The world of modern hip hop dance or “b-boying” might be a newer concept to some, sitting at home, flicking through the channels on the television. But make no mistake; it’s a vibrant, varied, and highly competitive form of dance that has smashed through the boundaries of the small circles from which it came – directly into the mainstream.
This acrobatic and highly stylized form, characterized mostly by break dance and freestyle dance, has been around since the early 1970s, but has only recently appeared on such television hits as “America’s Best Dance Crew” or “So You Think You Can Dance”. The Jabbawockeez, who effectively beat out all their competition during 2008s inaugural season of “America’s Best Dance Crew”, are representative of this impressive and hugely popularized style. Now, after a long road, Jabbawockeez enjoy a well-deserved residency at the Monte Carlo in the Monte Carlo Theater.
“I don’t think we ever imagined to have our own show in Las Vegas. But to finally be here – a group of kids, starting off in the garage together or dancing little shows, it’s a pretty humbling experience seeing your names on the sign in front of the Monte Carlo,” said Phi Nguyen, original member of the dance crew.
Jabbawockeez have developed a one-of-a-kind style that has not only provided a new culture to the dance industry, but also changed the way people view dance. Dressed in expressionless white masks and white gloves, they guide the audience’s attention away from individual identities and toward a unified group to create a canvas for the audience to visualize the music by painting artistic imagery through their intricate moves.
Phi explained further: “Gary Kendall, our friend and crew member who passed away in December 2008, was reason we tried out for the television show. He was the ‘Yoda’ of our group. He was wearing the white mask back in the 90s doing his own shows. Later, he said we should all rock the masks together, since we all came from different crews. No one would question who we were or where we came from. We'd just be dancing together as one.”
When asked how the show has changed along the way, Phi said, “[The show] was fun to play with along the way. It was like our own Mr. Potato Head – switch out the glasses, put on different arms – adding to it. We gave it more humor, more video; we cut the fat and fine-tuned it. Now, it's juiced up on steroids,”
Jabbawockeez will perform its groundbreaking show “MÜS.I.C.” (muse-i-see), at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino with performances at 9:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets are priced at $49, $59 and $79, not including applicable service charges and taxes. Call (702) 730-7160 for tickets or more information. Also check out www.montecarlo.com and www.jbwkz.com.
