First, he launches Move, a reality show that will document his search for six of the best Pinoy dancers who will serve as his dance crew. Second, he’s hard at work on his much anticipated first major concert at the Araneta Coliseum in August.

         Zooming directly to a press conference at the Music Museum in Greenhills after disembarking from a flight he shared with fellow Pinoy Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Billy Crawford wowed the crowd with a scintillating performance in spite of the long trip.

         “It is so weird to be seeing people that I saw when I was still a small boy,” he says of the people who came to attend his press con.

         Before moving abroad Billy was Billy Joe Crawford, Pinoy child entertainer who was a fixture of the TV variety-show circuit including That’s Entertainment. When he moved abroad , he charted a not-too-shabby course – becoming a major pop star in France, contributing a remix of the Pokeman theme, appearing in Dominion, the prequel to the movie The Exorcist, and dating Mandy Moore. Until recently, he was signed to V2 Records but opted not to renew his contract when the label decided to cancel the release of his single.

         “I am just so happy to be back,” Billy says in a very L.A.-sounding twang, and proceeds to speak about his latest project.

         Move is Billy Crawford’s search for Filipino back-up dancers through a reality show. It will follow the lives of 24 dancers, aged 16 to 26, as they live under one roof and undergo rigid training and intense workshops under the supervision of Billy’s French choreographer Maryss (also said to be his girlfriend) and a panel of Filipino dance gurus. Think Big Brother meets The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll.

         “I am very strict when it comes to dancers. I want them to be tight,” Billy says. “The most important character trait for me is of course, professionalism. I want to work with people who love their jobs, and who are passionate about performing.”

         The show will dramatize the rigors of finding out whether, Billy says, “they really have what it takes to the be part of the crew.” For Billy, that means “someone who is good and who is willing to do whatever they can, 110 percent.”

         He adds: “We are going to show is the process of …auditioning, cutting down the contestants from 100 to 24, from 20 to 12 then to the final 6. My choreographer will teach them…. I will be performing with some of them, you know, just to see what the can do and of we jive well. It is going to be hard work. The dancers have to learn quickly, they have to be on point, they have to make a grade and they have to live up to the expectations. I want them to know what they want and to know what they want to do. The whole process of picking the top six is going to be very professional.”

         With the close of auditions, Move promises to be an exciting watch as there will be eliminations every week, which will be based on the viewers’ text votes and the scores of the choreographers. The panel of choreographers will be sharing their views on the performance of the competitors every week. Crawford will observe and of course, give pointers if he sees the need to give it to the competitors.

         “For now, I am just concentrated in getting the best, bringing or making them part of the concert in August. I am sure are wondering if we will bring them internationally, I cannot answer that now. It is hard to say now but hopefully, we want to get more talents in the Philippines and bring it out there.”

         Will people see him doing some sexy dance moves as well?

         “No. I do not think I approach myself as a performer to be a sex symbol. That is not why I am here for. I grew around Filipino families. I grew up with, you know, idolizing the likes of Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, the classics, the legends, and then I listened to Michael Jackson and James Brown and Michael Jackson did not really go crazy, sexy. I have to put an image for myself. Everybody expects a guy performing to be sexy to appeal to the audience but that is not me.”

          Aside from being part of Billy Crawford’s backup dancers for his concert at the Araneta Coliseum, winners will also receive cash prizes and a management contract with the GMA Artist Center.

By Alwin Ignacio