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Anyway, I'm still amazed at the fact that people just can't seem to get enough of the JabbaWockeeZ group. Last week, I attended the East West Players (EWP) 42nd Anniversary Visionary Awards dinner held at the Universal Hilton Hotel. The EWP awarded the dance crew the Breakout Performance Award. Last year, Masi Oka of "Heroes" received the award.
May 6, 2008
Everybody Loves the JabbaWockeeZ
I apologize for not posting as often as I'd like but I've been so busy with work and other pressing deadlines.
Photo By: Gary Wong
Since winning the inaugural MTV show "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew" a month ago, the JabbaWockeez members' lives (like their dance moves) have flipped upside down.
"It's really been a blessing," said Chris Gatdula. "Everything that's been going on right now has been crazy."
Ben "B-Tek" Chung said that it's been the busiest few weeks of his life.
"We've been traveling back and forth from the East Coast to the West Coast and hanging out with different celebrities at parties. The most amazing part of that is, those celebrities actually come up to us and say that they are big fans."
Apparently, that's what $100,000 brings you: a lot of fans and attention. Everyone wanted to know what they did with the winning purse.
Ben said the group divvied up the winnings to those who participated in the MTV competition and gave the rest to the other members of the group. The JabbaWockeeZ have 10-members. Only six participated for the MTV competition.
Ben said he used his share to pay off bills. The others bought clothes.
Randy Jackson also attended the event. He said he's glad that the 38 million voters chose the right dance crew.
"You know man, I'm just so happy for these guys," said Jackson. "They are so incredible. The have original choreography, styles, and their sets are different all the time. They have a mixture of everything from b-boy (break-dancing), jazz, and everything. They got everything."
The highlight of the evening was when the group performed in front of the large audience. They performed a set titled "Enter the Rabbit Hole" wearing their signature plain white masks. The older crowd didn't really seem to enjoy it. I'm not sure they knew what to do when members of the JabbaWockeeZ were waving their arms up and down egging the crowd to pump it up. However, the volunteers mostly young Asians ate it up and mobbed the group for photos after the set.
It's worth mentioning that although the group has been partying for the past week since winning the MTV competition (and rightfully so), many members still have heavy hearts for their lost comrade. It's well documented that the dance crew draws inspiration from their former partner Gary Kendell, who succumbed to pneumonia and meningitis a few months before the MTV dance competition.
The group shared their sentiments for Kendall when they received the award.
"It's been bittersweet," said Jeff "Phi" Nguyen. "We wish he was here to celebrate and party with us but I know he's here in spirit."
Photo By: Joseph Pimentel
Posted by Joseph at May 6, 2008 3:25 PM
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awww...i want to see the performance and speech or interviews...i gues awkward with the oldies hehee...man i wish someone could of video type it and put it on youtube or something
i absolutely LOVE the jabbawockeez!
yup yup. big fan!
anyone know where they will perform next here in SF Bay?
I love these guys and just cant get enough of them wish they would come to NZ!!!! =)
i am in Kenya but i watched the the whole season and i loved the Jabba wokkeez..they were fantastic i would have voted the the whole time is if i were in the USA.
nice win
Beauty
Heiiyah I really enjoy watching That type of dancestyle. Dancing 2 meh is all abwt exprissing yhewr feelings and emotions and thats waht i cii in yhewr crew style. i love it .