America's Best Dance Crew season 6

The sixth season of America's Best Dance Crew, also known as America's Best Dance Crew: Season of the Superstars, premiered on April 7, 2011. Taking a different route from past seasons, the crews performed to the music of one specific artist each week, including Rihanna, Lil Wayne, and other stars. The season also featured special guest appearances by various music celebrities including Justin Bieber, The Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry, Kesha, Nicki Minaj, and Kanye West.^[2] Dominic "D-Trix" Sandoval, a former member of Quest Crew, the winner of the third season of America's Best Dance Crew, joined returning judges Lil Mama and JC Chasez as the newest judge.^[1] In the season finale, which aired on June 5, 2011, I.aM.mE was declared the winner.^[3]

For the sixth season of America's Best Dance Crew, auditions were held in four cities: Chicago, Houston, New York City, and Los Angeles.

^Note 1 : A non-elimination episode meant to showcase the two finalists.

Key

  (WINNER) The dance crew won the competition and was crowned "America's Best Dance Crew".

  (RUNNER-UP) The dance crew was the runner-up in the competition.

  (IN) The dance crew was safe from elimination.

  (RISK) The dance crew was at risk for elimination.

  (OUT) The dance crew was eliminated from the competition.

• Original Airdate: April 7, 2011

The first five crews auditioned for a chance to move on in the competition during the season premiere, beginning with a group performance to "6 Foot 7 Foot" featuring Cory Gunz.^[4][5]

• Safe: Street Kingdom, Phunk Phenomenon, I.aM.mE, ReQuest Dance Crew
• Eliminated: Eclectic Gentlemen

• Original Airdate: April 14, 2011

The next five crews performed to Kesha hits to compete for a chance to move on to the next round, starting with a dance number to "We R Who We R".^[6][7]

• Safe: FootworKINGz, ICONic Boyz, 787 Crew, Instant Noodles
• Eliminated: Jag6ed

• Original Airdate: April 21, 2011

The Black Eyed Peas assigned each crew a different song and challenge to incorporate into their routines.^[8]

• Safe: ICONic Boyz, Phunk Phenomenon, I.aM.mE, Street Kingdom, 787 Crew, Instant Noodles
• Bottom 2: FootworKINGz, ReQuest Dance Crew
• Eliminated: FootworKINGz

• Original Airdate: April 28, 2011

Katy Perry handed out dance challenges to the seven remaining crews.^[10]

• Safe: Phunk Phenomenon, I.aM.mE, 787 Crew, ICONic Boyz, Instant Noodles
• Bottom 2: Street Kingdom, ReQuest Dance Crew
• Eliminated: ReQuest Dance Crew

• Original Airdate: May 5, 2011

The six remaining crews choreographed routines inspired by Rihanna.^[12] Rihanna's choreographer, Tanisha Scott, gave each crew a dancehall move to be incorporated.

• Safe: Instant Noodles, ICONic Boyz, I.aM.mE, Street Kingdom
• Bottom 2: 787 Crew, Phunk Phenomenon
• Eliminated: 787 Crew

• Original Airdate: May 12, 2011

Justin Bieber handed out dance challenges to the five remaining crews.^[14] All the challenges were based on moments from Bieber's documentary Never Say Never.

• Safe: ICONic Boyz, I.aM.mE, Phunk Phenomenon
• Bottom 2: Instant Noodles, Street Kingdom
• Eliminated: Instant Noodles

• Original Airdate: May 19, 2011

The final four crews kicked off the show with a group number to "Massive Attack" featuring Sean Garrett.^[16] Then, Nicki Minaj dropped by and challenged the four remaining crews to choreograph routines inspired by one of her alter egos.^[17]

• Safe: I.aM.mE, ICONic Boyz
• Bottom 2: Street Kingdom, Phunk Phenomenon
• Eliminated: Street Kingdom

• Original Airdate: May 26, 2011

The episode began with the three remaining crews performing a group number to "All of the Lights" featuring Rihanna.^[18] Season 5 winner Poreotix delivered the challenges to the crews. After the mid-show elimination, the final two crews performed their prepared routines to make their one last plea for votes.^[19]

The crews had to demonstrate their versatility by creating a routine that incorporated three different styles of dance. All crews were given the same styles and songs.

• Safe: ICONic Boyz
• Bottom 2: Phunk Phenomenon, I.aM.mE
• Eliminated: Phunk Phenomenon

The two finalists were given one last chance to perform before the lines opened for the final voting session of the season.

• Original Airdate: June 2, 2011

The final two crews faced off in the penultimate episode of Season 6, which also featured a look back at their accomplishments so far.^[20]

For the first challenge, the judges chose one routine from the past weeks in which the crews must improve upon and perform again. The judges selected I.aM.mE's Week 5 Rihanna performance and ICONic Boyz' Week 6 Justin Bieber routine.

The two crews then performed in a three-round dance battle. Swizz Beatz returned to provide the music for the battle.

• Original Airdate: June 5, 2011

The winner was crowned in the Season 6 finale, which also featured performances by the past winners.^[3] In contrast to previous seasons of America's Best Dance Crew, the finale was pre-recorded; each crew taped a faux winning and losing reaction, as well as their victory performance, and were unaware of the results until the final cut of the episode was aired prior to the 2011 MTV Movie Awards.

• Winner: I.aM.mE
• Runner-up: ICONic Boyz

• Official website