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Meet Your Top 10 So You Think You Can Dance Canada Season 2

AMY Gardner, 21, a contemporary dancer from Calgary, Alta.

“It has been a bit of a rollercoaster so far, but the show has taught me to believe in myself and has helped me have more confidence. I’ve made some great friends and worked with some amazing choreographers and it’s been so much fun. I want to thank my fans and supporters, and no matter what happens, I want to show Canada what unique style and versatility I have as an artist.”

AUSTIN Di Iulio, 20, a contemporary dancer from Mississauga, Ont.

“It’s amazing to have all of my efforts over this past year finally pay off. The experience has been surreal so far and I can’t wait to se what is in store. Much love to all my supporters and fans.”

CODY Bonnell, 19, a hip-Hop dancer from Unionville, Ont.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

EMANUEL Sandhu, 28, a contemporary/ballet dancer from Vancouver, B.C.

“This journey is sometimes scary but also exciting and I’m grateful that I haven’t had to do it alone. I’m the happiest boy in the world right now. Thank you Canada!”

EVERETT Smith, 25, a tap dancer from Glen Morris, Ont.

“Last year I really wanted to make Top 20 and be a part of the show in Season 1, but I feel I wasn’t ready to believe in myself. This year, I wanted to be real from the beginning and lead with my heart. I want to bring tap back and thank everyone who’s always believed in me. No matter how hard the journey may get, believe in yourself and you can overcome anything that gets in your way.”

JAYME RAE Dailey, 21, a contemporary dancer from Montreal, Que.

“Last season I was sitting at home watching the show and I can’t believe I’m part of it now. This has been a great learning experience and I feel it’s the beginning of something amazing in my life. Most importantly, I feel blessed by all the teachers I’ve had and support from my family. They have given me the tools to be able to make it this far and I hope the journey continues.”

KIM Gingras, 23, a hip-hop dancer from Montreal, Que.

“I’m touched by all of the support I’ve received and I wouldn’t be here without it. I am thankful and blessed to be part of this experience and to have worked with amazing choreographers. Over a few short weeks I’ve had the opportunity to grow and learn as a dancer in such a short amount of time and can’t wait for it to continue.”

MELANIE Mah, 19, a contemporary dancer from Richmond Hill, Ont.

“Wow! I can’t believe I made the Top 10! All I have to say is thanks to everyone who has supported me on my journey so far. This has absolutely been the best experience of my life and I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has pushed me and believed in me as a dancer.”

TARA-JEAN Popowich, 20, a contemporary dancer from Lethbridge, Alta.

“The experience so far has made my life. I want to thank everyone for their support – especially my hometown. Thanks Lethbridge!”

VINCENT Desjardins, 20, a ballroom dancer from Trois-Rivières, Que.

“When I auditioned my goal was to make Top 20, but making Top 10 is more than I could have hoped for. Thanks to my hometown for all your support!.”

September 2, 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

So You Think You Can Dance Canada – Top 18 Results Show

Leah Miller opened the show stating over one million votes came in…. Is it just me or does it look like Leah has had some botox? I noticed this last week – her face seemed… tightly pulled…. and it’s not just because I don’t like her….

We had a great Top 18 Bollywood routine choreographed by Longinus Fernandes. It was colourful and hard hitting. I felt the women out performed the men overall, just a general observation.

Results

Natalie & Danny (who I placed 6th in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Melanie M & Cody (who I placed 2nd in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Amy & Vincent (who I placed 1st in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Anthony & Corynne (who I placed 8th and as Bottom 3) were NOT safe.

Nicholas & Jenna (who I placed 7th and as Bottom 3) were NOT safe.

Tara-Jean & Everett (who I placed 5th in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Kim & Emanuel (who I placed 3rd in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Jayme Rae & Daniel (who I placed 4th in my Power Rankings) were safe.

Melanie B & Austin (who I placed 9th and as Bottom 3) were NOT safe.

So I predicted 3/3 of the Bottom 3 couples (Not Bad for my first Power Ranking Post!)

