It all started when my lovely and mega talented daughter Kari* went to acting class one day and ran into a fellow student she recognized. (*Sorry for the shameless plug but I am not just her dad I am also her publicist). As I recall her words were something like “Oh WOW! That girl won ABDC!” I, being a geezer, was of course clueless. ABDC is an acronym for America’s Best Dance Crew a television show similar to American Idol but for dancers. The girl in question was none other than the amazing Nichelle Thrower of “We Are Heroes” the all girl dance crew that won season four of America’s Best Dance Crew. Nichelle Thrower was indeed one of the dancers who won along with Hiroka “Hiro” McRae, Mami Kanemitsu, Riquel “Riqdiculous Licky” Olander and Alison “Ali” Iannucci who are together We Are Heroes, arguably the hottest dance crew in the world today.
Obviously winning America’s Best Dance Crew was a giant leap for these lovely ladies. It led to appearances on the Ellen Degeneres Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and other shows and events including participation in several major music videos. But don’t just imagine what these super star dancers look like in performance, watch them by going here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O24YEfTy6dw
As you might imagine when you are as aggressive and energized as these girls the opportunity for injury is large. How they have handled injury speaks volumes as to why they are the champions. During week 3 of the Martial Arts Challenge crew member Mami Kanemitsu suffered a torn ligament in her back. That would have put most people on the sofa. Mami simply went on and performed for the rest of the season. When crew member Nichelle Thrower fell while attempting a flip during rehearsal for Dance Craze Challenge and tore open her skin she was rushed to the emergency room and received six stitches. The doctor admonished her to stop dancing until fully healed. She thanked the doctor and then went straight back to rehearsal. This is what you call truly committed people. Such people are rare and that is why most people will never become stars.
So there I was face to face with a genuine star. She looked gorgeous and she also had a quick wit and she was very articulate. My mind raced and quickly an idea formed in my ancient head. Would these lovely ladies like to perform at the Burbank International Film Festival this coming September? Okay so they aren’t yet movie stars, but they are absolutely television stars and there was Nichelle taking acting classes. Besides the particular event I had in mind was the “Women in Film” meet and greet scheduled for September 15th from 5 pm to 7 pm at Video Symphony in Burbank.
Sadly upon further conversation the idea of a performance was shot down primarily because the venue in question was really not suitable for their intense level of performance. I understood that but would they perhaps like to join us anyhow and just mingle with the film crowd. Well Nichelle was in favor of my proposal but she correctly sent me off to chat with the group’s manager Nelson. It took a couple of days but I am most happy to report that Nelson and the entire We Are Heroes dance crew has agreed to honor our Burbank International Film Festival “Women in Film” event Thursday evening September 15th. To find out how you might attend please visit the festival website at www.burbankfilmfestival.org,
But as always there is so much more. Soon Kari Irwin as Teen Ambassador to the Burbank Film Festival will conduct one or more short video interviews with one or more of the crew. Those videos go directly to youtube and then are linked to the official film festival website. Then there is the matter of contacting appropriate media who will very likely want to attend to get their own story on these amazing ladies. But what a happy coincidence to have been casually introduced to We Are Heroes and to get them connected with the Burbank International Film Festival. We Are Heroes certainly qualifies as international and I have little doubt but that whether individually or collectively these ladies will have their day on a movie set in the not too distant future.
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