Rivonia ‘s Beatrockers was a place to be this weekend for any dance crew around Jo’burg. The Joburg leg of the Step Up or Step Out auditions went on and I was there to collect all the action and madness. The spirit of dance came alive as all crews came forward to impress the judges with their stimulating dance routines. I must say there were many surprises, lots of talent and many mishaps from other crews...
So without further adieu...let’s get into it. Hailing from Soweto was a crew called Afro-trouble who do Township free style, had a little chat with them after they impressed the judges and got “selected” for screening, these boys can move, they were jumping all over and I had to get their manager to collect them and pose for TVSA with me and my sidekick thrown in the mix...
Taz' and Afro-Trouble
Then there was a crew called TLK, they do a dance style called “Bujwa”, they had nothing by Aprons and shots holding things like plates, gave it their all in front of the judges and also got “selected”.
TLKA sexy all-girl crew going by the name Neu Rotics came, put their swagga and dropped it like it’s hot with their stunning hip-hop motions. So precise as a unit Neu Rotics scored themselves a “selection” too.
Neu Rotics
A crew of guys called Cami Flakz looked so “cooked” on the queue, one could swear they were gonna slaughter and drop firebombs in there...but all they brought was a complete yawn fest! Talk about judging a book by its cover!
I cant remember the story with these but they also got "selected"Still on the judging a book by its cover story, a crew called Street Life that I found on the queue and snapped looked so lost, scared, and so unprepared; they didn’t even have matching outfits but boy those boys brought FIRE to the stage, so much energy and power, we all clapped hysterically with shock when the music stopped.
Looking lost, Street Life
Afrik Motion had a stand out audition, everything about them was just real and well, right on the par. They made me want to learn gumboot.
Afrik motionOther crews that did well were Action junior, Zilo (3 Pantsula girls that brought it and left Khabonina begging for more) and Simango (they had such weird hairstyles though – so energetic they filled the stage it was hard to focus on one at a time). All the “selected” crews will go through a screening process and will receive a call-back from there..
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Next stop is Bloem, Durban and then Cape Town. So for the bloggers planning to audition in these regions, ATTENTION, I caught up Khabonina and Arthur during lunch and gathered some vital info for you...
these ones were just funny, ssad they didnt make it...OUCH!Arthur is looking for the following in a crew: Originaility, you need to bring something Fresh, “ if you are gonna be doing something American it better be on the same level as good”, so he says, and you must not be boring, he expect exceptional creativity and moves that make one want to see more...
I kept on getting a wrong angle of the judges, the appature isn't good, lolKhabonina said she is looking for a “choker”, by that she meant a crew that will drop her jaw in the 1st 9 seconds (she calls it the 9 second rule), she wants crews that pop, you need to win her from the onset and the second the beat hits the speakers, she must get sold!
Sexy Khabonina was impresed with many crews and gave best adviseAll in all this was a great affair, the guys from etv treated us well and the day was just a marvel.