America’s Best Dance Crew is…

JabbaWockeeZ!

Earlier tonight, from Stage 9 on the Sony Studios backlot in Culver City, Calif., April MacIntyre and I were on hand to cover the grand finale of Randy Jackson’s smash hit dance competition. The competition itself had wrapped last week between the Boston-based Status Quo and San Diego’s JabbaWockeeZ. After racking up more than 38 million votes from fans around the country, tonight was an hour-long celebration of the show’s 12-week run. All the teams reconvened for some well-choreographed routines that mixed and matched styles and geographies. Energy was running high even an hour before showtime and continued to build throughout, reaching a fever pitch by the time Jabba and SQ took to the stage for their face-off.

Regardless of your interest or exposure to street dancing, you can’t help but be drawn in by this communal, almost tribal experience. The pulse pounding bass beats and the roar of the fans had the entire production crew crowded around our monitor in the press pit. It was probably the most exciting routine of the run and a fitting way to cap off a series that drew huge ratings for MTV. The announcement of the $100,000 winning crew was almost anticlimactic, especially for a show whose dance routines are what amazed and inspired audiences and producers alike. MTV kept the cameras rolling backstage after the show and you can check it all out here.

Give credit to Jabba for what they were able to overcome and accomplish the past several months. Their phalanx-like nature of movement and the creativity infused into their routines deservedly captured the hearts and minds of millions. And in an age when the performing arts are sorely missing from American schools, I can’t think of a better way to inspire kids to break away from their laptops and game consoles and connect with one of humanity’s most primal expressions. With a second season already gearing up for a June launch, America’s Best Dance Crew has cemented itself as the hot new reality series for the 2008-09 television season.

If you have a team and want to audition for Season Two, head on over to MTV.com Bring the Funk for all the details.

For those of you who haven’t experienced the insanity of a live broadcast, what goes on off-camera is often more interesting. The stage used for the show is surprisingly small and even with the bleacher seating takes up less than half of the sound stage. The remaining area is used for hair and makeup, craft service, green room, rehearsal space, various production, and tonight a VIP lounge complete with overstuffed leather couches, palm trees, and oriental rugs. There wasn’t a large celebrity turnout though. We only spotted N’Sync and Dancing with the Stars vet Joey Fatone, Cyrus from Real World: Boston, and Executive Producer Randy Jackson. The press pit was located just behind the Green Room, so there was a great deal of traffic. It’s a weird sensation having your back to the action while watching a monitor and then have the performers fly by you as they come offstage. The other oddity is the activity and lack thereof that takes place during commercial breaks. The crowd is like a water faucet that turns on when the red light comes on and shuts off when the cameras go dark. Very well coached indeed. I just feel bad for the hundreds of fans lined up in the parking garage with the hope of grabbing the few remaining standby seats in the audience. Oh well, there’s always next season.

Photo credits: April MacIntyre