The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers
| The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Web series Dance Action/adventure Drama Interactive |
| Written by | Jon Chu |
| Directed by | Jon Chu Scott Speer Ryan Landels Charles Oliver Christopher Scott |
| Presented by | Roger Aaron Brown |
| Composers | Nathan Lanier Paul Dateh |
| Country of origin | Template:TVUS |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jon Chu Scott Ehrlich Hieu Ho Larry Tanz |
| Production locations | Los Angeles, California |
| Cinematography | Alice Brooks[fn 1] |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Production company | Agility Studios[2] |
| Original release | |
| Network | Hulu |
| Release | July 7, 2010 – Present |
The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, commonly known as The LXD, is a web series about two groups of rival dancers: The Alliance of the Dark who are the villains and The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, the heroes, who discover they have superpowers referred to as "the ra" through their dance abilities.[3][4] The entire story takes place over hundreds of years, beginning in the 1920s up to the year 3000.[1]. Look to The LXD.
The series is written, directed, and produced by Jon Chu[4][5] who says he was inspired to create the series by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal" music videos and by the dancers he met while filming the movie Step Up 2: The Streets.[6][7][fn 2] He describes the show as "balletic", "operatic", "high quality"[6] and a "Justice League of dance."[3] The series is choreographed by Christopher Scott and Harry Shum, Jr. with assistant choreography by Galen Hooks.[2][4][8][fn 3] Members have a wide variety of specialties including hip-hop, krumping, contemporary, tricking, popping, b-boying, jazz, tap, and ballet.[1][4] All of the choreography and stunts are real; there are no special effects or wire work[6] and the entire series is shot on location without the use of green screens.[1]
50% of the sales of the official LXD t-shirt will go to support the work of the non-profit organization Invisible Children.[13][fn 4] PUMA is the lead sponsor for The LXD.[15] An official soundtrack is in production with no current release date.[16] The first LXD theatrical release was presented as a 3D short film, screening before the director's fan cut of Justin Bieber: Never Say Never.
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Series history
The LXD has already filmed three seasons of the series.[4] The first two seasons were released in 2010 while the third premiered in August 2011.[23] Shooting first began for the series in February 2009.[1] It took 18 months to complete filming for the first two seasons.[1]
The Uprising Begins
Season one focuses on the back story of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, the "good guys".[24] Each episode introduces each of the characters and their specific dance ability.[6] The season premiered July 7, 2010 on Hulu.[17][25] 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.[17]
| Season | Chapter (Episode) | Character(s) introduced | Dance style(s) showcased | Date released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Uprising Begins | The Tale of Trevor Drift | Trevor Drift The Observers The Illister Alice Wondershaw Brendan Broman |
B-boying | July 7, 2010 |
| AntiGravity Heroes | Jimmy Angel Justin Starr Cole Waters |
Tricking | ||
| Robot Lovestory | Sp3cimen The Dark Doctor Autumn The Dark Nurse Invalid Shadows |
(Ro)boting Popping Tutting Ballet |
July 14, 2010 | |
| The Uprising Begins | Miss Harlow Spex Tendo |
B-boying | July 21, 2010 | |
| The Lettermakers | Z Dante |
Krumping | ||
| Duet | Ninjato Katana |
Contemporary | July 28, 2010 | |
| The Dark Doctor Deal | — | Popping | ||
| Elliot's Shoes | Elliot Hoo | Hip-hop | August 11, 2010 | |
| Fanboyz | Stereo Phono Minijack |
Krumping Popping Hip-hop Boogaloo |
August 18, 2010 | |
| I Seen a Man | Copeland | Tap dance |
Secrets of the Ra
Season two tells the back story of the villains of The LXD[24] 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. The remaining webisodes were released every Wednesday after with the exception of Wednesday, November 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
| Season | Chapter (Episode) | Character(s) introduced | Dance style(s) showcased | Date released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secrets of the Ra | The Legion | The Kidd Elder Jack Dr.E |
B-boying Popping |
October 26, 2010 |
| Lessons | Beat Bullies Taylor Jensen |
Stepping Tap Popping B-boying | ||
| The Rising | The Eaters Fangz |
Flexing B-boying |
October 28, 2010 | |
| Mark of the Ox | Karey The Wave Achilles Waru Dreads Stakka |
Tricking Waving Fire dancing B-boying |
November 2, 2010 | |
| Tails of War | Scales Teethe Gills Finns |
(Ro)boting Jazz Jazz Funk Popping |
November 9, 2010 | |
| The Greater of Two Evils | The Umbras | Jazz Free running Krumping Tricking Jazz Funk |
November 16, 2010 | |
| Origins | — | Hip-hop B-boying |
December 1, 2010 | |
| Experiments | Experiment 2A2 Experiment 4K8 Experiment J4E Experiment 9S2 The Exterminator |
Ballet Popping B-boying |
December 8, 2010 | |
| The Good, the Bad and the Ra, Part 1 | Gimpspark | Tumbling (gymnastics) B-boying Krumping Tricking Popping |
December 15, 2010 | |
| The Good, the Bad and the Ra, Part 2 | The LXD Elders | (Ro)boting Popping Tutting Waving |
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.[26] Ceasare “Tight Eyez” Willis, the creator of the dance style krumping, also appears in season three[26] 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.
| Season | Chapter (Episode) | Character(s) introduced | Dance style(s) showcased | Date released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise of the Drifts | The Extraordinary 7 | Annabelle Black Diamond The Countess Groove Guardian Joe Drift The Mignifisick Sir Swoop Style Ripper Ringmaster Winston |
Bollywood dance Roboting B-boying Krumping |
August 11, 2011 |
| Ashes | Locking Goons | Locking | ||
| Forbidden | — | Flamenco | August 18, 2011 | |
| Can't Dance | Vivienne | Ballet Hip-hop Vogue |
August 25, 2011 | |
| Salvage | Robots | Roboting | September 8, 2011 | |
| Reprogram | — | Roboting Popping Tutting | ||
| RA Games | — | B-boying | ||
| Mess in Aisle 7 | The Rinas | Ballet B-boying |
September 15, 2011 | |
| Alliance of the Dark | Reanimators | Popping | ||
| Rise of the Drifts | — | Contemporary Jazz B-boying Popping Ballet |
September 22, 2011 |
Movie
In 2010 the film "The LXD: The Uprising Begins". The film is directed by Jo M. Chu, creator of such films as "Step Up 2" and "Step Up 3D." The film lasts 80 minutes. Species include: adventure, action, music. Other film titles include: LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, The "
Reception
The LXD is the most viewed original web series on Hulu.[27] 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."[28] In November 2010, The LXD won a Media Vanguard Award for "Best Original Web Series."[29] In January 2011, the series won a Digital Luminary Award in the "Original Web Content" category.[30] In February 2011, it was announced that Jon Chu would win the Pioneer Award at the International Digital Emmy Awards for the series.[31] 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."[31]
Live performances
The LXD has performed live for YouTube Live '08[32] and for the TBS Ellen DeGeneres special Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show at Caesar's Palace.[33] In May 2010, they were the opening act for the Glee Live! tour.[34] They performed by invitation[6] on season six of So You Think You Can Dance, the 2010 TED conference,[35] and the 82nd Academy Awards.[4][5] In October 2010, the LXD performed at YouTube Play in New York.[36] In December 2010, they performed on the Conan show.[37] In 2011, they joined the cast of Glee again on their second international tour.[38]
Footnotes
- ^ Jon Chu met Alice Brooks while in film school at the University of Southern California.[1]
- ^ Chu also directed Step Up 3D.
- ^ Chris Scott, Harry Shum, and Galen Hooks are the main choreographers; however, other choreographers have been brought in throughout the series. Jonathan "Legacy" Perez choreographed season one's first episode, "The Tale of Trevor Drift".[9] Jamal Sims choreographed season three's episode, "Can't Dance".[10] Dee Caspery choreographed season three's episode, "Mess in Aisle 7".[11] Kenneth "Free" Crawford and Mike Song choreographed season three's episode "Reprogram".[12]
- ^ Chu met Jason Russell, one of the cofounders of Invisible Children, while in film school.[14]
- ^ Venum, Flipz, Cloud, and Luigi are all members of Skill Methods b-boy crew.[19]
- ^ Luigi was a competitor at Red Bull BC One 2010,[20] a competition where the world's top 16 ranked b-boys battle each other.
- ^ Cloud was a competitor at Red Bull BC One 2009.[21]
- ^ Shum also stars as Mike Chang on the FOX television show Glee.[22]
- ^ Shonnie's uncle is Samuel "Boogaloo Sam" Solomon, the man who invented the popping style of dance.
- ^ Anis Cheurfa plays the role of Rinzler in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy.
- ^ Carey Ysais is the co-creator of The Carnival: Choreographer’s Ball.
- ^ Maryss from Paris and Rino are both members of Beat Freaks.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Jean Oppenheimer (2010). "Lethal Dance Moves". NXTBook.com. American Cinematographer. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "Paramount Digital Entertainment to Launch The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD)" (Press release). PR Newswire. December 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-11-02. Retrieved 2010-11-02.
