Welcome to Pure So You Think You Can Dance

Hi everybody! I thought I’d talk about the routines that made the list of the 15 best from seasons 1-5. Nigel hosted this great look back at the best of the best from the last five years.

They started with season 1 (obviously) and it’s amazing to look at how barebones the concept of the show was at that point. Two routines were highlighted from season 1. First was Destini and Jamile’s awesome hip-hop routine by Shane Sparks. I didn’t start watching SYTYCD until season 2, so I was thrilled to be able to see this routine that I had heard so much about. It didn’t disappoint, they both hit it hard and everything just worked. The 2nd routine highlighted was Melody and Nick’s “All That Jazz” routine. The music from Chicago has been featured multiple times on the show over the years, but I feel that these 2 best friends (the clip where Nick says to the camera “we’re canoodling!” while he squashes Melody into the sofa is classic) embodied everything about that Fosse style.

Jamile and Destini

Melody and Nick


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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.

Life’s been busy here at Pure SYTYCD. We have a lot of things cooking for next season. I also just finished sending off packages for our Katee Shean makeup giveaway and the 5 winners of the SYTYCD Workout DVD giveaway. Good news. We have another really really nice giveaway.

Yes, we’re giving away free tickets to the Broadway show Burn the Floor. This is an awesome giveaway. We’ll be giving away tickets to see Anya and Pasha who will be performing on the show from August 18th – October 18th. If you haven’t heard about this broadway show check out this video:

The only real challenge to this giveaway is that you have to make it to New York city to be able to enjoy it. I just wish I could make it to New York myself. Luckily, I know there are a lot of people from NY that read this blog. Plus, we’re also going to offer some sort of discount to see the show if you don’t win. So, how to enter to win these free Broadway tickets.

There are 4 different ways to enter yourself to win. Do all 4 things and you’ll have your name entered into the drawing 4 times. The winner will be chosen at random from all of the entries.

Here’s how you enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post (easy enough no?). Just make sure to use your real email or we’ll have no way to contact you and you’ll forfeit your entry. Sadly this happened last contest and so I chose a different winner.
2. Send a tweet to all your friends about this website or this contest. Click Tweet This! to tweet a message about this contest. Make sure to include @tvblog in the tweet to enter.
3. Share a link to http://www.puresytycd.com on your Facebook, myspace page or blog. Leave a comment with your myspace name, facebook page, or blog post so I can verify.
4. Join the Pure SYTYCD email list (existing members of the list are already entered if they make note of it in the comments below).

Simple as that. All I ask of the winner is that you also come back and tell us about the show. Mostly because I’m completely jealous of whoever wins these tickets.

As I was watching and posting about the various routines we’ll get to see again on the SYTYCD 100th episode, I couldn’t help but think back to some of my other favorite routines from past episodes of SYTYCD that won’t be shown on the SYTYCD 100th episode. SYTYCD season 1 will have to accept my apology since I didn’t watch it. However, here’s a couple of them that are in my top SYTYCD routines.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 2
Benji Schwimmer and Heidi Groskreutz Mambo to the song “Black Mambo” —Angel and the Mambokats. Benji and Heidi are cousins that have been dancing together forever, and this performance is quite possibly the best routine technically (I believe Nigel called it the “most professional performance on the show) that’s ever been done on the show. Certainly others might have moved you more, but this routine just throws everything at you and flat out entertains. I can also assure you it was one of the most searched routines on Google as well.

I could have posted pretty much any of Allison Holker’s solo, but Allison’s “Feeling Good” solo will do. Anyone that has the term Allison-ed coined in honor of her deserves to be on the list in my book.

While possibly not the best routine on the show, I can promise you that Travis and Martha’s krump routine was shocking at the time. From this routine millions of people were introduced to Lil’ C and Krumping. The song is “Clap Back” —Ja Rule.

