Welcome to Pure So You Think You Can Dance

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.

My fellow So You Think You Can Dance friend posted their potential So You Think You Can Dance 2009 Top 20. I love the idea and if I hadn’t been spending so much time on the So You Think You Can Dance music, I’d do the same (in fact, I did previously post a few So You Think You Can Dance 2009 top 20 locks. However, that was only after the first audition. Now the auditions are complete and we’re going into Vegas. So, despite my lack of time, here’s Nate’s potential top 20:

The Top 10 Boys
Sammy Ramirez (LA)
Maksim Kapitannikov (New York)
Evan Kasprzak (Memphis)
Phillip Chebeeb (LA)
Chimezie Nwosu (New York)
Marico Flaka (Memphis)
Brandon Bryant (Denver)
Peter Sabasino (New York)
Alex Wong (Miami)
Ryan Kasprzak (Memphis)

The Top 10 Girls
Natalie Reid (Denver)
Jeanette Manrara (Miami)
Bianca Revels (LA)
Kayla Rodamski (Denver)
Kelsea Taylor (Seattle)
Gabi Rojas (New York)
Megan Kinney (Note: NOT Caitlin. We may have only seen like 15 seconds of Megan, but I was captivated) (Miami)
Priscilla Marrero (Miami)
Asuka Kondoh (LA)
Anna Dunn (Miami)

His locks for the So You Think You Can Dance top 20 are: Evan Kasprzak, Phillip Chebeeb, Brandon Bryant, Natalie Reid, Bianca Revels, Gabi Rojas, and Asuka Kondoh.

I have to disagree with a couple of the choices. The guys actually look pretty solid. I’m a little scared the Phillip Chebeeb might not make it, but then again they need a bit of diversity of talent in the top 20 to make the show more interesting to watch.

Where I have to disagree is with the top 10 girls. I’d probably take Kelsea Taylor off the list since she was wonderful in her style, but she might not be able to go beyond her own unique talent. I wouldn’t be surprised if by some weird act Natalie Reid doesn’t pull through. Possibly Mia’s choreography or something. I also have to put Caitlin Kinney into my top 10 girls. She was fantastic. Caitlin Kinney and Kayla Radomski were my two favorite auditions for this season of So You Think You Can Dance.

Man, just as I say that I look through the rest of the list and realize that there are so many talented people on that list. I’m still surprised that the ballroom dancers haven’t been showing up. No Chelsie Hightower on the list. No Benji Schwimmer or Lacey Schwimmer for that matter. Although I do think it’s good that Asuka Kondoh is on the list.

Anyone else as excited as I am about this week’s So You Think You Can Dance? I just wish I would have gotten in contact with the So You Think You Can Dance producers when they were actually doing the Las Vegas auditions and found a way to go and check out the talent first hand. Maybe next season.

In my ongoing effort to list all of the music from So You Think You Can Dance, I decided to post this early placeholder for people to contribute information on music used for the Seattle and LA Auditions of So You Think You Can Dance.

I’m on the west coast, so I’ll be posting the information once it shows on the west coast, but feel free to leave a comment if you figure out any of the music from tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance and I’ll update this post with all the music later tonight.

All the group choreography scenes with Lauren were to the song Nobody by Ne-Yo

SYTYCD 2009 LA Audition Day 1 Music
Bianca (tapper who almost made last year’s top 20)

Brynelle and Xavier (brother and sister) danced to “My Heart Still Beats”? by Beyonce?

Debra Lawson (Judaism girl) danced to the song “Breathe Me” by Sia

Suzanne Fernandez (Fairy Medicine dance), John Fleming, Michael Han (too girly) danced to the song “Umbrella” by Rihanna

Calico Sequira (lindy hopper, danced with Adam Shankman) danced to the music “Stuff Like That There” by Bette Midler (from the soundtrack of For The Boys)

Adam Shankman got ticket to Las Vegas to the song “It’s Alright, It’s OK” by Ashley Tisdale

Asuka Kondoh and Ricky Sun danced to the music “Mercy” by Duffy

Vegas montage (no names, but naughty ballerina) to the song “Don’t Let Your Feet Touch Ground” by Ash Koley

Nathan Trasoras (brother has me dance one more year, 17 year old) danced to the music “Pollen and Salt” by Daphne Loves Derby

