work but it was not quite as strong as the performances by We are Heroes and Massive Monkees. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The opening was cute and the springboard off Leiomy was hot.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The ending is what I think cost them in this routine.

Total points- 27 pts

Did the judges get it right? Honestly, Vogue Evolution had no chance agaisnt We are Heroes that night.  I really think if any of the other three crews had been competing at the bottom  with them, Vogue Evolution would have been safe.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- Love these bitches.  They were fun and brought a new level of fierceness to the stage that I doubt will ever be matched again.

Thought on the episode as a whole- To be honest, my opinion on this episode really didn't change that much. It was a good gimmick that worked well for the crews willing to use it. Also this was the episode that I thought to myself that We are Heroes could actually win this thing. I mean, by this point I was used to my chosen crew getting to the top three but they always came in third.
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Tonights Rankings (based on tonight's score)

1. We are Heroes 29 pts.
2. Vogue Evolution 27 pts.
3. Rhythm City 25 pts.
4. Massive Monkees 21 pts.
5. AfroBoriké 18 pts.

Power rankings (based on placement average)

1. We are Heroes (7)
2. Vogue Evolution (6.6) eliminated
3. Rhythm City (6.4)
4. Massive Monkees (6.2)
5. AfroBoriké (5.2)
6. Southern Movement (4.6) 7th place
7. Artistry In Motion (4) 8th place
7. Beat Ya Feet Kings (4) 6th place
9. Fr3sh (1) 9th place
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ABDC6 auditions Spotlight LA Pt. 4: RNG, SickStep, SRL, Street Kingdom, The Academy

More on the crews that made it to the callback rounds at the Los Angeles auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6:

• SRL stands for Surreal Crew, from Irvine. They represent Common Ground, CADC, and Kaba Modern with members that are alumni or currently on those teams. It was founded  Chris Bitun, Tuan and Shawn Duong in 2001 when they were in high school. They've performed well in area competitions including third place at Maxt Out 2010 and second at Maxt out 2009. Team members have also choreographed at Vibe and Body Rock events. Click here to watch our interview with SRL (which contains a short demonstration) at the ABDC6 auditions. You can follow them at Facebook and Twitter. 

• Street Kingdom is a California crew on the forefront of krumping (one of their members created the style) and  known for their battling skills. Click here to watch our interview with the group, which includes a short demonstration. Follow them on Facebook

• The Academy is part of The Academy of Swagg and all members are also part of GRV. The crew is based out of Southern California, and the members have danced together for several years. GRV placed second at the 2011, First at 2010 World of Dance Pomona, and third at 2010 Body Rock. Click here for our interview with The Academy, which includes a dance demonstration. Follow GRV on Facebook, Twitter, and GRVDNC Youtube.

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch review - Season 4, Episode 4 - Bollywood Challenge

 SAFE CREWS:

Massive Monkees dancing to "Bang" by Rye Rye featuring M.I.A.      Challenge: Bhangra
Was it clean? For the most part.  They used amazing frame work from beginning to end, but they just a touch sloppy in some areas and in the transitions. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Extremely well thought out.  They formed really pretty pictures on the stage and transitioned easily into the next set up for what they were doing. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They shone here.  I thought that, out of all the six crews, this one would have the hardest time fusing the two styles together or that they would focus too hard on one or the other.  They made it look natural and exciting. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The transitions and the frames they made.
Total points- 27 pts

Vogue Evolution dancing to "Calabria 2008" by Enur     
Challenge Style: Rajasthani
Note- I really felt it tasteless the way they treated Leiomy's meltdown the week before.  They never really gave a real reason why she broke down and it was because a dear friend of hers had suddenly passed away. 
Was it clean? For the most part it was.  Just a few timing issues toward the middle and Leiomy kinda slipped up at right before they went into the scarves section. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? They really shone in this area by giving us an image of a princess at the window of her tower.  They worked well together in setting up every formation and I gotta give them credit for doing the signature move of Leiomy's friend towards the end. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? At times it was hard to tell where the Bollywood began and the voguing began.  I think I had problems with that because the two styles are somewhat similar.  Nonetheless, it was a good job. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The scarf work and the ramp parts.
Total points- 25 pts
Note- Lil Mama hush yo mouth!  You are here to judge the dancing, not to admonish the dancers for behind the scenes crap that did not involve you.

Rhythm City dancing to "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" by A.R. Rahman and Pussycat Dolls     
Challenge Style: Bharatanatyam
Was it clean? As always, they had a clean performance.  They gave great energy and control of the first half of the routines, but they kinda struggled when it came time to the challenge move. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes it was.  Like the others tonight, they transitioned well from one section to the next. Problem is they really didn't merge the two sections that seamlessly as they have done in the past.  They took too long going from their normal style to the Bharatanatyam section. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This was the first group tonight where I didn't get a sense of fusion from the crew.  Sure, they added some elements to the first two-thirds of it in the form of poses and the last 1/3 was done well.  But I feel they did not capture the spirit of the challenge like the other groups had done tonight. 7 pts
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The transition from normal style to Bollywood style.  It's great that you wanna show respectm and all but you could have done it sooner (like at the beginning) and done it quicker.
Total points- 22 pts

AfroBoriké dancing to "Dance Bailalo" by Kat DeLuna     
Challenge Style: Kathak
Was it clean? Not so much.  I know it was difficult in the fusing of these two styles, and when it worked it worked well.  However, there were too many timing and sync errors to count. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? They really did have the best transitions of the night so far.  The creative partner work let them easily go into good floor work. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? For the most part they did well, but you could tell they struggled with this one.  Most of the errors in this routine happened when they fully focused on the Kathak section. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The mid-point partner work and the ending
Total points- 24 pts
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THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right? I could see BYFK in the bottom for a so-so season to this point but Afroborike really needed to be in the bottom again after that train wreck they had the week before.

