It was exactly that ability to "funk" that won her a place on the show, according to Club MTV casting director Wendy McSwain.
In the world of MTV, where funky and hip are the ultimate praise, McSwain is the Queen Bee. She auditions all the dancers and wields ultimate power over their fates.
"She can cut you if you sweat too much," says Talvy.
For the Harvard crew, McSwain has only praise. "JJ's a riot, she's a ball of fire," McSwain says. "Even when the camera's not on her, she's always smiling, she's always upbeat."
"JJ's funky #1," she adds. "She's been outgoing from the start."
But, McSwain adds with a thoughtful air, "I think the show's been good for Frank. Frank is definitely getting funkier."
Harper grew up in San Francisco, where he won some local dance competitions. When he moved to the East Coast, he became one of the first dancers McSwain auditioned after taking her job. She remembers his audition vividly.
"Frank was just funny; he was such a prep when he came in," she says.
Preps are a rare sight in the heart of Manhattan, says McSwain, and Frank's plaid jacket made him extra-special. "It was like, who the hell was this?" she says. "He was adorable. He was very nice and very clean-cut looking."
Since then, Frank has gotten looser, McSwain says.
"I'm really glad that they didn't stay in their own world," she adds. "They said, 'Hey, there's another side to me; I like to dance.'"
Talvy's two worlds seldom mix she says. Most people on the show refuse to believe that she goes to Harvard, says Talvy. "I don't know if it's an insult or what," she says."
But still, both Talvy and Harper say they are glad to have the opportunity to completely cut loose once in a while--and to show off that "other side," as McSwain calls it.
After her first appearance on "Club," the studio received a fan letter from someone who had gone to high school with Talvy, McSwain says. "Is that our valedictorian?" the writer of the letter asked. "Is that J.J.? Boy, has she changed. That's great!"
"My (City Step) kids taught me how to funk..." -J.J. Talvy' 91
"It's weird how I prioritize that thing. I've gone down (to New York) the day before finals." -Frank Harper