The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers

Members and cast

Sources:

• Roger Aaron Brown as The Narrator
• Jaime "Venum" Burgos, Ivan "Flipz" Velez, and Josh "Milky" Ayers as The Observers
• Wilbur "Wilpower" Urbina as Joe Drift
• Luis "Luigi" Rosado as Trevor Drift
• Carly Lang as Alice Wondershaw
• Daniel "Cloud" Campos as The Illister
• Jeremy Marinas as Justin Starr
• Travis Wong as Jimmy Angel a.k.a. Shado
• Nicholas Braun as Cole Waters
• Chadd "Madd Chadd" Smith as Sp3cimen
• John "J Rock" Nelson as Jasper James a.k.a. The Dark Doctor
• Marie "Pandora" Medina as Autumn
• Shelby Rabara as The Dark Nurse
• Richard "Steelo" Vazquez as Spex
• Vivian Bang as Miss Harlow
• Oscar Orosco as Tendo
• Aaron "Duece" Cooke as Dante
• Christopher "Lil' C" Toler as Z
• Galen Hooks as Ninjato
• William Wingfield as Katana
• Harry Shum Jr. as Elliot Hoo
• Aja George as Stereo
• Terence Dickson as Minijack
• Straphanio "Shonnie" Solomon as PhonoShonnie's uncle is Samuel "Boogaloo Sam" Solomon, the man who invented the popping style of dance.
• Christa Lewis as Parvine
• Sean "Fresh" Redding as Polo
• Diva Zappa as Ruth
• Nick Demoura as Murray
• Robert Rich as Gus
• Charlie "VZion" Schmidt as The Prophet (season one) and The Ringmaster (season three)
• Christopher Scott as Copeland
• David "Kid David" Shreibman as Karen a.k.a. The Kidd
• Stephen "tWitch" Boss as ** Dr. E**
• Harmony Costa, Antwan Davis, and Khalid Freeman as Beat Bullies
• Caity Lotz as Taylor Jensen
• Adedamola "Nugget" Orisagbemi, Nicholas "Slick" Stewart, and Marc "Marvelous" Inniss as The Eaters
• Jesse "Casper" Brown as Peetie a.k.a. Fangz
• Anis Cheurfa as AchillesAnis Cheurfa plays the role of Rinzler in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy.
• Carey Ysais as KareyCarey Ysais is the co-creator of The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball.
• Ricardo "Boogie Frantick" Rodriguez as The Wave
• Josue "Beastmode" Figueroa as Stakka
• Danni "Danni G" Gutierrez as Dreads
• Cuong "Tony Styles" Ly as Waru
• Marie "Maryss from Paris" Courchinoux as ScalesMaryss from Paris and Rino are both members of Beat Freaks.
• Rino Nakasone as Teethe
• Maya Chino as Gills
• Chanel Malvar as Finns
• Brandon Philips as Umbra
• Bryan Tanaka as Umbra
• Dondraico 'Draico' Johnson as Umbra
• Giovanni Watson as Umbra
• JD McElroy as Umbra
• Mykal Bean as Umbra
• Brandon Shaw as Umbra
• Cassidy Noblett as Umbra
• Johnny Erasme as Umbra
• Beau "Casper" Smart as Ox
• Luke Broadlick as Ox
• Ryan "McLovin" Houchin as Ox
• Tara Macken as Ox
• Cameron Boyce as [Young] Jasper James a.k.a. The Dark Doctor
• Ele Keats as Diane James
• Johnathan "Johnny 5" Malstrom as Experiment 2A2
• Peter "Smurf" Quintanilla as Experiment 4K8
• Jefferey "Machine" McCann as Experiment 9S2
• Lorenzo "Devious" Chapman as Experiment J4E
• Patrick "Pakelika 10" Wesley as The Exterminator
• Terrance Harrison as Gimpspark
• Ron "Tempo" Evans Jr., and Soh "Tetris" Tanaka as Rabids
• Adrian "Lobo" Miramontes, Joshua "ACE" Ventura, Mike Song, and Anthony "Anflowny" Lee as Shadows
• Nancy "Asia One" Yu as LXD Elder: The Countess
• Rueben Lucky "Flat Top" Hall as LXD Elder: Groove Guardian
• Andre "Boppin Dre" Diamond as LXD Elder: Black Diamond
• Jerry "Flo Master" Randolph as LXD Elder
• Roger "Orko" Romero as LXD Elder
• Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis as LXD Elder: Style Ripper
• Kendall Glover as Lil Rina
• Angelo "Lil Demon" Baligad as Dark Nurse's son