We Are Heroes dancing to "Arab Money" by Busta Rhymes and Ron Browz     
Challenge Style: Giddha
Was it clean? For the most part, but with a few noticeable errors.  Ali was out of sync in the beginning section and of course there was Nichelle's bra malfunction.  Aside from that, it was a very clean fusion of the two styles. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? OMG they CAN use the stage!  Great levels at the beginning, with some good formation changes helped this one stand out.  The slot machine section was creative and unexpected as well. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Kinda funny how the only all-male crew gets the most masculine style and the all-female crew gets the most feminine style,  and they both knock it out the park.  Like Massive Monkees,  they blended it perfectly into their style and made it unique and enjoyable to watch. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The slot machine and the bra toss.
Total points- 26 pts.

Beat Ya Feet Kings dancing to "So Fine" by Sean Paul     
Challenge Style: Garba
Was it clean? This was their cleanest routine to date.  However, the moves did not blend well and seemed a bit amateurish. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? I could tell they put their heart out there on the stage,  but their main problem returned.  It just felt like an extended set piece to me and nothing else really stood out. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They really tried to incorporate the new moves into their routine.  While not perfect, they busted their butts to make it look good. 6 pts
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The fact it looked like a grade school performance.
Total points- 19 pts.

Did the judges get it right? Yeah they did.  As hard as BYFK fought and fought, they were just out-classed by the five remaining crews.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- Porche -- you honey are a beast.  You and your crew are one of the few street crews that were not afraid to leave everything on the stage week after week and entertain us.  Best of luck to you all!

Thoughts on the episode as a whole- Much better then the previous week's episode and for such a gamble of a theme it really did pay off.  To me this is when the season really started to get good.
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Tonights Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. Massive Monkees 27 pts
2. We are Heroes 26 pts
3. Vogue Evolution 25 pts
4. AfroBoriké 24 Pts
5. Rhythm City 22 Pts
6. Beat Ya Feet Kings 19 Pts

Power rankings (based on placement average)
1. We are Heroes (6.5)
2. Massive Monkees (6.25)
2. Rhythm City (6.25)
2. Vogue Evolution (6.25)
5. AfroBoriké (5.25)
6. Southern Movement (5) 7th place
7. Artistry In Motion (4.5) 8th place
8. Beat Ya Feet Kings (4) eliminated
9. Fr3sh (1) 9th place
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ABDC6 auditions spotlight - LA Pt. 3: Marvel Inc., Mos Wanted Crew, Oceans 11 (Eclectic Gentlemen), The Proteges, ReQuest

More on crews that auditioned in Los Angeles for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 and made it to the callback round:

• Oceans 11 is another relatively new crew with members from other well-known crews. Their dancers have performed with Heavy Impact, ICONic, LXD and Destined 2 Be. Their style is lyrical hip hop. Click here to watch their interview and short dance demonstration at the Los Angeles auditions. Though they're new, they've already booked a Nike ad. Follow them on Twitter and at TFreshestKid Youtube. Here's the video they created for the ABDC6 auditions. UPDATE: the crew was chosen for ABDC with a name change: Eclectic Gentlemen

• The Proteges are a group of teen girls living in different states who met at dance conventions. They work with choreographer Chris Judd. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter,  and their website (under development). Click here to watch our interview with The Proteges which includes a short dance demonstration.  I haven't found a video of the group performing a full routine; please leave a comment if you know of any.
• ReQuest won Hip Hop International 2011 (watch their winning performance here) and placed at or near the top in the Varsity division in prior years. The all-girl crew come from Auckland, New Zealand and formed in 2007.. Follow them on Facebook and ReQuestDanceCrew Youtube. Click here to see our ABDC6 audition coverage of the crew, including our interview with ReQuest (with a dance demonstration) and an interview with the D'umos which includes ReQuest (sitting nearby waiting for their audition) bantering with the choreographers and demonstrating some haka dance. Here's their latest video, dancing to "Haters""

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review - Season 4, Episode 3: Martial Arts Challenge

SAFE CREWS:

AfroBoriké dancing to "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)" by Pitbull     
Challenge Style: Capoeira
Was it clean? For the most part.  While it was not sloppy or off on any particular move, things felt flat to me in the middle and the end sections.  As usual, the partner work was done well and it is good to see improvements to the floor work. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? They had a cute opening and it started okay when they went into the partner work.  After that, nothing seemed to stand out except for how very basic their moves felt.  We saw their best last week, they could have tried a bit harder. 5 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This is where they really screwed up.  I could get the feel of a Capoeira exhibition in the routine, but it felt like 6 year olds giving their first exhibition.  I had to rewatch four times just to be able to see their challenge move added in. Shane said it best for this routine: "The routine was boring, the choreography was weak and there was no energy." 3 pts
What were the highlights? When it ended
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The performance itself
Total points- 15 pts

We Are Heroes dancing to "Starstrukk" by 3OH!3     
Challenge Style: Karate
Was it clean? Not so much.  While there was difficulty shown, the girls were off sync with each other throughout the routine.  It had good moments, but moments alone don't make a great routine. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? I could tell what they were going for and they handled that well, but the energy level they normally use to help bridge sections was not there this week.  Also, transitions were okay but clumsy. And, the ending really felt tacked on. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did it well for the most part.  They at least got the spirit of the challenge in there from beginning to end without really messing it up. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The toss-up section was about the only thing that stood out to me.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? Definitely the ending.
Total points- 23 pts

Vogue Evolution dancing to "Work" by Ciara featuring Missy Elliott     
Challenge Style: Shaolin Kung Fu
Was it clean? For the most part it was.  There were sync issues throughout the entire set when the guys were trying to keep up with Leiomy.  It also felt very basic and stereotypical of what most people think of when they think of gay men fighting. 6 pts
Was it well thought out? Admit it: once you saw Leiomy in the cage, you knew this was gonna be some type of special.  7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Well they definitely had a cat fight going on.  Too bad it was so stereotypical the way they presented it. 7 pts
What were the highlights? THE KITTY CAT JUMP!  OMG BEST THING EVER!!!  I rewatched that at least 30 times and yes I am being serious.
Total points- 20pts
Note- in all seriousness this is one of my favorite routine ever, though in good conscience I could not give it higher then I did, and may have scored it too high.

