Daily Archives: January 15, 2009

ABDC Season 3 starts tonight

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America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) Season 3 starts tonight. We’ve already done a bunch of posts on for the upcoming season. Take a look:



ABDC Season 3 starts tonight

Behind the scenes with Team Millenia

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Team Millenia plans on staying on America’s Best Dance Crew. (Quest and Team Millenia are the only Asian American crews on ABDC Season 3.) Team Millennia has been going strong for more than a decade. The crew, which holds annual auditions, was founded by Danny Batimana, who handpicked the seven members to compete on America’s Best Dance Crew, all of whom have been dancing together for about four years. Jun says they “grew into a family with a strong bond.”

The crew is based at its own studio, Under the Bridge, where in addition to housing their fevered rehearsals, the organization holds workshops to serve youth and their community. It’s also the home of the many trophies Team Millennia has scored over the years, as they’ve placed in the top three in more than 20 competitions, including Battlefest, Fusion and World of Dance.

“Influence comes from everywhere,” says Jeddy Boy. “You can make everything relate to dance.”

Everything from Aaliyah, Ginuwine and Timbaland to Ne-Yo, Usher, Janet Jackson and Rihanna comes up when you ask Team Millennia members to list their favorite dance music. “I like anything I can groove to,” says Wobz, while Jun says, “I don’t really have a favorite song or artist. I enjoy anything that has a beat!”

The crew auditioned for America’s Best Dance Crew last time around, but didn’t make the cut. That experience is driving some members this time around. “Everything happens for a reason and to be able to come back for a second try makes me believe we have something to prove and show the world,” says Jeff of their chances this season. Adds Alexis. “We have the heart, the talent and the drive to take us to the top.”

Here’s this year’s crew members

Jed “Jeddy Boy” Florano

Roberto “Jun” Quemado

Alexis Avila

Kristine “Wobz” Bueta

Jeff Viray

Jason Lim

Chantita “Chance” Mao

Behind the scenes with Team Millenia

Behind the scenes with Quest Dance Crew

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The guys of Quest are a crazy sic crew. Their elements of wackiness along with their form of dance adds quite a bit of flavor for Season 3 of America’s Best Dance Crew.

Here’s the members of theQuest crew

Ryan Conferido – Filipino

Steve Terada – Japanese

Hokuto Konishi – Japanese

Ryan Feng – Korean, Portuguese, Chinese

Victor Kim – Korean

Brian Hirano – Japanese

Dominic Sandoval (aka D-trix) All with other stuff

A group of friends who were pretty much spending all of their time together anyway, the members of Quest are fun and entertaining. Each has substantial professional dance experience, performing on television shows like So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol to touring with the likes of Gloria Estefan and Sheila E.

Claiming that dance “lets me express my life through movement,” Hok says he’s motivated by “beauty, intricate minds, art, philosophy and nature,” as well as “weird creatures.” But Feng and others note that it’s the members of the crew continually push each other. Perhaps Ryanimay sums up Quest’s overall motivation in describing the crew as people who do what they love with no expectation of reward.”

Packed with sick tricks, the members of Quest believe that they bring something special to the America’s Best Dance Crew stage. Steve cites moves like a “triple flash kick,” “T-Pike flash” and his own signature “Terada Grab” as part of the crew’s arsenal of unique, acrobatic flips and tricks.

With a preference for moving to the likes of James Brown, Busta Rhymes, Prince, Boyz II Men and Black Sheep, the members of Quest prefer their beats old school, although at least one member confesses moving to the futuristic sound of Daft Punk is among his favorites.

“Win or lose, we just want to be memorable and inspirational,” says D- Trix. Adds Hok, “We will do what we think will entertain America the most. If the result follows, I will be happy with it!”

Add the Quest Crew as you Myspace friend. Also check out Quest Dance Crew LA Audition for America Best Dance Crew Season 3.

Behind the scenes with Quest Dance Crew

Beat freaks with Rino Nakasone

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Japanese dancer Rino Nakasone was born the 11 June 1979 in Naha on the island of Okinawa in Japan. She lived with her mother, her grand-mother and her little sister. She grew up with a passion : Michael Jackson and later Janet Jackson. For her to learn the dance, she watched their video clip and shows and knew by heart their choreographies. When she was 19, she left Japan for the USA to go to college and dance. She later taught dance at a performing arts centers, and formed the dance group “Beat Freaks”. She was also one of Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls, Music.

Add Rino Nakasone as your myspace friend

Add Beat Freaks as your myspace friend

Beat Freaks explains why they may take the crown of America’s Best Dance Crew. You can see Rino tunning around in the back

UPDATES:

Lydia Paek with Boxcuttuhz

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MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew kicks off today. Korean American Lydia Paek, originally with Quest, will join the Boxcuttuhz. The Quest dance crew was full for ABDC, so she tried out for ABDC with the Boxcuttuhz. Not only can she dance, but she can also sing. If her crew, The Boxcuttuhz gets cut, she can definitely work it out with her vocals. Check out a cool interview with Lydia Paek here.



One thing to note is that Lydia Paek is the only female dancer for either Quest or Boxcuttuhz. You can add Lydia as your MySpace friend.

Lydia Paek with Boxcuttuhz

Lydia Paek dancing with Quest Crew. You can see Lydia Paek dancing at 5:41 mark.

UPDATE:

Boxcuttuhz Farewell Interview after ABDC Elimination

Lydia Paek of Boxcuttuhz sings a farewell song from ABDC

Jackie Chan as Mr. Miyagi

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Jackie Chan is in final negotiations to join the Columbia Pictures remake of “The Karate Kid.” He would play the role of mentor Mr. Miyagi, made famous by Pat Morita in the original franchise.

Jaden Smith, son of actor Will Smith, will play Miyagi’s young protege, a role originally played by Ralph Macchio. The remake will examine the relationship between a martial arts expert and a boy who is picked on by bullies. The setting will be relocated from the United States to China. The film will shoot early this summer in Beijing.

Do we really need another remake? Let alone a Karate Kid remake. Also hopefully Jackie Chan will not get typecast into the “old kung fu master” role in Hollywood. Action comedy is Jackie Chan’s forte such as his “Rush Hour” franchise. His next upcoming film is “The Spy Next Door” another action comedy. Stick with action comedy Jackie.

Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid