These guys are awesome!! I agree with the judges – it does make me a bit tired watching them, you have to focus so hard. But I think that’s a good thing!!
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
The Heima are a stand out group in the Upper Team Division. Breaking fusion is their style and they’ve won international competitions. They are from Seoul, South Korea and range in age from 21 to 28 years old. Let’s look at some of their WoD performances. Here’s their performance from the Qualifiers.
What I love about these guys is they are so smooth and melodic – graceful. I really appreciate that flow that they have to their routine. All that and some great B-boy moves. And seriously…the ending of this routine is just killer. Love the masks too. Next is their duel…
This was another beautiful routine. And some of their tricks were just amazing. Who were the Heima before WoD?? Here’s a routine from 2017 at a competition…I can’t believe they only got third place!! Beautiful.
And this is just cool as hell. 🙂
If you want to know more about The Heima, you can hit up their facebook page or any of their social media that I’ve listed below. You know, that’s one of the great things about World of Dance…it introduces many of us to groups and performers that we might never have seen otherwise.
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
Love, love, love Unity LA!! They made it to the Cut on Sunday night and two of their members have been my favorites since they toured with Derek and Julianne Hough a couple years ago. Zack and Ashley, that is – the two focal points for the group. This group is also choreographed by Tessandra Chavez who also does a lot of work for Derek, and won an Emmy with Derek and Julianne…two years ago?? Fairly recently.
Anyway, Zack started out as a tapper on So You Think You Can Dance back in 2015…
Then, as all good dancers do, the morphed into a man of many styles, including contemporary dancer…a really good one. He toured with Derek and Julianne Hough in 2017, along with Ashley
Zack and Ashley apparently teamed up after that to go after the WoD Crown. Zack and Ashley on last season of WoD:
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
These kids have been one of my favorites so far this season. A contemporary team from Anaheim Hill, California, you may remember during the qualifiers their story was the darling little girl who doesn’t talk due to anxiety. And my reaction to this team was similar to Jennifer’s initial reaction. 🙂
And let me tell you, win or lose WoD, these cuties are going far. They’re getting media that I’ve not seen other contestants get just yet. Like Access Hollywood. Wonder if this is the routine we’ll see tomorrow night.
Then there’s Ellen…so does this mean they get eliminated or that they win?? Or does it just mean they are compelling??
Since they are mere babies, there isn’t that much out there about them that is pre-Wod (at least that I can find). Here, CarmoDance goes with the Crazy 8s on a tour of their home studio.
Of course they have social media profiles…and you can read more about them at worldofdance.com
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
This young lady really impressed me with her fighting spirit in the redemption round last week!! And those of you who know me know that it takes quite a bit for a contemporary dancers to impress me. Briar did it!! Her dances starts at 0.57 in the video below.
Come to think of it, I really liked her qualifiers performance as well. Fierce!
Briar is a self-described “Dancer-Actor-Artist chick” from Toronto, Ontario. You’ll also recall from the show that she was diagnosed with epilepsy which she now has under control, thankfully. What you may not know is that she also stars in a Canadian “mockumentary” dance show called “The Next Step” – you can click the link to read more about that show. She’s also been interviewed recently by Dance Spirit Magazine on what it’s like to compete on World of Dance. I’ve put a short excerpt below, but click the link to read the whole thing.
The DS staff let out a collective squeal upon finding out our very own 2016 Cover Model Search winner Briar Nolet was one of the Season 3 contestants. She’s a powerhouse dancer who knows her way around a TV set thanks to her starring role as Richelle on “The Next Step”—but she says “WOD” was an entirely new beast.
Dance Spirit: How did you prepare for the show?
Briar Nolet: I really needed to get my mental health and dancing to a competitive level. I’d been dealing with a health issue (that’s all better now!), so I started preparing months in advance. I did ballet, tumbling, and every style that wasn’t contemporary. The dancing I do on “The Next Step” is very commercial, and I’m playing a character; for “WOD,” it was important for me to be able to dance at a high level of intensity, all while staying true to myself.
Here’s a fascinating video from several years ago – Briar and Tate McRae in “Bird Girls”.
Briar also does some beautiful dancing with her boyfriend (and costar on The Next Step) Myles Erlick.
In any case, if you want to read more on Briar Nolet, the girl is all over the internet. I’ve listed her social below.
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
The VPeepz actually debuted on WoD last night and made quite the impression! I loved them for many reasons, not the least of which was the excellent dancing and great story. Totally agreed with JLo and her comments regarding kids like them and the future. Their local media reported on their accomplishment last night:
The Philippines’ VPeepz junior dance crew showcased their amazing moves on NBC’s World of Dance (WOD) stage in the second part of the competition’s season premiere on March 3, Sunday (March 4 Manila Time).
The 13-member hip hop group from Manila went into the Qualifiers needing a score of 85 to get through to the next round of Duels. VPeepz received the following judge votes: 89 from NeYo, 89 from Jennifer Lopez, and 93 from Derek Hough.
With an average score of 90.3, VPeepz earned a spot to proceed to the next round of the competition.
To Derek Hough’s question as to why the team traveled all the way from the Philippines to America to join WOD, VPeepz said “I guess we just want to show the world that even though we’re all different, I can say that there’s really unity and diversity.
-defended Regional and National title at the Hip-Hop International Philippines two times since 2016
-awarded the Philippines’ state recognition for the prestigious Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) for three straight years
-becoming a household name in the Philippines dance community
-setting the standards for excellence for junior teams in the country
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
Lauren is a contemporary dancer in the Junior Division – she gave a stellar performance last night and I suspect she’ll go a ways in this competition. She’s also SYTYCD winner Amy Yakima’s sister, per Justin.
She’s an interesting dancer, for sure. More interesting than some previous contemporary juniors. I think a few years age difference makes a big deal.
If Yakima’s name sounds familiar, maybe it’s because she’s the youngest sister of Amy Yakima, who won Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” back in 2013. The Free Press spoke this week to the latest Yakima to step up as a network TV contestant.
How she got into dancing
“It just kind of just like fell in to my lap,” says Lauren, whose older sisters Amy and Emma also grew up immersed in local competitive dancing. “It ended up being a passion for all of us and something we were good at. It snowballed from when we were kids.” Lauren’s mother, Mary Beth, and father, Daniel, are both proud dance parents who’ve spent more than a decade supporting their daughters’ ambitions and supplying the necessary money and chauffeuring for lessons, weekend dance competitions, national conventions, summer workshops and costumes.
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
I picked this Junior Team to profile next because I thought their name was interesting. 🙂 I have no idea if we’ll actually get to see them on the show or not – every season there are a few that aren’t seen on screen, and lots that don’t make it to the second round. Fingers crossed!!
As I said, this is a Junior (Breaking Team and they are reportedly from Antwerp, Belgium. Another place I’d love to visit!! This video is from three years ago or so…hopefully they’ve grown and polished up their dancing a bit since then.
Here’s another video…better than the first, also two years old. This doesn’t quite hold up to the likes of last season’s winners
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
Hmmm…the mystery performers. WoD lists them in the Junior Division and that they’re from Santa Ana and San Diego. I can’t find too much about House of Tap except a facebook page which says:
House of Tap is a traveling tap experience celebrating the magic of tap! House of Tap is affiliated with the House of Tap pre-professional youth company.
There are a few videos on youtube which purport to be part of the “House of Tap Project” but I’m not having a lot of success finding more info. It does appear that their artistic director, Josh Nixon, is dancing with Chloe Arnold, who is friends with Derek Hough, one of the World of Dance judges, so..
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
Figured it was time to start working on these, despite my busy schedule. I’m also not sure how much info I’ll be able to find on a lot of these dancers. By all means, if you have more info, let me know in the comments!! Mia and Audrey are up first, from the Junior Division. They are a female hip hop duo from Seattle and Chicago.
I'm a nerd and proud of it. Two degrees in geology also means I love BEER. :-) I'm also a Derek lover - proud of that too. So don't scream at those of us on this site and call us a bunch of "biased Derek-lovers" - it's just ME. :-) It may sound like I hate DWTS at times, but really, I'm just a snarky nitpicker from way back. And I'm cynical and jaded too. But I do love DWTS. :-)
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