America's Best Dance Crew (season 7)


The seventh season of America's Best Dance Crew, also known as America's Best Dance Crew: Return of the Superstars, premiered on April 11, 2012. Return of the Superstars used the same show format of the previous season, in which the crews performed to the music of one specific artist each week. The season featured artists including Rihanna, Britney Spears, Madonna, Pitbull, David Guetta, LMFAO, Jennifer Lopez, Drake, Flo Rida, and Katy Perry. In the live finale, which aired on June 13, 2012, Elektrolytes was declared the winner.

Cast

Auditions for the seventh season of America's Best Dance Crew were held in four cities: Chicago, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles. Similar to the previous season, there was no age restriction. Dance crews who had previously competed on the show were also encouraged to audition again.
The cast consisted of nine new dance crews and one returning crew. The appearance of Fanny Pak, who were originally contestants in the second season of ABDC, marked the first time a crew appeared to compete on the show a second time. Each dance crew's hometown and representative region were displayed on their banner during the course of the competition.
Dance CrewHometownRegion
8 FlavahzHonolulu, HawaiiPacific
Collizion CrewAtlanta, GeorgiaSouth
ElektrolytesGilbert, ArizonaWest
Fanny PakSan Fernando Valley, CaliforniaWest
FunkdationMonterrey, MexicoSur
IrratikMontreal, CanadaNorth
Mix'd ElementsNorth Hollywood, CaliforniaWest
Mos Wanted CrewLos Angeles, CaliforniaWest
Rated Next GenerationMukilteo, WashingtonNorthwest
StepboysRoseville, CaliforniaWest

Results





;Key

Episodes

Episode 1: [Britney Spears] Challenge

The season kicked off with the first round of crews dancing to a remix of "I Wanna Go". Then, the crews incorporated Spears' hits into their routines. The judges selected four crews to advance to the next round, while the crew who did not make the cut faced elimination in the following week's episode.
Dance CrewSong
8 Flavahz"3"
Mix'd Elements"Till the World Ends"
Irratik"Hold It Against Me"
Stepboys"If U Seek Amy"
Fanny Pak"Womanizer"

The other five competing crews danced to "Wild Ones" featuring Sia, with Flo Rida performing alongside with them. Flo Rida then joined the judges table as a special guest judge. Later, the crews crafted their own routines inspired by his songs. After the judges decided the four dance crews that were safe, the bottom crew battled Mix'd Elements to a remix of "Turn Around" to determine which one would be the first eliminated.
Dance CrewSong
Elektrolytes"Club Can't Handle Me" feat. David Guetta
Rated Next Generation"Right Round" feat. Kesha
Collizion Crew"Low" feat. T-Pain
Funkdation"Good Feeling"
Mos Wanted Crew"In the Ayer" feat. will.i.am

The nine remaining crews choreographed routines inspired by Madonna's music videos. Each crew had to incorporate their music video's signature dance style into their routine. In this episode, two teams were sent home after a double-elimination.
Dance CrewSongDance Style
Fanny Pak"Girl Gone Wild"Waacking
Elektrolytes"Hung Up"Krumping
Mos Wanted Crew"4 Minutes" feat. Justin Timberlake and TimbalandPopping
8 Flavahz"Vogue"Voguing
Rated Next Generation"Human Nature"Thrashing
Stepboys"Ray Of Light"Spazzing
Collizion Crew"Don't Tell Me"Country line dancing
Funkdation"Give Me All Your Luvin'" feat. Nicki Minaj and M.I.A.Cheerleading
Irratik"Express Yourself"Jazz steps

The seven remaining crews selected lyrics from their assigned Drake songs and "brought them to life."
Dance CrewSongChosen LyricChallenge
Rated Next Generation"HYFR" feat. Lil Wayne"Time for me to revisit the past."Perform a section of the routine in reverse.
Mos Wanted Crew"The Motto" feat. Lil Wayne and Tyga"Tell Tune 'Light one, pass it like a relay'."Create a relay.
8 Flavahz"Find Your Love""I bet if I give all my lovin', nothin's gonna tear us apart."Become connected at some point.
Collizion Crew"Over""So I'm riding through this city with my high beams on."Create a car.
Elektrolytes"Headlines""Floating in and out of consciousness."Create the illusion that someone is levitating.
Fanny Pak"Make Me Proud" feat. Nicki Minaj"Running on a treadmill and only eating salad."Create a treadmill.
Stepboys"Best I Ever Had""Every single show she out there reppin' like a mascot."Incorporate a mascot.

