JabbaWockeeZ Wins! America’s Best Dance Crew Recap
March 27, 2008
America’s Best Dance Crew Recap
Let me reiterate the congratulatory pomp that the America’s Best Dance Crew judges have plied upon JabbawockeeZ over the past few weeks: You were totally sick! Ill! You smashed it! Hit it like no other! Killed it, bro! And as executive producer Randy Jackson said as he came out to officially announce JabbawockeeZ as this season’s winner, “You guys ripped it!”
Thirty-eight million people called in to cast their vote for finalists JabbaWockeeZ and Status Quo, a record-breaking number for the show as well as staggering and unexpected digits for a premiere that was just getting on the dance-hype band wagon. Let’s break it down and figure out why the show was so crazy successful.
One: Traditional street dancing, unlike its snobby, caviar-dabbing, remote third cousin ballet, belongs to the people. It was born on the sidewalks of the urban ghetto by kids who could talk fast and bend their bodies against gravity to underground music. They danced for their bread and butter, their lives, and expressed that living-on-the-edge mentality through this mostly discredited art form. In fact, it wouldn’t be off the mark to say these dancers perform a sort of social revolution, something much needed in our everyday lives.
Two: The show did a commendable job of representing all part of the nation. From Boston-dwelling off- the- streets brothers, Status Quo, to feminist-minded hoods, Fysh n Chicks, to Indiana boys who like to dance on old-school skates and all- Asian American three- guys- for- three- gals, Kaba Modern, most everyone was represented. But where would my loyalties lie in this sea of diversity? With my womyn-self? My east coast upbringing? My ethnic background? I never found myself rooting for Kaba Modern just because they were Asian Americans; they were just really excellent dancers first. I found myself cheering for teams on that criterion: who could seriously dance?
Three: Ballet is for blonde wasps, and break dancing is for black Americans. — did Asian Americans even dance? They are scientists, lawyers and doctors. On the other end of the spectrum, they’re starching collars, painting nails and weighing fruit by the pound. The overwhelming presence of Asian Americans in America’s Best Dance Crew was a surprise and a welcome reminder that we are more than our stereotypes. The model minority who is often unseen and unheard can throw down an attitude, shout and be the hip dancer. There was a lot of pride in seeing that difference and, knowing that we could thrive in it.
Four: And then there was JabbaWockeeZ, without whom the show’s success could not be had. Boys that were separated by distance were not separated by heart, and though their heart was initially hard to see behind their off-putting masks, and they flew under the popularity radar, they seemed to find their hip hop stride and showmanship with each consecutive week. Though they claimed the masks were “to help the audience see the way we articulate the music,” the real articulation came from their drive to honor their fallen seventh member, Gary. We fell in love with their generosity. The urban free-style crew who knew what it meant to be a team, who was perfect, ingenious, unique, innovative and visionary, deservedly won the youthful and joyous hearts of America.
***Related Jabbawockeez news***
Behind the Mask: The Jabbawockeez, America’s best dance crew
America’s No. 1 Dance Crew: A look at the Jabbawockeez
Jabbawokeez Update
America’s Best Dance Crew Season II
Letters to the editor: Jabbawockeez love
Jabbawockeez, Unmasked
Comments
28 Responses to “JabbaWockeeZ Wins! America’s Best Dance Crew Recap”
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JabberWockeeZ are the best dance crew in America. I’m so happy that my favorite crew won.
What a wonderful article. I agree 1000%, the JabberWockeez won America over with their showmanship, drive, and heart. A lot of these teams had “it”, but they lacked the sincerity and heart that the JB’s possessed. I fell in love with this team the moment I saw them perform. Their routines were ingenious and fresh, and this drove them all the way home. JC, mentioned that Status Quo were the underdogs of the competition , I disagree, the JB’s truly triumphed as the true under dogs.
Good Article. Helluva Show !!
Congrats to Jabbawockeez!
