Welcome to Pure So You Think You Can Dance

Asuka and Jonathan talk about when and how they heard about MJ’s passing and what it meant to them. They also talk about the harsh comments they received from the judges. There’s a nice moment when Asuka backs up Jonathan. Jonathan also gives some good background on solo dances and that he got help from some other dancers.

I have to admit this interview is like the opposite of Ashley and Max’s interview. Asuka and Jonathan really sounded depressed. They tried to be upbeat, but you could just feel that they were sad about going home (which is to be expected).

Hello all, I am ecstatic to be publishing my first post!

I’d like to introduce myself a little bit. My name is Max. I’m from Montreal, Canada, and I love everything SYTYCD. I’ll be helping John out with posting, and maybe even with the Canadian version of the show, starting this Fall. I’d also like to say that if you, the reader, have any criticism whatsoever on any of my future posts, do not be afraid to vocalize it. Good, bad, I welcome it all.

Now, Ashley Valerio and Max Kapitannikov’s Collective Elimination Interview – Watching this interview, you’d never know it was because they were kicked off the show. Nonetheless, I felt that Ashley’s advice at the end was very inspirational. I am definitely sad to see the both of them go after so much hard work.

Last season, Kherington Payne was my favorite dancer. So, you can imagine my joy to find out that Kherington Payne had a major part in Fame. Turns out that Jason Williams from SYTYCD season 2 is also on the show. Check out the trailer which includes some really nice images of Kherington Payne, but honestly includes a lot of really talented people. I’m excited to see Fame this Fall.

I should have posted these a while ago, but life’s been a little busy. I’m working on a couple interviews with choreographers now. Of course, that’s all an excuse. I’ll do better after the next eliminations.

Paris Torres Elimination Interview – I love how candid Paris Torres is in this interview. This interview really made me like Paris more than I did before.

Tony Bellissimo Elimination Interview – I love that Tony goes out on a limb and predicts Evan to do well in the competition.

Everyone knows that I’m all about finding videos of the various So You Think You Can Dance top 20 before they made it on the show. A good reader let me know about these 2 videos of Jeanine Mason dancing before So You Think You Can Dance.

This is a really cool video of Jeanine and Alexis Mason (can you say sisters?)

This is Jeanine Mason at age 16 doing a really interesting solo that combines contemporary and ballet to some Tango music. Quite an odd mix. Impressive dancing for only 16 years old though.

I think that Paris Torres is going to be one of those contestants that people get annoyed with really quickly. She’s like the quintessential beauty queen dancer. I don’t know what it is, but I think her look and the way she acts is going to get on a lot of people’s nerves. I predict the haters are going to start hammering Paris Torres for her huge chin too. Jason Glover should be really fun to see on the show. I think people are going to love his really calm demeanor. Check out the video interview of Paris Torres and Jason Glover:

Finally time to finish posting the other SYTYCD top 20 videos. This video is of Asuka Kondoh & Ade Obayomi. They actually are pretty candid about their experience in Las Vegas. Ade Obayomi was trying to sell himself a little bit too much to me. However, in the format of the show I don’t think we’ll really see that come out of him. Asuka was a real charmer. The judges got that dead on. I hope I’m not disappointed with her dancing come Wednesday. Her little laugh at the very end of the video is the perfect example of the little things she does that are so charming. Check out Asuka Kondoh & Ade Obayomi’s interview for the SYTYCD top 20.

Jonathan Platero is another person we saw very little of on SYTYCD. Turns out he’s a salsa dancer. I love that they have a salsa dancer on the show. Provides a little variety. I wonder if they’ll bring salsa as one of the styles they do on the show now too. I don’t remember them really using salsa before. I am interested to know what kind of solos Jonathan Platero will use.

Here’s a video of Jonathan Platero’s salsa routine with Sophia Luna:

Here’s another video of Jonathan Platero and Sophia Luna in Canada doing a salsa routine.

Max Kapitannikov looks like he’s going to be an interesting dancer for the boys in the SYTYCD top 20. Check out this interesting routine which kind of incorporates a number of styles into one dance including ballroom and Hip Hop. Pretty cool performance:

Here’s another Hip Hop video of Max Kapitannikov dancing with Sarika Hudson, Dasha Tertova, Pascha Stepanchuk, and Jonathan Jacobs. The lighting isn’t the best for this video.

Ade Obayomi is another example of a dancer that we didn’t get much chance to see before he was announced as a member of the So You Think You Can Dance 2009 top 20. So, I’m doing what I can to find some videos of the SYTYCD top 20 from before the show. Here’s a couple for Ade Obayomi.

This is Ade Obayomi doing a duet with Kaitlyn Conley. Gives a good example of what it will be like for Ade to partner someone on SYTYCD.

Here’s Ade Obayomi performing a solo. It isn’t a bad solo at all, but I’m not sure that a solo like this is really going to get people to pick up a phone and vote for him.