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So You Think You Can Australia Top 100 Contestant James has all the right Moves

Taken from Tasmania’s The Advocate. Tasmania hasn’t had a Top 20 contestant in the past 2 seasons and 2 of them have made it into the Top 100 could they both make it into the Top 20? well we’ll find out who makes the cut tonight in ‘Top 100 Week’.

By Elspeth Powell

A STAR was born in Devonport.

This year’s season of So You Think You Can Dance is only just underway, but The Advocate has a good feeling that contestant James Elmer’s Tasmanian roots will see him go far.

The self-taught hip hop dancer was born in Devonport and is now living in Cairns with his well-known Coastal parents.

Most of James’ direct family still live on the Coast.

Monday night’s program on TDT 5 showed the Devonport- born James blitz the Brisbane auditions to make it to the final 100 in Sydney.

His father, Don Elmer, formerly of Latrobe, said he thought it was James’ straightforward and comic nature that got him through.

“It resembles where he came from,” Mr Elmer said.

“I have a lot of traits that people say are very Tasmanian,” James said.

Devonport’s Angela Elmer- Lomax agrees with her nephew.

“He’s just funny and really laidback,” she said.

“He’s tenacious without a doubt.”

And it seems that good old Tassie sense of humour is evident in other members of James’ family.

“Make sure you write that his uncle taught him everything he knows,” said his uncle Stewart Lomax.

While the larrikin in James may be a family trait as well as a Tasmanian one, dancing is a skill he has all to himself.

“Although Angela has a dance after a few drinks,” joked grandmother Nancy Elmer.

Mrs Elmer’s partner, Eric Wells, said he thought James was naturally gifted.

“He walked out like he’d been in front of the cameras for years,” Mr Wells said.

Mrs Elmer lived with James for three months when he was four years old.

“He was a gem,” she said.

“He used to sing every day.”

James discovered dancing when he needed to find an extra subject at school.

“I didn’t have very much motivation at school. I picked up the subject because there was a girl I liked in that class,” he said.

“Dancing was his escape,” Mrs Elmer-Lomax said.

Regardless of the outcome of the competition, James plans to keep dancing in the future.

“It’s pretty locked in,” he said.

Renee who is also the Tasmania was the one that audtioned in the Gold Coast auditions where she broke down in front of the judges about her body image

Source: The Advocate (Tasmania)

Here’s some photos that were in the paper:
James1 James2 James3

I’m also myself a girl from Devonport so I’ll keep an eye on this boy in the near future.

February 3, 2010 I Written By

Dance Star Overcame Early Pain – Natalie Bassingthwaighte Herald Sun Switched On Interview Sneak Peek

So You Think You Can Dance star Natalie Bassingthwaighte has spoken of her battle with depression, and the importance of looking after herself.

The 34-year-old said her worst bout was during her 20s, when it became so crippling she couldn’t leave home. “People would go ‘Just get over it’ and you’re like, ‘Actually I can’t… I’m really trying’,” she said.

A combination of therapy and medication saw Bassingthwaighte recover, but she said she was ever vigilant.

“If there’s a moment I feel down, I have to be really focused and kind to myself to go ‘This could tip you over the edge’. You do some exercise. If you’re feeling down, it’s hard, but it helps.”

In a candid interview in tomorrow’s Switched On television lifout, Bassingthwaighte talks about her short-lived marriage and her deep connection to the young hopefuls on So You Think You Can Dance. “I feel I’ve found my place with this show because I’ve been in the same situation these dancers have been in. I’ve been told no (at auditions) 100 times over,’ she said.

For the full interview, see the new Switched On section in tomorrow’s Herald Sun.

The Interview will be posted hopefully tomorrow. Also don’t forget the 2nd round of Auditions is on tonight in Sydney at 8pm after the Biggest Loser: Couples

Source: Herald Sun (Victoria)

February 1, 2010 I Written By

Natalie Bassingthwaighte – The 7PM Project 28th January 2010

Here’s the video. She talks about her new single ‘Love Like This’ and also SYTYCD Australia Season 3

Source: McPhee1981 on You Tube

January 31, 2010 I Written By

SYTYCD Australia Day Change for Performance Show

For those people who didn’t catch the 1st Auditions of SYTYCD Australia last night that was held on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Channel 10 announced that the Performance show will now be screened Wednesday nights instead of Sunday nights this season. So that means the actual taping of the Performance show will be held on Monday nights instead of the normal Friday nights. Also the performance show will be screened on Thursday nights.

The bad news is that I work on Wednesday nights and I don’t get home till about after 8pm so I wont be able to watch the show till Thursday nights now cos I may end up missing the start of it. So the news for everything on the Results of the contestants will probably be posted on Fridays.