Vegas Montage was to the song “The Fame” by Lady GaGa

SYTYCD LA Auditions Day 2 Music
Sammy Ramirez (wrestler)

Stacey House (Girl with stockings, lives on Farm) danced to the music “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” by Eurythmics

Amanda Kerby (Dad with MS) danced to the music “Breathe Me” by Sia

Phillip Chebeeb (straight through to vegas, but danced with Arielle Coker)

Arielle Coker (mother car accident) danced with Phillip Chebeeb to the music “Moonburn” by Craig Lyons

Alexie Agdeppa danced to the music “Make You Feel My Love” by Adele

Diana Vaden dance to the music “Hurt So Bad” by Kina (on iMeem)

Chanel Smith (faked out ticket to Vegas) danced to the music “Then You Look At Me” by Celine Dion

Kevin Cormier (Shakiro) danced to the music “Magalenha” by Sergio Mendes

SYTYCD 2009 Seattle Audition Music Day 1
Christopher Keller (Argentine Tango gone swing?)

Nick Salzman (“Nick Nasty”, Aspiring Tatoo Artist) danced to the music “Don’t Stop the Rock” -Freestylers

Dmitrious Bistrevsky (6 foot 6 B Boy) danced to the music “All About Us” by Sonic Syndicate

Bad Dancer montage

Kelsea Taylor (45105 funky hair) danced to “Tore My Heart” by Oona and Dave Tweedie (So far I can only find it available Download MP3 on PSTYCD or listen on Myspace) Reportedly, the song was originally Habanera by Kate Nash, but had to be swapped due to copyright issues.

SYTYCD 2009 Seattle Audition Music Day 2
Kuponohi’ipoi Aweau “Pono” (Hawaiian) danced to the music “Wasted Time” by Me’Shell Ndegeocello

Montage of Good Dancers was to the music D.A.N.C.E. by Justice

Leonid Kynoshov “Wise Leo” (teaches how to create a dating profile) and battles David “Sex” Soller danced a battle to the song “Right Round” by Flo Rida

Other SYTYCD Montage Music I Can’t Find When
Heads Will Roll by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Completing the list of the videos from the SYTYCD finale, here’s all the incredible special group performances. The Wade Robson Cirque Du Soleil video is incredibly unique and different, but the battle between Phil and Rob was the best part of the whole night in my opinion.

Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – Cirque Du Soleil

Robert Muraine & Phillip Chebeeb battle danced to the song “Stronger”—Kanye West

– Original Music Video
Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – Pop N Lock Battle Phil n Rob

Debbie Allen Dance Academy featuring Nigel Lythgoe danced to the song “Boogie Wonderland”—Earth, Wind and Fire

Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – Debbie Allen Academy feat. Nigel

Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – Mary Murphy and Dmitry

Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – Past Dancers and Their Success

Video of So You Think You Can Dance Finale – The Best of SYTYCD

The final installment of music from the 2008 Season of So You Think You Can Dance. A very sad time for all of us. However, when you look back at the long list of SYTYCD music, then at least we can listen to our favorite music from the show to get us by until next year.

Top 20 Group Dance to the song “Boom”—Sin featuring T-Pain (Hip-hop; Choreographer: Shane Sparks)

Top 5 Male dancers group dance to the song “Five Guys Named Moe” from Five Guys Named Moe (Broadway; Choreographer: Nigel Lythgoe)

Robert Muraine & Phillip Chebeeb battle danced to the song “Stronger”—Kanye West

– Original Music Video
Mary Murphy & Dmitry Chaplin danced a Samba to the song “Baila, Baila”—Angela Via

Cirque du Soleil/Cast of Criss Angel: Believe danced to the song “Homage to the Rabbits”—Éric Serra; Choreographer: Wade Robson

Debbie Allen Dance Academy featuring Nigel Lythgoe danced to the song “Boogie Wonderland”—Earth, Wind and Fire

Dancers from seasons 1-3 danced to the song “Don’t Stop the Music”—Rihanna

– Original Music Video

Elimination Music
Courtney Galiano was eliminated to the song “It’s Only Life”—Kate Voegele

Katee Shean was eliminated to the song “From Where You Are”—Lifehouse