Solo’s

Anthony – lot’s of hips and shaking

Nicholas – lot’s of tricks and high energy

Austin – solid performer if only I felt his attitude was as great as his dancing

Corynne – simple but pretty dance

Jenna Lynn – lot’s of kicks and power

Melanie B – passionate

Good – Bye

Anthony & Melanie B went home.

Overall

Good Results Show – Loved the Bollywood – Wasn’t surprised with the results.

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

SYTYCDC Top 18 Choreography

I know that I am not writing about rants or raves, but seriously what was Leah wearing on Tuesday night.  The 80s are over Leah try and come to grips with that.

Our first couple was Melanie M and Cody.  Just as I was afraid of last week with Cody that he would have to dance something that needs him to be dirty.  The more i look at him, the more I think that he is just so darling and looks like a Disney character.  They pulled Krump out of the hat.  Lord help us.  Cody needed to be hitting the steps hard, and seem 10 feet tall with about 50 pounds on him.  He mostly pulled it off, actually did better than I imagined he would.  Give him time and he will only improve.  Melanie M on the other hand was amazing.  So much power out of the little thing.  She believed in what she was doing, and made me a believer too.  I will remember her next week for sure.  Great piece by Lil’ C.  Just could have used a little more ‘buck-ness’ – but really what couldn’t used a little more buck?

Tara Jean and Everett were up next.  It’s not a great sign when I can’t really remember them from the week before.  Not good at all.  They pulled Salsa out of the hat, and were matched with Tony and Melanie.  In the interviews leading up to the piece, Tara Jean reminded me of a varsity cheerleader and Everett was on the football team.  That all changed when that music started.  The cheerleader turned into Shakira Canadian-style.  She was dirty and sexy and Everett was a great partner.  It is sometimes hard for the men to stand out when their partners are dressed in almost nothing and shaking their hips like Tara Jean was.  I predict that these 2 will go far, and that I won’t ever forget them again.

I remember watching the Figure Skating at the part Olympics and watching Emanuel perform.  He made me nervous every time because it didn’t seem like him and ice were the right combination.  When him and Kim chose Theatre with Sean Cheesman- I thought it would be a match made in Heaven-and I was right.  Emanuel is a big man and this piece proved once and for all that his brute strength is no joke.  He was catching Kim in these jumps and lifts that I kept screaming at because if his timing was even a little off or if he wasn’t as strong as he is that piece wouldn’t have worked.  Emanuel’s face was a little twisted at the very beginning, but very soon after he got into it.  Kim was great, she seemed at home with the movement and I think that there is something really interesting with the partnership. Emanuel has a commanding presence onstage- so everyone better be watching.

Next to dance was Amy and Vincent with a contemporary piece by Blake.  I wrote down before I saw the rehearsal footage that “They will get eaten by Blake”.  Blake is no joke- he is intense and demands the most out of his dancers.  He also has an organic element to his movement that you are either capable of doing or you aren’t.  I didn’t think that Vincent would be convincing in his mean-ness..  Was I ever wrong.  The make up, the costumes and the music where dead-on and the only thing better than all of that was the dancing.  I didn’t really get the story that Blake told about an obsessed guy because to me it was more like a possessed man and a doll.  Amy was beautiful in her awkward poses and limp arms, she really let Vincent tear her apart and be super creepy.  I loved this piece.

There aren’t very many types of choreography that I don’t know at least some small detail about.  Dancehall is one of them.  After watching Jaeblazes’ choreography with Daniel and Jayme-Rae, I now what to move to Jamaica and learn how to do ‘dancehall‘.  It’s a combination of hip-hop and Latin movement.  I felt like he were all witnessing the foreplay between the 2 dancers.  It was hard hitting, sexy, and really dirty.  I love love love Dancehall.  Plus hearing Luther say funny words is also entertaining.

Most types of dance can be critiqued on a sliding scale: the Paso Doble isn’t one of those dances.  For me whenever I watch the Paso- it either rocks me with it’s intensity or it falls flat.  These piece with Anthony and Corynne was great.  Anthony for being someone that isn’t really tall danced like he was 10 feet tall.  Unfortunately halfway through they collided together, I blame the layers of her skirt not the dancers themselves.  They should be praised for managing to pick it up after that fall- especially with the Paso, because it’s a dance that builds and builds its intensity as it progresses.

