JabbaWockeeZ

JabbaWockeeZ is an all-male dance troupe, established in 2003 by Joe Larot, Kevin Brewer and Phil Tayag. The group first gained fame by appearing on America's Got Talent before going on to being the first winners of the MTV hip hop dance reality serie America's Best Dance Crew on March 27, 2008, which earned the crew $100,000 and a touring contract. They are known for their intricate, synchronization and precise dances, mime and kabuki-styled theatrics, and for wearing masks and gloves during most of their performances. Their name is derived from the Lewis Carroll poem Jabberwocky.

Initially, the JabbaWockeeZ made appearances at local showcases and club events in San Diego and Los Angeles. Their impact on the hip hop community has awarded them worldwide recognition. Some pioneers of hip hop such as Poppin' Pete, Mr. Wiggles and Crazy Legs to name a few, have offered their support of the JabbaWockeeZ crew. It is the mission of the JabbaWockeeZ to "inspire the world through music and dance".
Members
Ben "B-Tek" Chung
Chris "Cristyle" Gatdula
Kevin "Keibee" Brewer
Rynan "Kid Rainen" Paguio
Jeff "Phi" Nguyen
Phil "Swaggerboy" Taya
Jack "Jerk" Black
Eddie "Eddie Styles" Gutierrez
Saso "Saso Fresh" Jimenez
Randy "DJ Wish One" Bernal
Joe "Emajoenation" Larot
Former members
Gary "Gee" Kendall (deceased)






America's Best Dance Crew Season 1
Week 1
Each crew jammed to a song of their choosing. The crews were broken up in groups of three, and the best crew of each group (chosen by the judges) would be safe from this week's elimination and move on to the next week.
The JabbaWockeez chose to dance to the song, "Apologize", by OneRepublic Ft. Timbaland. The judges all gave the JabbaWockeeZ excellent remarks to the dance. Despite the high praise, they were not one of the crews that the judges chose to be safe from eliminations.

Week 2

Each crew was given a music video with a different dance component to emulate while keeping their own style as a crew.
The JabbaWockeeZ were given the music video for "Ice Box" by Omarion. The judges gave the group high marks. JC Chasez, one of the three judges, stated that the JabbaWockeeZ choreography was better than the choreography from the music video itself.





Week 3

Each crew performed to a popular dance, also known as a "dance craze," and were required to add their own style to it as a crew. Since the dances were very simple, there were certain challenges each team had to meet while performing.
The JabbaWockeeZ were assigned to Dance to "Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It" by Dem Franchise Boyz. The challenge was to create the illusion that they could defy gravity.
To meet the challenge, two of the members lifted themselves behind the other members in a way that created the illusion of one man floating. They also did a knee float near the end of the routine. Rynan Paguio also caught a bandana while doing a flare into a munchmill which received praise from JC Chasez. However, JC did warn the crew not to get lazy due to a "walking transition." Lil' Mama, the other judge, directed the audience's attention to the beginnings and endings of the JabbaWockeeZ performances, as each dance began the same way that it ended the week before. The best compliments came from Shane Sparks, who exclaimed they were the sickest crew he's ever seen in his life. This became a very memorable performance by them.

Week 4

This week, the crews had to create a story through dance in the movie challenge. Every crew had to dance on the same set, which was set up as a street in an urban neighborhood. They were assigned characters and asked to create a story for those characters.
The JabbaWockeeZ were assigned to be thieves in what they called "The Heist." They chose to dance to "Ayo Technology"* by 50 Cent feat. Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.

Week 5
In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, each crew was assigned a Michael Jackson song from the album "Thriller" and were given a DVD compilation of some of the Michael Jackson's dancing. They then had to perform to the song and demonstrated how much they knew about Michael Jackson's moves in their performance.
The JabbaWockeeZ were given the song "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)."
They chose to wear formal jackets, bow ties and hats to represent Michael Jackson's wardrobe and Kevin Brewer exaggerated the classic crotch-grab which Shane Sparks highlighted during the judging. JC Chasez said he had "nothing to pick on" and Lil' Mama said she felt like she was watching Michael Jackson, but she never forgot that she was watching the JabbaWockeeZ.



Week 7
The last challenge was for the crews to illustrate the evolution of hip-hop using the same music. The final three crews had to perform to these songs using some classic hip-hop styles, such as breaking, popping, and locking.




There were three crews remaining but saved crew was Status Quo. Both the JabbaWockeeZ and Kaba Modern performances garnered praise from the judges, with the crowd cheering to keep both crews and eliminate Status Quo. JC Chasez said that seeing those two crews go against each other was the biggest competition yet. However, Kaba Modern was sent home, and JabbaWockeeZ moved onto the "Do or Die" encore battle with Status Quo. The music for each encore was mixed at the direction of the crews.

Their encore performance was entitled "The Red Pill" The music is sampled from Moloko's "The Time Is Now (Bambino Casino Mix)" and Swollen Member's "Red Dragon".

Week 8
The JabbaWockeeZ, Fysh N Chicks and Kaba Modern performed a reunion dance together as part of the west coast crews. The three west coast crews danced to a mix of "Tell Me When To Go" by E-40 featuring Keak Da Sneak.
JabbaWockeeZ won the competition on March 27, 2008. being the first dance crew to win America's Best Dance Crew. They performed a final time on the show to Kanye West's "Stronger". This dance was significant because it was the JabbaWockeeZ' first synchronized dance without full-face masks on America's Best Dance Crew.

Battle for the VMAs
Jabbawockeez and the Season 2 winner, Super Cr3w performed an opening performance together for the Battle of the VMAs special but did not compete.

TV
2007: America's Got Talent
2008: America's Best Dance Crew on MTV
2008: Live with Regis and Kelly
2008: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2008: Mi TRL on MTV
2008: KUSI
2008: Balitang America on TFC
2008: Asian Excellence Awards on E!
2008: Lakers-Spurs Game 2 at the Staples Center
2008: MTV Movie Awards Brief performance alongside The Pussycat Dolls
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 TV promo
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 Casting Special
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Season 2 Walk It Out with the JabbaWockeeZ and Shane Sparks
2008: Adobo Nation on TFC
2008: 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards
2008: 2008 BET Awards Brief performance with Ne-Yo at the end of his set
2008: MTV Asia Awards 2008
2008: Teen Choice Awards 2008 Brief performance with Chris Brown and ACDC
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Battle for the VMAs. Performed with Super Crew.
2009: America's Best Dance Crew Season 3 Rainen Paguio filled in for JC Chasez as a guest judge
2009: 2009 NBA All-Star Game Performance with Shaquille O'Neal
2009: The Quest for G Appearance in Gatorade's commercial
2009: The Ellen Degeneres Show
Film
2008: Step Up 2 the Streets (cameo appearance, deleted scene)
Music video
2008: ACDC vs M&M Cru Dance battle between Adam Chu's and Miley Cyrus' dance crews; featured on Youtube.
2008: Pose by Daddy Yankee
2008: Forgive Me by Leona Lewis
2009: Day Dreaming by DJ Drama feat Akon, Snoop Dogg and T.I.
Live
2008: Walt Disney 2008 Gradnite
2008: America's Best Dance Crew Live Live Tour with Super Cr3w, Breaksk8, Fanny Pak and A.S.I.I.D.
2009: Jabbawockeez on Tour with NKOTB