Massive Monkees dancing to "Bounce" by MSTRKRFT featuring NORE     
Challenge Style: Extreme Martial Arts
Was it clean? Extremely clean yet again with plenty of energy.  Everything was hit and hit hard. The tornado kick section was the only miss when it came to togetherness. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Again they shone in this area.  They gave a powerful opening which led to a great handstand moment.  They followed that with interesting partner work with some explosive floorwork. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This was the only screw up.  They completely messed up their challenge move.  While I appreciate the difficulty of it, you have to know your limits.  Besides that, they did get the spirit of their style into the entire routine. 5 pts
What were the highlights? The handstand section.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? the challenge move
Total points- 21 pts

Beat Ya Feet Kings dancing to "Chillin'" by Wale featuring Lady Gaga     
Challenge Style: Tae kwon do
Was it clean? For the most part. There were some sync issues in the beginning, but they were tight after that.  There was nothing too terribly difficult though. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? They improved this week.  While they handled each section well and transitioned well, I got no real sense of difficulty from it. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did really well here.  While they did not hit the moves hard, they kept the fight theme in there in a fun way. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The ending fight scene
What, if anything, took away from the performance? it started a bit too slow.
Total points- 22 pts
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THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right? I think they did.  Both crews -- while good -- needed a sharp kick in the butt to wake them up.

Rhythm City dancing to "La La La" by LMFAO     
Challenge Style: Muay Thai
Was it clean? I would be shocked at this point if it were not.  This crew is one of the cleanest ever on the show and they always hit their moves with energy. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Again, great story and concept.  Each part felt unique and moved into the next seamlessly. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? I am of two minds on this one.  They nailed their challenge move, giving it to us through out the entire routine.  However, I didn't get that much martial arts vibe from it till the very end. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The entire routine.  Seriously, you could freeze it at any point and frame it.
Total points- 29 pts

Southern Movement dancing to "Ugly" by Bubba Sparxxx     
Challenge Style: Kali
Added Challenge: Dance with Escrima Sticks
Was it clean? For an "ugly" routine it sure was.  Everyone was on point and knew what they were doing.  I didn't get a sense of difficulty for this though.  9 pts
Was it well thought out? Like all great performances, it kept building and building on itself.  This time I did get distinct parts to the routine, but I felt they could have done just a bit better on the transitions. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? For the most part they did very well.  They handled their props well and made it work. However, I never got that much of a martial arts vibe until the very end. 7 pts
What were the highlights? The stick section.
Total points- 24 pts

Did the judges get it right? Yes they did. Rhythm City knew they screwed up the week before, and wanted to redeem themselves. They most certainly did.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- A great crew that was just starting to hit its stride.  I think if they would have downplayed the hick persona a bit more, they would have gotten more fans and enough votes to carry them further.

Thoughts on the episode as a whole- Again, not as bad as I remember,  but there really was only one great routine this week.  The problem with this season is starting to show in the fact the best routines are being done in the bottom two.  Also, we still do not have a clear front runner to this season with everyone so close to each other.
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Tonight's Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. Rhythm City 29 pts
2. Southern Movement 24 pts
3. We are Heroes 23 pts
4. Beat Ya Feet Kings 22 pts
5. Massive Monkees 21 pts
6. Vogue Evolution 20 pts
7. AfroBoriké 15 pts

Power rankings (based on placement average)
1. Rhythm City (6.6)
2. We are Heroes (6)
2. Vogue Evolution (6)
4. Southern Movement (5.6) eliminated
5. Artistry In Motion (5.3) 8th Place
5. Massive Monkees (5.3)
7. AfroBoriké (5)
8. Beat Ya Feet Kings (4)
9. Fr3sh (1) 9th place
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ABDC6 auditions - LA Pt. 2: Funk Beyond Control, Inside the Box, Jungle Jills, Klaamation, Knucklehead Zoo

More on the crews at the Los Angeles auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 who made it to the callback round:

• Klaamation auditioned for ABDC Season 5 (watch a clip of their callback here) and were even cited by then-judge Shane Sparks as a crew to watch out for.  Follow them on MySpace and Twitter. This year, they performed at World of Dance and The Friendship Games.

• Knucklehead Zoo, from Las Vegas, are respected breakdance veterans, and several members of Super Cr3w started the KHZ. They even starred in an MTV docudrama and their own Broadway show. They auditioned for ABDC Seasons 4 and 5. In 2010, they excelled in many bboy events including Claws Out and the Ultimate BBoy Competition. Follow them on Facebook. Here's a rehearsal of their audition routine for the ABDC6 auditions.

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review - Season 4, Episode 2: Beyonce Challenge

SAFE CREWS:

We Are Heroes dancing to "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Take the section of the video known as "The Grind" and create their own version
Was it clean? More so then their previous entry. This time I could not find any mistakes, but I think it is just me but something felt off the entire time. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? To a degree and I think it was because they still stayed in a what seemed like a 10 ft x 12 ft rectangle. The transitions and moves were done well and with flair, but if you just stay in pretty much one spot that does take away from the whole thing and I am glad they got called out on that. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? While they certainly brought the right attitudes and moves to the challenge, I really did not like the staking strobe butt effect they did.  Sure it was creative, but just a bit too weird for my tastes. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The opening and the ending were some of the best done on the show.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? Not using the stage to its fullest effect.
Total points- 24 Pts

