Free SYTYCD Newsletter Want to receive the latest news on So You Think You Can Dance sent straight to your email? Join hundreds of other SYTYCD fans who subscribe to Pure SYTYCD for FREE!

Choreographer Kelley Abbey

I really loved the Kelley Abbey Top 12 Group routine last night and was intrigued by a comment I saw when I was re-watching the video online. A commenter said that it was a “remake” of a routine that was danced by one of the Australian Top 20s. I watched the last season of SYTYCD AU and really, really loved it, so I did remember one Kelley Abbey routine in particular that I’ll share with you, but it took some digging to find what the commenter was talking about.

She seems to only choreograph Top 20s or 12s from what I’ve found. Check it out.

From SYTYCD US Season 6, Kelley Abbey’s Top 20/Top 6 Finale routine

From SYTYCD AU Season 1, Kelley Abbey’s Top 12 Group routine

From SYTYCD AU Season 2, Kelley Abbey’s Top 12 Group routine

SYTYCD AU Season 3, Kelley Abbey’s Top 20 routine

And, I’m not sure what season this is from, but I think it’s AU’s 3rd (and last season), the guest performance from the FAME musical, which Kelley Abbey choreographed and which includes AU alumni. Pay particular attention around minute 1:36. Anything seem familiar?

July 15, 2011 I Written By

In Defense of International All-Stars

In my last post about potential Season 8 All-Stars, I asked whether people would like to see dancers from SYTYCD around the world participate as All-Stars. So far, it’s not very positive. Allow me to post these videos as defense for the awesomeness of my idea. 🙂

Exhibit 1 – Denys and Amanda of SYTYCD Canada Season 3 (Winner and Runner-Up)

This was their FIRST performance together and made it pretty obvious that they were going all the way. Mary Murphy cameo, fyi.

You should watch all their routines, but their “Hey Hey” house routine was pretty impressive.

Exhibit 2 – Robbie and Ivy of SYTYCD Australia Season 3 (Winner and 3rd place)

NOBODY thought Robbie would pull off a Paso doble with Ivy, but he killed it. Ivy really made him a better dancer/performer and I think it’s due to their partnership that he made it all the way.

Also, their “Bad Romance” is NOT to be missed. Another Mary Murphy cameo.

Exhibit 3 – Charlie and Tommy of SYTYCD United Kingdom (Winner and Runner-Up)

Again, Tommy was another guy who was misjudged a bit and his partnership with Charlie (who was an early frontrunner) really gave him a chance to shine and grow. In keeping with my Latin theme, their tango:

But, of course, their most memorable routine is probably their week 1 hip hop.

These are just a handful of routines from some of the top dancers of the English-speaking SYTYCD franchises. If we don’t have International All-Stars, SYTYCD US really should find a way to feature some of these amazing dancers on our stage and give American audiences better access to the episodes. Luckily, the BBC put theirs online last season and I imagine they’ll do that again for SYTYCD UK Season 2, which is coming up soon.

October 25, 2010 I Written By

Vancouver Represent – SYTYCD Canada Top 20 has West Coast Flavour

I am biased.

I was born and riased in Vancouver and although I have family across Canada my heart is and always be, WEST COAST!!!

I am thrilled with the Vancouver representation in the Top dancers!!

Charlene Hart, 22, Abbotsford, B.C.
Danielle Gardner, 21, Surrey, B.C.
Kirsten Wicklun, 20, Vancouver
Nathalie Heath, 23, Surrey, B.C.

I will be rooting for these hometown gals the whole season!!!

I really like Danielle especially seeing how much she has overcome medically. I still worry about her health, but fingers crossed she stays healthy!

All four ladies are super talented and I am excited to see some west coast flavour on the show!

Here is a local news article on the gals:

Surrey’s Danielle Gardner, 21, and Nathalie Heath, 23, are both in the coveted group of 11 men and 11 women from about 150 dancers that were selected from an audition phase held across Canada earlier this year. Another finalist, Kristen Wicklund, 20, is listed as being from Vancouver, but attended Fraser Heights Secondary in Surrey.

Gardner has been dancing since she was a toddler, attended Langley Fine Arts School and is experienced in all types of dance. Heath started dancing at age four and in addition to contemporary, is trained in jazz, ballet, modern, musical theatre, street jazz and hip hop. Wicklund’s background is mainly in ballet, but she’s also experienced in other styles through her formal training.

The local trio join Abbotsford dancer Charlene Hart to comprise the four B.C. dancers in the top 22.