Also don’t foget the show will be back on at 8pm this Wednesday night after The Biggest Loser: Couples with Auditions #2 in Sydney.

Host Natalie on The 7PM Project is on the way will be uploaded soon.  The Link to the upload page on You Tube is not working at the moment.

I Written By

SYTYCD Aus Host Natalie Bassingwaighte New Music Video for Same Sex Laws

Don’t forget that SYTYCD Australia returns this Sunday night in Australia at 7:30pm after The Biggest Loser followed by the House S6 premiere at 9pm.

This is the 5th single from Nat’s album 1000 stars. You can buy the t-shirts online at wearitwithpride.com.au.

Also Nat appeared on The 7pm Project last night during her holidays to talk about her new single and about SYTYCD Australia I’m in the process of looking for the video at the moment but if I can get a download I’ll upload it on Monday for everyone to watch.

The song is called ‘Love Like This’.

Source: NatBassingthwaite on You Tube (Official)

January 28, 2010 I Written By

SYTYCD Australia Premieres this Sunday & 3 more to be shown Throughout the Week!

Just a heads up that SYTYCD Australia premieres this Sunday night at 7:30pm with the first lot of Auditions to be shown in

Also it will also be shown on Monday, Wednesday & Thursday nights as well for next week only (as far as I know).

Expect a couple of magazine & TV guide scans to be posted tomorrow with interviews with Matt Lee & Jason Coleman.

January 27, 2010 I Written By

So You Think You Can Dance Australia 2010

So You Think You Can Dance Australia 2010 is just around the corner and the promos for the show are already starting to hit the airwaves. We’re already working to cover SYTYCD UK on Pure SYTYCD, but I don’t see why we shouldn’t show some love to SYTYCD Australia 2010 as well. I’ve seen a bunch of the previous SYTYCD Australia and they have some fantastic dancers and I adore the judges in Australia.

Check out the first SYTYCD 2010 Australian Promo video:
WARNING: May contain SYTYCD 2010 Australia top 100 spoilers since Channel 10 has done things like this in the past.

Big THANKS to the lovely McPhee for sending us the video!

January 7, 2010 I Written By

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

Taylor Swift’s Song “Love Story” on SYTYCDA

I previously made a list of So You Think You Can Dance music suggestions and one of the songs on my list was “Love Story” Taylor Swift - Fearless - Love Story by Taylor Swift. Turns out I was right that it would make a good song for So You Think You Can Dance. Check out this performance on SYTYCD Australia by Talia and Loredo to it:

Also, @nataliekline sent me a tweet that Gavin Degraw’s song “Stay” Gavin DeGraw - Free - Stay will be featured on tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance! A little something to look forward to. I wonder if his song will make it on my next list of top So You Think You Can Dance 2009 songs.

June 3, 2009 I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance Australia Winner – Talia Fowler

Talia Fowler was announced the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia. The top 4 were incredible, but someone had to win and Talia Fowler definitely deserved it. I’m sad that the season of SYTYCDA is over, but luckily the US version is about to kick into gear. Make sure to check out all the previous SYTYCDA music.

Check out the full writeup of the So You Think You Can Dance Australia Finale:
Six months after auditions began, 18 year-old Talia Fowler has been crowned the worthy winner of the 2nd season of So You Think You Can Dance Australia.

A former dancer with Queensland Ballet, Talia pipped Dubbo Hip Hopper Charlie Bartley, 19, for the $200,000 winner’s cheque.

Third place went to Gosford Lyrical dancer Amy Campbell and fourth place to Gold Coast Jazz dancer Ben Veitch.

After a national tour with our Top 10, Talia will head to the States to perform on So You Think You Can Dance America. And not just any show. Nigel Lythgoe revealed tonight that Talia will dance on the Season 5 Finale before an audience of more than 20 million!

A brilliant technician with extraordinary dramatic range, she will be a fantastic ambassador for Australia and Australian dance. Congratulations, Talia!

Spectacular Kelley Abbey Opening Routine
Kelley Abbey has produced some brilliant group routines this season but her spectactular opening number for our Grand Final put everything else in the shade.

To the Global Deejay’s anthemic “Everybody’s Free” Global Deejays - Everybody's Free (feat. Rozalla) - EP - Everybody's Free, a cast of Top 100 dancers provided a drop zone as our Top 4 descended on red silk banners, drawing shrieks of delight from the audience.