Rhythm City dancing to "Sweet Dreams" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Update "The Charleston" which is featured in the video
 Okay -- before we begin --this was the episode I really started to hate this crew. Their dismissive attitude for the challenge given to them (like it was beneath them) just really got on my nerves. Shut up junkie and do your damn challenge!
Was it clean? Yes but not quite as clean as the week before.  Just a few timing errors in the beginning and some when they were doing the challenge. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Told a good story and had a creative beginning, middle, and end.  Transitions were great as well. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This is where they messed up and messed up badly.  Only around four seconds of it met the challenge, and unlike We are Heroes's 4 seconds it did not stand out at all.  I had to rewatch that section around five times just to see a two person dance on the floor.  It was bland, basic and added nothing new.  Besides the song playing in the back ground, I did not get the Beyoncé vibe from this routine at all. 1 pts
What were the highlights? Wonderful opening and that was the first crew I ever saw on stage that made a huge set piece work for them, instead of just take up space.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The challenge section.
Total points- 19 pts

Massive Monkees dancing to "Work It Out" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Dance with hula hoops without accidentally dropping them
Was it clean? Like I said before, these bboys are the cleanest ones I have ever seen.  However, they lost themselves this week.  When they were doing their moves they were all together, all on point and all in sync.  The problem was there was so little dancing in this routine. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? This just felt like a hot mess to me.  While I appreciate the old college try they gave, nothing really made sense. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They get an A for effort.  However, I think if they would have had only one or two of the guys at a time, playing with and being flirty as only guys can, while using the hoops, it would have made for a better performance.  7 pts
What were the highlights? The partner work simulating hooping in the middle.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? everything else.
Total points- 20 pts

Beat Ya Feet Kings dancing to "Crazy In Love" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Booty-pop with never-before-seen flare
Was it clean? They still feel a bit basic to me when they go out outside their GOGO style.  It is nice seeing them add other things into their normal style, but they need more practice.  It was a bit tighter than Week 1, but there was still sync and timing errors in it. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? Now I am most likely gonna get some hate for this one but it felt like it was just one long seizure from beginning to end. It didn't feel like there was any beginning, middle, or end to it. 5 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They handled this surprisingly well and --dare I say it-- with a bit more enthusiasm than the other crews.  Everyone in the crew channeled their inner Beyoncé for this and Porche did it more then the other ladies this episode, so far.  They popped their butts most of the routine and when they highlighted and made it the focus towards the end, they gave some cute and clean levels. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The formation booty pop
What, if anything, took away from the performance? While not a great routine, nothing really took away from it
Total points- 21 pts

Southern Movement dancing to "Jumpin' Jumpin'" by Destiny's Child     
Challenge: Bust out all of the moves from the video with new creativity
Was it clean? It seems being in the bottom last week gave this crew a nice kick in the pants.  They were tighter then they were last week with no mistakes. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? To a degree. I couldn't tell there was distinct parts to it and like BYFK it felt like one long piece with no breaks to it. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This was another area they shone.  They were able to fuse their normal style with Beyoncé's style like it was the easiest thing in the world.  They could have brought a bit more attitude to the piece though. 8 pts
What were the highlights? Thing is nothing really stood out this performance to me.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? Same thing: nothing stood out to me.
Total points- 23 pts

Vogue Evolution dancing to "Déjà Vu" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Perform African-style dancing within their routine
Was it clean?  Cleanest of the night and they made everything snap at you. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes but it felt like some of the others tonight.  To me it felt like it had no real beginning, middle and end sections. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Guuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrllllllll these bitches defiantly brought Beyoncé to the stage spiritually, mentally, and physically. The African moves were blended so well into their routine that I thought it was natural for them to be doing them. Also, who
 would have thought a transgender woman could out-do the rest of the girls when it came to embodying Beyoncé? 10 pts
What were the highlights? The fact that Leiomy used her hair like it was a prop
Total points- 28 pts
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THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right?  Seriously -- they put Artistry in Motion in the bottom?  I just wanna know what the heck were they smokin?  I could see Afroborike belonging there

Artistry In Motion dancing to "Diva" by Beyoncé     
Challenge: Perform with chains incorporating the entire crew
Was it clean?  For having such a weird prop -- yes it was.  All the ladies were on point and killed it at any given time. It needed more energy though. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Again -- it makes it hard to plan when you have a hard prop to use in the routine.  They rose to the occasion and told a story that made sense and justified the extended use of the chain. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? The attitude was there, the look was there, the prop was there.  The only thing that wasn't was the energy. If they would have came just a touch harder, it would have been a home run. 9 pts
What were the highlights? The entire performance.
Total points- 29 pts

AfroBoriké dancing to "Beautiful Liar" by Beyoncé and Shakira     
Challenge: Work exotic Shakira-like moves into the routine
Was it clean? 3 for 3 for yet another flawless routine.  They seem to have found their stride and managed to balance out phenomal partner work with good stage work. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes. Everything made sense and transistioned well.  As with other great routines it kept building on itself to make a stronger whole. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Damn that was sexy without being too slutty.  They owned the challenge given to them and all six members pulled their wieght when it came time to do the specialty moves. They made it all look easy. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The entire performance.
Total points- 30 pts

Did the judges get it right? For this episode they did.  But I would like to think what would have happened if Artistry in Motion had stayed.  We know what Afroborike does the rest of the season and it never came close how well they did in this episode.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- A very talented crew with a ton of potential that was shot down way too early.


