America's Got Talent Wiki
Register
Advertisement

JabbaWockeeZ was a dance group from Season 2 of America's Got Talent. It was eliminated in the Vegas Round.

Background[]

Although they're spread out all over the southwestern US, the JabbaWockeeZ crew members have always shared a special bond in their love for dance. And, despite a lack of rehearsal time and no clear leader, the crew still takes risks by wearing their signature masks during each performance in an effort to help the audience see the way they articulate the music. 1

The name Jabbawockeez is derived from Lewis Carroll’s poem Jabberwocky, in which the titular character is a dragon that roamed the “tulgey wood” in the children’s story Through the Looking-Glass. Established in 2003 in San Diego, California, the idea of the Jabbawockeez is the brainchild of Joe Larot, Kevin Brewer and Phil Tayag, who wanted to showcase freestyle dance. Originally working with different dance groups, the crew wanted to strike a balance between "dancing to music" and "dancing as artistic expression,” in a time when the "garage crew" no longer existed, and the hip hop scene was flooded with "dance troupes" that seemed to be "clone" dancers. Coming from a variety of backgrounds in both dance and life, each member brings different styles and perspectives to the collective and collaborates to create the unique style of the Jabbawockeez.

Initially, the Jabbawockeez made appearances at local showcases and club events in San Diego and Los Angeles, where their impact on the hip-hop community has garnered them worldwide recognition. Several hip-hop pioneers such as Poppin' Pete, Mr. Wiggles and Crazy Legs, to name a few, have offered their support to the Jabbawockeez. It is the mission of the Jabbawockeez to "inspire the world through music and dance," and gaining recognition from these pioneers is extremely important to the members. 2

Audition[]

JabbaWockeeZ's audition in Episode 201 consisted of hip hop dancing with masks on. Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and David Hasselhoff all voted "Yes", sending the act to the Vegas Round.








Vegas Round[]

JabbaWockeeZ was sorted into the "Variety" category during the Vegas Round. Its performance in Episode 205 consisted of a dance routine with masks on. Its audition was not strong enough for the judges to include it in the Top 35 shortlist, eliminating it from the competition along with Liang Patti, Meghan Miller and Jordan & Nasko.








After the Show[]

The Jabbawockeez won the MTV hip-hop dance reality series, Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC) in March 2008. The most notable group to come out of the MTV reality series, the Jabbawockeez are synonymous with the show. After their MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew victory, the Jabbawockeez quickly rose to fame, appearing on various television shows including “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Bachelorette,” “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Live with Regis and Kelly,” “The TODAY Show,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “106 & Park,” “America’s Next Top Model,” and “The Jimmy Fallon Show.” They have performed at major events such as the 2008 BET Awards with Ne-Yo, the 2008 MTV Movie Awards, the 2009 NBA All-Star Game with Shaq, the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards with Wayne Brady and the 2013 Billboard Music Awards with Taylor Swift. They were also featured in a Gatorade campaign that included Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning and many others who are considered the best at what they do.

With their notoriety steadily increasing, they began touring as the opening act for the New Kids On The Block tour. Their star power has even reached international fame as they have toured Asia and Australia.

With all of their success, they continue to break down doors for the dance world as they are now the first dance crew to ever headline their own show in Las Vegas. Initially set as a twentyday run in May 2010, “Jabbawockeez Present MÜS.I.C. (Muse-I-See)” is a 90-minute show directed by Emmy-nominated choreographers Napoleon and Tabitha. The show also incorporates original music produced by bay area’s heavy hitters, The Bangerz. With an overwhelmingly positive response, the show became a sold-out success, making its debut at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in October 2010. Since then, the show has been extended at Monte Carlo three times, and concluded at the end of October 2012.

Not only a hit on The Strip, the Jabbawockeez have wowed fans from around the globe. In April 2012, the Jabbawockeez danced across the Pacific to Australia to bring MÜS.I.C. to fans on the Gold Coast. The show has been wildly successful, and was extended through November 2012 at Jupiters Hotel & Casino. With their third residency, the Jabbawockeez took the East coast by storm for the very first time with a month-long run at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City from August – September 2012.

Jabbawockeez are now performing five nights a week in their new headlining show “PRiSM” in a custom-built theater at Luxor. A celebration of imagination, the show is a dynamic mix of aweinspiring choreography, captivating storylines and stunning special effects, forming a production that challenges audiences to embrace the unexpected. In August 2012, the Jabbawockeez were honored for their contribution to the dance community with Hip Hop International’s Living Legend of Hip Hop Award. As the first dance crew to ever receive the award, the Jabbawockeez have made a lasting mark on the history of hip hop and dance. 3

The group also made a guest appearance in Season 5 of America's Got Talent in Episode 518.

In 2017, JabbaWockeeZ competed on the first season of World of Dance, where they were eliminated in the second round of the competition. They returned to AGT as a guest performer in Episode 1512.

Other Appearances[]

External Links[]

Advertisement