The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, commonly called The LXD, is an American web series that premiered on Hulu. The series follows two groups of rival dancers: the Alliance of the Dark, who are the villains, and the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, the heroes, who discover they have superpowers referred to as "the Ra" through their dance abilities. The entire story takes place over hundreds of years, beginning in the 1920s, up to the year 3000.
The series was created, co-directed, and co-produced by Jon M. Chu, who says he was inspired to create it by Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal" music videos and by the dancers he met while filming the movie Step Up 2 the Streets. The series was choreographed by Christopher Scott and Harry Shum, Jr., with assistant choreography by Galen Hooks. Members had a wide variety of specialties, including hip-hop, krumping, contemporary, tricking, popping, b-boying, jazz, tap, and ballet. All of the choreography and stunts were real. There were no special effects or wire work, and the entire series was shot on location without the use of green screens.
50% of the sales of the official LXD T-shirt went to support the work of the nonprofit organization Invisible Children, Inc., Puma was the lead sponsor for the series.
Members and cast Sources:
Roger Aaron Brown as The Narrator Jaime "Venum" Burgos, Ivan "Flipz" Velez,and Josh "Milky" Ayers as The Observers Wilbur "Wilpower" Urbina as Joe Drift Luis "Luigi" Rosado as Trevor Drift Carly Lang as Alice Wondershaw Daniel "Cloud" Campos as The Illister Jeremy Marinas as Justin Starr Travis Wong as Jimmy Angel a.k.a. Shado Nicholas Braun as Cole Waters Chadd "Madd Chadd" Smith as Sp3cimen John "J Rock" Nelson as Jasper James a.k.a. The Dark Doctor Marie "Pandora" Medina as Autumn Shelby Rabara as The Dark Nurse Richard "Steelo" Vazquez as Spex Vivian Bang as Miss Harlow Oscar Orosco as Tendo Aaron "Duece" Cooke as Dante Christopher "Lil' C" Toler as Z Galen Hooks as Ninjato William Wingfield as Katana Harry Shum Jr. as Elliot Hoo Aja George as Stereo Terence Dickson as Minijack Straphanio "Shonnie" Solomon as PhonoShonnie's uncle is Samuel "Boogaloo Sam" Solomon, the man who invented the popping style of dance. Christa Lewis as Parvine Sean "Fresh" Redding as Polo Diva Zappa as Ruth Nick Demoura as Murray Robert Rich as Gus Charlie "VZion" Schmidt as The Prophet (season one) and The Ringmaster (season three) Christopher Scott as Copeland David "Kid David" Shreibman as Karen a.k.a. The Kidd Stephen "tWitch" Boss as Dr. E Harmony Costa, Antwan Davis, and Khalid Freeman as Beat Bullies Caity Lotz as Taylor Jensen Adedamola "Nugget" Orisagbemi, Nicholas "Slick" Stewart, and Marc "Marvelous" Inniss as The Eaters Jesse "Casper" Brown as Peetie a.k.a. Fangz Anis Cheurfa as AchillesAnis Cheurfa plays the role of Rinzler in the 2010 film Tron: Legacy. Carey Ysais as KareyCarey Ysais is the co-creator of The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball. Ricardo "Boogie Frantick" Rodriguez as The Wave Josue "Beastmode" Figueroa as Stakka Danni "Danni G" Gutierrez as Dreads Cuong "Tony Styles" Ly as Waru Marie "Maryss from Paris" Courchinoux as ScalesMaryss from Paris and Rino are both members of Beat Freaks. Rino Nakasone as Teethe Maya Chino as Gills Chanel Malvar as Finns Brandon Philips as Umbra Bryan Tanaka as Umbra Dondraico 'Draico' Johnson as Umbra Giovanni Watson as Umbra JD McElroy as Umbra Mykal Bean as Umbra Brandon Shaw as Umbra Cassidy Noblett as Umbra Johnny Erasme as Umbra Beau "Casper" Smart as Ox Luke Broadlick as Ox Ryan "McLovin" Houchin as Ox Tara Macken as Ox Cameron Boyce as [Young] Jasper James a.k.a. The Dark Doctor Ele Keats as Diane James Johnathan "Johnny 5" Malstrom as Experiment 2A2 Peter "Smurf" Quintanilla as Experiment 4K8 