America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) is returning next week with Season 6 on Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 10PM ET/PT. This will be the season of the superstars, and, for the first time ever, each episode will be themed to a popular celebrity artist. Special guest appearances include Ke$ha, Black Eyed Peas, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, and themed episodes will be inspired by the hottest names in music including Rihanna, Lil Wayne and more!

Ten new dance crews will have to create dances to master mixes of the artist of the week, incorporating all aspects of the artist’s style – from wardrobe, inspiration and emotion to groundbreaking choreography and skills. Some of the crews have Asian American representation like Instant Noodles. This season introduces the following 10 new dance crews from around the country and world who will take the spotlight on the all-new sensational stage:

Instant Noodles – Los Angeles, California
This group is based in Los Angeles, but their roots are in Taipei, Taiwan. Sharing not only a country of origin but a love for dance, the crew aims to inspire future generations of b-boys while remaining true to their craft in building a distinctive and entertaining style that showcases their groundbreaking dance skills. This crew is ready to tear up the dance floor stage and show America how it’s done.

IaMmE – Houston, Texas
This crew originated in Houston, with members from around the globe, including China and the Czech Republic. Individually, these dancers have an impressive resume including collaborations with past dance crews, performing with Justin Bieber, Fat Joe, Cobra Starship and American Rejects. They are ready to bring their talents and experiences together to be the next best dance crew. channelAPA readers will recognize Di “Moon” Zhang aka marvelousmoon. See his videos including Office Life, Take Me Back and if I was you OMG

JAG6ED – Crenshaw, California
From roller skates to jump ropes, past dance crews have proved that nearly anything can be incorporated into hip hop dance as long as it is done with style. These California girls from Crenshaw, a district in Los Angeles, are a contemporary pole-dance crew, fusing the art of dance with aerial pole work. The sexy and sophisticated six-member crew strives to break the negative image of pole dance and reconstruct it as an art form.

ICONic Boyz – English Town, New Jersey
With a member of the crew as young as 10 years old, these boys will the youngest dancers to ever compete on the “Dance Crew” stage as they hope to impress the crowd with their unique style of hip hop and street jazz. While most young boys take up sports like football, baseball and basketball, this crew has been pursuing dancing. They may be a bunch of little “Italian boyz” from New Jersey, but they can hang with the best and are not afraid of a fight!

787 Crew – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hailing from Puerto Rico, this crew brings their distant dance moves and dynamic personalities to the “Dance Crew” stage. They take their inspirations from past dance crews, including Jabbawockeez and Kabba Modern, who showed them the real meaning of what it means to be a dance crew. 787 is ready to tear up the dance floor stage and show everyone how it’s done.

FootworKINGz – Chicago, Illinois
This renowned dance group from Chicago represents the essence of strength, raw talent and extreme energy and power. Their artistic direction comes from Charles “King Charles” Parks and Prince “Prince Jron” Boyd, who have both toured globally with Madonna. The Chicago Tribune describes their unique dance style as “part tap, African tribal and breaking,” a style that is sure to impress the judges

Eclectic Gentlemen – North Hollywood, California
The dancers that make up this crew have taught workshops and toured with musical artists around the world, however, they aspire to reach a higher level – and gain recognition in the dance industry. With their focus on being clean cut and well dressed, these suave dancers from North Hollywood bring a unique professional style to the stage; they are sure to wow the judges and viewers, and maybe steal a few hearts.

Phunk Phenomenon – Boston, Massachusetts
Composed of New England’s finest male and female dancers, the Phunk Phenomenon is a company of unique multi-ethnic and multi-cultural urban artists who create an intriguing blend of modern and traditional dance styles. The end result is a provocative dance performance with a unique synthesis of style and appearance. In addition to fighting for the title of “America’s Best Dance Crew,” Phunk Phenomenon is also fighting to raise awareness for Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare disease that is afflicting the son of the crew’s founder back home in Boston.

ReQuest – Auckland, New Zealand
Flying across the globe from New Zealand, this group of females are currently riding high as the 2010 – 2011 World Hip Hope Dance Champions – whose members are Kiwi, Samoan, Chinese, Maori, Rarotongan, Japanese, Hawaiian and Portuguese – are a melting pot of many cultures. Though made up of many cultures, this crew is brought together by the culture of hip hop dance and hopes to inspire women around the world to get up and dance.

Street Kingdom – Los Angeles, California
Having experienced rough inner city life in Los Angeles, this co-ed dance crew knows the meaning of hardship. Dance became an outlet and a savior for them as they discovered their passion for Krumping, a highly energetic style characterized by free, expressive and explosive movements. After overcoming gang life and broken homes, the members of Street Kingdom feel like they have the strength to succeed on the “America’s Best Dance Crew” stage.

Get ready to root for your favorite crew next week.

America’s Best Dance Crew (ABDC) Season 6 trailer

opening Dance number with dance crew intros

More about America’s Best Dance Crew
“America’s Best Dance Crew” is hosted by Mario Lopez and shot on location in Los Angeles as dance crews perform their hottest moves for dance supremacy and a $100,000 cash prize. Every performance-themed episode gives insight into the crews’ emotion, spirit and inspiration as they step up to the challenge and show-off their ground-breaking choreography and skills. Viewers from around the country choose their favorite crews via text messaging, phone and online voting. The two crews with the least number of votes will be up for elimination with judges making the final call on which crew will be sent home. One crew will be eliminated each week, ultimately revealing the nation’s best dance crew.