American Street Dance Championship I

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time on this DVD.
Review: Although this DVD claims to be a championship of the world's best street dancers, it's actually a poorly edited amateur contest that's not worth the time it takes to watch.

The packaging makes some big claims: "the best of the best," "brilliantly inspiring," and "The Most Exhilarating Exhibition In The History Of Dance." None of those claims are remotely true. The skill levels of the dance groups are about on par with a high school talent show.

We watch one dance crew after another take the stage in this competition. The back cover touts the professionalism and amazing acrobatics, but what we really see are groups that need to rehearse more. There is none of the exhilarating unison or precision that characterizes street dance - in fact most of the groups have difficulty staying together on the beat.

There are few memorable moments, and fewer standout talents. This isn't necessarily the fault of the performers. I think that this DVD showcases them far too early in their dance careers. Also, the poor camera work serves to hide many of the better moves. These dances are designed to be viewed from the front, so why continue to cut to overhead cameras making the routines seem confused and disorderly?

My aim here isn't to deflate any of the young kids in this video. Their talent and energy shows me their power to continue on to do great things someday. My problem is with the deceptive packaging, the remarkably poor camera work, and the amateur quality of the show.

Clearly this was meant to be a pilot for TV, but the content just isn't good enough. Even at a mere ten dollars, this DVD makes me feel ripped off.