The Dancers Behind Step Up 3D - Exclusive Interview with Legacy, Shum and Twitch

MAKING THE MOVE Tapping the Globe for Intense Dance Sequences
As the birthplace of hip-hop, New York City provided an unmatched multicultural atmosphere, unequivocally cool street style and an ideal backdrop for the film's dance sequences . Director Jon M . Chu maintained the franchise's rough-hewn emotion, introducing a more universal point of view . "We really wanted to open up the dance," says Chu . "Not just do breaking or popping to hip-hop—we wanted to incorporate all types of dance . I wanted to share the joy of all types of dance with everybody .
"In 'Step Up 3D,' we try to tell more of the story through the dance," Chu continues . "All of our actors, all of our dancers—the language they speak best is through movement and gestures . Our approach is a little
different than other dance movies ." It's an approach that executive producer David Nicksay feels reinforces the
heart of the story . "New York is a crossroads of the cultures of the world," says Nicksay . "If you walk around the city, you're walking around the entire globe . Every culture is represented and they all dance . Dance communicates across all boundaries . It needs no language; it needs no translation . It's universal ."
"Step Up" helped fuel a resurgence of dance-themed movies and television shows . As a result, audiences have become savvier when it came to recognizing sharp inventive choreography, so when it came to choreography, filmmakers had to raise the bar . Once again, they looked to choreographer Jamal Sims ("Step Up,""Step Up 2 The Streets," Madonna, Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus) to take
the lead . His versatile team of choreographers was charged with redefining the series, delivering sequences of all types tinged with a modern street style .
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The team of choreographers includes Nadine "Hi Hat" Ruffin and Dave Scott, who worked on "Step Up 2 The Streets," plus brothers Richmond Talauega and Anthony Talauega, better known as Rich & Tone .
Says Sims, "It was a genius move on Jon Chu's part to bring in different choreographers for 'Step Up 3D .' To be able to incorporate different styles with pros like Dave Scott, Hi Hat and Rich and Tone is just amazing . We cover the whole spectrum of dance and it's exciting to be able to bring that to the screen ."
Sims' contribution to the dance mix includes two wildly diverse numbers—a sensual tango featuring hundreds of slinking dancers, and a sweetly nostalgic number that pays homage to classic musicals .
Sevani, an accomplished dancer, was enthusiastic about incorporating such great counterpoint to the aggressive posturing of street dancing . "The nostalgic piece was actually the most fun dance to film . We're bringing back a bit of the old classic feel, which is something kids in my generation don't know that much about . It's really the heart of the movie ."
In "Step Up 2 The Streets," Chu introduced the premise of the dance battle in which crews go head to head in Baltimore to win respect and bragging rights . Chu returns to the concept in "Step Up 3D," but this time the dance crews have evolved into houses—bigger teams with all types of dancers, including b-boys, tickers, tappers, voguers, and poppers . The game remains the same but the stakes are raised as dancers from around the world vie for the chance to win a worldwide title and a cash prize . Filmmakers ensure a full sensory overload with added elements like dust, water and light .
Set throughout the boroughs of New York, four of the film's six major dance sequences highlight the adrenaline-fueled battles . Red Hook, Chinatown and Bronx set the stage for an epic test of wills and physicality that will have audiences rethinking their views of street dancing . Says Chu, "These battles are real . You're out there fighting . In rehearsal, it might be fun and games but when you're out there in front of a crowd of people, especially other dancers, battle instincts come out and it's anyone's game ."