Want to see your name in lights? What about in Limelight?
The winners of last year’s first ever Corban Dance Competition have some tips and tricks about their own experience for prospective dance crews.
Last year’s “Prime Ministers” was composed of beat-box flutist Peter Ellis, bow-tie wearing David Anderson, and the talented twins Rob and Rick Saffeels. These four took home the grand prize of $500 after proving their mad skills in break dancing, back flips and krunking.
But how did they do it? How does a team get to the top and surpass every other crew?
“Well, you should know how to dance – that’s a good start,” said Anderson.
His crew was serious, he explained, practicing for hours, knowing exactly what to do, when to do it and getting input from other people.
“It took days of effort, not just one night,” Anderson said. “One day we rehearsed for, like, 6 hours straight.”
The crew found watching videos on YouTube to be most beneficial, most specifically those of the Jabbawockeez (first season winners of the show “America’s Best Dance Crew”).
Ellis said that was one key to their success: “to steal moves from YouTube.”
While dancing is hard enough, Anderson has another word of advice for competitors: “Picking a name is way harder than it sounds.” It took his crew two weeks to decide on “Prime Ministers.”
Ellis explained the origin of the name to be from a poster hanging in Anderson’s room of the British Prime Minister.
“Inspiration can come from the most mundane of places,” Ellis said.
Yet the name is still a crucial element. Ellis’ evidence? “It’s quite possible that we had the coolest name, and we did win. Just saying.”
And now future competitors can be well on their way to Be the Best. . . Be the Next. . . Corban Dance Crew.
See this year’s crews put their dancing shoes to work Sunday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Psalm Center.