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Top 20 to Top 18 Thoughts

Love tonight’s opening number choreographed by Pharside and Pheonix. My mom and I like to try to guess who does the choreography for the opening number before Cat reveals the answer. After watching last weeks show it seemed clear to the public the Team Street won the show. However, Cat revealed that according to the voting results that Team Stage (much to the surprise of Travis) won the night with 54% of the vote. Also, cute to see Twitch blush when Cat said she saw Magic Mike XXL (btw Twitch is fantastic in the movie) over the weekend.

Okay back to tonights show…the competition really gets started.

1. Haliee, Darion & Yurelis: Salsa; choreo by Jonathan & Oksana.
This had the possibility of being a great salsa trio but fell a little short. The girls were fantastic and hopefully they will be safe next week. Darion was the weak link in this trio. There wasn’t any emotion coming from him and the fact he also bobbled that lift did’t help either.

2. Derek & Ariana: Jazz; choreo by Ray Leeper
So nice to get to see Derek in a smaller number, giving the audience a chance to know who he is. I thought what Ariana said in the package was great, that she can also have technique in other styles. She had Twitch asking what team she was on. Overall a nice dance.

3. Alexia, Virgil & Megz: Contemporary; choreo by Dee Caspary
This was one of my favorites tonight. I was definitely impressed by Virgil and Megz. Also I saw Megz in a different light and looking forward to seeing what else she can do.

4. Burim,Gaby, Edson, & Lily: Bollywood; choreo by Nakul
While Bollywood routines are always fun to watch but they do make me nervous just because of the amount of detail and energy this style requires. Like usual the dancers pull it off. Happy to see that Burim is continuing to pick up the choreograph and love that he also gave credit to the other dancers for helping him. This dance was a great example of team work.

5. Kate, Asaf & Neptune: Broadway; choreo by Spencer Lift
Love this version of “All About the Bass” but the dance itself was okay. I like Kate and I agreed with Nigel that her cool confidence doesn’t always work in her favor. She needed a little more sass. Asaf seems to be his own worst enemy, hopefully he will get out of his head cause he seems to pick up the choreography pretty well.

6. Jaja & Jim: Hip hop; chore by Chris Scott
My other favorite of the night. Jim really reminds me of Alex Wong, which isn’t a bad thing in my book. Also I love the softer side of hip hop and the softer side of Jaja. These two are in my personal Top 10.

7. Marissa, Moises & JJ: Jazz; choreo by Ray Leeper
It was another good jazz routine for me. Though it was interesting to hear the difference of opinion from the judges. Nigel and Jason didn’t like they fact the girls had a smirk during some moments of the dance. Paula on the other had liked it.

Overall enjoyed both of the team dances but the prop in the Team Street routine was fun.

Bottom 6
Team Stage: Darion, Derek, and Moises
Team Street: Ariana, Lily, and Neptune

Twitter Save: Moises and Neptune
Judges Save: Derek and Ariana

Going home: Darion and Lily.

*Tune in Tomorrow night for the 10 year anniversary special at 8/7 central.

July 20, 2015 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.

Top 20 Thoughts

The first live show of Season 12 was a nice introduction to the dancers and what they can do. This week only each team each team performed in their own style, which is always nice to see them in their comfort zone.

Last nights show kicked off with a great group number by Chris Scott and Jessica Kellar. It didn’t take me long to spot Asaf Goren, the replacement to the top 20 dancer that had to withdraw. Unfortunately, Alain “Hurrikane” injured his knee and due to the conditions it was a better idea to heal properly than to cause a reoccurring injury.

We also got a glimpse of what the live shows will be like this season. We will see duos, trios, and quartets of dancers. Starting next week stage and street will have to dance together and probably will expose some weaknesses. So for this episode I’m just going to give my thoughts on the dances and my best guess of who might be in the bottom three next week.

Team Stage
1) Stacey Tookey: Contemporary; Gaby, Derek, & Moises
Stacey once again creates a beautiful routine and the dancers knocked it out of the park. This was my favorite dance from the stage team. I think that all three dancers will be safe.

