Reality shows don’t have to be bad. In fact, they can be damn good. The last few weeks, I’ve been sucked into the trials-and-tribulations of hip-hop dance crews from around the U S of A in Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crews. Thanks Randy.

I admit I’ve never taken a fond liking to ballet what with its devotion to the feminine ideal of the prepubescent white girl. But hip-hop dance is something else altogether with its bombastic dynamism and hard physicality.

So here’s a clip from San Diego’s “JabbaWockeez” who won the competition tonight, showing off their intricate and theatrical style, with a piece from an earlier round, a piece based on the evolution of hip-hop dance. To quote the judge Lil Mam, “that isolation was dope”. You know what’s dope? The extended head-spin at the end of the piece:

It surprised me to see so many asian brothers and sisters in the last few rounds, including much of the winning crew. Is there something in hip-hop dance that jives with the Asian mind-meld? They’ll surely be celebrating over a good bowl of Ramen tonight.

p.s. The masks may seem gimmicky but proper mask work is a distilled crystallization of pure theater. Think Commedia Del’Arte. JabbaWockeez own their masks.

Aaron on 03/28 said:

Becky on 03/28 said: