JabbaWockeeZ

JabbaWockeeZ is an all-male modern dance/hip hop crew from San Diego, California who won the first season of the reality dance competition America's Best Dance Crew. Since winning, the group has gained greater exposure by appearing in various music videos and commercials, touring internationally, and performing withShaquille O' Neal at the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. They are known for wearing plain white masks and gloves in order to encourage audiences to focus on their movements as a group instead of on individual dancers. Their name is derived from the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky" about the eponymous mythical dragon.

1 Before America's Best Dance Crew
2 ABDC
2.1 Season 1 performances
2.1.1 Live Audition Special
2.1.2 Week 1: Crew's Choice
2.1.3 Week 2: Video Star Challenge
2.1.4 Week 3: Dance Craze Challenge
2.1.5 Week 4: Movie Character Challenge
2.1.6 Week 5: Michael Jackson Challenge
2.1.7 Week 6: Broadway Remixed Challenge
2.1.8 Week 7: The Evolution of Street Dance
2.1.9 Week 8: The Live Finale
2.2 Special appearances
3 Post-ABDC career
3.1 Full Service Tour with New Kids on the Block
3.2 Australia Tour
3.3 Las Vegas show
3.4 Connection with Super Cr3w
4 Filmography
5 References
6 External links

Before America's Best Dance Crew
Phil "Swaggerboy" Tayag, Kevin "KB" Brewer, and Joe "Emajoenation" Larot began performing as a trio called "Three Musky" in Sacramento, California while wearing white masks and gloves. The mask and glove motif was adopted as a tribute to the 1960s San Francisco strutting crew Medea Sirkas.

Established in 2003 in San Diego, California, the idea of the Jabbawockeez is the brainchild of the “Three Musky” who wanted to showcase freestyle dance.The name "Jabbawockeez", coined by Joe Larot, was inspired by the fantastical monster from the Lewis Carroll nonsense poem. The white masks and gloves from Phil, Kevin, and Joe's performances as Three Musky were adopted as the visual signature of the group. In San Diego, through Gary's connections, the Jabbawockeez added b-boys Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio and Chris "Christyle" Gatdula to the group. The original seven-member iteration of Jabbawockeez began performing as a group in 2004. This lineup consisted of Gary, Randy, Phil, Kevin, Joe, Rainen, and Chris.

Jabbawockeez rounded out their numbers with additional members, bringing their total to eleven. Phoenix native Jeff "Phi" Nguyen had met Rynan Paguio at various Los Angeles area auditions imaryand performances, and earned a spot in the Jabbawockeez by battling Kevin Brewer. The Jabbawockeez also brought Kaba Modern alumnus Ben "B-Tek" Chung and b-boys Eddie "Eddiestyles" Gutierrez and Saso "Saso Fresh" Jimenez into the fold.

Members of the Jabbawockeez also formed their own hip-hop dance groups in the California area. Phil Tayag founded Boogie Monstarz in 2003, Kevin Brewer founded SuperGalacticBeatManipulators in 2005, and Joe Larot founded Press P.L.A.Y. in 2006. These three groups became part of a larger dance collective with JabbaWockeeZ called Family Royale.

ABDC
The JabbaWockeeZ auditioned a seven-member contingent for the first season of America's Best Dance Crew, because of crew member limits imposed by the show. Originally, the ABDC group was supposed to consist of Gary Kendall, Phil Tayag, Kevin Brewer, Joe Larot, Rynan Paguio, Chris Gatdula, and Phi Nguyen. However, Gary had died that year, and Joe suffered a knee injury during the audition rounds. The group chose Ben Chung to replace Joe on the show and left Gary's spot vacant, proceeding with six members.

In a deliberate decision to portray their performances on the show as a cohesive whole, all of the JabbaWockeeZ' performances on America's Best Dance Crew began in the same formation in which the previous week's performance had ended. The Evolution of Street Dance performance in week seven and the group performances with other crews were the only exceptions.

Live Audition Special

The Jabbawockeez performed to an instrumental mastermix of We Came to Party by Tony Yayo, a track they had frequently used in previous performances, including a deleted scene in Step Up 2: The Streets. They received positive reactions from all three judges. JC Chasez praised them for their interpretation of the music and for how their masks allowed for solos without distracting from the whole yeahhhhhh. Shane Sparks complimented them on the overall skill level in the group.


Week 1: Crew's Choice

Performing to a mastermix of Apologize by OneRepublic featuring Timbaland that also featured "Building Steam with a Grain of Salt" by DJ Shadow, the Jabbawockeez received unanimous praise from the judges. Shane Sparks described it as "beautiful" and likened the group to a "Boyz II Men" of hip-hop dance for their ability to hit every emotional note. JC praised them for taking a risk by choosing to dance to a slow song.


