By Russellie Bongolan and John Reyes
Filipino-American East Coast crews took to the studio for MTV's America’s Best Dance Crew's Season 3 auditions. However, this upcoming season means more to our community that seasons past.
Despite the nearly freezing temperature at 11 o’clock, crowds gathered outside the Chelsea district of New York City. Known for its nightclubs, bars and art galleries, the area outside the studio held a line of dancers. All awaited to get in as blockades, a stern doorman and harp winds made everyone extra anxious and nervous. The crowd, however, wanted to get in for something else--after all it is 11 in the morning and the day of the America’s Best Dance Crew's Season 3 Auditions. Dancers all over the country shouting out their crew names, all warmed their hands, embraced their blankets, and braved the cold air surrounding them. Some even arrived in the wee-hours of the morning and were even given money by passerby, thinking that they were homeless. From new crews wearing feathered hair pieces and from an Indian dance crew from New York University whose goal is to integrate Bollywood with Western dance, to the ones from previous auditions such as Shhh…! and Round 1, all wanted to be come part of the next seasons wave of contestants. But, it was no surprise seasons past, Kaba Modern, Jabbawockeez and Super Cr3w, lead a number of east coast Filipino-American crews to the auditions bring to the pin@y community is inspiration and a following.
Simply said by creator Howard Schwartz, “I don’t know what it is about Filipinos, and what comes inside you to make you dance the way you do” was definitely a question in everyone’s mind in the audition room. First there was PIMP, Prosperity Is My Prerogative, dressed in color coordinated vests. The group lead by students has been together for seven years. Though demurred by a youthful soul, it did not stop them to impress the judges. To them, the catalyst of what the show has provided to the Pilipino-American community is “determination and success and the communities approach to higher education.” Then there was the group Sour Logic, a group that seems to focus itself on dichotomy. Formed by two groups, Rhythm Logic and Sour Desil, the name simply was named because of their “conversation outside of dance was always the smart and stupid stuff.” As for their style, they simply said “the crew makes the name not the name makes the crew.” For Rhythm Logic, winning the competition would just not be about the title but rather the prospect of traveling the world and more importantly spreading their art internationally. Point Blank, a four man crew, could be a season finalist. They have known each other for a few years and formed a few months ago. At the auditions, they even used their Ipods as part of their routine as they danced without music that showcased their steps in unisons, allowing it to become the actual focus of their routine. For the dance crew FR3SH, it seems that their name is an understatement as they brought surprisingly fresher approach to the crews. This Rutgers University talent brings missions itself through innovation and progress. Though the group was challenged by a similar identity as Kaba Modern and Team Millenia, a group formed in a university, it brings yet an alterior motivation and perhaps, a novelity in their approach of how a crew could seen.
As crews after crews went on throughout the day, the New York auditions finally ended. And as journalist, judges, reports and bloggers finally left the dance studio, and lights shut off in the Chelsea studio, America’s Best Dance Crew Season 3 had its potential east coast representation. The only question is who? For the City that Never Sleeps, the audition could mean a life changing experience and their hopes of becoming known. However, for most Pilipino-American crews, the audition meant something more, a recognition and a step. A recognition that our community, the Pilipino-American community, is known for its plethora of talents and a step not through dance but through progress of individuality and community. Much like our fore fathers who traveled the fields of Delano and who walked with hand in hand Ceasar Chavez in the streets of Los Angeles, Pilipino-American are still following in their footsteps. However in doing so, we are finally dancing.
