Stacey Tookey | Pure So You Think You Can Dance

Video of Cat Deeley Discussing So You Think You Can Dance Season 9

As those of you who follow @puresytycd probably saw, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the first day of SYTYCD Season 9 Las Vegas week. The experience was fantastic and the dancers were as wonderful as you could imagine. I’ll have to do a full write up on the experience of the Live taping. I of course can’t reveal specific dancers, but there’s still plenty I can share.

More importantly, while there I was able to get interviews with Cat Deeley, Nigel Lythgoe, Lil’ C, Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy, and Debbie Allen. Over the next couple weeks I’ll be posting all of the interviews.

The first SYTYCD season 9 interview is with Cat Deeley. Might I say on a personal level, Cat Deeley is just as fantastic in person as she is on camera. You can tell she’s a real sweetheart and someone you’d love to go out with and have a drink. I think the best way to describe her is she’s just real. There’s nothing fake or hidden about her. She’s comfortable with who she is and she shares it with the world. She’s also incredibly easy to interview as you’ll see in this video. Enjoy!

Also, I couldn’t resist being a fan for at least a moment of time with Cat. So, I had this picture taken of me and her:

For those that might be wondering, yes, Cat’s just as stunningly, stunningly beautiful in person as on TV.

So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 Auditions – Los Angeles

So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) held auditions for Season 9 in Los Angeles and DanceOn was there! We have interviews with host Cat Deeley, judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy, choreographer Stacey Tookey and executive producer Jeff Thacker, where they tell us about the upcoming season! Video Below 🙂

SYTYCD Canada Cancelled

After one of the most fantastic seasons yet, the Canadian version of SYTYCD has been cancelled by CTV.

Hours after crowning Jordan Clark the Season 4 winner, the announcement was made official, this would be the last season of SYTYCD Canada.

“I can confirm that we are not ordering a fifth season of the series,” Scott Henderson, vice-president of communications for Bell Media told CityNews.ca.

“After four seasons and 92 episodes, CTV has decided to pursue other program strategies. This decision was made after careful consideration, including viewership and economic factors. We remain extremely proud of the legacy of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, including raising the profile of dance in this country,”

Fans are outraged, and they are not alone. Judges, choreographers and dancers alike are all in shocked and disappointed at this news.

Jean-Marc Genereux tweeted:

Dear Fans @SYTYCDCanada.no regrets! you were the best fans in the WORLD..SHOW is gone! But NOT your passion for DANCE,it’s a CTV decision!
You will hear all kinds of reasons!!! But you know what!!! Canada loved his DANCE SHOW and I’m sure the fans will react!!!

@TreArmstrong tweeted:

“Wow…honestly can’t believe #SYTYCDCanada has been cancelled,” Armstrong said Tuesday. “So disappointing for Canada & our amazing talent. Best season EVER! Love You.”
“Hope that #SYTYCDCanada comes back to live once more…thank you for 4 great seasons,” Armstrong wrote Tuesday. “The network, production, crew & talent, love u all.”

Luther Brown tweeted:

Its sad that the show has ended but God is good and we were all blessed to be apart of Canada’s best show! We went out with a bang!!!

Stacey Tookey tweeted:

I’m so sad to hear about the cancellation of SYTYCDC but I am so proud to know a group of people with that much talent & heart!! Love u all!

For me this is sad news. Granted I still watch SYTYCD USA, but there was something special about our Canadian SYTYCD and I am sad to see that go.

A part of me hopes that it will somehow survive, but only time will tell. There are a number of petitions and complaints going on to try and save the show. In the past, I know when a company cancels something, it is usually a done deal, but you never know!

How do you feel about this news?

[Source]

SYTYCD Canada Finale Recap – And Season 4 Winner is….

**Spoilers at the end of this post**

Here is a recap of the show, with the winner at the very end, you have been warned 😉 Although it is mostly a recap of what was danced, I have thrown some of my own opinions in the mix just for fun!

Opening Number:
Amazing number that introduced the judges and Top 22 dancers. I really loved the routine

Montage of past season:
“Moves like Jagger”
“I think they feel the pressure”

Jean-Marc chooses:
Shane & Lindsay
Disco – Melissa Williams
Shake Your Groove Thing – Peaches & Herb

One of the few discos I really really loved ever. So fun and well executed!

Luther chooses:
Carlena & Boneless
Hip Hip – Steve Bolton
Super Bass – Nicki Minaj

Loved seeing this again, such a fun number and love Vancouver represnting (Carlena)

Rex chooses:
Joey & Jordan
Contemporary – Stacey Tookey

Tears, Standing Ovations, amazing moment. I really wanted Joey in the end.

Sergio chooses:
Matt & Shelaina
Contemporary – Sabrina Matthews
“The Nutcracker: Act II: Tableau 3: Pas De Deux: The Sugar-Plum Fairy & Prince Orgead – Slovak Radio

This doll piece was cute and quirky.

Mary chooses:
Christian & Melissa
Tango – Tony & Melanie
“La Bohemia” – Electro Dub

Such power!

Mia chooses:
Joey & Jordan
Jazz – Sean Cheesman
That’s Life- Frank Sinatra

The theatre piece from the movies / first date… This made me fall in love with Jordan even more!

Sean chooses:
Melissa & Adam
Contemporary – Sabrina Matthews

Absolutely amazing!

Review of unique styles shown on the show Dancehall, Afro-Jazz, New Disco, and of course… Bollywood.

Bollywood Group Routine
Bollywood: “Hadippa” by Pritam & Mika Singh from “Dil Bole Hadippa!”

