America’s Best Dance Crew Takes on Britney, Y’all

This week on America’s Best Dance Crew, the dancers took on challenges from the princess of pop herself, Britney Spears.  Say what you will about her, these songs were perfect for the challenge.  Each crew took a #1 song and had to incorporate specific challenges in their choreography.

The first two crews to avoid elimination were Beat Freaks and Strikers All-Stars.

Beat Freaks, seven strong, women dancers took on Britney’s “Womanizer” video having to incorporate both sexy and strong moves.  For these B-girls and hip hop dancers, they had no trouble bringing the strong, but the sexy was a bit more challenging.  Dressed up in men’s suits, the ladies incorporated a little Britney-esque strip tease into the routine.

“We were a little bit scared of the outfits.  It was out of our comfort zone.  Last minute some of us got shortened and we didn’t want to,” said Teresa Espinosa.

“We didn’t know about it either so we ate like pigs before,” added a laughing Maryss from Paris.

The judges and the audience didn’t seem to notice as they were given solid critiques all around from Lil’ Mama, Shane and JC, who thought that they really showed a different side of themselves and embraced the challenge.

Strikers All-Stars made it back to the top spot, and were given Britney’s “Gimme More” to dance to.  Their challenge was to create mirror images of themselves.  Dressed in sleeveless tuxes, this crew looked amazing and their mirror work was tight and clean.  The judges loved them and they were solid performers.  They could be the underdogs of this contest.

Next up were Dynamic Edition, the cloggers who had the challenge of dancing to “Stronger,” using chairs in their routines.  Um, clogs and chairs, probably not the easiest dancing challenge.  This group is unique but I think this week they went wrong with their style and wardrobe choices.  Hot pink vinyl jackets and white jeans with blond wigs were just well, plain wrong.

Shane agreed, saying that he didn’t find them sexy at all, going so far as to say, “I can’t get the movie White Chicks out of my head.”  Dynamic Edition seemed disappointed by their performance (and I’m certain by that comment) but it’s up to America to decide whether they get a second chance.

One of my favorite groups of the night was Quest Crew, which boasts many accomplished individual dancers, including Hok, who was on my favorite dance show ever, So You Think You Can Dance.

Quest had the challenge of dancing blindfolded at some point in their routine.  Blindfolded!  I can’t even dance with full sight and these guys killed it.  Ryan did a full somersault flip over one of his fellow dancers and landing upright (and in a great pose) all blindfolded, making it one of the highlights of the night.  I asked them about the impressive move after the show.

“We added that move last night.  It was a fill-in for something else so it kind of came out of nowhere.”

That move was one that will definitely keep them in the top spot for another week.  The judges loved Quest’s energy, enthusiasm and even goofiness and they killed the challenge with their blindfold work.

The other all-girl crew, “Fly Khicks,” took to the stage and had to incorporate sharp turns into their Britney routine.  While their kicks were sharp and the judges praised them on precision, I felt like this group lacked the energy and excitement that Beat Freaks brought.  I predict they’ll be in the bottom next week.

It was down to just two crews in the finals – Team Millennia and Ringmasters.

Team Millennia took to the stage, forced to dance with hats and canes to Britney’s “Me Against the Music.”  They did the challenge well, although JC said he felt like it was a little too by the numbers when it came to using the hat and cane.  Overall, I felt like it was one of the least exciting performances of the evening.

Ringmasters, a crazy contortionist group out of Brooklyn, was up next and their challenge was to create a tall person (or stilt person) dancing to Britney’s “Circus.”  They were great, even incorporating a note Lil’ Mama gave them last week to add more choreography.  Some of their stuff was a little jarring to me, especially when they took off their shirts and did the flexing of their muscles but it was really innovative stuff.

The judges complimented both acts and Lil’ Mama especially praised Ringmasters for using dance as a way to stay off the streets and be positive role models.  As the judges conferred, I already had a feeling that Team Millennia would be eliminated.  I was right.  Team Millennia left the stage and Ringmasters are back for another week of dancing and contorting.

I spoke with Quest Crew after the show and asked them why they’re America’s Best Dance Crew.  Despite their obvious talent, they were extremely modest.

“We’re not there yet.  We think we have what it takes to be America’s Best Dance Crew.  But everyone’s amazing and we all want the same things.  That’s what makes it so thrilling, that it’s anybody’s game.”

Beat Freaks is hoping it’s their game to win.  “It’s been two seasons of boys and the ladies are here.”

Yes, they are and they hope everyone appreciates what they do every week, creating these dances from scratch in just three days.  Lindsey (aka Out There) wants people to really appreciate what their craft is all about.

“We want America to know that dancing isn’t all about tricks.  It’s about basics and foundation and knowing the history behind what you’re doing.”

With so much pressure to rehearse, perform and even win, I had to ask the girls what they do for fun, when there aren’t any lights and cameras around.

“We nap,” and “We hang out with the Ringmasters.  They make us laugh.”

All the crews were laughing, snapping pictures and visiting with each other after the show.  Lil’ Mama even came backstage and visited with the crews and offered her advice.  She seemed to genuinely appreciate and admire the talents of all these young dancers.

It was an incredible show but the top crews, in my opinion, are Quest Crew, Beat Freaks and Strikers All-Stars.  I’d love to see the ladies take the top title, but all it takes is one amazing performance to change this competition.  And these six crews will be back next week, battling it out and proving why they deserve the title of “America’s Best Dance Crew.”

Season 3, Week 3 (originally aired January 29, 2009)

For a behind the scenes look at ABDC, click here.

For more on America’s Best Dance Crew, click here.

Thursdays at 10pm ET on MTV

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