GO TEAM BC

August 28, 2010 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

Tonight the Top 22 Perform for the first time SYTYCD Canada

CTV writes:

Season 3’s dancers represent the country coast to coast from Vancouver, B.C., to Inverness, NS, and for the first time, there are competitors from Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Specializing in everything from contemporary to hip-hop, ballroom, ballet and salsa, the Top 22 were announced during a special one-hour reveal episode.

Rounding out the Top 22 are four competitors from British Columbia, four from Alberta, nine from Ontario, two from Quebec, one from Nova Scotia.

They will now be paired into 11 couples and will work with some of the world’s top choreographers learning a new dance routine and style each week. Each dancer has chance to win the title of Canada’s Favourite dancer, $100,000 and, for the first time ever, the winner, runner up and one lucky viewer will win a Mazda2.

The fate of the 22 finalists is left up to viewer votes. Voting starts on August 23rd and continues for the next nine weeks.

Voting will occur following the conclusion of the performance shows and is restricted to one, two-hour voting window in each region of broadcast, and can be cast for free via landline telephones.

On the first live results show, Tuesday, August 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET, the three couples with the fewest number of votes will be announced. Each dancer in those three couples will then have one last chance to impress the judges and “dance for their life” with a solo routine of his or her choosing.

After all six dancers have performed, the judges will make the ultimate decision of who stays and who goes home.

Your Top 22:

Amanda Cleghorn, 19, Mississauga, Ont.
Bree Wasylenko, 22, Toronto
Charlene Hart, 22, Abbotsford, B.C.
Claudia Primeau, 26, Montreal
Danielle Gardner, 21, Surrey, B.C.
Denys Drozdyuk, 25, Toronto
Edgar Gilbert-Reyes, 22, Calgary
Hani Abaza, 26, Ottawa
Janick Arseneau, 20, Bathurst, N.B.
Jeff Mortensen, 22, Edmonton
Jera Wolfe, 19, Inverness, N.S.
Jesse Weafer, 26, Aurora, Ont.
Jonathan Arsenault, 26, Kitchener, Ont.
Julia Harnett, 27, Calgary
Kirsten Wicklun, 20, Vancouver
Kloé Schultz, 20, North Bay, Ont.
Mackenzie Green, 20, Regina
Nathalie Heath, 23, Surrey, B.C.
Sebastian Mersch, 21, Toronto
Shavar Blackwood, 25, Toronto
Shelaina Anderson, 19, Edmonton
Yonni Fournier, 27, Montreal

Be sure to tune in tonight if you have CTV or check back here at www.puresytycd.com for Power Rankings and Summary of the show.

August 23, 2010 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

The Twist – Emilie’s Prediction/Suggestion

So, in my Odd and Random – 5/21/10 post, I linked to an interview with some of the All-Stars where Lauren predicted that the SYTYCD powers-that-be still had some surprises in store for everybody, including the All-Stars themselves. I hinted that I had an idea of what one such twist could be.

I know for sure a lot of you will hate this idea. Let’s see if some of you love it.

What if…

Read more..

May 24, 2010 I Written By

SYTYCD Cross Country Dance Comparison

Many thanks to Margaret for this tidbit, I figured that I would bring it out for you guys to see…

The first song in this post is Don’t Touch Me Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water on 'Em) - Single - Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em) by Busta Rhymes danced as hip-hop.

From SYTYCD US Season 4 Week 3: Kherington Payne and Stephen “Twitch” Boss. Choreography by Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo (aka NappyTabs).

From SYTYCD Canada Season 1 Week 4: Nico Archambault and Arassay Reyes choreographed by Luther Brown

So who do you think danced it better? The Canadians or the Americans? 😀

Better yet, how about this dance comparison:

Read more..

April 24, 2010 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

SYTYCD Dance Comparison

Now that we know all the All-Stars that are going to participate in Season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance, I thought it was be fun to look at some dances that – interestingly enough – used the same music in various seasons of the show. Though all dancers are going to be alumni, not all are to be a part of the All-Star pool. However, it’s always fun to reminisce.

Below are two videos that uses the song Right Here Waiting Richard Marx - Richard Marx: Greatest Hits - Right Here Waiting performed by Richard Marx.

The first is from Season 1 Week 4, a lyrical routine performed by Ashlé Dawson and Blake McGrath. Choreography by Tovaris Wilson.

The second video is from Season 5 Week 1, a contemporary routine performed by Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi. Choreography by Mandy Moore.

So who do you think danced it better? Which choreography do you prefer more?

April 23, 2010 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)