Wednesday, July 6, 2011

So You Think You Can Dance



If you don't know, I'm a dancer so I've never really been much for American Idol or America's Got Talent. That said, I also can't stand Dancing with the Stars! Why should people who don't even know how to dance get put on television just to make a mockery out of the art? I know there are people who can actually dance on the show, but personally I'm not going to waste my time watching football players and washed up reality television stars prove they can "dance". Especially when there are so many amazing dancers out there who love to dance with every fiber of they're being and are very talented at it. Those are the dancers we should be supporting. They're the ones who really deserve a chance to shine, a moment on the spotlight. Not people who already star in something of they're own. I don't mean to say that Dancing with the Stars is not entertaining for people, and I don't mean to discourage anyone from watching it. It's simply my opinion that I have shared with you.

That's why I love So You Think You Can Dance so much. It is a television show that not only celebrates dance, but also gives talented dancers who have devoted their life to dance, who have poured blood, sweat and tears into their work a chance to showcase their abilities. Dancers get discovered on the show and get accepted into dance companies, sign movie deals, become choreographers for dance videos, etc. And you can find all sorts of dancers on the show; hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, tap, ballet - you name it!

I've been watching the original So You Think You Can Dance series from almost the very beginning. I unfortunately missed the first season, and still haven't gotten around to renting it,  but from the second season on, I've been a devoted fan. However, I still only watch the original American series, even though I'm Canadian. I know it feels like some kind of betrayal, but I just can't stand Leah Miller, the current So You Think You Can Dance Canada host. Plus, as annoying as some of the American series' judges can be (you know who I'm talking about), the Canadian judges make me want to rip off my ears!

I've have my all time favourite dancers, and unfortunately it's very often that they win! For those SYTYCD fans out there, what comes to mind when you here the names Travis, Neil, Hedi, Lauren, Twitch, Jeanine, Danny, Kerrington, Hok, Mark, Kent, Lacey? For me, it's pure joy. And these are just a handful of the fabulous dancers that have been on the show! At the moment, the eighth season is in way and I am absolutely star struck! I have been watching this series for a very long time and I have never seen such a strong Top 20. Even though we have already lost some stars (Nick Young and Miranda Maleski), I think this season is shaping up to be a very exciting ride. And I am so relieved they have decided to at least have the couples for the first have of the show and then switch to the All Stars. I love the chemistry that forms between the partners! So like I was saying, I have many all time favourite So You Think You Can Dance dancers, but I also have some all time favourite dances. Okay, to be honest, I have dozens of all time favourite dances, but I only have enough capacity to show you a few, but I urge you to get your but to YouTube and watch many more!

This first video is from season eight, the season that is playing out at this very moment. It is a jazz piece choreographed by Sonya Tayeh that was performed by the top ten girls of the season. I have watched this video countless times, and I guess your about to find out why!


This next video is a contemporary piece from season five. The routine was danced by the season's winner Jeanine Mason and Jason Glover. It was the first time they had been paired together, the first time either of them had danced their style - contemporary- and the first time choreography by season two finalist Travis Wall had been featured on the show. Everything went off without a hitch, giving birth to Travis Wall's choreography career on the series and so many phenomenal pieces by him yet to come! 

 

Next we have an 80's jazz piece by Mandy Moore. The piece was performed in season three by the season's winner Sabra Johnson and finalist Neil Haskell. Neil comes back later as an All Star on season seven and performs this amazing routine with Kent Boyd, also choreographed by Travis Wall. But back to this jazz piece.The routine was also nominted for an Emmy Award for outstanding choreography. Enjoy!

 

Now, I've shown you jazz, I've shown you contemporary, but I think it's time for a little ballroom. I think this next piece has got to be one of my favourites, if not my favourite ballroom routine on the show. It is a Viennese waltz choreographed in season three by Hunter Johnson and performed by two of my all time favourites, Anya Garnis and finalist Danny Tidwell, who is actually Travis Wall's adopted brother. Yes, Danny Tidwell! This guy is like a dance rock star. What makes it even better is that he's professionally trained in ballet. Take a look...



Next up is a season two routine choreographed by the acclaimed Wade Robson. The second season was just bursting with talented dancers and I have many favourites among the group, such as Dmitry Chaplin, Allison Holker, Travis Wall, the season's winner Benji Schwimmer - season three finalist Lacey Schwimmer's brother - and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz.


Okay, so I know we've already seen a video from season eight and two from season three, and I should probably finish with something from a different season, but I just have to show you this next piece. This piece was met with a standing ovation and an Emmy Award prediction, plus my screams of astonishement.
So without further ado, I bring you a season eight Travis Wall routine, performed by my season favourites, Melanie Moore and Marko Germar. 


Like I said, these are only a handful of my all time favourite So You Think You Can Dance dances and I encourage you to visit http://www.youtube.com/ or http://www.fox.com/dance/  for more.

3 comments:

  1. THEY ARE AMAZING. I also really liked the one that they did... where they were best friends... And he kissed her. I don't remember which episode, but Kristin Chenoweth (she was in Wicked!) was a judge, and they all started kissing each other...! That was a weird part.

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  2. I agree, things got a little weird.. But the Marko/Melanie kiss was really sweet!

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  3. It was... *sigh*
    Heh. Kidding. But they are definite ly one of my favourite So You Think You Can Dance couples EVER!

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