Jefferey "Machine" McCann as Experiment 9S2 Lorenzo "Devious" Chapman as Experiment J4E Patrick "Pakelika 10" Wesley as The Exterminator Terrance Harrison as Gimpspark Ron "Tempo" Evans Jr., and Soh "Tetris" Tanaka as Rabids Adrian "Lobo" Miramontes, Joshua "ACE" Ventura, Mike Song, and Anthony "Anflowny" Lee as Shadows Nancy "Asia One" Yu as LXD Elder: The Countess Rueben Lucky "Flat Top" Hall as LXD Elder: Groove Guardian Andre "Boppin Dre" Diamond as LXD Elder: Black Diamond Jerry "Flo Master" Randolph as LXD Elder Roger "Orko" Romero as LXD Elder Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis as LXD Elder: Style Ripper Kendall Glover as Lil Rina Angelo "Lil Demon" Baligad as Dark Nurse's son
Series history The first two seasons of The LXD were released in 2010 and the third premiered in August 2011. Shooting first began for the series in February 2009. It took 18 months to complete filming for the first two seasons.
The Uprising Begins Season one focuses on the back story of the Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, the "good guys". Each episode introduces each of the characters and their specific dance ability. The season premiered July 7, 2010 on Hulu. The first two webisodes (Chapters in the series), "The Tale of Trevor Drift" and "AntiGravity Heroes", were both released July 7. The remaining eight were released every Wednesday afterward.
Chapter (Episode) Character(s) introduced Dance style(s) showcased Date released The Tale of Trevor Drift Trevor DriftThe ObserversThe IllisterAlice WondershawBrendan Broman B-boyingJuly 7, 2010 AntiGravity Heroes Jimmy AngelJustin StarrCole Waters Tricking Robot Lovestory Sp3cimenThe Dark DoctorAutumnThe Dark NurseInvalidShadows (Ro)botingPoppingTuttingBallet July 14, 2010 The Uprising Begins Miss HarlowSpexTendo B-boyingJuly 21, 2010 The Lettermakers ZDante Krumping Duet NinjatoKatana Contemporary July 28, 2010 The Dark Doctor Deal — Popping Elliot's Shoes Elliot Hoo Hip-hop August 11, 2010 Fanboyz StereoPhonoMinijack KrumpingPoppingHip-hopBoogaloo August 18, 2010 I Seen a Man Copeland Tap danceWaving
Secrets of the Ra Season two tells the back story of the villains of The LXD which consist of Organization X—called The Ox—and The Umbras. The second season also premiered with two chapters, "The Legion" and "Lessons", which were released October 26, 2010. The remaining webisodes were released every Wednesday after with the exception of Wednesday, November 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Chapter (Episode) Character(s) introduced Dance style(s) showcased Date released The Legion The KiddElder JackDr.E B-boyingPoppingOctober 26, 2010 Lessons Beat BulliesTaylor Jensen SteppingTapPoppingB-boying The Rising The EatersFangz FlexingB-boying October 28, 2010 Mark of the Ox KareyThe WaveAchillesWaruDreadsStakka TrickingWavingFire dancingB-boying November 2, 2010 Tails of War ScalesTeetheGillsFinns (Ro)botingJazzJazz FunkPopping November 9, 2010 The Greater of Two Evils The Umbras JazzFree runningKrumpingTrickingJazz Funk November 16, 2010 Origins — Hip-hopB-boying December 1, 2010 Experiments Experiment 2A2 (Energy Manipulation)Experiment 4K8 (Force Displacement)Experiment J4E (Matter Disruption)Experiment 9S2 (Gravity Distortion)The Exterminator BalletPoppingB-boying December 8, 2010The Good, the Bad and the Ra, Part 1GimpsparkTumbling (gymnastics)B-boyingKrumpingTrickingPoppingDecember 15, 2010The Good, the Bad and the Ra, Part 2The LXD Elders(Ro)botingPoppingTuttingWaving
Super Ballet There is episode titled "Super Ballet" that was supposed to be presented as part of the series narrative. It was left out of season two because Chu felt it didn't fit into the storyline. He eventually released it in 2012 when The LXD became available on YouTube. The dancing performed in the episode is a mix of ballet and tricking.