Week 2: Video Star Challenge

The Jabbawockeez were given the task of duplicating the choreography in the music video for "Ice Box" by Omarion. Their performances received a standing ovation from Shane Sparks and Lil Mama. Shane said the group had topped their previous two performances, and that Omarion and "Icebox" choreographer Roland "Ro Ro" Tabor should feature JabbaWockeeZ in their "next twenty videos." JC said the group was underrated and posited that their original choreography may have been better than of that in the video. Lil Mama complimented them for being both graceful and intense at the same time


Week 3: Dance Craze Challenge

In week 3, crews were given the task of incorporating a popular hip-hop dance move into their performance. The Jabbawockeez were assigned the snap dance and "Lean wit It, Rock wit It by Dem Franchize Boyz. While rehearsing, the Jabbawockeez were informed that they also had to include the illusion that they could defy gravity. Performing with their white masks painted black facepaint designs, they received a loud ovation from the studio audience upon unveiling their illusion of a long JabbaWockee body floating in mid-air at the end of their number. Shane called the Jabbawockeez "the sickest crew [he'd] ever seen." JC, however, criticized what he believed to be a walking transition during their performance.


Week 4: Movie Character Challenge

Introduced to a stage transformed to look like a movie set depicting an urban street setting, the Jabbawockeez were given the challenge of portraying thieves in their performance. Performing to "Ayo Technology" by 50 Cent featuring Justin Timberlake, the Jabbawockeez told the story of a band of thieves stealing a mystery object for a female client, only to be apprehended by police at the end. The object turned out to be a pink Jabbawockeez mask, which they gave to Lil Mama as part of the performance. The group also ran away and "hid" from host Mario Lopez after the conclusion of the song. JC wondered if their choreography was too simple, while Shane argued that the group had made the right decision to put choreography secondary to storytelling.


Week 5: Michael Jackson Challenge

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of Michael Jackson's Thriller album, each crew performed to a different song from the album. The Jabbawockeez were assigned "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)." The performance featured a Michael Jackson-inspired solo section by Kevin Brewer, in which he executed an exaggerated crotch grab. All three judges gave the performance high praise. Lil Mama remarked that while she felt that she was watching Michael Jackson on stage, she never forgot she was watching the Jabbawockeez. JC admitted that even though he had been critical of the group previously, he had nothing to criticize this week. He complimented the group's showmanship. Shane also praised the group for concentrating on entertaining the crowd in the performance. In the special prologue for season 4 episode, Randy Jackson picked this performance as number 1 on "The 10 Best Performances of All Time."


Week 6: Broadway Remixed Challenge

With the Broadway theme of Week 6, the Jabbawockeez were treated to a live performance of "All That Jazz" from the L.A. cast of Chicago.They received a lesson from the Chicago dancers in the Charleston, the dance they had to incorporate into their routine. Their performance featured several illusions involving dancing circles as props, most notably the entire group turning into a car using the circles as wheels. The performance ended with all six Jabbawockeez posing as musicians in a band.

Once again, the judges' reaction was positive. JC said they had successfully incorporated Broadway elements into their performance, but also that he believed they had started slow. Lil Mama made the observation that Jabbawockeez had been starting their performances in the same formations they had ended the previous week's, to the delight of the group. Shane highlighted the group's band pose at the end, which may have escaped the audience's notice, and stated that Broadway was "the future of hip-hop."


Week 7: The Evolution of Street Dance

With three crews remaining, Jabbawockeez found themselves in the bottom two crews for the first time on the show and faced elimination. Their next performance would be a battle against Kaba Modern for a spot in the finals. The crews were given the task of telling the history of hip-hop dance to mastermixes of the same six songs.

The Jabbawockeez' hard-hitting performance ended with members of the group going into the audience to hype up the crowd. Kid Rainen remained on stage and hit an extended headspin that continued long after the music had ended and host Mario Lopez had come out on stage. The crowd gave the group a standing ovation. JC stated they had "let it all hang out" and that the group had taken all of the judges' feedback and created a number that had "everything." Lil Mama pointed out Kid Rainen's "three minute headspin." The highest praise of all came from Shane, who declared that JabbaWockeeZ had "set the standards for the next ten seasons" of America's Best Dance Crew, and that if future crews on the show did not bring the same level as Jabbawockeez, they were better off staying at home.