Status Quo is a great group, but did not really perform as good as other groups, they were fun to watch, but in order to win they had to be consistent each week which they were not. I believe the 7th week was one of their worst showcases to America, it is one of the last dances to prove to America you were the best and all they could do was “stunts,” you are going to do need more than that to be the best. 38 million votes……hardly, MTV set the system up so that fans can vote multiple times. But non the less it was a great show to watch, season 2 should bring back the champs and have them battle the winners of season 2, then we got a show
[…] asianweek.com […]
SQ is good, but one reason JW did so well is that they took the street style and made it very stage friendly. Which makes a great show.
Jabbawockeez all the way! actually there are 11 members of jabbawockeez…not 6, but 11 and kaba modern has 30 members…and for those who are not familar with the hip hop dancing in America, watch out cuz there are a lot of asian crews in California such as..909, Pac modern, Sick Step, Formality…so watch out for them in season 2!
The JabbaWockeez are a truly amazing group and they are all talented in everyway. I have been watching the Jabbawockeez perform for about a year now and I am truly happy that thy won! R.I.P. Gary Kendall who died of menangitus
I have some close connections with the krew knowing press play and boogie mostarz which are crews under the jabbawockeeZ leadership. There were 10 jabbas when Gary died they picked up ben. I am proud of them they are fun, loving and cool
guys. Gary’s memory is honored through thier performance. I remember them performing at my highschool in 2003 and seeing phil and kevin in kaboom sqaud. I always knew America would see how sick these guys are. Just wait you haven’t seen all if I’d yet wait till the 20 reunite. I hope family royale will represent the wockeez. Imma get a tshirt singed by all 10 feirce!!!
Awesome article!!!
I’m glad JabbaWockeeZ came out on top. For a quick second I was thinking America would pity Status Quo because they “came from the streets and had no money, no car” et cetera et cetera.
I remember seeing Randy Bernal (JabbaWockeez who was not in the show) dance in Mindtricks and JugHead. Seeing the JabbaWockeez brings me back to when I was in middle school and high school. They kept me entertained week after week. And when I’m entertained, I’m hyped!
It would be cool to see JabbaWockeeZ perform sometime in Season 2, that’s if they’re not too busy signing contracts for other gigs.
CONGRATS TO THE JABBAWOCKEEZ CREW. Thank You for the entertainment!
[…] Jabbawockeez win America’s Best Dance Crew […]
JABBAWOCKEEZ! Killed it from the jump , oh and uh to me they are more of a SACRAMENTO crew to me .. but super big ups to the folks KEVIN & PHIL .. So SAC wid it !!
JABBAWOCKEEZ ARE AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW I SO GLAD THEY WON I LOVE THE WHOLE CREW RIP GARY
Jabbawockeez!! Man oh man.. they’re like my new heroes now.
I F*IN LOOOOOOOVVVEEEE THE JABBAWOCKEEZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i flipped when mario anounced that they were the winners. the jabbawockeez brought down the house in Every performance. truly the best crew in america. Phil is soooooooooo dope. o man. Congrats Jabbawockeez. Americas best dance crew champs.
u guys showed perform in ch-town!=]
I love da jabbawockeez!
they are amazing!
ur guys performance waz amazing! u ripped it!love yah forever ur #1 fan!
Just got back from a conference trip to New York and found out about Jabba’s win!
Congrats Jaba!
I feel for Status Quo’s situation, but coming from a minority experience myself, there is no excuse for not bringing the skill– streets or not. My mom always told me I had to do everything better than everyone else because I’m from a minority group: Asian American. We’re marginalized in the U.S. and in Asia. So I’m very happy about the outcome of this MTV show because they simply brought the skill. It would have been an embarassment if an Asian-Am dominant group didn’t bring the skill but won anyway on people’s pity.