Nigel Lythgoe & Mary Murphy spring a surprise
Creator Nigel Lythgoe and special guest judge Mary Murphy dropped in from Las Vegas to give their congratulations to our Top 4. But they had an amazing surprise too. Tonight’s winner won’t perform on just any SYTYCD America show – they will dance on this season’s Finale!!!

Top 4 Sarah Boulter Contemporary
For the last time, Amy, Ben, Charlie and Talia danced together in a Sarah Boulter routine about the trials and tribulations of friendship. The track was “Broken Strings” James Morrison & Nelly Furtado - Songs for You, Truths for Me - Broken Strings from James Morrison (featuring Nelly Furtado).

Selected Top 20 and Choreographers – “Kill Bill”
Selected members of the Top 100 and the show’s choreographers performed a Nacho Pop and Juliette Verne routine to a number from the “Kill Bill” soundtrack.

Leading ladies Lamb and Chanelle were supported among others by Don, Emmanuel, Sisqo, Pania, Danny, Max and Jesse, and by mentors Adam Williams, Travers Ross, Tiana Joubert, Nacho Pop, Marko, and Simon from Project Moda.

NY Dance Company Pilobolus
NY Dance Company Pilobolus might have appeared on Oprah and the Oscars but this will surely top that – a guest slot on the Grand Final of So You Think You Can Dance.

Forever returns
Jason’s favourite dancer from this season’s auditions, Forever, returned for the Finale, supported by soprano Joseph Bourke and an extraordinary orchestra.

Optus Dance Crew Winners
Winners of the Optus Dance Crew competition received their $5,000 prizes in person from Kelley Abbey – and got a free dance lesson that one young girl said made it “the best day of my life”.

The 3 lucky winners were the Newcastle Dance Academy, which lost its studios in the 2007 floods; Ipswich High, which desperately needs a demountable dance hall; and the Graham Academy of Dance in Innisfail for much needed air conditioning.

We can’t wait to see one of these young dancers appear on the show in the coming years. Thanks Optus!

Talia’s Old Company appears on Dance
Talia left Queensland Ballet to pursue her Dance dream. On this most important night of her life, her old company was here to support her – backed by two percussionists from Taikoz.

Last chance – Supple Top 10 Routine
That crazy guy, Supple, choreographed our amazing Top 10 in a Hip Hop routine to “Bounce/Boom Boom Pow” Black Eyed Peas - Boom Boom Pow - Single - Boom Boom Pow by MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E. /Black Eyed Peas. This was the Top 4’s last chance to impress the voters before the lines were closed for 2009.

Australian Ballet “Nutcracker – The Story of Clara”
They wowed us last time. They’ve done it again. This time dance legend Graham Murphy was the choreographer with his retelling of Tchaikovsky’s famous Nutcracker. The Australian Ballet Dancers were Danielle Rowe and Andrew Killian.

Loredo & Talia’s “Love Story” wins Macca’s moment of the year
We’ve had some amazing routines on this year’s show but few would argue with this result. Talia & Loredo’s “Love Story” Taylor Swift - Fearless - Love Story, choreographed by Amè Delves is the winner of the McDonald’s “i’m lovin’ it” moment for the season. Congrats to Talia, Loredo, Amè – and Taylor Swift for the track.

Amy & Damien – “Stepping Stone” Suitcase Rumba
In Top 16 week, this was Amy’s “defining moment” – the routine that turned her from being a Bottom 3 dancer at Top 20 into a Top 4 contender for the title. Here she danced it again with partner, Damien. Did you notice the different ending? This time she left him. The choreographer was Jason Gilkison and the track was Duffy’s “Stepping Stone” Duffy - Rockferry - Stepping Stone.

Ben & Pania – “Talk like that”
Ben & Pania went back to the very beginning – to the very first routine from the Top 20 by Marko Panzic to The Presets’ “Talk like that” The Presets - Apocalypso - Talk Like That. You’ve come a long way, Ben.

Talia & Loredo – “Love Story” Lyrical Jazz
It was as good as we remembered. Talia & Loredo played Romeo & Juliet again in a Lyrical Jazz piece by Amè Delves to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” Taylor Swift - Fearless - Love Story. Can we see it again please?

Penny & Charlie – “Single Ladies”
The season ended as it began with Penny & Charlie bringing the house down with Tiana Joubert’s routine to Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies” Beyoncé - I Am... Sasha Fierce (Deluxe Version) - Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It). How hard did they pop? How good was it to see Penny dancing again?

