7 Museums Enter, 1 Museum Leaves…

The Museum Dance Off 5: The Last Dance Thunderdome Champion is…

South Canterbury Museum of Timaru, NZ! 

Congratulations, South Canterbury Museum! You created an amazing video and survived some fierce competition levels to take this honor home. Your community rallied for you and everyone should be incredibly proud of your staff and your museum right now. 

Everyone who got to Thunderdome should be incredibly proud of their efforts, and I would give you a big congratulatory hug if internet technology would figure out a way for me to do that. There were more than 142,000 votes cast in 24 hours - each one of those votes is your communities loving you and being proud of you. 

We have some additional awards to announce!

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: this award goes to the museum who was eliminated prior to Thunderdome, but was still so outstanding among the competition that it was selected from among its peers to deserve special recognition. And the People’s Choice Award goes to… Burlesque Hall of Fame, Las Vegas, NV! 

COMMUNITY AWARD: This award goes to the museum that not only produced an outstanding dance off video, but who best embodies the comeradery, spirit, and collegiality of Museum Dance Off. We selected The Rockwell Museum of Corning, NY because whenever we logged into social media and followed the #mdo5 hashtag, we saw The Rockwell Museum give nothing but love to all of the other museums in the competition. That’s the way the internet should be. That’s the way museums should be: Supportive, enthusiastic, genuinely celebrating the success of peers, and sincerely consoling but encouraging any voting setbacks. You’re good people, The Rockwell Museum.

JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARDS: There are 3 winners in this category, because it’s impossible to pick just one. These are the videos that were eliminated in early rounds that we think deserve more regonition. And the winners, in no partcular order, are… (click the links for videos, tumblr won’t let me embed any more!) 

Chemung County Historical Society, Elmira, NY -  What can we say. This video slayed us. slayed us dead. The awkwardness. The spot-on parody of our lives. the sweatbands! How this video didn’t get more votes is beyond us, but it gets the Judge’s Choice award for creativity, fun, relevancy, and making us laugh.

Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch, NZ: Again, at a loss for words. Stormtroopers! Horse-things! Coordinated marches! Jazz hands! This one was one of our faves from this year.

Everhart Museum of History, Science and Art, Scranton, PA: We’re suckers for The Office, and this video was just D E L I G H T F U L. It wasn’t just the parody, it was how the Everhard adapted their own spaces, collections and personalities to make it their own. To paraphrase Dwight Schrute, “Beets. Bears. Everhart Museum. Battlestar Galactica.” 

MUSEUM NARRATIVE AWARD: This is the award that makes us say, “I want to go to there. I want to go to there right now.” The video that best captures and expresses the museum’s mission, collection, and energy. Honestly, every entry in MDO5 in on this list. However, there were two particular stand-outs:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC:  their gorgeous exploration of their space and collection, the beatiful filming and choreography (and drone work?) with the behind the scenes look at their staff and installations have us booking a train ticket to DC ASAP.

First Division Museum at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL: This museum has been a standout with every entry, but this year’s focus on women in the military and what they have contributed, the sacrifices they’ve made, and the obstacles they’ve overcome…well, let’s just say it got real dusty in here real quick.  

CREATIVITY AWARD: This award goes to the museum that impressed up with not only their slick dance moves, but their creative approach to the challenge and how well it ties back to their mission and collection. Hands down, this year unanimously goes to the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, AUS. 

Now, to everyone who has danced, voted, or helped with Museum Dance Off for the last 5 years:

Thank you.

Thank you for five amazing years of this competition. Thank you for loving the idea and using your time, energy and resources to create amazing videos that connected museum-lovers all around the world. Thank you for bringing some light to the Swamp of Sadness known as the internet.

You’re all the best, and I love you for being a part of this.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, this is the last Dance Off as we know it. 5 years is a long time and a lot of life changes. Considering the internet has an attention span of 30 seconds, the fact that we’ve gone on this long is astounding. While this is the last Dance Off, we’re looking at ways to reboot it in another form that is more manageable and sustainable. Stay tuned.

Love,

Maggie

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THUNDERDOME!

Are you ready?

After some brutal elimination rounds, we’ve narrowed it down to 7 national champions entering the 5th and final International Museum Dance Off Thunderdome! Scroll down for the voting poll, and for links to the Thunderdome videos.

Tomorrow, we will announce the Judges Choice and Superlative awards alongside the Thunderdome Champion. Check back for the results!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.

You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!

1. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR THUNDERDOME VOTE! http://poll.fm/5yeoo

AUSTRALIA: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)

CANADA: Glanmore National Historic Site

UKRAINE: Kamianets-Podilskyi Museum

NEW ZEALAND: South Canterbury Museum

MEXICO: Instituto de Investigaciones Culturales - Museo de la UABC

UK: Brooklands Museum

USA: Science Museum of Virginia

But wait!