2) Brian Friedman: Jazz; Marissa, Hailee, & Alexia
So great to have Brian back on the show and he didn’t hold back with the choreography. The highlight was seeing him breakout his stilettos and show the girls if he can do it, so can they. Overall, I enjoyed this jazz number. I do have to agree with the judges when the dance and costumes are sexy, you don’t need to oversell the sexiness.

3) Swan: Ballet; Darion & Jim
From what I’ve seen online everyone loved the dance and the dancer but they did not love the costumes. I agree the costumes just did not work for me.

4) Travis Wall: Contemporary; Edson & Kate
Okay so don’t know what the judges had a problem with this dance and neither did Travis. I really hope these two stick around next week.

Team Street

1) Dave Scott: Megz, Neptune, & Jessica (JJ)
Seemed to have a mixed review from the judges but nothing really negative. There is a part of me that wants to say maybe nerves were a factor.

2) Chris Scott: Jaja, Lily, Burim & Asaf
This dance was a great example of why I love Chris. He likes to show off the dancers strengths. Also was one of the few times that I did not like the camera work because I could not see everything that was happening. I also hope the B-boys continue to work hard to pick up the choreography.

3) Pharside and Pheonix: Virgil, Ariana, & Yorellis
This was a fun routine with a clear theme and a well known song. Virgil will be an audience favorite. Yorellis will be one to watch since she does have training in some of the stage styles.

I honestly thought both teams had there winning moments and there okay moments. Who will be in the bottom is tough to say but based just on a gut feeling here’s who I think might be in trouble. Stage: Hailee, Alexia, and Darion. Street: Megz, Neptune, and Ariana.

Tune in next Monday night to find who stays and who goes.

July 14, 2015 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.

Mary Murphy’s Gone from SYTYCD and SYTYCD 2015 Audition Cities

Thanks to Amanda for covering the new judges for SYTYCD 2015 (Jason Derulo and Paula Abdul and for sharing the dates of the tryouts in New York City. Amanda wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Mary, but it seems clear that Mary Murphy is gone from SYTYCD. Personally, I didn’t hate Mary as a judge when she came back the second time, but I still thought she didn’t offer much value. It felt far too manufactured and forced. So, I’m glad for the change. You can also see that Mary’s gone since they’ve posted a picture of Nigel, Jason and Paula at the judges table.

We all know that SYTYCD was renewed with changes to the format. I think we’re all interested to see how Stage Dancers versus Street Dancers is going to work out. I’m personally excited by the idea. I never felt like it was fair that the street dancers always got sent home when they couldn’t do the other styles as well. The street dancers’ solos were usually better than the stage dancer solos (especially ballroom).

Speaking of ballroom. I’m still interested to see how ballroom fits into the new format. I assume they’ll be considered stage dancers. Although, what if some street salsa dancer comes on the show? Will they be put in the street category instead of stage? That would be fun to see. Although, I still think SYTYCD doesn’t do ballroom dancers justice when they don’t allow them to dance with a partner. It’s just not the same.

Long story short, I’m excited for the new season. I think it’s a fresh new take while still having the dancing and choreography we love. In fact, I think this could really expand the type of choreography we get on the show.

Here are the dates and locations of the SYTYCD 2015 auditions:
Dallas, Texas
Saturday, Feb. 14
Southern Methodist University

Detroit, Mich.
Sunday, Feb. 22
Fillmore Detroit

Memphis, Tenn.
Sunday, March 8
Orpheum Theatre

Los Angeles, Calif.
Sunday, March 15
Orpheum Theatre

So You Think You Can Dance season 12 premieres on Fox in May.

Also, as you might have noticed, we’ve all been pretty busy lately with our day jobs. If there are some of you that are interested in blogging about SYTYCD, we’d love to bring on a few new bloggers. Just drop us a note on our contact us page about why you’d like to blog and what you think you could bring to the table.

January 27, 2015 I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance Season 12 Renewal!!

We posted previously about Nigel’s somewhat cryptic tweet about whether So You Think You can Dance would be renewed and return for SYTYCD Season 12. The good news today is that Fox announced the renewal and return of So You Think You Can Dance for Season 12.

