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Working as choreographers for So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC), and countless other projects keeps Tabitha and Napoleon D'umo extremely busy. Their ongoing involvement with Monsters of Hip Hop and other dance organizations adds to their hectic schedule of making appearances and teaching workshops throughout the world.This married couple is known for a their lyrical hip hop style that tells a story.
This week they will be onstage at a major charity event in Dana Point. The Life Changing Lives Gala at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort is honoring American boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard; NASA's Charlie Duke, the voice of mission control 40 years ago and one of 12 men who have walked on the moon; and Holocaust survivor and recipient of our nation’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, Tibor Rubin. The event benefits the Wounded Warrior Project, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County/Inland Empire and the Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance. The evening will feature one of Tabitha and Napoleon's most memorable So You Think You Can Dance routines, "No Air" performed my Joshua Allen and Katee Shean about a service member going off to war.
LAist caught up with Emmy nominated Tabitha and Napoleon (AKA Nappytabs), to ask them about how they keep up with their packed schedule, how they dealt with embarrassing costumes moments during their time on the road as back up dancers, and where we'd find them on a rare day off.
LAist: On September 11 you will be involved with a huge charity gala at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point. The event will raise money for several organizations including the Wounded Warrior Project, the Make a Wish Foundation and the Boy and Girls Clubs. What are you contributing to the event?
Napoleon: We proposed to them that we do the No Air that Joshua and Katie performed on So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD).
Tabitha: We were inspired because Napoleon was in the military. He served for four years over in Germany. When we got that song for So You Think You Can Dance we asked ourselves, "What would someone feel like when everything is going on?" We heard so many stories about wives feeling sad and missing their loved ones. We felt like it was a great time to do a dance performance that touched upon that topic. This event honors and gives back to the people serving in Iraq.
Napoleon: This time of year, especially on 9/11 reflects on everything that people do for our country.
You have been very busy lately with SYTYCD, ABDC, your clothing line Nappytabs, and now the Emmys. What else is on your plate right now?
Napoleon: Some really nice things that I can't talk about, because when I talk about them I jinx them. SYTYCD coming back. We just did the opening for...
Tabitha: The Teen Choice Awards
Napoleon: That was two weeks ago. And this week a big surprise on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
All of these projects mean a lot of together time. How does being married affect your work?
Tabitha: I don't think I could do it and be single. That's for sure.
Napoleon: We enjoy our work so much and we enjoy each other's company and depend on each other. Working separately does not work.
Tabitha: We benefit by being a team. We have such a crazy workload, such long hours. If we didn't have each other, we are so busy we wouldn't have time to date.
You have choreographed many memorable routines for SYTYCD. Can you narrow it down to a favorite?
Tabitha: We have favorites for different reasons. We love the one we did with Will and Courtney to the the Alicia Keys song, "Like You'll Never See Me Again”. We love the choreography in that one. I don't know if it made as much of an impact as maybe "Bleeding Love" did emotionally and story wise. This year we really had fun doing "Mad" with Phillip and Jeanine. And then with them again for the chain one.
Napoleon: The chain one was a headache, but it turned out really well. The end result was we don't mind the chain, but during rehearsals we hated the chain.
You also choreograph for America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC)- the show and the tour. What do you think about the current season? Are you ready to predict a winner?
Tabitha: I can't predict who the winner is this year. We are pretty good at predicting who will win each season. This year it's anyone's ball game. One week one crew has a hot week. The next week someone else has a hot week. It's been going back and forth. Rhythm City has been pretty consistent. We Are Heroes is pretty consistent, but then last week they were in the bottom. I am not sure what the voters are thinking about them.
Napoleon: This season on ABDC and on So You Think You Can Dance, it seems like people are really voting on the routine for the week.
Tabitha: It's all about the education. People now are watching so many dance shows. People are getting smarter at recognizing what is good. They are making smarter more educated decisions rather than, "He's cute! I'll vote for him."
The popularity of dance reality shows has brought attention to so many choreographers and dancers- what is it that is getting everyone so excited about dance?
Tabitha: I think the movement is exciting. You hear great music and it makes you want to move.
Napoleon: We are showing America and the world that dance isn't something that just belongs in the background.
Tabitha: It can stand on its own.
Napoleon: The dancers are true performers like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. It's entertainment. People are enjoying it. I love to see that.
What was the most embarrassing dance costume you ever wore? Do you have a photo?
Napoleon: I was a B-boy when I was younger. I got to pick what I wanted to wear. As a professional in the Destiny Child heyday, we wore those gold lamé, really tight bedazzled outfits.
Tabitha: They wore gold pants.
Napoleon: That were stretchy.
Tabitha: Spandex like the shiny gold they have at American Apparel. They had tank tops that were bedazzled on their chest.
Napoleon: Nobody would tell Beyonce's mom that we didn't like them, because we didn't want to hurt her feelings. So we wore them everyday. We would come out and the security guards would be laughing at us. We did a couple tours with Destiny's Child.
Napoleon, you grew up in Victorville and Tabitha, you are from New Jersey. Where do you live in LA?
Tabitha: We live in Sherman Oaks.
Where would we find you on a day off?
Tabitha: Napoleon would be at Runyon Canyon jogging. I would be getting a Thai massage on Ventura Boulevard. Then honestly, sitting in our house. We are so busy that when we do have time, we love to relax.
Napoleon: We have a BBQ outside. And I love when Tabitha cooks.
What is your favorite local restaurant?
Tabitha: Bossa Nova.
Favorite So Cal destination?
Tabitha: We work so much.
Napoleon: Usually seven days a week. But when we get a chance we like to go camping in Santa Barbara.
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