Bonnie joins Jason G in choreography
Judge Bonnie Lythgoe joined Jason Gilkison to choreograph Damien, Ash-Leigh and other exquisite dancers in a ballroom extravaganza to Bond’s “Explosion” Karaoke Star Explosion - James Bond Karaoke - Main Title from James Bond: Live and Let Die (Karaoke Version)

Verdict time – Top 4 becomes Top 3
Our Top 4 were invited onto the stage to hear Australia’s verdict. Amy and Talia were singled out and found that they were safe. That left Charlie and a very nervous Ben. Unfortunately it was Ben who missed out and tears welled in the eyes of this beautiful man.

Ben’s tearful farewell
After viewing his incredible journey, Ben thanked everyone including the production crew – “Jenny and Carlos, you rock” – but reserved special mention for his Mum, and his beautiful girlfriend, Zoe.

Chicago – “All that jazz”
As Amy, Charlie & Talia were left to ponder how much further they were going in the competition, Caroline O’Connor and the cast of the Chicago came on to perform “All the jazz” Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger & Taye Diggs - Chicago - Overture / And All That Jazz

Top 3 Becomes Top 2
The first dancer through to the final round was Charlie, leaving Amy and Talia with a 50/50 chance of making Final 2. Alas, for Amy, she would go no further. But she did emulate exactly her role model, Kate from last year – making Top 3.

Amy’s Farewell
Her farewell package reminded us of all her fabulous work and then she thanked her Mum, Dad, her sisters and the collective Central Coast population.

Top 2 Dance Jason Gilkison routine
To take into account all possible outcomes, Jason Gilkison created and worked up three fabulous Top 2 routines and Talia & Charlie were the lucky ones who got to perform it. Nice work, Jason G.

The ultimate verdict
With just two wonderful dancers left, Natalie announced that the winner of Season 2 of So You Think You Can Dance was Talia.

Talia said that this had been “the most amazing personal growth journey” for her and she was now going to do “anything” because she was over her “insecurities” and was so much more confident because of her Dance experiences.

Matt said Talia had been “the dark horse” of the competition, Bonnie said that she would “wow” the States, and Jason said that he wanted the winner to be the person who would best represent Australia. He believed we had got that.

Commiserations, Charlie. Congratulations, Talia! Well done, Australia.

April 27, 2009 I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance Australia Top 4 Music

Last night was the top 4 performances of So You Think You Can Dance Australia. The top 4 of So You Think You Can Dance has to be one of the best nights of the entire show. Everyone gets to dance with everyone and the very best dancers are on the stage to work their wonders. This night was no exception. Check out the music Charlie Bartley, Amy Campbell, Talia Fowler, and Ben Veitch’s used in their final dances to impress Australia.

Charlie Bartley, Amy Campbell, Talia Fowler, and Ben Veitch (SYTYCDA Top 4) danced Hip Hop to the music of Janet Jackson – “All For You (Video Mix)” Janet Jackson - All for You - All for You choreographed by Supple

Talia Fowler and Charlie Bartley danced Contemporary to the music of Duffy – “Warwick Avenue” Duffy - Rockferry - Warwick Avenue choreographed by Debbie Ellis Linnert

Talia Fowler and Ben Veitch danced Tango to the music of Sarah Vaughan – “Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project Remix)” Sarah Vaughan & Gotan Project - Verve Remixed 2 - Whatever Lola Wants choreographed by Fabio Robles

Amy Campbell and Ben Veitch danced Lyrical Hip Hop to the music of Kanye West – “Coldest Winter” choreographed by Travers Ross

Amy Campbell and Charlie Bartley danced Samba to the music of Sergio Mendes feat. Sergio Mendes and Black Eyed Peas – “Mas Que Nada” Sergio Mendes - Timeless - Mas Que Nada (feat. The Black Eyed Peas) choreographed by Leeanne Bampton

Charlie Bartley and Ben Veitch danced Jazz to the music of Billy Idol – “Dancing With Myself” Billy Idol - Billy Idol: Greatest Hits - Dancing With Myself choreographed by Cameron Mitchell

Amy Campbell and Talia Fowler danced Contemporary to the music of Adam Freeland & Sarah Vaughan – “Fever (Adam Freeland Remix)” Adam Freeland & Sarah Vaughan - Verve Remixed 3 - Fever choreographed by Sarah Boulter

The following is the music from the So You Think You Can Dance Australia top 4 solos:
Charlie Bartley: Kings of Leon – “Revelry” Kings of Leon - Only By the Night (Deluxe Version) - Revelry

Amy Campbell: Miley Cyrus – “The Climb” Miley Cyrus - Hannah Montana: The Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - The Climb

Ben Veitch: Coldplay – “Viva La Vida” Coldplay - Viva la Vida - Viva la Vida

Talia Fowler: Rihanna – “Take A Bow” Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded - Take a Bow

April 20, 2009 I Written By

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