- ^ a b Bloom, Julie (June 24, 2010). "It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No, It's a Superdancer!". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
- ^ a b c d e f Rolnick, Katie (April 1, 2010). "It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's The LXD!". DanceSpirit.com. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ a b Grandy, Leslie (March 7, 2010). "The Legion Of Extraordinary Dancers Visit TED and Oscar". Technorati.com. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ a b c d e Harper, Rebecca (July 7, 2010). "Interview: The LXD's Jon Chu". Hulu.com. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
- ^ Julie Steinberg (October 30, 2010). "'Glee's' Harry Shum Jr. on the Creepy Halloween-Timed 'Rising' Episode of The LXD". WSJ.com. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ Yamato (July 9, 2010). "On the Set of 'The LXD,' Where Dancers Are Superheroes". Cinematical.com. Retrieved 2010-07-10.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|yen=ignored (help) - ^ Choreographer: Jonathan "Legacy" Perez. "I Seen a Man". The LXD. Season 1. Episode 10. 9:05 minutes in. Hulu.com.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|episodelink=,|seriesno=, and|serieslink=(help) - ^ Choreographer: Jamal Sims. "Can't Dance". The LXD. Season 3. Episode 4. 7:57 minutes in. Hulu.com.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|episodelink=,|seriesno=, and|serieslink=(help) - ^ Choreographer: Dee Caspery. "Mess in Aisle 7". The LXD. Season 3. Episode 8. 8:18 minutes in. Hulu.com.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|episodelink=,|seriesno=, and|serieslink=(help) - ^ Choreographer: Kenneth "Free" Crawford and Mike Song. "Reprogram". The LXD. Season 3. Episode 6. 5:13 minutes in. Hulu.com.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|episodelink=,|seriesno=, and|serieslink=(help) - ^ "LXD T-shirt". InvisibleChildren.com. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
- ^ "LXD premieres tonight". InvisibleChildren. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Mark Hustvedt (April 6, 2009). "'Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Steps Up With PUMA as Agility's First Series". Tubefilter.tv. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ "New LXD Episode: Tails Of War". District78.com. November 11, 2010. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
- ^ a b c "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers to Premiere July 7 on HULU". Seat42f.com. June 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ "Characters". LXDBeast.Blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
- ^ "Skillmethodz Crew Member Profiles". AbstrakDance.com. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
- ^ "Final B-boy Announcement". RedBullBCOne.com. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
- ^ "B-Boy Cloud". RedBullBCOne.com. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Hanh Nguyen (September 29, 2010). "'Glee's' Harry Shum talks 'The Situ-Asian,' Asian Camp and The LXD". Zap2It.com. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ "Video: Case Study on The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers". LXDInspired.com. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
- ^ a b Brett Berk (October 26, 2010). "Justin Bieber Documentarian Jon M. Chu Pretty Much Owns the Internet". VanityFair.com. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ "'The LXD' Launches July 7 on Hulu". TheWrap.com. June 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ a b "Jon M. Chu's Groundbreaking Original Series 'The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Returns for a Third Season on Hulu, August 11" (Press release). PR Newswire. August 9, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-14.
- ^ Joshua Cohen (October 11, 2010). "'The LXD' Season 2 'Secrets of the Ra' Premieres October 27". Tubefilter.com. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ Zachary Sniderman (August 6, 2010). "Why Hulu's New Dance Show is a Game-Changer". Mashable.com. Retrieved 2010-11-04.
- ^ "Best Original Web Series". Adage.com. November 29, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
- ^ "[[National Association of Television Program Executives|NATPE]] Announces Winners of 2011 Digital Luminary Awards". ttvmedianews.com. Retrieved 2011-02-14.
{{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help) - ^ a b "'The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers' Creator Jon M. Chu to Receive Pioneer Prize at International Digital Emmy® Awards at MIPTV 2011" (Press release). Business Wire. February 17, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
Jon M. Chu, the creator and director of the web series The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (THE LXD), is set to receive the 2011 Pioneer Prize at the International Digital Emmy® Awards, to take place on Monday, April 4th at MIPTV.
- ^ The LXD (dancers) (November 22, 2008). Jon Chu & The League of Extraordinary Dancers - YouTube Live (Television production). YouTube. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ The LXD (dancers) (December 26, 2008). Ellen DeGeneres + The LXD + Caesars Palace= RIDONCULOUSNESS (Television production). TBS. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ MacKenzie, Carina (May 6, 2010). "'Glee' Tour update: LXD will join New Directions on the road". Zap2It.com. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
As announced via a YouTube video on May 6, LXD will join Shum and the rest of the "Glee" cast on the road for the 2010 Glee Tour. Opening night is May 15 in Phoenix. The tour will also hit Los Angeles and Rosemont, IL before wrapping up on May 30 after five performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
- ^ "The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves..." Ted.com. March 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-01.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xBBeg5q31Y
- ^ Bleyeart, Aaron (December 10, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE: The LXD Dance Battle Team Coco!". TeamCoCo.com. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
- ^ "The Cast of Jon M. Chu's Original Web Series "The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers" to Make Special Repeat Appearance on Glee Tour 2011" (Press release). Reuters. May 17, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