I was disappointed that ShoTyme was the choreographer of the hip-hop routine with Nicolas and Jenna Lynn especially seeing as Little C was in the audience.  Nicolas being a B-Boy pulled out his tricks while Jenna Lynn didn’t.  She really needed to keep up and I think that for the most part she did- sadly I’m just not a huge fan of ShoTyme’s style.  I think that Nicolas will be in the competition for a while yet- he is a really strong performer.  I thought that the piece was good- but it’s certainly not a memorable one.

After watching the next piece I started to think that people’s interpretations of certain styles were getting quite loose.  The fact that Natalie and Danny chose Jazz and then danced the piece they did by Melissa Williams I have no idea how that could be considered anything other than a contemporary piece, even to say it was a lyrical jazz piece would be a serious stretch.  Regardless of what the actual style was- I liked this piece.  I can’t say anything really good about it though.  I felt like the choreography was forced and was in attempt to set up some of the lifts and catches that Natalie and Danny did.  That being said- they danced it well, I think that if that piece was not danced by those 2 it would have been a total train wreck.

Final dance of the night- Austin and Melanie with the Smooth Waltz.  I know the least about American Ballroom styles, but I know that I like the waltz.  It’s so classic, and fluid and it’s a style that isn’t in a rush.  Plus I love Austin and Melanie.  The opening of the piece by Danny Quilliam was intense with the fans her Melanie’s costume but I ate it right up.  Austin has never done this style before, and he was coming really really close to nailing it. His rise and fall was effortless as was his partnering of Melanie.  Sadly Melanie didn’t do very well- especially seeing as she a Latin Ballroom girl.  She should have knocked this out of the park and she fell flat.  I think that she will be in danger tonight.  Despite all of that, I loved the drama of the piece and the choreography was really original and powerful.

That’s it!  See you next week..

I Written By

Top 10 SYTYCD Season 5 Tour

I don’t know about anyone else but I am so ready to see the SYTYCD Season 5 tour. Though my seats aren’t as good as they were for last years tour but the sixth row back on the floor isn’t too bad. For those of you that have been to the tours in the past know how much fun they are. True the best part is being able to see your favorite dancers/dances performed live. I’d have to admit some of my favorite moments from the past tours that I have been to, have happened in between the dances. This is when you really get to see the dancers’ personality more. Plus they create skits for them while others are changing for the next number.

There are two that stand out in my mind that had me laughing and they still make me laugh. Last year hands down Gev stole the show at one point. They did several little skits involving the backgrounds of certain dances, like where they originated and clothes that were worn. It all started out with poking fun at Gev and Courtney’s relationship, then next thing you know they are getting ready to introduce the Russian number and Gev comes out in a dress costume. It only got better from there; Will was talking about the Viennese culture and how they dressed back then. It was “supposed” to be Chelsie that came out in a formal gown but instead it was Gev and he claimed that Chelsie couldn’t make the quick change. Here are some links to see videos of what I’m talking about.

My other favorite moment would have to be between Dominic and Sara. It was a Broadway type of skit, where Sara was quizzing Dominic on his knowledge of musicals. I found video footage on you tube later of this and at one of the show he decided to moon the crowd. I know this video is sideways but you get the idea.

You can find so many other videos of the tours…you may come across Shauna filling in for Lacey and dancing “Dancing” with Kameron. On a side note that is the version I saw…I think Lacey was injured at the time.

I can’t wait to see what types of surprises this tour will have. All I know is I’ll be taking plenty of pictures and posting them for all to see. So for those you that haven’t been to one of these tours, yes you are allowed to have your camera…you just can’t use the flash (it’s a safety issue for the dancers). Also they do a meet and greet after the show. So I suggest once the show is over head out to where the dancers will be after the show, this way you have a good spot behind the barriers. Make sure you get all your souvenirs before the show…I suggest the program and a SYTYCD-a-holic t-shirt. The program has a Q & A with each of the top 10 dancers plus a personal thank you from each of them too and the SYTYCD-a-holic shirts are just cool.

If you don’t have your SYTYCD tour ticket yet, go buy them now! What are you waiting for?

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.