Thoughts on the episode as a whole- Honestly not as bad as I remembered it. Rhythm City and Southern Movement were definitely better then I remembered from the first time I watched this episode. Overall, most of the crews did okay. I feel the rankings reflect that at this point (unlike past seasons) there is still  no clear front runners.
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Tonight's Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. AfroBoriké 30 pts
2. Artistry In Motion 29 pts
3. Vogue Evolution 28 pts
4. We Are Heroes 24 pts
5. Southern Movement 23 pts
6. Beat Ya Feet Kings 21 pts
7. Massive Monkees 20 pts
8. Rhythm City 19 pts


Power rankings (based on placement average)
1. Artistry In Motion (7) eliminated
1. Vogue Evolution (7)
3. AfroBoriké (6)
4. Massive Monkees (5.5)
4. Rythum City (5.5)
4. We are Heroes (5.5)
7. Southern Movement (4.5)
8. Beat Ya Feet Kings (3)
9. Fr3sh (1) 9th place
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ABDC6 auditions spotlight - LA Pt. 1: 25/8, Elektrolytes, Entity, Fallen Kings, Flavas, Freshh, Freshh 2.0

• More on the auditioners in Los Angeles for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 who made it to the callback round:

• Fallen Kings from California includes dancers who used to be part of Flex Flav and auditioned in that group fro ABDC Season 4. Click here for Minor Effect's vlog at the ABDC6 auditions that shows the group practicing in the street. Follow them on Facebook and DereleekTV Youtube.

• Flavas is the youth group for 25/8, who also made it to the callback round of ABDC6 (you can see them in the Pacific Rim interview on the first page). The members range from 10to 17 years old.They also competed at World of Dance Hawaii as 24/7 Teens.

• Freshh is yet another talented Canadian crew. In 2009, they won Third Place at Junior Division of Hip Hop International finals and won First Place in 2007. As far as I can tell, they are separate (but equal!) from Freshh 2.0 from the same dance company called Fresh Groove Productions. Follow them on Facebook  and Freshgrooveproductions.

• Freshh 2.0 won First Place at the 2010 Junior Divisions for Hip Hop International, from the same company as Freshh (see above). You can follow them on Facebook  and Freshgrooveproductions.

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review - Season 4, Episode 1: Crew's Choice Challenge

GROUP 1:

Beat Ya Feet Kings dancing to "Skillet" by Backyard Band
First Impressions- The token street kids that have a heart of gold.  Honestly, out of all the street kid crews these guys seem the most likable.
Was it clean? This is a tough one to call.  I know I have trouble judging "dirty" styles of dancing fairly because them seem so chaotic and all over the place.  What I did notice was most of the time they were in sync with what they were doing but at least one person seemed to be a tad lost.  I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this one.6 pts
Was it well thought out? I can easily say this was not a well done piece.  I had a hard time trying to figure out what they honestly were going for.  The time they danced as a group was exciting but it did not make up for the weird pieces of it. 5 pts
How well did they do the challenge? As far as giving a good first impression, they did not do that great.  I remember seeing their audition video (OK I remember seeing everyone's audition video except for Afroborike and We are Heroes) and they gave a better first impression then this.  They could do better. 5 pts
What were the highlights? The footwork was simply amazing and was something new.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The rest of the routine.
Total points- 16 pts

We Are Heroes dancing to "Waters of Nazareth" by Justice
First Impressions- I am really not sure what to think.  They seem like an anime come to life.
Was it clean? For the most part, but at points Nichelle and Ali were out of sync with the other three in the beginning. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? For the most part it was.  The beginning was a tad slow as it built things up to the rest of the routine.  The middle and endings were very exciting to me and well done. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They gave a favorable but not great impression.  We can clearly see they are skilled but that they are still learning to dance together and that they are holding back. 8 pts
What were the highlights? The 18 second leanback with them doing their moves in perfect sync was the highlight to me.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? it took too long to get things together.
Total points- 23 pts

AfroBoriké dancing to "Aguanile" by Marc Anthony
First Impressions- Hmmm...a partner dancing crew.  I am not sure what to think.
Was it clean? Originally I thought the partner work was very sloppy, but after the two viewings I see that it was timed very well, with each pair doing their thing at a time -- one pair does a move, then second pair does a move, then the third pair does a move and then everyone is on point and working together.  It was done very clean and very sexy.  However, the work they did when not partnered up was out of sync. For pros from Las Vegas they should not be making those mistakes. 7 pts
Was it well thought out? I think this is what hurt them the most.  It was well done in the beginning but they had a hard time linking everything together once the partner work ended. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? They did leave an impression on you, though ask ten people what it was and you will get ten different answers. I am not sure if it was a good impression or a bad one. 7 pts
What were the highlights? The partner work was amazing and well done.  
What, if anything, took away from the performance? pretty much everything else.
Total points- 20 pts.

Did the judges get it right? Yes. We are Heroes clearly did the best that round.  Afroborike may not have blown us away but they still had more oomph to their routine the BYFK did.
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GROUP 2

Massive Monkees dancing to "Kill Joy" by N.E.R.D.
First Impressions- Holy crap! Some of the best B-boy legends on the show!  Squueeeeeee!!!!!
Was it clean? Wow never thought I would say this but damn.  I mean damn.  They were so on point throughout the entire routine.  It was almost like watching a machine when they did their moves.  They were together the whole time and made everything look good. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Despite the fact of how much I loved the cleanness, I had a bit of trouble seeing where they were going with this. I appreciate the fact they did not stick to mostly flashy power moves but I feel their transitions could have been just a touch stronger. 8 pts
How well did they do the challenge? I now see why before the show started that folks were saying these guys were gonna be the winners. Strong, creative and clean crews always do well. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The whole thing was done so well.  It just made you want to go back and watch it again.
Total points- 28 pts

Artistry In Motion dancing to "SFM" by Basement Jaxx
First Impressions- One of my favorite SYTYCD stars and big girls.  What's not to love!
Was it clean? Very much so.  Unlike Massive Monkees before them, these ladies seemed like seven individuals doing their own thing but still acting as one unit. Both sections were handled wonderfully but the formation at the end was off point. 9 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes, it was two different routines that transitioned to one magnificent whole.  The first part was something different and lovely that we had not seen before and the second half was raw and hard and done better then almost all other female crews on the show before them.  10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? This is where they stumbled a bit.  Did not really get a sense of self from them in this routine.  Still it was a good job. 7 pts
What were the highlights? The transition from the slow to the hard part of the routine.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The ending was a bit off.
Total points- 26 pts