Nonetheless, as a choreographer still believe Kaba Modern is the best ^_^
It’s been a fun competition to watch and I really thank all the performers and producers of the show for the bravery to bring this great show out successfully. It’s been signed up for another season ^_^ Wonder which groups will come out next!
wow! u guys r awsome it was cool 2 c a very good group
from my home town
the JB showed us a new genre of hip hop
they raised the standard of the show and took away the monotony of traditional hip hop which status quo had
The Asians (Filipinos, Japanese and Koreans) had been the best hip-hop dancers for years now. They took it to another level with lots of creativity and innovation. They’d probably dominate the show for years to come. It’s like the way the Japanese dominates double-dutch (jump rope) right now.
People (even other Asians) are surprised when they see Asians performing this cool. That’s because they got brainwashed by the media’s one-dimensional portrayal of Asians. Heck, Hollywood even replaced them with caucasians on that new movie - 21!
I hope America doesn’t feel threatened by the Asians. They’re Americans, too. Peace.
wow they rocked the stage i love the jabbawockeez and hope they keep up they good work and hope to see them perform soon!
Jabbawockeez are the best dance crew here in california.. Some of them are filipino… Im a filipino dancer/breakdancer haha i wish im with their crew lol…. Jabbawockeez rule the dance floor……..
THE JABBAWOKEEZ THEIR THE BEST DANCE CREW ON TV I THINK THEY DESERVE TO BE AMERICA’S BEST DANCE I KNEW FROM THE START THAT THEY WERE THE BEST CREW GOOD LUCK ON DANCING…♥♥♥ SHANISHA “R.I.P GARY”
they have started a revolution. there have been many talented Asian dancers, but because of the JabbaWockeeZ, the crews of the world will finally get the recognition they deserve, and JabbaWockeeZ definitely deserve all this exposure b/c they have exposed all of us, ignorant or educated to the dance world, the real world when it comes to dance and expressing ourselves through body and movement.
To experience the unique dancing style of Jabbawockeez is feeling their movement, seeing their vision, laughing, crying, shouting and knowing that there is still hope.
I am a 37-year-old Filipino father of three, working in the Middle East, who just a week ago lived with neither the time nor the interest in hip-hop and other forms of modern dance.
Since I accidentally watched a JabbaWockeeZ video bookmarked by my son, I have spent three straight days sleeping past 3 am, dredging up as much internet videos as I could on the group and the show, ABDC (still feel so sleepy).
I am not a dancer nor a part of the dancing community; so the JW’s best contribution is that it has sparked interest in their artform from people like me who wouldn’t have given it a glance. They are a mixture of talent, charisma, and positive spirit.
I am sure that there are better dancers out there, but they weren’t the ones who sparked my discovered love of bboying, hiphop, or whatever they are officially called. To plain old me its simply called ENTERTAINMENT, and JW has provided this to the fullest.
Thank you guys, for introducing me to your world big-time.
WOW !
This “crew” has even managed to “reach” a near-nonogenarian who thought he “kenw” dance — from the hoity-toitys to the seriouser-than-thous — but JabbaWockeeZ opened these eyes, AND spirit.
What a witty and wondrous company of true artists !
My vote also goes to the “creator(s)” herein, the choreographer, the inceptor, the organizer, the “manager.”
For, as the exuberant article foregoing acknowledges, JabbaWockeeZ is NOT a one-shot flash-in-the-pan phenomenon that rose out of nowhere.
It has deep roots, in fertile ground, and it is both “discriminating,” in the best sense, AND disciplined, as all fine art must be.
For this IS art. Performance art perhaps, but, also the most elusive and the most evanescent.
Now you see it, now you don’t.
Congratulations, AND felicitations, to all hands on deck AND below decks.
APAs must cheer, but, so should the rest of the audience, even as APAs should reallze that the triumph far transcends race or creed or “color.”
Certainly “class” and “elitism” AND pretensions.
I imagine Lewis Carroll would feel honored here.
Frank Eng
P.S.: The only worry is: what’s next? Oh, and how delicious all those in-house obeisances to their “betters” or, more accurately, their pretenders.