Rise of the Drifts Season three tells the back story of how the LXD was formed and what led to the Ox and the Umbras uniting to become the Alliance of the Dark. I.aM.mE, a dance crew from Houston, TX who won season six of America's Best Dance Crew, makes an appearance in season three as the Reanimators. Ceasare "Tight Eyez" Willis, the creator of the dance style krumping, also appears in season three as the character of Style Ripper, one of the LXD Elders. Season three premiered on August 11, 2011, with two chapters: "The Extraordinary 7" and "Ashes". With the exception of September 1, the rest of the chapters in the season were released weekly on Thursdays.
Chapter (Episode) Character(s) introduced Dance style(s) showcased Date released The Extraordinary 7 AnnabelleBlack DiamondThe CountessGroove GuardianJoe DriftThe MignifisickSir SwoopStyle RipperRingmasterWinston Bollywood danceRobotingB-boyingKrumpingAugust 11, 2011 Ashes Locking Goons Locking Forbidden — Flamenco August 18, 2011 Can't Dance Vivienne Rhythmic GymnasticsBurlesqueHip-hopVogue August 25, 2011 Salvage Robots Roboting September 8, 2011 Reprogram — RobotingPoppingTutting RA Games — B-boying Mess in Aisle 7 The Rinas BalletB-boyingSeptember 15, 2011Alliance of the DarkReanimatorsPopping Animation Rise of the Drifts — ContemporaryJazzB-boyingPoppingBallet September 22, 2011
Reception The LXD is the most viewed original web series on Hulu. AdvertisingAge.com gave the series a favorable review stating "...each episode of 'LXD' packs a wealth of narrative sophistication into its eight or nine minutes. Combine this with the theater-worthy production values and a cast that exerts itself to an ungodly extent, and the end result is—pun time!—extraordinary." Mashable.com called the series "...a game-changer in the way that web series—and the arts—are presented online. Oh yeah, and it's stunning." In its review of season one, PentacleBlogs.org praised the dancing but felt the acting was weak: "At best this Hollywood narrative approach makes The LXD series seem a bit clunky and cheesy, and at worse it detracts from the enjoyment of truly great dancing."
After their performance at TED 2010, The LXD received the longest standing ovation in TED history. In November 2010, The LXD won a Media Vanguard Award for "Best Original Web Series." In January 2011, the series won a Digital Luminary Award in the "Original Web Content" category. In February 2011, it was announced that Jon Chu would win the Pioneer Award at the International Digital Emmy Awards for the series. At the announcement, IATAS President and CEO, Bruce Paisner remarked "Jon M. Chu is one of the most up & coming directing talents of our time and we look forward to honoring him for his innovative contributions to the field of digital entertainment with our Pioneer Prize."
Live performances The LXD has performed live for YouTube Live '08 and for the TBS Ellen DeGeneres special Ellen's Even Bigger Really Big Show at Caesars Palace. In May 2010, they were the opening act for the Glee Live! tour. They performed by invitation on season six of So You Think You Can Dance, the 2010 TED conference, and the 82nd Academy Awards. In October 2010, the LXD performed at YouTube Play in New York. In December 2010, they performed on the Conan show. In 2011, they joined the cast of Glee again on their second international tour.
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