KLK·ontroversial Kompetition Konklusion

So, I hope that all naysayers and praise-rs can await another Vasantham junk bond show to air their views. Not like it matters to most of us anyway, Jodi Number One is a way better production and we're not going to switch back to Channel 5 that soon except when there's zilch to watch on the rest of our 200 channels including Wrestlemania on Pay Per View.

We left it to you to a vote. This vote thing riles many a person up eh? Be it "X marks the spot" on our General Election voting slips or "Sms 1 for ****" virtual voting or even a show of hands in our classroom as to who should be the next monitor. No one really is happy about voting we suppose, even if their side actually wins it. This is after all the bane of a democracy.

Well, you voted and this is who YOU thought SHOULD have won it:


In reality however [as opposed to virtual reality where we reside], the vote count totalled up to a massive 31 914 SMSes. Multiplied by 60 cents a pop, nets Megastar/Vasantham [we're not aware of the percentages] a total sum of $19 148.40


There IS no free lunch in the media. Couple this with the tens of thousands that are coughed up for the commercials slotted in before, during and after the show and you can see, there IS nothing KLKontroversial about this competition. It was a successful one, to line pockets that is.

Alas, this monetary benefit accrued didn't really show in the actual layout and presentation of the programme. Did we see all the finalists go at it with different genres of music? Nah, all we got to see was what everyone was good at. Yes, they were given the same music and asked to choreograph their moves to it. But so? Let's imagine you gave Senthil and Goundamani the same banana and asked them to do something with it. Senthil is gonna end up eating it. While Goundamani is probably gonna end up peeling off its skin, laying it on the floor coupla metres ahead and then running to slip and fall violently on it.

At the end of the day, the test should have been genres and not speed of choreography. Comments on this point are welcome. For a more well received and all rounded approach to a dance competition, perhaps we should view and await the end of Dance Floor on Channel 5 to see if at least THEY know what they are doing whilst collecting our SMS votes. Now, even that is a rip off of So You Think You Can Dance? on Fox, so I think we're better off Bit Torrenting those episodes instead.

Although the competition per se wasn't so great as to award it an Emmy for Best Televised Drama cum Dance Kompetition, it did serve to bring out many a talent I feel. By talent, it is not only dance steps and moves we should acknowledge. Let me elaborate group by group:


1.Tridiac - Managed to bring mainstream hiphop to Yindians. Hip hop has been around for quite a while from the times when Run DMC gave us "My Adidas". In our country though, we have only been aware of perhaps Malay hiphop artistes, notably Triple Noize and the likes. This time, Tridiac, coincidentally also in the wake of Yogi B's new album, have brought to the fore that Yindians are capable of busting the moves of the old skool 'uns themselves. Big up to those B Boys.


2. Stepz - Stepz is a likable group. They brought us bhangra steps with a twist. They entertained us. And they should have gotten more recognition than they received. It's our sincere hope that Stepz grows from this to become a full fledged dancing powerhouse, as the quality of their finals performance would show.


3. Kali Dancers - Did you take a look at the props they brought forth in the finals? Kali Dancers in fact have the most Yindian feel about them and we love that. Choreography attributed to their "Guru", is top notch too. Somehow we feel this is not the last we're gonna hear of them.


4. Diversity - This all girl group simply wows for the lone reason that they are all female. Females adore other females who exhibit talent. Quite unlike the male species who are quite tantamount to shrug off other males who are getting jiggy with it. Males however also are drawn to the females who are indulging in some goyang goyang on the platform. Thus, Diversity is a group that cannot be disliked for the sheer composition of the group. Diversity also showed their diverse [pun intended] range of dance genres and they deserve a round of applause for it.


5. Acid Houz - The ones who made us love them. Newbies to the Yindian dance scene might have watched them here for the first time but AcidHouz never fails to up the ante when it comes down to a dog fight. A list of their achievements:

2003 NUS Dance Competition [6th]
2003 X Plosion Nite [4th]
2003 AMK Dance Competition [3rd]
2003 Kampong Ubi Dance Competition [Champions]
2004 Kreta Ayer Lock Up Dance Competition [4th]
2004 Chong Pang CC Revolution Nite [Champions]
2004 X - Plosion Nite [2nd]
2004 NaadaRasta AMK CC [2nd]
2005 Thrill Nite [2nd]
2005 DWA Nite [Consolation]
2005 X - Plosion Nite [Champions]
2005 Dhool [2nd]
2005 NaadaRasta AMK CC [2nd]
2005 Nanyang CC Asuraz Thillai [Champions]
2006 FunkamaniA [4th]
2006 NUS Dance Competition [Champions]
2006 Thrill Nite [Champions]
2006 DWA Nite [Champions]

Need we say more? Houza Houz.


