8 Flavahz headlines ‘World of Dance’

The girls in the dance crew 8 Flavahz shot to stardom on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew." The group's members -- from left, Kay Kay Harris, Camren Bicondova, Tamara Rapp, Charlize Glass, Tiara Rapp, Angel Gibbs, Jaira Miller, Summer Waikiki. The Rapp twins and Summer Waikiki currently live in Hawaii. --Courtesy MTV

By Gary Chun / gchun@staradvertiser.com

Local members of the 8 Flavahz troupe joined their California teammates in competing for the title of “America’s Best Dance Crew” on MTV’s popular program in April, raising their profile from hometown favorites to nationally recognized dancers.

The crew — the youngest in the show’s history, ranging from ages 10 to 17 — finished second overall.

On Saturday the 8 Flavahz crew stars in World of Dance Hawaii at Blaisdell Arena, still basking in the glory of its strong showing in the contest.

It was at last year’s World of Dance event in Honolulu that Hawaii dancers Camren Bicondova, Summer Waikiki and twins Tiara and Tamara Rapp got together with Los Angelenos Angel Gibbs, Charlize Glass, Kay Kay Harris and Jaira Miller to try out for the show.

With the exception of youngest member Angel (all of 10 years old when she competed), all of the Flavahz will perform in exhibition Saturday. Guest dancers will join them.

THE YOUNG dancers have been rehearsing all this week at their local home base, the 24-VII Danceforce studio at Windward Mall.

Tani Rapp, the twins’ mother, said 8 Flavahz has been involved in a whirlwind of activity since the girls’ impressive competitive run on “ABDC.”

“They were featured in Ciara’s latest music video for ‘Got Me Good’ that was shot about two months ago,” she said, “and they may perform with her on an upcoming awards show. … Four of the girls went to China to perform on a ‘X-Factor’-like TV show, and the twins appeared in the ‘Britney 2.0′ episode of ‘Glee.’”

Tamara, Cam and Char did a tour with Robin Thicke, and starting in January, group members will be on a national tour with NRG Dance Project, a Los Angeles-based company, along with dancers and singers from across the country. Besides teaching workshops all over the mainland, 8 Flavahz is also part of an ad campaign for Vlado Footwear, a sponsor of the NRG tour.

“They’re all happy to be together here, especially Summer and the twins,” said Tani Rapp.

After the “America’s Best Dance Crew” competition, Camren relocated to L.A. to pursue her career. She appeared on the big screen earlier this year in the tween dance drama “Battlefield America.”

8 FLAVAHZ’S “ABDC” co-competitor and mentor dance team, Mos Wanted Crew from L.A., is also an exhibition act at World of Dance Hawaii this year, along with the University of Hawaii’s Rainbow Warrior Dancers.

Competitive crews include Hawaii dubstep masters Blank Canvas (who battled it out at this year’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship) as well as teams sponsored by Boogie Down Productions, Freedom Dance Movement and Honolulu Dance Company. They’ll face off against teams from locations including California and Canada.