Despite a spirited performance from Kaba Modern, the judges saved Jabbawockeez, giving them a spot into the final two. For their final number, the group worked with producers District 78 to create original music for their performance. The resulting collaboration produced "The Red Pill", a remix of Moloko's "The Time Is Now (Bambino Casino Remix)" and Swollen Members' "Red Dragon", both songs the Jabbawockeez had used previously used in live performances. The Red Pill was dedicated to the memory of Gary "Gee-1" Kendall, the group's late member and mentor figure. At the end of the number, the group all got down on one knee and pointed to the sky in tribute to their friend.


Week 8: The Live Finale

The Jabbawockeez teamed up with Kaba Modern and Fysh N Chicks, the other two crews from the West region, for a performance set to hyphy standard "Tell Me When to Go" by E-40 featuring Keak da Sneak. They also performed with the other finalist, Status Quo, in a step routine created by Stomp the Yard choreographers Dave Scott and Chuck Maldonado.

At the end, Jabbawockeez were crowned winners of the inaugural season of America's Best Dance Crew. For their victory performance the group performed unmasked for the first time to "Stronger" by Kanye West. The performance featured solos from all six Jabbawockeez and ended with them joining hands for a final bow.


Special appearances

After winning the first season of America's Best Dance Crew, the Jabbawockeez also made special appearances on later seasons of the show.

Live Audition Special (Season 2): The Jabbawockeez performed to a remix of "The Boss" by Rick Ross featuring T-Pain at the end of the episode.

Battle for the VMAs Special (Season 2): At the beginning of the episode, Jabbawockeez and Season 2 champions Super Cr3w performed to a remix of Queen's "We Are the Champions" choreographed by Shane Sparks.

ABDC Top 10 Performances of All Time (Season 4): On August 2, 2009, to promote its fourth season, America's Best Dance Crew aired a special hosted by Randy Jackson called "The Top 10 Performances of All Time" where Jackson chose his top ten favorite performances from the first three seasons. He ranked the Jabbawockeez' performance of P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) at number one.

ABDC Champions for Charity Special (Season 5): On a special episode featuring the winners of the past five seasons of America's Best Dance Crew, Jabbawockeez performed in support of Josh Sundquist's LessThanFour.org, a social network for amputees. At the beginning of the episode, the group joined with Super Cr3w, Quest Crew, We Are Heroes, and Poreotix and performed to "All I Do Is Win" by DJ Khaled. The group's individual performance was to a remix of "The Final Countdown" by Europe and The Bangerz' "Robot Remains".


Post-ABDC career

The Jabbawockeez received an incredible amount of exposure and success from winning the first season of America's Best Dance Crew in 2008. Their win earned the crew $100,000 (USD) . Jabbawockeez' final performance on the show was to Kanye West's "Stronger", which marked their first public unmasked performance.

Since ABDC they appeared in a Pepsi and Gatorade commercial, performed on Dancing with the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance,The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and on Live with Regis and Kelly, made a cameo in Step Up 2 The Streets, toured with New Kids on the Block, and launched their own clothing line. Along with the ABDC season 2 winner, Super Cr3w, JabbaWockeeZ were the opening act for the Battle of the VMAs ABDC special. The group also made an appearance on Cycle 13 of America's Next Top Model during the episode "Dance With Me" to help the girls learn how to convey emotions with their bodies.

At a performance at St. Peter's College in New Jersey, on July 12, 2008, Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval of Quest Crew and So You Think You Can Dance fame performed with Jabbawockeez as a substitute for an injured Kid Rainen. D-Trix had worked previously with Jabbawockeez member and fellow Sacramento native Joe Larot. D-Trix performed air flares during the "Get Buck in Here" segment of the performance, in place of Rainen's usual headspin.

On February 15, 2009, they accompanied and danced with NBA All-Star center Shaquille O'Neal in his NBA All-Star Game player introduction.On October 16, 2009, they performed in front of a crowd of 35,000 at the University of Florida's Gator Growl.


Full Service Tour with New Kids on the Block

As the opening act for the Full Service Tour with New Kids on the Block, they built a close relationship with the band. In a recurring segment during the concerts, NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg would tell the audience a story about "naked ninjas" following the band around, upon which members of the JabbaWockeeZ would streak across the stage wearing only their masks and underpants, with one member wearing a red brassiere.

Originally, all ten members of Jabbawockeez were part of the tour, with eight members performing each night. However, due to budget cuts made to the tour, the group was forced to send Randy, Saso, and Eddie home and continue with only seven members. After the Australian leg of the Full Service tour was cancelled, Jabbawockeez announced plans to tour Australia on their own, which they later did in August 2009.


Australia Tour

The Jabbawockeez toured Australia from August 28 to August 30, 2009. The three-day tour was for Australian fans who were unable to see the crew due to the cancellation of the Australian leg of New Kids on the Block's Full Service Tour. The group performed in Sydney,Melbourne, and Brisbane and made several appearances on MTV Iggy.