Southern Movement dancing to "Sideways" by Dierks Bentley
First Impressions- Shoot me now.  Another "theme" crew.
Was it clean? OK, this was much better then I remember it from when the episode first aired.  Like the other two crews in this group, they where extremely clean and together.  There was some sync and formation errors during the change up but that was about it. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? I couldn't tell.  It felt like three different parts taped together.  While each part was (again surprisingly) good, it was not linked together well. 7 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Like Team Millennia last season, they played more to their theme and didn't try to focus on their dancing.  They are a talented group, but when you play up to something that much it tends to make everyone forget about the good parts. 6 pts
What were the highlights? While it was overall a good set, nothing really stood out.
Total points- 21 pts

Did the judges get it right?  These three were definitely more exciting the the first group.  They did pick the right crew to save first but honestly just looking at what they did it was a toss-up on who else to save.  Both Artistry in Motion and Southern Movement were good in their own rights but in the end I think they chose the right one to save.  
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GROUP 3

Rhythm City dancing to "Life of a Star" by Mims
First Impressions- Token New York Street crew.  YAY!  I mean the last one they had on did soooo well.
Was it clean? Yes it was.  There were no real mistakes and they brought just the right amount of energy to each move to make it pop. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? Yes. Everything flowed well in each section and they made everything look easy. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Very well.  While you could tell they were holding back, what they did give was more than enough to make you excited. 10 pts
What were the highlights? The first major transition with the stunt work.  It was framed well and the rest of the crew was doing their own thing as well.
Total points- 30 pts

Fr3sh dancing to "Ante Up" by M.O.P.
First Impressions- Sweet: a fan favorite crew of the BABDC commenters.
Was it clean? I felt it was all over the place. 5 pts
Was it well thought out? I could not tell. Yes, the little "homage' to New Jersey was cute and somewhat clever, but it really did not fit into the routine.  Nothing else in the routine made
sense to me at all. 5 pts
How well did they do the challenge? For a crew to have as much hype as they did pre-season, they did poorly.  We have seen much. much better from Fr3sh before and after this show. 5 pts
What were the highlights? That it was over.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? The opening REALLY took away the most in my opinion.
Total points- 15 pts

Vogue Evolution dancing to "Took the Night" by Chelley
First Impressions- OK let's get one thing straight right now: Keep your hands off Mal, that big bitch is mine!  Honestly, I thought it was about time we got some voguers on the show.
Was it clean? Mostly. They were off in some spots but their energy more then made up for it. 8 pts
Was it well thought out? Hard to tell, there really was nothing there to link everything together but it did not feel messy. 9 pts
How well did they do the challenge? OMG these bitches are so fierce it transcends gender!  Controlled power through out the whole set. Loved it! 10 pts
What were the highlights? I am a sucker for duck walks....don't look at me!
Total points- 27 pts

Did the judges get it right?  Yes they did.  The top crew this group has potential to win it and the second saved did great.  Hopefully Fr3sh can redeem themselves.
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SUDDEN DEATH ROUND:
Beat Ya Feet Kings, Southern Movement, & Fr3sh "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black Eyed Peas.

Beat Ya Feet Kings- This was a different crew than when they went first this episode.  They were together, they had so much control and energy in their moves.  It was much more thought-
out then earlier tonight.  This was a redemption for them.

Southern Movement-  This time around they knew what they were doing with what they wanted to show, and it made a huge difference to me.  Good energy as well.

Fr3sh- While it was better than what they just showed us, it was still sloppy and not that great.  The judges just asked them not to look so happy and they kept doing it.

Who should stay based on the Sudden Death and why-  Without a doubt Beat Ya Feet Kings owned this battle.  They came back with a new fire that erased the poor performance from earlier.

Who should leave based on the Sudden Death and why- Fr3sh really did not show any improvements or anything new.

Did the judges get it right? Yeah, they did.  Many of you will disagree with on this one but BYFK did outdance the other two.
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- Fr3sh was a talented group and had done loads of great work before the show.  They were considered a front runner before the show aired but they fell hard here.

Thoughts on the episode as a whole- This is not as bad as I remember.  Even the two 'bad' routines of Fr3sh and Beat Ya Feet Kings were light years better than G.O.P. Dance and Ringmasters during ABDC3's Week One.  As much as everyone likes to bitch about it, I do feel since Season Three that the casting folks do keep bringing a stronger level of talent each season.  They all may not be who we wanted on the show or our favorites, but they do deserve to be here.
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Tonight's Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. Rhythm City 30 pts
2. Massive Monkees 28 pts
3. Vogue Evolution 27 pts
4. Artistry In Motion 26 pts
5. We Are Heroes 23 pts
6. Southern Movement 21 pts
7. AfroBoriké 20 pts
8. Beat Ya Feet Kings 16 pts
9, Fr3sh 15 pts
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Click here to return to the first page and to leave comments. Thanks Teldon! 

ABDC6 auditions Spotlight NY Pt. 4: Stryke Force, Systematic, The Movement, Uneek EFX, Venom, WRT, XDC

More on the dance groups that made it to callbacks at the New York auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6:

• Uneek EFX hail from South Carolina and performed at the 2010 Miss Georgia beauty pageant.

• Venom is an all-girl dance crew from New York City and appeared briefly on Live to Dance. Follow them on Facebook.

• WRT stands for "We Run This". The New York crew has been together for six years and danced at World of Dance NY and Choreographer's Carnival.  Follow them at WRTtv Youtube.

