The Setup- The show follows the lives of three world champion break dancers, Roxrite, Lilou,and Neguin. The show details their lives in and out of the sport and gives us access to the amazing world of competition street dancing.
What I love about- This show is a hidden gem. If you are looking for real in a reality show this may be your answer. The ups and downs, the heartbreak and the joy, the inner struggles and personal triumphs are all on display. This is the human drama played out in front of an unusual backdrop.
Fiction could not create a character as intriguing as Lilou. A two time world champion he is a superstar who carries the heart of his home country Algeria to each event. When the camera follows him home he is given a Koran and draped in Algerian flag by a local mayor and you can feel their weight dragging him down. He lives a simple life outside of the frenzy of the B boy world but you can sense the currents of both worlds pulling him in different directions. He wants to do the right thing for himself, his family, and his country.
Roxrite is a man in search of a legacy. He sees the future of the sport as an infinite world of possibilities. He is an entrepreneur, a dreamer, and totally committed to his destiny as a pioneer in the sport. He understands how to market himself to reach the next level. The world would be a better place if we all had his drive and determination.
And that's just the characters. The dancing is spellbinding. I couldn't get in these positions if you tossed me down a cliff. These men are acrobats, dancers, contortionists, and athletes all wrapped into one mad package.
All three men are humble masters of their craft. You cheer for all of them and emerge a better person for watching. This is television that gives you hope.
What I hate about it- Neguin for me was the least compelling character and that is through no fault of his own. If you have steak, lobster and mashed potatoes for dinner the taters take a backseat no matter how much you love spuds. This is a bit unfair to Neguin because his rise from poverty and a dark past is a great story in it's own right. For others he may connect better than the other two its just the nature of weaving so many stories into a thirty minute show.
9 out of 10 couch potatoes- This is what TV should do for us. This shows opens us up to a new world. It inspires, it awes, and it gives us hope that we can be better than something bigger than ourselves.Go break a leg my friends.