Series history

The first two seasons of The LXD were released in 2010 and the third premiered in August 2011. Shooting first began for the series in February 2009. It took 18 months to complete filming for the first two seasons.

The Uprising Begins

Season one focuses on the back story of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, the "good guys". Each episode introduces each of the characters and their specific dance ability. The first two webisodes (Chapters in the series), "The Tale of Trevor Drift" and "AntiGravity Heroes", were both released July 7. The remaining eight were released every Wednesday afterward.

Secrets of the Ra

Season two tells the back story of the villains of The LXD which consist of Organization X—called The Ox—and The Umbras. The second season also premiered with two chapters, "The Legion" and "Lessons", which were released October 26, 2010. The remaining webisodes were released every Wednesday after with the exception of Wednesday, November 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Super Ballet

There is episode titled "Super Ballet" that was supposed to be presented as part of the series narrative. It was left out of season two because Chu felt it didn't fit into the storyline. He eventually released it in 2012 when The LXD became available on YouTube. The dancing performed in the episode is a mix of ballet and tricking.

Rise of the Drifts

Season three tells the back story of how the LXD was formed and what led to the Ox and the Umbras uniting to become the Alliance of the Dark. I.aM.mE, a dance crew from Houston, TX who won season six of America's Best Dance Crew, makes an appearance in season three as the Reanimators. Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis, the creator of the dance style krumping, also appears in season three as the character of Style Ripper, one of the LXD Elders. Season three premiered on August 11, 2011, with two chapters: "The Extraordinary 7" and "Ashes". With the exception of September 1, the rest of the chapters in the season were released weekly on Thursdays.

Reception

The LXD is the most viewed original web series on Hulu. AdvertisingAge.com gave the series a favorable review stating "...each episode of 'LXD' packs a wealth of narrative sophistication into its eight or nine minutes. Combine this with the theater-worthy production values and a cast that exerts itself to an ungodly extent, and the end result is—pun time!—extraordinary." Mashable.com called the series "...a game-changer in the way that web series—and the arts—are presented online. Oh yeah, and it’s stunning." In its review of season one, PentacleBlogs.org praised the dancing but felt the acting was weak: "At best this Hollywood narrative approach makes The LXD series seem a bit clunky and cheesy, and at worse it detracts from the enjoyment of truly great dancing."

After their performance at TED 2010, The LXD received the longest standing ovation in TED history. In November 2010, The LXD won a Media Vanguard Award for "Best Original Web Series." In January 2011, the series won a Digital Luminary Award in the "Original Web Content" category. In February 2011, it was announced that Jon Chu would win the Pioneer Award at the International Digital Emmy Awards for the series. At the announcement, IATAS President and CEO, Bruce Paisner remarked "Jon M. Chu is one of the most up & coming directing talents of our time and we look forward to honoring him for his innovative contributions to the field of digital entertainment with our Pioneer Prize."

Live performances

The LXD has performed live for YouTube Live '08 and for the TBS Ellen DeGeneres special Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show at Caesars Palace. In May 2010, they were the opening act for the Glee Live! tour. They performed by invitation and the 82nd Academy Awards. In December 2010, they performed on the Conan show. In 2011, they joined the cast of Glee again on their second international tour.

