WBUL 1620am

By: Cory Bowman

The hit MTV show America’s Best Dance Crew brought its live tour to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center last Friday (September 19th), which was packed full of high energy fans, young and old. For those of you who don’t watch the show it’s basically a reality show with an American Idol/So You Think You Can Dance storyline which has dance crews from all over America compete for the title “America’s Best Dance Crew”. The live show which was presented at the TBPAC Friday night featured the winners and the most popular dance crews from the first and second seasons, including Fanny Pak, Break Skate, A.C.C.I.D., Super Crew (Season 2 Winner), and the ever popular Jabbawockeez (Season 1 Winner). The live concert had each crew do separate routines throughout the night and brought all five crews out for different themed routines like “The Evolution of Street Dancing”, “A Michael Jackson Tribute, and ended the night with an old fashioned dance battle.

I’ve always been a fan of the show on MTV but when I was on my way to the Performing Arts Center I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I’d been to many rock concerts before but never a dancing concert. As I walked in ten minutes before the show started, a DJ was on the stage playing a great mix and the MC of the event was walking through the crowd with a microphone asking questions like “Which crew are you here to see?” (Most answered Jabbawockeez). This got the crowd excited and pumped up for what was about to begin. Then the lights came down and that’s when the five dance crews were introduced, each coming on stage with a unique routine. This was a great start to a fantastic show. Each dance routine, which had amazing acrobatics, pop lock styles, and moves from all genres of dance, left each person in the audience awestruck. The show also featured a surprise appearance from the Tampa native season one contestants Enigma Dance Kru. Another aspect of the concert which was almost as great as the dancing itself was the incredible soundtrack of show. The music that was danced to was a mixture of current songs, old school hits, and remixes. It created an awesome atmosphere for the crowd who couldn’t stop dancing along. It often felt like a high-energy nightclub rather than a concert. Overall this show left a lasting impression on an unsuspecting fan.