As part of the renewal, the show is going through some major changes. Here’s the details of those changes:

Throughout the auditions, the dancers who advance will be placed into two teams – the STAGE dancers, featuring those trained in styles such as contemporary, ballet, jazz or tap; and the STREET dancers, hopefuls skilled in hip-hop, animation or breaking. As the auditions continue, the judges, along with each team’s All-Star Mentor, will eliminate dancers until only the Top 20 – 10 Street Dancers and 10 Stage Dancers – remain. When the competition goes “live,” the Top 20 will be challenged weekly to perform a variety of styles, working with world-renowned choreographers. One dancer from each genre will be eliminated each week leading up to the Season Finale. Who will win…a dancer from the stage or the street?

This sounds like it could be a very good change. I (and I think Nigel) was always upset when an amazing street dancer was sent home from the show because they didn’t have skills in the other styles of dance. This sounds like it will give them an opportunity to stick around much longer. Plus, we should see a new level of choreography on the show as the choreographers can go nuts with their skills. My only caution would be that the choreographers think more about the art of creating something amazing versus just trying to showcase the dancers skills.

I do hope they’ll have some cross over dancing where we can see some b-boys doing contemporary and some ballroom dancers doing Krump. Oh wait. The announcement doesn’t list ballroom anywhere. Does that mean that ballroom will not be part of the new season or are they just grouped with the trained styles? That will be interesting to see. It would be a shame if Nigel included his beloved Tap and shutout ballroom.

What do you think of this new season?

November 17, 2014 I Written By

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

Will There Be A So You Think You Can Dance Season 12?

This is the looming question. Will Fox choose to renew So You Think You Can Dance for another season or not. The ratings have certainly fallen off lately, but SYTYCD still has an amazingly passionate fan base. Here’s to hoping that Fox will at least give SYTYCD one more season to send the show off properly.

Nigel offered this tweet about the SYTYCD Renewal or SYTYCD Cancellation:

There’s also a petition on Change.org for So You Think You Can Dance as well. It could use a few more thousand people signing the petition to really make a difference. If you love the show, go and add your name to the list.

November 6, 2014 I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance Season 11 Premiere Date

Fox just announced the premiere date for our beloved SYTYCD Season 11. The SYTYCD 11 season will start with a 2 hour premiere on Wednesday, May 28 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

Cat Deeley is back as host and Nigel and Mary will still be the resident judges. I wonder what other twists they might throw in this year. I know they cut out the Vegas Week this year since I tried to attend, but they told me it wasn’t happening. I think they might be doing an LA week this year instead.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 11

March 26, 2014 I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance Season 11 Audition Dates

I just found this on the Fox website:
ATLANTA, GA
Fox Theatre
January 13, 2014

NEW ORLEANS, LA
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
January 31, 2014

LOS ANGELES, CA
Orpheum Theatre
March 23, 2014

*More dates to come. Please keep checking back!

November 26, 2013 I Written By

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

Travis Wall Choreograph’s Caesars Palace’s Buffet Music Video

Most of you know that I’m biased to Las Vegas since I live here, but one thing I love about the casinos in Las Vegas is that they aren’t afraid to stretch how they celebrate. As one of my Italian friends told me, “Las Vegas is excess.” With that in mind, it shouldn’t be surprising that for the 1st birthday of Caesars Palaces’s Baccanal Buffet they would have Travis Wall choreograph, direct and star in a special video performance at the Buffet. Plus, he brought a long a number of familiar faces: Nick Lazzarini, Jaimie Goodwin, Kyle Robinson, Kayla Radomski, Dom Palange, and Kayla Kalbfleisc. If you haven’t seen this video, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.

I think this is just a preview of the full video. At least I hope that’s the case. I’d love to see more of Kayla Radomski. It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed her dancing.

September 9, 2013 I Written By

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

SYTYCD Season 10: Top 16 (Now 14) Performances – Music List

Top 16 Group Dance
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey and Peter Chu
Song: “New World”—The Irrepressibles New World - Nude

SOLOS
Makenzie Dustman: “Claire de Lune”—Laura Sullivan Claire de Lune: - Piano Solos
Alan Bersten: “Return of the King”—X-Ray Dog
Curtis Holland: “Used To Love U”—John Legend Used to Love U - Get Lifted / Once Again
Mariah Spears: “Set It Off”—Kardinal Official feat. The Clipse
Dorian ‘BluPrint’ Hector: “Illusion of Choice”—Gramatik Illusion of Choice - #Digitalfreedom

Alexis & Nico
Style: Jive
Choreographer: Toni Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Song: “Mayhem” – Imelda May Mayhem - Mayhem

Jenna & Tucker
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Travis Wall
Song: “Hangin By A Thread” – Jann Arden Hangin' by a Thread - Happy?