Footnotes

References

References

1. Bloom, Julie. (June 24, 2010). "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's a Superdancer!". [[The New York Times]].
2. Grandy, Leslie. (March 7, 2010). "The Legion Of Extraordinary Dancers Visit TED and Oscar". Technorati.com.
3. Harper, Rebecca. (July 7, 2010). "Interview: The LXD's Jon Chu". Hulu.com.
4. Julie Steinberg. (October 30, 2010). "'Glee's' Harry Shum Jr. on the Creepy Halloween-Timed 'Rising' Episode of The LXD". WSJ.com.
5. (December 1, 2009). "Paramount Digital Entertainment to Launch The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD)". PR Newswire.
6. "I Seen a Man".
7. "Can't Dance".
8. "Mess in Aisle 7".
9. "Reprogram".
10. "LXD T-shirt". InvisibleChildren.com.
11. "LXD premieres tonight". InvisibleChildren.
12. Mark Hustvedt. (April 6, 2009). "'Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Steps Up With PUMA as Agility's First Series". Tubefilter.tv.
13. (November 11, 2010). "New LXD Episode: Tails Of War". District78.com.
14. "Characters". LXDBeast.Blogspot.com.
15. "Skillmethodz Crew Member Profiles". AbstrakDance.com.
16. "Final B-boy Announcement". RedBullBCOne.com.
17. "B-Boy Cloud". RedBullBCOne.com.
18. Hanh Nguyen. (September 29, 2010). "'Glee's' Harry Shum talks 'The Situ-Asian,' Asian Camp and The LXD". Zap2it.
19. (November 22, 2012). "Meet the B-boys". RedBullBCOne.com.
20. "Video: Case Study on The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers". LXDInspired.com.
21. Jean Oppenheimer. (November 2010). "Lethal Dance Moves". American Cinematographer.
22. Brett Berk. (October 26, 2010). "Justin Bieber Documentarian Jon M. Chu Pretty Much Owns the Internet". VanityFair.com.
23. (June 25, 2010). "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers to Premiere July 7 on HULU". Seat42f.com.
24. (June 24, 2010). "'The LXD' Launches July 7 on Hulu". TheWrap.com.
25. Carrasco, Ed. (October 19, 2012). "Jon M. Chu's Never-Before-Seen LXD 'Super Ballet' Episode Finally Released [VIDEO]". NewMediaRockStars.com.
26. (August 9, 2011). "Jon M. Chu's Groundbreaking Original Series 'The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Returns for a Third Season on Hulu, August 11". PR Newswire.
27. Joshua Cohen. (October 11, 2010). "'The LXD' Season 2 'Secrets of the Ra' Premieres October 27". Tubefilter.com.
28. Dobrow, Larry. (July 15, 2010). "A Web Series so Good, It (Almost) Makes Dobrow Want to Dance". Adage.com.
29. Zachary Sniderman. (August 6, 2010). "Why Hulu's New Dance Show is a Game-Changer". Mashable.com.
30. Nuse, Anna. (November 2, 2010). "The LXD – A Review of Season One". PentacleBlogs.com.
31. McManus, Emily. (February 18, 2012). "What's it like to dance onstage at TED? Galen Hooks from The LXD". TED.com.
32. (November 29, 2010). "Best Original Web Series". AdAge.com.
33. "National Association of Television Program Executives Announces Winners of 2011 Digital Luminary Awards". ttvmedianews.com.
34. (February 17, 2011). "'The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Creator Jon M. Chu to Receive Pioneer Prize at International Digital Emmy® Awards at MIPTV 2011". Business Wire.
35. (November 22, 2008). "Youtube Live! - Jon M. Chu (Multiple Cam Montage)". YTLiveRecaps.
36. (December 26, 2008). "Ellen DeGeneres + The LXD + Caesars Palace= RIDONCULOUSNESS". TBS.
37. MacKenzie, Carina. (May 6, 2010). "'Glee' Tour update: LXD will join New Directions on the road". Zap2it.
38. (March 2010). "The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves...". Ted.com.
39. Rolnick, Katie. (April 1, 2010). "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's The LXD!". DanceSpirit.com.
40. (October 21, 2010). "Seaweed: LXD - excerpt from YouTube Play at the Guggenheim". YouTube Play.
41. Bleyeart, Aaron. (December 10, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: The LXD Dance Battle Team Coco!". TeamCoCo.com.
42. (May 17, 2011). "The Cast of Jon M. Chu's Original Web Series "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" to Make Special Repeat Appearance on Glee Tour 2011". Reuters.