Las Vegas show

In May 2010, Jabbawockeez debuted their own live stage special at the MGM Grand Hollywood Theater in Las Vegas, entitled "MÜS.I.C". The show ran from May 7 to May 26 and combines also the talents from America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 Champions Super Cr3w as well as original music from The Bangerz. In press releases, the group described the special as "the audio-visual story of inspiration brought to life through the harmonization of sound and movement." On July 28, 2010, the Jabbawockeez announced they would be returning to the strip for another performance run from Aug 19th - 25th. In September 2010, due to popular demand, the Jabbawockeez was signed by the Monte Carlo to perform five nights a week, replacing magician Lance Burton.

Connection with Super Cr3w

Several members of Jabbawockeez and the Season 2 winners Super Cr3w have close personal connections. Both Jabbawockeez' Chris Gatdula and Super CR3W's Ronnie "Ronnieboy" Abaldonado are members of the b-boy crew Full Force, one of the three Las Vegas crews that form Super Cr3w. In 2010, Kid Rainen also joined the Full Force crew, making him an honorary member of Super Cr3w. In May 2010, Super Cr3w members Ronnie, Do-Knock, Ben, and Rock performed as dancers in Jabbawockeez' live Las Vegas stage special, MÜS.I.C.


Filmography

TV
2007: America's Got Talent
2008: America's Best Dance Crew on MTV
2008: Live with Regis and Kelly
2008: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2008: Mi TRL on MTV
2008: KUSI
2008: Step Up 2 (Kid Rainen)
2008: Balitang America on TFC
2008: Asian Excellence Awards on Ralph Delmiguez E!
2008: Lakers-Spurs Game 2 at the Staples Center
2008: MTV Movie Awards Brief performance alongside Ralph Crew
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 TV promo
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 Casting Special
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 Walk It Out with the Jabbawockeez and Shane Sparks
2008: Adobo Nation on TFC
2008: 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards
2008: 2008 BET Awards Brief performance with Ne-Yo at the end of his set
2008: MTV Asia Awards 2008
2008: Teen Choice Awards 2008 Brief performance with Chris Brown and ACDC
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Battle for the VMAs. Performed with Super Crew.
2009: America's Best Dance Crew Season 3
2009: 2009 NBA All-Star Game Performance with Shaquille O'Neal
2009: The Quest for G Appearance in Gatorade's commercial
2009: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2009: America's Next Top Model
2009: This Is SportsCenter commercial
2009: 2009 Latin Billboard Music Awards Performance with Daddy Yankee
2009: So You Think You Can Dance guest performance
2009: Philippines Wowowee guest performance
2009: Philippines ASAP 09 guest performance
2009: 106 & Park
2009: Tosh.0
2009: Dancing with the Stars
2009: America's Next Top Model
2009: B-Girl (Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio)
2010: Philippines ASAP XV
2010: Philippines Banana Split
2010: Pinoy Big Brother: Double Up (Big Date on the Big Night)
2010: Showtime
2010: Wowowee
2010: Lopez Tonight
2010: ABDC All-star reunion with Super Cr3w, Quest Crew, We Are Heroes, Poreotix.
2010: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
2010: America's Got Talent
2010: Latin Grammys
2010: Lopez Tonight

Film
2008: Step Up 2 the Streets
2011: Shake it Up as featured dancers

Music videos
2008: Daddy Yankee - Pose (Daddy Yankee song)
2009: DJ Drama - "Day Dreaming"
2009: Leona Lewis - "Forgive Me"
2010: David Guetta & Chris Willis feat. Fergie & LMFAO - "Gettin' Over You"
2011: Emily Osment Lovesick (music video)

Live
2008: Walt Disney 2008 Gradnite
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Live Tour with Super Cr3w, Breaksk8, Fanny Pak, and A.S.I.I.D.
2009: Full Service Tour with NKOTB
2009: University of Florida "Legends of the Swamp" Homecoming Pep Rally aka Gator Growl
2009: Knott's Scary Farm "Scion Night"
2010: MusicFest2010 with Kris Allen and Boyce Avenue
2010: SM City Cebu, North Parking Cebu City, Philippines on Feb 7th
2010: McKinley Hill Concert Grounds @Fort Bonifacio,Taguig City, Manila, Philippines on Feb 6th
2010: MÜS.I.C (muse-i-see) May 7–26, June 17–23 and August 19–25 at the MGM Grand Las Vegas
2010: UBC Ultimate B-Boy Championship August 6–7
2010: One Kapamilya Go, September 12, Santa Clara, California

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