• XDC stands for Xtreme Dance Company. The team from Bristol, Virginia specialize in clog tap dancing. Ten girls auditioned as a crew in NY. Follow them on Facebook and at XtremeDanceCompany.com. Here's their ABDC audition routine:

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ABDC6 auditions, NY Pt. 3: In da Clutch, Phunk Snap, Point Blank, POSH, Ridonkulous, Rockwell Family, Streetz

More on the crews auditioning in New York for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 who made it to the callback round:

• In Da Clutch is part of an entertainment group from the South Jersey/Philadelphia area. Follow them on Facebook

• Ridonkulous is a crew of MIT students and graduates. They've auditioned for ABDC in Season 4 and Season 5. They also compete in the larger East Coast dance events including Prelude EC, The Main Event, and Elements. Follow them on Facebook

• Rockwell Family is part of a dance school in Montreal, Canada. Members of that school came in 6th at the 2009 Hip Hop International Finals and the group called Rockwell Family placed 11th in 2008.They also placed third at 2010 World of Dance NY. Follow them at their website, Facebook,  and Youtube. 
• Streetz is a group from Brooklyn that formed in 2009. Since then, the group has branched out throughout the United States and internationally, striving to create a hip hop dance community and to get adolescents off the streets by giving them a creative outlet. Follow them on Youtube, Twitter,  and Facebook.

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ABDC6 auditions Spotlight NY: Illmatic Force, Irratik, JHHA Droppas, Moonrunners, Motion Picture, Phunk Phenomenon

More on the crews that made it to callbacks at the New York auditions for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6:

• Moonrunners come from Toronto, Canada and formed in 2009. They call their style 'glitchin'. The crew has done well in 2010 Canadian competitions, winning The Beat Down and placing second in The Stomp. Follow them on iMoonRunn Youtube.

• Motion Picture  is a flexing crew. Click here for an older video of crew member Spyda. Thanks for the tip, Koopa! 
• Phunk Phenomenon are a well-established group from Massachusetts.  The Phunk Phenomenon school was founded in the 1990s and is the home of Phunk Phenomenon (the adult group), Phunk Snap, and Lil Phunk. They've competed at Prelude, Elements, and Hip Hop International. Follow them on Facebook  and PhunkPhenomenon.com. Here's their 2010 Hip Hop International performance where they came in 4th at the Finals.

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review - Season 3, Episode 8 - The Live Finale

GROUP PERFORMANCES


Quest Crew, Strikers All-Stars, and Dynamic Edition dancing to "Right Round" by Flo Rida
What I thought-This is one of the best finale night routines and there are good reasons:  Each crew was given more than enough time to shine by themselves.  In addition, the blending of the three totally different styles into a single unit speaks volumes of the skill level of all these dancers.  What impressed me even more was the fact that everyone got in there and did stepping extremely well and then they also did clogging as well.  I need to wait till the Season Four finale before I declare it best ever though.  The rose-colored glasses made two of those three look extremely good.

Beat Freaks, Boxcuttuhz, and Team Millennia dancing to "Just Dance" by Lady Gaga
What I thought- This one did not blow me away tpo much.  Overall it was an OK set.  At times it felt like way too much was going on, making it hard to really focus on one thing.  With that said, one thing I did notice was the fact that Box and Team Millennia both outdid Beat Freaks in that set.  They came harder and just outshone he Beat Freaks.  It was a nice redemption for both Boxcuttuhz and Team Millennia.

Fly Khicks, Ringmasters, and G.O.P Dance dancing to "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)" by Kardinal Offishall featuring Keri Hilson
What I thought-  While this is still not a great piece, it is not as horrid as I remembered it.  The opening was just too long, but when they finally all got the floor they did well.  I enjoyed the way they played off each other, whether through group dancing or partner work. Could have been better in some spots.
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TOP TWO DUO

Quest Crew & Beat Freaks dancing to "Beggin'" by Madcon
What I thought- I am of two minds on this.  While I will say -- this was the first top two duo that was truly great.  I also have to say it didn't feel different then anything else we have already seen.  At no time did I truly feel like there was any individuality to to this performance.  I think it was great they could dance on the same level, but there was no fusion element like in what we had with SoReal  Cru And Super Cr3w.  To me this just felt like a performance that could have been done in any of the other weeks leading up to the Finale.
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THE FINAL CUT

Did America get it right?  Yeah they did.  Both crews were on the same level towards the end.  However, Quest wanted it more and showed that they wanted it more.

Feelings on the season as a whole- Overall, a great season.  The main drama of Beat Freaks vs Quest was nice but a bit boring.  I had more fun watching the other three crews in the top five.  It may be just me, but I like a little bit of not being able to call the final two after after the first week.
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Click here to return to the first page and to leave comments. Thanks again Teldon -- we look forward to two more seasons of Rewatch with you!

ABDC6 audition Spotlight NY Pt. 1: 8 Count, Boston Tap Co, Da Emperorz, D-Code, Hip'notic Phlava, ICONic Boyz/Girlz

More on crews that auditioned for America's Best Dance Crew Season 6 in New York and made it to the callback round:

• D-CODE is a Dance Team from DixVersions Studios in Quebec City, Canada that finished 10th at  2010 Hip Hop International. Follow them on Facebook (in French) and GABMR23 Youtube.

• We don't know much about Hip'Notic Phlava yet. We think they are from Washington D.C.. They have a Facebook page and a HipnoticPhlavaDC Youtube Channel, but both are pretty sparse right now. They are briefly shown in this video shot at the auditions. Here's an old video showing the crew's style.

• ICONic Boyz are a junior group that is part of the ICONic Dance Complex, home of ICONic  (America's Best Dance Crew Season 1). The group was shown on Live to Dance, the Apollo, and Hip Hop International 2010; and members have appeared in commercials and on the Disney Channel. Gendance posted this interview with their leader, GEO. Follow them at ICONicBoyz.com,  and Facebook.

• ICONic Girlz are the female junior group from ICONic dance complex. I couldn't find anything specifically about this group, but members are shown as part of ICONic Kids

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Teldon's ABDC Rewatch Review: Season 3, Episode 7 - Hip Hop Decathlon Challenge

Challenge #1: Hip-Hop Decathlon

All three crews must dance to a master mix of the following songs.  In addition they MUST incorporate a certain dance move when each song plays.

