America's Best Dance Crew

America's Best Dance Crew, also known by the acronym ABDC, is a unique and highly acclaimed dance reality show that aired on MTV from 2008 to 2015. This dance competition show brought dance crews from across the United States to the spotlight. The crews not only showcased their creativity and variety of dance styles but also vied for the prestigious title of "America's Best Dance Crew."

With hip-hop legend Randy Jackson as the executive producer, ABDC proved itself as the ultimate platform for street and studio-trained dancers, besides gaining a cult following because of its fresh and innovative format. Drawing on urban culture and extracting from the raw street style, the multi-genre dance performances found a receptive audience amongst MTV’s younger demographic, a testament to the vibrant connection between dance, youth, and popular culture.

The premise of the show revolved around the dance crews competing each week in a range of challenges. Judges and viewers' votes determined the advancement of the crews, with one teambowing out after each round. The Crews faced challenges of different genres, themes, and styles each week, ranging from incorporating bizarre props into routines, to re-enacting iconic moments from pop culture. They needed to reinterpret, reconstruct and perform in a way that convinced, entertained, and surprised the viewers and judges.

America's Best Dance Crew was notable for its high-energy and dynamic panel of judges, which includes hip-hop choreographer Shane Sparks, former N'Sync member JC Chasez, and rapper Lil Mama. The charismatic MTV VJ/actor Mario Lopez served as the host, adding more charm to the already exhilarating show. The diversity and credentials of the judging panel brought a variety of perspectives to the critique of performances and valuable insights for the participating crews.

One of the most exciting elements that helped ABDC distinguish from other dance reality shows was its incorporation and emphasis on music's significant trends. Every episode accommodated special 'themed' challenges around popular artists like Madonna, Britney Spears, or Michael Jackson, or current trends in music such as dubstep or electronic dance music (EDM). This kept the show contemporary and fresh, as the dance crews had to incorporate those specific artist's iconic styles or the music trend into their performances.

While the competition aspect was a huge draw for audiences, a unique aspect of America's Best Dance Crew was its focus on the human story. From auditions through semi-finals and finals, the show followed each crew, depicting their struggles, camaraderie, and growth. The competition was more than executing the perfect dance moves; it was about heart, dedication, and achieving dreams, which made for compelling and emotional television.

Over its evolutionary seven-season run from 2008 to 2015, ABDC boasted a widely diverse group of contestants from across the country, representing various styles like poppin', lockin', b-boying, lyrical hip-hop, krumping, stepping, clogging and tutting, to name a few. It proudly celebrated the melting pot of American culture, as competitors brought their cultural influences into their dance, showcasing a variety that represented the vastness of the American community.

The impact of America's Best Dance Crew is visible even today. It has uplifted the status of street styles to legitimate art forms and served as a platform for many dancers and crews. Some of the striking personalities who started their journey from here are now part of the larger mainstream entertainment industry.

In conclusion, America's Best Dance Crew was a fascinating dive into the world of competitive street dance and was significant in popularizing this art form with a mainstream audience. With a delightful amalgamation of dance, music, competition, and human narratives, ABDC had set high standards for the genre of dance reality shows. The lack of the show's presence in MTV's current lineup leaves fans reminiscing about the golden era of dance TV and anticipating a revival.