And there is! Click the link below to vote for your favorite video that was eliminated before Thunderdome!

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD VOTE! http://poll.fm/5yeoo

International Museum Dance Off 5: THUNDERDOME CARD

aaaaand the US Museum Dance Off 5 Showdown Champion is… SCIENCE MUSEUM OF VIRGINIA! It was an intense match-up between two amazing competitors, and so many others in the previous rounds. Hugs and High Fives for everyone!

THIS SETS THE THUNDERDOME LINE-UP!

The very last ever museum dance off International Thunderdome will take place on May 14th, with voting opening at 8am Eastern (NYC) time.

Your International Champions are:

AUSTRALIA: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

UKRAINE: Kamianets-Podilskyi Museum

UK: Brooklands Museum

CANADA: Glanmore National Historic Site

USA: US Final Winner

MEXiCO: Instituto de Investigaciones Culturales - Museo de la UABC

NEW ZEALAND: South Canterbury Museum

Check back on May 14 to cast your vote!!

That’s right. It’s time for an old fashioned EAST VS WEST USA SHOWDOWN. This is the LAST position in the International Thunderdome, which takes place on May 14th! Mark your calendars.

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5yap5

Science Museum of Virginia- Richmond, Virginia

Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art - Davis, California

With 41% of the votes, Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art is the Western US Showdown Champ and will face off against Science Museum of Virginia in the national showdown! Winner goes to Thunderdome! 

BUT FIRST: THE AUSTRALIAN SHOWDOWN! We have two amazing videos from Australia, but only one can move on to represent in the International Dance Off Thunderdome!

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y9um

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) - Canberra, ACT, Australia

Australian National Maritime Museum - Sydney, NSW, Australia

It’s another showdown day!

Originally posted by mairelon

We’re crossing the continental divide to see who will take the Western region and go on to fight the Eastern Champ for the right to rep the USA in the International Dance Off Thunderdome. AND IT’S GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE!

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y84i

Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art - Davis, CA

Burlesque Hall of Fame - Las Vegas, NV

Science Museum Oklahoma - Oklahoma City, OK

Now, this is when it gets tough.

Four museums have battled it out through the first round, defeating some unbelievable competition. And now they have to face off against their own neighbors in the Eastern Final. The winner of this Round will face off against the Western showdown winner to determine who will represent the USA in the International Dance Off Thunderdome!

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y77o

Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, MA

The Rockwell Museum - Corning, NY

WonderLab Museum of Science and Technology - Bloomington, IN

Science Museum of Virginia - Richmond, VA 

This is the last of the Western US Competitors! The winner of this round will face off against the other Western US museums in a regional showdown, with the winner facing off against the Eastern US winner to determine who will represent the US in the International Dance Off Thunderdome!

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y63a

Burke Museum - Seattle, WA

Southern Utah Museum of Art at Southern Utah University - Cedar City, UT

(embedding for the SUMA video has been finicky, so click here if it doesn’t appear above). 

Science Museum Oklahoma - Oklahoma City, OK

I’ll be frank with you: this is a heckuva round. It’s got everthing: bunny bandits…dinosaurs…burlesque! Good luck with deciding which museum to vote for!

Today we have  group 2 of 3 representing the Western US. The finalists from each group will go into a showdown to determine a regional champion, who will then face off against the winner of the Eastern region in a national showdown, and that determines who goes on the International Dance Off Thunderdome!

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha. Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y630

North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum - Bismarck, North Dakota

Burlesque Hall of Fame - Las Vegas, NV

Thanksgiving Point- Lehi, Utah

With 48% of the votes, Science Museum of Virginia locks up the last spot in the Eastern US Group Final!

Today, we’re heading back around the world to visit three amazing museums in Australia. This is group 2 of 3 from Australia, and the winner will go into the Australian final.

If you missed  the previews or just want to enjoy them again, you can find the videos  in today’s match up below. Please read the rules for voting, and then  submit your vote for your  favorite!  Check back tomorrow for the results, and the next round of videos! Don’t despair if your fave #MDO5 museum gets knocked out in an  early round - several Judges Choice Awards will be announced on Thunderdome day!

MUSEUM DANCE OFF 5: THE LAST DANCE VOTING RULES

1. Anyone can vote, from anywhere in the world.
   
2. No registration required, but you have to complete a captcha.Voting for each group will be open for 24 hours, from 8am - 8am.
   
3. All timing will be synced to the US Eastern Time Zone.
   You can vote as many times as you wish. Come back the next day to vote for a new set of museums!
   
4. Encourage others to vote using the hashtag #MDO5.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE! http://poll.fm/5y5hy

Glasshouse Port Macquarie - Art Centre - Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery - Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Australian National Maritime Museum - Sydney, NSW, Australia