• "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. Challenge Style: Threading     
• "I'm in Miami (LA), Trick" by LMFAO. Challenge Style: Waving
• "Love Lockdown" by Kanye West. Challenge Style: Tutting
• "Closer" by Ne-Yo. Challenge Style: Housing      
• "Get Up" by 50 Cent. Challenge Style: Krumping     

SAFE CREW:
Beat Freaks
Was it clean? Surprisingly, no.  It is just shocking For this crew to be this out of sync with each other throughout the routine.  It wasn't just one time or a small section.  At least one member was off-step from the others at all times.  Their usual swag and energy was not there either.  4 pts
Was it well thought out? To a degree.  I will give them props for well thought out transitions, but it was what they did during each piece that brought it down. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Not well at all.  I expected better from this crew and they disappointed.  The only section they did really well in was the waving section.  The rest were poorly done. 5 pts
What were the highlights?  It is only memorable for being so bleh.
Total points- 15 pts

THE BOTTOM TWO

Did America get it right?  Let's not act surprised here.  We knew Fly Khicks didn't have the fan base to save them and that Beat Freaks gave a visually stunning performance the week before.  I would have been more shocked if Quest would have ended up as the safe crew.

Quest Crew
Was it clean? Groin-grabbingly so.  While to me it seemed like there were sync issues for different pieces, I finally realized they really got into the style they were doing and there was none.  They did each set with an amazing degree of skill. 10 pts
Was it well thought out? OMG yes.  I loved the fact they strongly highlighted each member of the crew and gave him time to shine.  The transitions were not only great -- they popped right out at you and set up a strong coming attraction. 10 pts
How well did they do the challenge? While the crew as a whole may not be masters of any one style shown tonight, they highlighted the best person for the job and made him look better in each set.  Keeping the focus on that one person let the others do their best and not take away. 10 pts
What were the highlights?  Can I say the whole thing?
Total points -- 30 points

(Note- I will compare the three performances that got standing O's (Get Your Freak On-Fanny Pak, Hip-Hop Decathlon-Quest, and Ichiban-We Are Heroes) from the judges
in next season's write.  Let them stand on their own merits for right now.)

Fly Khicks
Was it clean? As with Beat Freaks,  there were sync issues throughout the routine.  Unlike Beat Freaks, they managed to hide them better and show more energy than the other two crews.  You could tell they wanted it badly. 6 pts
Was it well thought out? For most of the routine.  The opening to each section was done right up until we got to the tutting section. That's when things kinda fell apart in terms of showmanship and visual appeal. 6 pts
How well did they do the challenge? Surprisingly, I thought the only section they would do well at was the housing.  They not only did a good job there, but they handled threading and waving like they have been doing those styles forever.  While I admit the tutting was weak, I thought it was clever using their shoes in the routine.  8 pts
What were the highlights?  They had the best opening of the night.
What, if anything, took away from the performance? It went downhill once you got to the tutting section.
Total points- 20 pts

Did the judges get it right?  Yes and do I really need to explain why?
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Thoughts on the eliminated crew- Love, love, love this crew.  Out of all five seasons they are still my favorites, even if they have gone their separate ways and gotten "real" jobs. They are everything I love in a girl crew.  Raw, sexy and high energy.  They may not have had the best start but they were fighters, sending almost half the cast home themselves. People may say they got lucky in each of the showdowns, but they straight up won and out-danced in all of them.  No one can take that away from them.
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Tonight's Rankings (based on tonight's score)
1. Quest Crew 30 pts
2. Fly Khicks 20 pts
3. Beat Freaks 15 pts

Power rankings (based on placement average)
1. Beat Freaks (7.4)
2, Quest Crew (7.3)
3. Strikers All-Stars (7) 4th place
4. Fly Khicks (6.7) eliminated
5. Dynamic Edition (5.4) 5th place
6. Ringmasters (3.4) 6th Place
7. Team Millennia (3.3) 7th Place
8. Boxcuttahz (3.1) 8th Place
9. G.O.P. Dance (1.1) 9th Place
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Challenge #2: Last Chance Challenge

Beat Freaks performing to an original set -- "Freak the Dream"
How well did this performance represent them as a crew-  While this is not as bad as I remembered it, it was pretty underwhelming compared to what they hae done earlier in the season.  At best, this should have been a Week 1 or 2 performance not a Last Chance Challenge.  The other main problem I had with it is that it took way too long to get set up.  Add in moves that did not pop out at you and you give a pretty bleh last impression.
My thoughts on the crew as whole formed throughout the season- I think I am one of the few fans of the show that did not like this crew.  While I admit they did a good job week to week, they just never really held my attention.  After the rewatch I am still kinda meh about them as a whole, but I can see why they got as far as they did.

Quest Crew performing to an original set "orQUESTra"
How well did this performance represent them as a crew-  OK, I will admit that I did not like this the first time I saw it and I still don't now.  Don't get me wrong: it is still an OK piece
that made up for Beat Freak's bleh performance earlier. But it makes me wonder how well either routine would have done if they would have been matched up with the Fly Khicks.  I think this one should have started a bit sooner then it did.  Normally I don't like stunts for stunts sake, but they really did an impressive job framing each one.  I just wish they would have added just a bit more.
My thoughts on the crew as whole formed throughout the season- Like with Beat Freaks,  I was not a fan of this crew.  After the re-watch I can honestly say I am a fan now.  I used to think that Quest held back the entire time to come and win it, but I see now they slowly built everything up week by week and held nothing back, especially when it mattered in the end.  Great job guys!
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Out of the two who should win and why- Stats-wise this is pretty much a dead heat.  However, Quest took the gauntlet thrown down and beat the  crap out of the Freaks.  Not only with the best Hip Hop Decathlong routine but with a better Last Chance Challenge as well.
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