6. Borderz 159 - The traditional arch rivals of AcidHouz and other perpetual dance competition entrants, Borderz didn't dissapoint us in any round of this event at all. Started off from old ITE AMK students, they held their own with their distinct style of costumes and moves all the way. Need a list of their achievements? Scroll on:

Vasantham Vetri Vizha [Champions]
Thrill Nite 05 [Champions]
DWA Nite 05 [2nd]
X-plosion Nite 05 [2nd]
Revolution Nite 05 [Champions]
Megastar Dhool 05 [3rd]
Vasantha Oli [Champions]
NaadaRasta [3rd]
Zee Zoom Baa [3rd]
NUS Dance Competition [Consolation]
Bukit Panjang CC [Champions]
Thrill Nite 06 [2nd]
Dwa Nite 06 [3rd]
Dhool Nite 06 [2nd]


7. Anarchy 99 - Anarchy aka Movesh we all know too well if you've been tuning in to any Vasantham variety program in recent times. They backup singers in the same vein as Rameshwara's Group and Sangeshtraz frequently and have undergone a name change to compete here. [Couldn't find a list of achievements for them, so if anyone possesses it, give us a heads up or e-mail us]. We want to see more of these people too. But definitely not in the context of a souped up reality based [which didn't happen] competition like this one.

Now, we've rounded up the groups and the individual contributions they brought to the table. Walking away with a bitter taste in your mouth or chewing some sticky "halwa", all we can do is cross our fingers and hope better programming comes along soon.

Dance. Dance group. Fusion. Dappan Kuuthu. Graamiyam. Hiphop. Ballet. Salsa. Tango. The list goes on. What is the scope for an Yindian dance group here anyway? Are they just destined to get 5 minutes of fame [average length of a Tamil song] dancing back up from time to time and walking away with a pittance? We know a group that for sheer PR skills alone has trumped everyone else.

Meet Sangeshtraz, the only Yindian [founded by ex-ITE Doverites] dance troupe we found with a website to boot. The face of the group is Morali who even features in Sinda's Step Tuition ads. A group that doesn't resort to Friendster and like minded social networking sites but was bothered to purchase and do up their own webpage? Impressive. Browse through and you will find their history, reflections of their founder, a photo and video gallery and even a feedback form on what you thought of their performances!

You think that's all? These are some of the other pies they've sunk their fingers in:

Costume designing & tailoring
Rental of costumes and accessories
Dance choreography for school programmes,SYF and other shows
Tuition classes
Enrichment programmes
Modelling services
Yoga classes

Sangeshtraz has our vote for being the shining star of Yindian dance groups in our tiny nation for the sheer pride they have in their work and the professionalism with which they face the virtual and real community.

Late Addition:

Depending on response, another post might go up on this matter because I like the way the readership counters are jumping. If there is anyone from any dance group who would like to speak to us with their views on "what really happened" or "what went wrong" or "what *** group is truly like", feel free to e-mail us and we'll get back to you ASAP. All views expressed are strictly anonymous and you may even submit a video, written text or get down and dirty in a face to face interview. So, calling any member of Acidhouz, Borderz, Anarchy, Diversity, Kali Dancers, Tridiac and Stepz; get in touch with us, we wanna hear from you. Confidentiality willl be strictly adhered to.

We know we promised a Part 6: Interview with a Vidiyalite post, but what the hell, we thinks they have been vocal enough on our comments already.

Ekkada Chudu!

provogue said... Hey guys, you are entitled to your opinions but pls refrain from accusing the Vidiyal team for winning. We did not use any underhand tactics, we did not hold anyone hostage. If you think it's unfair that we won, pls direct your accusations and questions to the producers. We did not force anyone to give us the prize. You are free to insult our dance performances but don't personally insult the team and its members.

visha said...I have a doubt. Everyone claims Acidhouz to be the true winner in the competition and that NUS Vidiyal did not deserve the trophy. In which case can someone please explain to me why it is acceptable for them to reuse a dance piece which they have performed previously at Thrill Nite without anyone questioning the integrity of their competitive spirit. Especially when the groups from the second semifinals only had two weeks to choreograph an entirely new dance as well as design and tailor costumes. How fair is this to the other groups competing?

For your reference:

Acidhouz at Thrill Night

Acidhouz at Dhool Finals

I'm done here. The rest of youse can do your literary works in the comments. We'll chuckle along.

dhool, vasantham central, singapore, tamil, dance
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