Maxt Out 2008 Recap/Results

What did y’all think of Maxt Out on Sunday? I had an…interesting experience. Overall, I think, a decent event, but I’m not sure if I’m feeling the direction that these shows are going - like World of Dance, Maxt Out had more of an expo/convention feeling than a dance show. I heard someone say they were trying to make it like that, but I’m not a huge fan of that setup. I hate to sound vain, but the shows that are set up like that are moving away from a dancer/performer-focused setup.

I’m interested in hearing about it from an audience member’s viewpoint, but from a performer’s, I didn’t like the fact that all the lights were on the whole time (until the final show) and people were walking around and talking while teams were on stage - it made me feel more like I was performing at Hot Import Nights than an actual dance show. The house wasn’t packed (or even crowded, for that matter) until the last showdown of the final teams, and that’s when they finally put on the stage lights and shut off the house lights. It started to have more of a Vibe or Fusion-type feel…but by then I was pretty much exhausted. The show was an all day event. I can see how that can be fun for a lot of people, maybe a younger crowd, but I’m sure most family members and friends don’t want to sit through every team on the face of the earth’s performance. I felt bad for the younger teams’ parents, who were there around noon and had to wait around all day if their kids made it to the final round that didn’t start until that night.

Dancers were running around in the house (where audience members were) so there was no separation of performers and spectators, which runs the risk of making it feel as though you are just performing for other performers, like a tech rehearsal. Plus, there were no tech rehearsals, which is always inconvenient. Felt like there were way more dancers there than audience members.

***Edit: Also, Andy Dick was a “celebrity judge” at the final competition. The guy walked right by me when I came out of the girls’ locker room and I did a double take. Honestly, I thought the biggest mistake of the show was inviting this guy to the show. He was just arrested for sexual battery (he pulled down a 17-year-old’s shirt to expose her breasts) and drug possession a few months ago. He’s a real class act, and a great “celebrity” to have around kids - I would have preferred seeing either a real celebrity as a judge, or at least a well-known choreographer. But Andy Dick? Come on guys. Really?

These are all just my observations, I would love to hear what everyone else thought. I enjoyed past Maxt Outs better, but I know it’s insane trying to put a show together. So much props to the staff and everyone involved with Maxt Out.

And oh yeah…

Congratulations to the all the winners of Maxt Out 2008!

MAJOR DIVISION OVERALL:
1st: GRV
2nd: 220
3rd: Shawn, Tuan, and Chris: Surreal

MINOR DIVISION OVERALL:
1st: IDK
2nd: Underground
3rd: Valencia High School

SOLO/TRIO DIVISION OVERALL:
1st: Matt, Charles, Can: Poreotics
2nd: Brianna “Bina” Quintana
3rd: Alyssa Reyes

FAN FAVORITE: IDK

Minor CHOR Division:
1st: Krystle Bueno
2nd: David lee
3rd: Chanelle Summers

Major CHOR Division:
1st: Shawn, Tuan, and Chris: Surreal
2nd: Matt Gutierrez & Paul Jucabon
3rd: Sonny Coladilla

Minor Street Division:
1st: IDK
2nd: Underground
3rd: Kreative Movement

Minor Varisty Division:
1st: Valencia High School
2nd: Peninsula High School Choreo

Major Street Division:
1st: 220
2nd: DSC
3rd: Main Ingredient

Major Collegiate Division:
1st: GRV
2nd: Barkada Modern
3rd: Chaotic 3