I really don’t believe that any of the final 2 men dances could compete with Tranji, choreographed by Shane Sparks to the song “Gyrate” —Da Muzicianz (ft. Mr. Collipark). I think you had to see season 2 to really appreciate what Benji and Travis brought to the table with Tranji, but it was awesome.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 3
Lacey and Kameron danced a routine to the song “Dancing” by Elisa choreographed by Mia Michaels. I think we’re all better having been introduced to the music of Elisa on SYTYCD. This routine put together great music, great choreography and amazing dancing. Is there any wonder why we keep watching SYTYCD?

Neil and Sabra’s table routine was pretty epic as well. It was choreographed by Mandy Moore to the song “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” —Eurythmics . I loved this dance, because it really took Sabra to the next level of dancing for me. Plus, Neil’s slow pass over the top of Sabra (at the 0:28 mark) is a moment I’ll never forget.

The start of this Shane Sparks routine to the song “Fuego” by Pitbull with Lauren and Pasha had me completely floored. Shane Sparks took 2 pretty white dancers and really entertained.

Danny and Lacey danced a samba to Dmitry Chaplin’s choreography. Certainly Dmitry poured in a bunch of great choreography and Danny and Lacey killed the dance, but I think the thing that I remember most about this is the music “Hip Hip Chin Chin” by Club Des Belugas. It all just melded into a really fun, memorable dance.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 4
Chelsie and Mark’s “Bleeding Love” routine by Nappytabs needs no explanation.

Sonya busts out an amazing piece for Courtney and Mark to the song “The Garden” by Mirah. Such creative choreography. Courtney steals the show for me in this, but the whole thing is just Sonya.

Katee and Joshua’s Nappytabs routine to “No Air” —Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown had so many amazing moments. It was such a wonderful mix of solo and partnering. Plus, the moment Katee pulls Joshua’s leg and he pops up is so memorable.

Katee and Twitch did a door routine to the song “Mercy” —Duffy and choreographed by Mia Michaels. I actually almost left it off the list, but after watching it again, there’s no way I could leave it off. Twitch and Katee just rocked this routine.

This final video is probably the best Viennese Waltz that will ever be performed on So You Think You Can Dan Dance. I tried to find a video with the back story, but even without Jean Marc Genereux’s storyJean Marc Genereux’s story is great and Twitch and Kherington’s Viennese Waltz to “A New Day Has Come” by Celine Dion is in the running for my favorite SYTYCD dances of all time. When it happened I watched it over and over. Just as good watching it again today.

I just looked at the clock and realized I spent a few hours creating this list. A few hours VERY well spent. The sad part is that there are dozens of other performances that should have made the above list. No Katee Bollywood or Pas de Deux for example. Oh goodness, I better not start listing or I’ll be here all night. So, I’ll leave the list up to you. What other So You Think You Can Dance routines are on your list (and preferably a link to a video of the routine)?

Also, if you’re familiar with all the videos on this list…you might be a SYTYCD-a-holic!!

I’m so excited for Top 10 next week. And a bit sad. Some couples, I’m praying they make it through, so I can see the dancers each with someone else and some couples, I’m incredibly sad (and maybe a bit worried) now that they’re going to be split up.

I keep saying how hard this is, but am mostly trying not to face that it’s not going to get any easier. Every week, it gets harder. And now, half of the couples are in the bottom 3! Thanks for your comments in the “SYTYCD rant” John provided, cause I totally scoped them out. Also, I’m using my texts back and forth with my mom as notes, since we always talk throughout the shows.

Okay, so let’s start…

-Janette and Brandon are SUPER safe this week, I think. Both of their routines were outstanding and they were last, so they’re fresh in our minds. WADE ROBSON! I think WR loves his Roisin Murphy (remember Lauren and Neil with “Night of the Dancing Flames”?). In the comments, Beth says she’s been a hater, but was sold tonight. I’m right there with her and I suspect that a lot of us with reservations about either of these two dancers will vote for them tonight.

