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Where are they now? Phillip & Hok

SYTYCD Alums Hokuto “Hok”Konishi and Phillip “PacMan” Chbeeb just popped up yesterday on YouTube with a new dance video!  The video, entitled Office Life, was created and filmed over a three day period and centers on three office employees that “raise hell in furious protest to their mundane, frustrating nine to five job. they make quite a mess in the process. :)”

Fun Stuff!

Enjoy!!!

[Via Phillip Chbeeb’s channel on YouTube]

August 30, 2009 I Written By

Send Me Your SYTYCD Season 6 Spoilers!

Hi, everyone! I’m Margaret, the new spoiler and behind-the-scenes extraordinaire here at PureSYTYCD. Throughout the weeks I’ll be scouring the internet for spoilers and tips on anything and everything season 6. That being said, I’ll need your help! If you all happen to come across any info, leave it as a comment on one of my posts! I check those too and I’ll be sure to give you credit for your detective work! Season 6 is just around the corner so start the spoilers coming!
Additionally, I’ll be posting behind-the-scenes videos from Fox.com and YouTube all about the choreography, costumes, etc as well as the elimination interviews. I’d love to hear your comments about those as well!

With my little introduction out of the way, here is my list of my 5 hopes for Season 6 (in no particular order):
5. a return to the awesome hip-hop of seasons past. waiting from the top 20 show (Jeanine and Phillip) to the top 8 show (Kayla and Jason) between awesome hip-hop routines is too long!
4. please don’t bring Toni Basil back as a guest judge. usually the guest judges bring fun and a great personality to the table, but with Toni I feel like all the personality gets sucked out of the room.
3. I know it’s all about getting the angles of the dancers, but the camera jumping gives me a headache!
2. I would LOVE to see more collaborations between the choreographers from different genres (the Calle Ocho piece from top 16 week was one of the highlights of the season for me)
1. no more Russian folk dance!

Thoughts?! Any more you would add to the list? And who’s excited for season 6?!

August 26, 2009 I Written By

Mark Your Calendars – SYTYCD Best Routine Special!

With Season 6 just around the corner…I visited the Fox website to remind myself when season 6 begins…September 9th. Then, I noticed that on September 2nd they are doing a SYTYCD special feature. They will be reshowing some of the best routines from every season of SYTYCD.

I must have missed this announcement or I just wasn’t paying that much attention. So this is just a friendly reminder to save this date. As for what dances we will see…well, I can think of a few. I know the one I would like to see again…not including the ones we saw this past season.

Season 1: Nick & Melody- Disco
Blake & Ashlee- Samba
Ashlee & Melody- Comtemporary

Season 2: Tranji- Hip Hop
Benji & Donyelle- Broadway
Alison & Ivan- Contemporary
Top 6- Group routine to Hide and Seek

Season 3: Danny & Neil- Princes
Lacey & Cameron- Contemporary
Sara & Neil- Disco

Season 4: Twitchington- Viennese Waltz
Mark & Courtney- The Garden
Will & Katee- Pas de Deux

Those are just a few of the many dances. I know there are many I didn’t list…like just about all of Wade’s routines. So, feel free to add your favorites to the list, and remember to watch September 2nd to see if any of your favorites are replayed.

August 25, 2009 I Written By

Dance is one of my biggest passions. I grew up dancing at Augusta West Dance Studio (the same studio that Kathryn McCormick). I have a BFA in theatre/dance from Valdosta State University. Tap is my favorite style of dance.

Best Group Dance – SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards

In our ongoing series of choreography “EmMandy” Awards, here’s the award for “Best Group Dance” from So You Think You Can Dance season 5 (winner is in Bold). This is the final award, so take a look at the other SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards.

“Best Group Dance”

  • Tyce Diorio, “Send in the Clowns”
  • Tabitha, Napolean and Dimitri, “Calle Ocho”
  • Mia Michaels, “One”, “Higher Ground”

An amazing concept with a heartbreaking story beautifully translated into the choreography. What more could you want? It was a sad dance, but it didn’t pity itself or try to make you cry or feel bad for it. It just was. I loved Jeanine’s smile that faded from her face, and Evan’s sliding down the toy box at the end. It was perfect and beautiful and I could watch it forever. However—I wouldn’t consider it a Broadway dance, more of a contemporary or even ballet. Just because the song is from a musical doesn’t make the dance Broadway. But it did include a generous helping of acting from each performer, and I think they all delivered.

I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Best Prop – SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards

In our ongoing series of choreography “EmMandy” Awards, here’s the award for “Best Prop” from So You Think You Can Dance season 5 (winner is in Bold). Take a look at the other SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards.

“Best Prop”

  • “The Butt Dance”, Randi’s butt
  • ‘Love Lockdown”, the chain
  • “If it Kills Me”, the necklace
  • “Send in the Clowns”, the toy box
  • “Moses”, the feathers
  • “Crash Test Dummies”, the robot dog

Though I agree with the judges comments about how the chain was an unpredictable, and therefore messy, prop, I LOVED the concept. When you’re in a relationship with another person, doesn’t it feel like there’s a chain holding you together? You can’t go anywhere without the other person, or do anything without the other person knowing. And I loved the end when Philip offered Jeanine the key, a way out. I mentioned in another post that the heart was a cute addition to Travis’ dance but it was not choreographed into it very well. The poor dancers looked like they were having a hard time throwing/catching/biting/etc. the necklace.

August 24, 2009 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Strangest/Worst Carried-out Concept – SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards

In our ongoing series of choreography “EmMandy” Awards, here’s the award for “Strangest/Worst Carried-out Concept” from So You Think You Can Dance season 5 (winner is in Bold). Take a look at the other SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards.