The six remaining crews paid tribute to Jennifer Lopez. Her choreographer, Beau "Casper" Smart, worked with the crews during rehearsals. Each crew's challenge was to highlight a defining moment in Lopez's career. Smart also gave them an additional challenge that linked to their initial challenge.
Dance CrewSongInitial ChallengeAdditional Challenge
8 Flavahz"Let's Get Loud"Incorporate salsa dancing.Incorporate trumpets.
Mos Wanted Crew"On the Floor" feat. PitbullIncorporate floorwork.Hype the audience.
Elektrolytes"Get Right"Create a moving subway car.Incorporate canes.
Collizion Crew"Jenny from the Block" feat. Styles P and JadakissIncorporate popping, locking, and b-boy moves.Perform a specific J. Lo move.
Rated Next Generation"Do It Well"Incorporate the new jack swing dance style.Perform the move called "The Wop".
Fanny Pak"Waiting for Tonight"Change clothes during the routine.Incorporate a four-man lift.

The five remaining dance crews began the episode with a dance number to "I Like: The Remix" featuring Enrique Iglesias and The WAV.s, alongside Season 6 runner-up ICONic Boyz. Then, each crew was given a country and an international dance style to incorporate into their routines. In a two-way tie, the Bottom 2 crews advanced to the next round, marking the first time the judges saved both bottom crews from elimination.
Dance CrewSongCountryDance Style
Elektrolytes"I Know You Want Me"BrazilCapoeira
8 Flavahz"Hey Baby" feat. T-PainFranceCan-can
Mos Wanted Crew"Give Me Everything" feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack, and NayerRussiaBarynya
Fanny Pak"International Love" feat. Chris BrownIndiaBollywood
Rated Next Generation"Hotel Room Service"ChinaDance of 1000 Hands

The five remaining crews created dance routines inspired by Rihanna, beginning with a group performance to "We Found Love" featuring Calvin Harris. Unlike last season, where her choreographer distributed the challenges, Rihanna delivered them to the crews herself.
Dance CrewSongChallenge
Rated Next Generation"You da One"Incorporate tricks using bowler hats.
8 Flavahz"Birthday Cake"Create a fire effect and extinguish it.
Mos Wanted Crew"Cockiness"Use jackets to create pictures of confidence.
Elektrolytes"Where Have You Been"Incorporate a microphone stand.
Fanny Pak"Talk That Talk" feat. Jay-ZIncorporate color guard rifle spins.

The four remaining crews danced to songs by LMFAO, beginning with a group performance to "Live My Life" by Far East Movement featuring Justin Bieber. Redfoo from LMFAO handed out the dance challenges, and Season 3 champion Quest Crew visited the rehearsal studio to work with the crews.
Dance CrewSongChallenge
Mos Wanted Crew"Sexy and I Know It"Create a catwalk with wiggle-inspired runway modeling.
Elektrolytes"Champagne Showers" feat. Natalia KillsPerform robotic moves while transforming into a giant robot.
Rated Next Generation"Sorry for Party Rocking"Recreate the 15-second dance breakdown from the video.
8 Flavahz"Party Rock Anthem" feat. Lauren Bennett and GoonRockRecreate the group blow-up from the video, and incorporate "The T-step" and "The Spongebob".

The top three crews competed for the two spots in the championship round to the music of David Guetta. Unlike the format from previous episodes, the crews performed first before the voting results were revealed. Guetta gave each crew the same song mix and challenges to incorporate into their routines. Then, they did a group number to "Titanium" featuring Sia.
SongChallenge
"Memories" feat. Kid CudiGloving
"Turn Me On" feat. Nicki MinajMove like dolls
"Without You" feat. UsherGliding

After the Bottom 2 was announced, the two crews had to dance battle to determine which one would advance to the finale.
Dance CrewSong
Mos Wanted Crew"Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye feat. Kimbra
Elektrolytes"Feel So Close" by Calvin Harris

The final two crews danced to music from the concert film, ', after meeting the pop starlet. Then, the winner was crowned. The show also featured performances by past ABDC champions.
Dance CrewSong
8 Flavahz and Elektrolytes"Wide Awake"
Elektrolytes and Poreotix"Part of Me"
8 Flavahz and We Are Heroes"T.G.I.F." feat. Missy Elliott
I.aM.mE"E.T." feat. Kanye West
Elektrolytes"Starships" by Nicki Minaj