Las Vegas Weekly

July 31, 2009 · 12:28 PM

Strip Scribbles: World Hip-Hop Dance Championships back for second year

By Robin Leach

The World Hip-Hop Dance Championships.

Photo: TLC Mediaworks

The 2009 World Hip-Hop Dance Championships are back in Las Vegas this weekend with 120 dance crews representing 30 countries. It’s the second year of the street dance competitions here. I know very little about lock, crump and whack but can understand vogue and pop lock!

There are three age group categories: junior, varsity and adult. Each team has to feature five to eight dancers in an original two-minute routine showing three styles of hip-hop dancing.

Two nights of preliminaries at Lake Las Vegas tonight and tomorrow precede the finals Sunday in The Orleans Arena, where judges expect impeccable performances in order to critique the contestants on confidence and creativity.

*Time to put your best foot forward and welcome one of the largest conventions of the summer to our town when the world of shoes and accessories, aka the WSA Show, gets underway at the Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian today. It’s an incredible opportunity for thousands of manufacturers of footwear and handbags to showcase shoes and accessories to shoppers from around the world. The twice-yearly event in Las Vegas attracts more than 28,000 from 95 countries in 2.1 million square feet of space and will run through Monday night.

Star surveillance

Photo: Marion Curtis/StarPix

Ashton Kutcher at Tao Lounge at Sundance.

Ashton Kutcher and Anne Heche, the stars of the new film Spread that premieres in August, will be on hand for the red carpet screening next Wednesday at Brenden Theaters in the Palms. … Our favorite cuchi cuchi bombshell Charo was joined by two Elvis impersonators, including Larry Edwards, for her dawn appearance on NBC’s Today broadcasting from Caesars Palace and promoting Las Vegas vacations. … Free agent Frank Thomas dined at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms with his brother and cousin. They decided to sit at the bar for a dinner of rock shrimp, followed by filet mignon with sides of sauteed spinach and creamed corn. … Bette Midler just decided to extend her $1,000 Smug Mutha VIP package we told you about Tuesday until Nov. 15 rather than have it end on Labor Day weekend. It’s the star treatment that gets you backstage for a photo and autograph session with the diva herself in her dressing room.

I’m heading out to Italy today for two glorious weeks in Tuscany and thus will miss a superstar music weekend here on and off the Strip. You have a comedy battle between Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno as they duke it out with humor, plus a megawatt pop and rock fest with Beyonce, Motley Crue, Rod Stewart and Jonas Brothers all vying for the spotlight. My bags are packed and the boarding pass is printed, so now I’ve just got time to put a VIP label on one remaining package, which we affectionately refer to around here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

Photo: www.beyonceonline.com

Beyonce.

Friday, July 31

*Beyonce is into the second night of her four performances at the Encore Theater in the Wynn that wraps up Sunday night.

*Jay Leno, freed from his Tonight Show desk and prepping his new nightly primetime series, squeezes in two nights at The Mirage.

*Jerry Seinfeld’s wry comments about life’s absurdities hit the target tonight and tomorrow at The Colosseum in Caesars Palace.

*Grammy Award-winning songstress Melissa Manchester performs at The Orleans through Sunday with special guest Imelda Papin, while Unwritten Law takes the stage poolside at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*War is declared with Tierra and El Chicano at the Star of the Desert Arena, Glasvegas and Ida Maria are at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay, and Robert Dubac presents the oxymoron The Male Intellect at Suncoast for three nights.

*The No. 1 indie movie documentary of the year has grossed more than $1.6 million in select theaters since opening 18 weeks ago, when it hit $21,784 on its opening day. Now Valentin -- The Last Emperor arrives for a one-night showing here at Regal Village Square 18.

Party patrol

The official party for VH1’s Megan Wants a Millionaire, premiering Sunday, will be held tonight at Jet in The Mirage with Megan Hauserman, the reality TV bombshell who burst onto the scene with her drop dead gorgeous looks and razor-sharp competitive spirit. Her TV assistant Cecille Garr will be at her side. … Mashup masterminds N.E.R.D. will perform at Pure in Caesars Palace and then host the after-party.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Motley Crue at The Joint.

Saturday, Aug. 1

*They closed the old Joint and now they’re back to help open the new Paradise Tower at the Hard Rock Hotel. Welcome home to Motley Crue for Crue Fest 2 with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool and Charm City Devils. Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx will mark the 20th anniversary of the release of Dr. Feelgood, their fifth album, by performing it in its entirety.

*Rod Stewart is still going strong even though like landed gentry from England, he’s given new life to old songbook classics, and he’ll do old and new at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Joe Jonas of The Jonas Brothers.

*It’s a teen’s dream come true as Jonas Brothers are joined by Jordin Sparks and Honor Society at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Earlier, Honor Society plays a special set mid-afternoon on its Full Moon Crazy tour at House of Blues, while later at Mandalay Beach, it’s the reggae sounds of the Wailers and Tomorrow’s Bad Seeds.

*Grand Funk Railroad will steam into Aliante Station, and the Little River Band will sail into the Cannery. For smooth jazz, it’s a double team of Dave Koz and Brian Culbertson at Texas Station. Down at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm, it’s Keith Sweat and Bell Biv DeVoe.

*Tickets go on sale today for the Oct. 3 Black Ice world tour stop at MGM Grand for multiplatinum rock legends AC/DC.

Party patrol

Knockout beauty and stunning model-actress Joanna Krupa celebrates her August Maxim cover with a red carpet gala at Lavo in the Palazzo.

Sunday, Aug. 2

*Beyonce’s final concert at the Encore Theater will be videotaped for a TV special and DVD.

*The finals of the World Hip-Hop Dance Championships are at The Orleans Arena.

*British psychic Lisa Williams will communicate with the spirits of lost loved ones in a seance show and psychic lecture at the Hilton Theater.

*Adelitas Way, Las Vegas rockers set for stardom, performs with Saliva at the House of Blues.

*Las Vegas entertainment guru Jack Colton, who is one of our upcoming guest columnists, hosts the Most Beautiful Girls Reunion, a celebration of the sexiest women in Las Vegas, at Lavo.

Photo: Al Powers

Wayne Brady celebrates his 37th birthday at Lavo.

Monday’s teases

While I’m away in Italy for the next two weeks, we’ve arranged a host of Strip headliners to fill in for me, everybody from Wayne Brady, Terry Fator, Carrot Top, Lance Burton and Michael Goudeau at the Luxor to Holly Madison and her cast mates in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood, the gorgeous topless beauties of Crazy Girls at the Riviera and cast members of Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular and Jersey Boys. I’ll keep an eye on Strip happenings from afar, and our Editor Don Chareunsy will package it all up with our contributing photographers on a regular daily basis so that nothing is missed during my Italian vacation!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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— From Vegas Deluxe

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