-Jeanine and Phillip first had a kind of boring Russian folk dance, but they made it work with their personalities and chemistry and nobody had any complaints about their dancing. Phillip showed a lot of progress with his jive and Jeanine was too sexy for words and smoothed over any lack of polish on Phillip’s part. I believe they, too, will be safe. It’ll be interesting to see how Phillip does with a new partner. He’s got a great personality and is a good dancer, but he’s not picking up the other styles fast or strong enough, so he disappoints me sometimes.

-Kayla and Kupono rocked a Mia Michaels routine about addiction. It was ridiculously good, gave both my mom and I shiver attacks and apparently made Stephanie almost puke, it was so good. Their Broadway wasn’t nearly as good. I enjoyed it, but I think the judges’ comments were valid. However, I think the strength of Mia’s routine and Kayla’s popularity will save the day here.

-Randi and Evan made me so afraid tonight when I heard the words “hip-hop” attached to their names. But, they pulled out a sweet hip hop with Nappytabs’ help. It was funny how both Nigel and Mary spoke my thoughts for me. I kept wondering if Randi should be thrown around so much if she were pregnant (lol) and Mary voiced my hip-hop related fears. Their samba struggled in the middle (though Randi kicked butt and the opening was very strong). Loved seeing Pasha and Anya! I think the comments aimed at Evan were right on tonight (much as I love him). He’s a lot sexier than he lets himself dance, so he’s got to move those hips with confidence. You could almost switch R&E and K&K, in my mind, but I think that there was just enough of an edge with the stellar Mia Michaels piece to put K&K just a cut above. I don’t want either of them to go home! No siree! Let’s see how they dance with new folks.

-Melissa and Ade had two competent, interesting numbers, but they were routines that can sometimes be…less dynamic. Okay, it’s no secret. I’m not a fan of disco. My mom loved the disco, but I’m just never really that impressed. And the waltz was sweet, especially as it was potentially their last dance together. I was really impressed with Ade and enjoyed his independent spins near the end. But, because the dances were disco and waltz and earlier than the rest of the dances, I think they may be in trouble. At this point, I don’t dislike anybody, but I probably like Melissa and Ade least at this point.

-Caitlin and Jason had a great Foxtrot, but he wasn’t really keeping up with her. She got her wish with a sequiney, sexy costume (and I guess the costume department took pains to make up for last week). Their Mandy Moore lyrical jazz was good too, but everyone mentioned they just didn’t think they did quite enough since it was their own styles. I honestly hope that Caitlin at least makes it to next week because I suspect that, though they clearly like each other, she and Jason just never developed the right chemistry as dancers. I don’t think it’s so much Jason holding Caitlin back as they would’ve been better off with different partners.

However, I suspect that they’ll go if they’re in the bottom 3, since they’re no strangers to that position. Or Melissa and Ade. If I were calling the shots, I’d send Melissa and Jason home.

It’s really sad because, as much as I like all of the dancers at this point, I just don’t think the boys stand up to the girls in terms of dance talent. Evan’s probably the only one I’d be devastated to lose, where I love all the girls.

What do you think? Am I going to be terribly off this week? Or eerily on? Do you think Kayla and Kupono have any advantage going into the Top 10 since they’ve already switched partners? And let’s try this “dream couples” thing one more time now that we’re going to have the opportunity to see new partnerships next week.

Oh, and if you were wondering, my mom and I exchanged something like 60 text messages throughout this show. I tried to get her to do the Power Rankings for me since it’s so hard, but she had to go to bed.

Anya Garnis & Pasha Kovalev should be a familiar name for all you So You Think You Can Dance fans. I can still see Nigel’s googley eyes when he talked about Anya and Pasha’s audition being the sexiest audition he’d ever seen. I can’t really argue with Nigel’s assessment either.

Well, Anya and Pasha must be doing pretty well, because they danced tonight on Dancing with the Stars as special guests during Jessica Simpson’s performance of Come On Over (Original Music Video)

Here’s the video of Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev’s performance on Dancing with the Stars