Hyperspace Hoopla will dance no more, officially cancelled at Walt Disney World as Star Wars Weekends gets new curtain call

in Disney, Entertainment, Events, Movies, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World

This will be a day long remembered. It seems the Emperor has gotten his way. The annual Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars is no more.

Following today’s news of “new evening entertainment” coming to an expanded Star Wars Weekends this year, it has been confirmed that the always-popular Hyperspace Hoopla has been officially retired and will not return to the event.

Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Walt Disney World

Instead, Disney will host nightly performances of the “Symphony in the Stars” fireworks show as well as a “nightly curtain call moment” with a variety of Star Wars characters.

Hyperspace Hoopla has been a staple of Star Wars Weekends for many years, with an annual tradition of pitting the Rebels against the Empire in an epic dance-off battle featuring popular music spanning decades. It all started on a small stage next to Star Tours.

Waiting for Hyperspace Hoopla at Star Wars Weekends. 50 min to go!

But the Hoopla eventually outgrew that tiny area to take over the much larger stage in front of the park’s Sorcerer hat, where hundreds of fans would line up hours ahead of time to grab spots, eagerly awaiting each year’s show.

Waiting for Hyperspace Hoopla! #fb

Among the most popular moments in Hyperspace Hoopla history were Darth Vader and Boba Fett dancing to Michael Jackson songs, Chewbacca and Ewoks dancing to Guns n Roses, and recent additions of the “Harlem Shake” and “Gangnam Style.”

But now it has all gone the way of Alderaan.

Dance-Off With the Star Wars Stars 2013 at Walt Disney World

In recent years, the show has become a bit more risque, adding scantily-clad appearances by Slave Leia as well as many suggestive dance moves. And each year, as videos appeared online, the greater Star Wars community was split, either embracing it as hilarious or mocking it as a travesty. It seems Disney is siding with the latter, moving toward more traditional “Star Wars” entertainment now that they own Lucasfilm.

Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Walt Disney World

In honor of the years of fun entertainment the Hyperspace Hoopla has provided, let’s take a look back some of its most recent shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the videos below.

2010

Darth Vader and Stormtroopers dance to Michael Jackson at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2010

Boba Fett dances to Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2010

2011

Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars 2011 at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends

2012

Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars 2012 at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends

Chewbacca and an Ewok dance to Guns n Roses at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2011

2013

Full Dance-Off With the Star Wars Stars 2013 during Hyperspace Hoopla at Walt Disney World

When Jedi Mickey appeared in the finale of last year’s show, fans thought it was Disney’s way of saying, “Yeah, we own this now” following the Lucasfilm purchase. As it turns out, it was their way of giving the show a Disney send-off.

First time Jedi Mickey dances to Pitbull, Michael Jackson in Dance-Off With the Star Wars Stars 2013

Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Walt Disney World

And what now has become the very last performance of Hyperspace Hoopla, the cast was joined on stage by a few special guests, adding extra characters and “Star Wars” celebrities to the mix.

Lando, James Arnold Taylor, Ashley Eckstein in final Hyperspace Hoopla for Star Wars Weekends 2013

Star Wars Weekends 2013 at Walt Disney World

Many more Hyperspace Hoopla videos can be found on our YouTube channel.

More photos from the final performances of Hyperspace Hoopla at Star Wars Weekends:

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