“Strangest/Worst Carried-out Concept”

  • Brian Friedman, “Aliens”
  • the producers, “Russian Folk Dance”
  • Tabitha and Napolean, “Halo” (pregnancy)
  • Joey Dowling, “Dance at the Gym”

I’ve been dying to talk about this one. I was really dissapointed with Nappytabs because the concept seemed so promising, and they are usually great with concepts. But this dance fell flat. Reason being: there was nothing to suggest Randi was pregnant. If I hadn’t watched the intro, I would have thought it was about getting engaged (because of Evan’s “proposal”). The movements did not illustrate the concept at all (with exception to when Evan rubbed her stomach) and there was no conflict. They never seemed scared or nervous about the baby. As for Joey’s piece, besides the beginning there was minimal connection between the dancers. If you’re in love at first sight, you don’t want to take your eyes off them!

August 21, 2009 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Anya and Pasha on Broadway – Free Ticket Giveaway to Burn the Floor

Now playing through October 18 at the Longacre Theatre! International stage sensation BURN THE FLOOR is a breathtaking blend of Latin and Ballroom dance. Now starring Anya and Pasha from SYTYCD.

The good news is that we’re doing a nice giveaway of free tickets to see Anya and Pasha perform in Burn the Floor on Broadway. Just make sure that you can make it to NYC between now and October 18th.

Now, check out this promo video of Anya and Pasha headlining the show.

August 20, 2009 I Written By

Just call me Charlie...but where are my angels?

Most Innovative Concept – SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards

In our ongoing series of choreography “EmMandy” Awards, here’s the award for “Most Innovative Concept” from So You Think You Can Dance season 5 (winner is in Bold). Take a look at the other SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards.

“Most Innovative Concept”

  • Shane Sparks, “Shadow”
  • Dave Scott, “Battle”
  • Sonya Tayeh, “Vampires”
  • Tabitha and Napolean, “Love Lockdown”
  • Wade Robson, “Crash Test Dummies”

All of these were great concepts that pushed the boundaries of dance, but I have to give it to Wade. What a great idea! The movements were strange, but exactly what a dummy would move like. He had a concept and a story, something not generally attempted, but it made the piece that much more entertaining. I liked Shane’s idea for the shadow, but it really wasn’t carried out very well. The story was not moved along at all.

I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Best New Choreographer – SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards

In our ongoing series of choreography “EmMandy” Awards, here’s the award for “Best New Choreographer” from So You Think You Can Dance season 5 (winner is in Bold). Take a look at the other SYTYCD Season 5 “EmMandy” Awards.

“Best New Choreographer”

  • Stacy Tookey
  • Travis Wall
  • Youri Nelzine and Lilia Babenko (the Russian Folk people)

I picked Stacy because I really see her making history of SYTYCD. Her “Falling Slowly” really should have been on the finale, and both of her pieces deserved much more praise than they were given. I love her style’s fluidity and how she endows each movement with purpose. I also see Travis making a name for himself, but I think most of this is due to his “alumnus” status. Would people be lauding his name as much if he wasn’t a former contestant? The Russian Folk choreographers are mostly on there because I couldn’t remember any other new choreographers. Max had said earlier that the choreography made the dance the “worst of the season”, but I have to disagree. I blame the style of dance for its lack of an enthusiastic reception. The choreography was textbook Russian Folk and I can find nothing that breaks the cardinal rules of choreography (dynamics, energy, force).

August 19, 2009 I Written By

I am a blogger and reality tv lover. I blog here for SYTYCD but mostly the Canada version, since I live in Vancouver BC. I also blog about other reality tv shows on my own blog www.mandysmind.com

Alex da Silva Accused of Raping 4 Female Dance Students

This was quite sad news. It’s being covered a number of places online, but it looks like E! Online broke the story about Alex da Silva being arrested on 8 felony counts:

Alex Da Silva, who up until this past season was So You Think You Can Dance’s go-to salsa, mambo and Argentine tango choreographer, was arrested at his North Hollywood home this morning on a bunch of sex-crime charges involving four different women he tutored.

All told, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office charged the 41-year-old dance instructor with eight felony counts: four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object.

He had some real skills in choreography. It’s just sad that he had to do something so horrible as well.

Here’s some quotes from the Huffington Post from back in April as well although the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office declined to press sexual assault charges against Da Silva due to lack of evidence, pending further investigation.

[Alex da Silva] was arrested Saturday on suspicion of sexually assaulting four of his dance students, police said.

Alex Da Silva, 41, a well-known salsa dancer who teaches at several Los Angeles dance studios, was taken into custody after teaching a class at a Hollywood studio and booked for investigation of sexual assault, Det. John Eum said.

Da Silva, who was being held on $3.8 million bail, is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday.

However, the more frightening part of this whole issue is the following additional quote about Alex da Silva:

Da Silva had been accused in 2003, 2004 and 2005 of sexually assaulting three women, but for unknown reasons prosecutors declined to file charges, Eum said.

Then on March 28, a fourth woman accused Da Silva of luring her to his home, using a ruse to get her into his bedroom and raping her. Detectives went back to interview the previous accusers, found similar accusations of being lured to Da Silva’s bedroom and sexually assaulted by him, and reopened their cases.

“These four women don’t know each other at all, yet their reports read basically the same,” the detective said. He noted that one of the accusers was a minor at the time of the alleged assault.

“We’re almost sure there are probably other victims out there and we hope they’ll come forward,” he said.

How sad is this? I hope that other people will come forward if there are any. I’m still a bit shocked just thinking about it. I’m quite sure we won’t be seeing Alex da Silva on So You Think You Can Dance at least in the near future and honestly I’m glad about that.

I Written By

Just call me Charlie...but where are my angels?