One of our MOVE:DC special guests is not just a dance group. They’re a dance group shaped by culture, the internet and sometimes Maximus Prime.

Inspired by Michael Jackson’s music videos and his work on Step Up 2: The Streets, Jon Chu started to write, direct and produce a web series about two rival dance groups. While not calling himself a choreographer, Jon infuses the art of dance into the stories of superheros like Superman and Spiderman to create The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers (LXD).

In his TEDx talk “The LXD: In the internet age, dance evolves …“, Jon and a few dancers give us a peek into their craft and inspiration. Seeing the global exchange of dance moves on the internet, Jon knew the art of dancing was not long gone. Rather, innovations in social networking sites were propelling the art further.

“Dancers have created a whole global laboratory online for dance,” said Jon. “[Kids] in Japan are taking moves from a YouTube video created in Detroit, building on it within days and releasing a new video, while teenagers in California are taking the Japanese video and remixing it with a Philly flair to create a whole new dance style in itself.”

The talk also showcases some of The LXD’s talent. A dancer by the name of “J. Smooth” illustrates how he can move his body – mainly his hands and arms – to mimic the movements of a Transformer morphing from a car to a robot.

If you can’t visualize what I mean, you should really take a look at the TEDx Talk below.

Maybe you can get a lesson on some sweet moves before the Global Dance Night on Saturday.

– Stew

(Photo Credit: Pop Screen)