Mariah & Blu-Print
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Brian Friedman
Song: “Fall into the Sky” – Zedd & Lucky Date feat. Ellie Goulding Fall Into the Sky (feat. Ellie Goulding) - Clarity

Malece & Alan
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Song: “Bassline”—Chris Brown Bassline - Fortune (Deluxe Version)

Hayley & Curtis
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Dee Caspery
Song: “Don’t Let Go Yet” (Radio Edit)—David J. Roch Don't Let Go Yet (Radio Edit) - Don't Let Go Yet (Radio Edit) - Single

Amy & Fik-Shun
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Tyce DiOrio
Song: “Under the Bridge” (Sous le port) from The Triplets of Belleville Under the Bridge (Sous le pont) - The Triplets of Belleville (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture)

Makenzie & Paul
Style: Hip-hop
Choreographer: Dave Scott
Song: “Pretty Lil’ Heart” – Robin Thicke feat Lil’ Wayne Pretty Lil' Heart (feat. Lil Wayne) - Love After War (Deluxe Version)

Jasmine & Aaron
Style: Quickstep
Choreographer: Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Song: “Pencil Full of Lead” – Paolo Lutini Pencil Full of Lead - Sunny Side Up (Bonus Track Version)

July 23, 2013 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 Season 10: Top 18 (Now 16) Performances – Music List

GROUP DANCE
Top 18 Group Dance
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Christopher Scott & Sonya Tayeh
Song: Sóley – “Pretty Face” (Nathan Lanier Remix) [unable to find the Remix version, so here is the single version Pretty Face - We Sink]

DANCE FOR YOUR LIFE
Alexis Juliano: Otis Redding – “Try a Little Tenderness” Try a Little Tenderness - The Very Best of Otis Redding
Jasmine Mason: Jazmine Sullivan – “10 Seconds” 10 Seconds - Love Me Back
Jenna Johnson: Jessie J & Big Sean – “Wild” Wild (feat. Big Sean) - Wild (feat. Big Sean) - Single

Amy & FikShun
Style: Paso Doble
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Généreux
Song: Jack Trammel – “Tactical Dominance” (Orch Hybrid Version) Tactical Dominance (Orch Hybrid Version) - Behemoth

Jasmine Harper & Aaron
Style: Broadway
Choreographer: Spencer Liff
Song: Smash cast feat. Megan Hilty – “They Just Keep Moving the Line” They Just Keep Moving the Line (SMASH Cast Version) [feat. Megan Hilty] - Bombshell (Music from the TV Series

MaKenzie & Paul
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Lindsay Nelko
Song: Idina Menzel – “No Day But Today” No Day But Today (Live from Soundstage) - Idina Menzel - EP

Jasmine Mason & Alan
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Sean Cheesman
Song: Charlotte Martin – “Veins” Veins - Veins

Jenna & Tucker
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Keoni & Mari Madrid
Song: Michael Jackson – “Dangerous” (Immortal version) Dangerous (Immortal Version) - The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection

Malece
Style: Contemporary
Choreographer: Sonya Tayeh
Song: Sleeping at Last – “In the Embers” In the Embers - Atlas: Light - EP

Hayley & Curtis
Style: Samba
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Généreux
Song: Club des Belugas – “Straight to Memphis” Straight to Memphis - Forward

Alexis & Nico
Style: Jazz
Choreographer: Spencer Liff
Song: Nina Simone – “I Put a Spell on You” I Put a Spell on You - The Best of Nina Simone

Mariah & BluPrint
Style: Hip Hop
Choreographer: Luther Brown
Song: M.I.A. – “Bring the Noize” Bring the Noize - Bring the Noize - Single

July 9, 2013 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... =)