Montage of injuries – pretty gross bruises, bleeds and breaks

Blake chooses:
Jordan & Christian
Contemporary – Stacey Tookey
“All in Love is fair” – Stevie Wonder

Great piece from last weekès finale performance show.

Tre chooses:
Matt & Lindsay
Hip Hop – ShoTyme
“Like That” – Memphis Bleek

Another one from last weekès performance finale show.

Mary chooses:
Shane & Melissa
Salsa – Gustavo Vargas
“Salsa y Sabor” – Tito Puente

Another one from last weekès fianle performance show – absolutely amazing!

Montage of “typical day for dancers”
7am wake-up
9am Canda’s Ballet School rehersals
Practices all day!!
7pm Costume fittings
Not eating of sleeping properly
1am Gym to practice
9am on stage rehersals
8pm Show Time
Tired all day but energized right before they go live

Pretty Intense!!!

Mary Chooses:
Melissa & Shane
Hip Hop – Luther
The Time – Black Eyed Peas

This one is one of my favourite Hip Hop routines it was just incredible!

Luther chooses:
Contemporary – Blake McGrath
Adam & Lindsey
Remember When it Rained – Josh Groban

Another moving piece from Blake.

Leah chooses:
Top 22 Dancers
Hip Hop – Luther Brown

It was so great to see everyone on stage again together!

Blake Chooses:
Mia Michaels – Top 3 Girls Routine

This was the most amazing routine. See it here.

Ballroom Specialist Montage

Jean-Marc chooses:
Denitsa & Francois
Mambo – Gustavo Vargas

Such amazing ballroom dancers! Fantastic to see them in their genre again.

September 11 Tribute:
Stacey Tookey talks about the piece
Top 10 dance

Really emotional and fitting given today’s date. Nice to have a new dance on this finale also.

Montage of where dancers are from and what their backgrounds are.

Leah reviews where some of the past dancers from the show are and who they have danced for – highlighting their accomplishments.

Nico (season 1 winner) introduces Tara-Jean and Denys who are past winners of SYTYCD Canada (season 2 and 3) who dance. It was awesome, choreographed by Tony & Melanie. They even went off the stage to dance in the crowd.

Top 6 Dancers
Sean Cheesman choreographed
Relax My Beloved – Alex Care

I love that they are doing past favourite dances as well as new routines for this finale, it was sad seeing them dance for the last time together in the stage.

Top 6 talk about their journey starting with making the Top 22. They chat about a few stories. Lindsey wore size 5 show instead of size 7 once. They were waiting for the lights on stage and all took a nap, Christian slept on the stairs back stage once.

Melissa’s favourite routine was with Shane, Christian’s was the door routine with Jordan, Shane talks about how hard Christian practiced on the wall to be as good as Jordan for that routine. Jordan loved dancing with everyone and talks about their connection, Lindsey says they are all best friends. They end with a heart felt group hug.

Leah introduces the Final 3 routines of the night
Lindsey & Shane
Contemporary – Stacey Tookey
Uninvited – Alanis Morrissette

Montage of Lindsey moments.
Montage of Shane moments.

Melissa & Matt
Jazz – Melissa Williams
Nobody’s Perfect – Jesse J

Montage of Melissa moments
Montage of Matt moments.

Christian & Jordan
Jazz – Sean Cheesman
Skin – Rihanna

The door routine. Amazing!

Montage of Jordan memories (Good Life – One Republic)
Montage of Christian memories

Announcing the Winner:

Leah reminds us of prizes:
$5000 for 4 runner’s up
$10000 and a car for 1st runner up
$100000 and a car for winner.

Canada voted 1.6 million times

Christian, Lindsey, Shane are not in the top 2.

Matt is not in Top 2.

Melissa and Jordan remain… we are not surprised are we?

They both won cars… but there can only be one winner and it is…. Jordan Clark!

All of them are really winners… not just the money or cars, but the exposure they have had and the talent they have shown – I expect big things from all of them in the future 🙂

Overall Thoughts:

I am so thrilled Jordan won. I was rooting for her since auditions and think she is amazing.

I thought for a while Melissa may beat her because she showed such diversity and skill.

I also thought Matt somehow may pull (what I would consider) an upset and take it, though I felt Christian was a better dancer and Shane the best male dancer.

I didn’t think a male would win it though, the women were fierce.

Lindsey grew the most for me and I was so impressed with how much she improved and brought to the stage this season!

Congrats to Jordan, I am so proud and thrilled to see that my favourite from day one took it home!

Thoughts on the winner? The finale? The season?

SYTYCD Canada – Finale Performance Show

Tonight was the final performance show of the season.

Lindsey & Matt
Hip-Hop – ShoTyme
“Like That” – Memphis Bleek

This was energetic, hard hitting and fun. I really enjoyed watching it and thought it was a great start to the show.

Jordan & Christian
Contemporary – Stacey Tookey
“All in Love is Fair” – Stevie Wonder

This was a powerful piece about a chance encounter between past lovers who relive a moment. I thought it was moving and pretty. There was a near-miss on a lift that scared me but they recovered well.

Melissa & Shane
Salsa – Gustavo Vargas
“Salsa y Sabor” – Tito Puente

This had some serious lifts, twists, spins and tricks. BOTH of them did some crazy flips and it ended with an amazing one-legged lift by Shane pulling Melissa over him, amazing!

Girls Routine
Mia Michaels
“What About Us” – ATB

This was, hands down, my most favourite routine of the season, and maybe ever. It was absolutely crazy-good. I will post it for everyone to see because it truly was THAT awesome!

Guys Routine
Melissa Williams
“We Will Rock You” – Queen

After the girl’s routine this simply wasn’t up to par. It was fun, the guys did lifts and tricks and moved well, but the girl’s was just that much better! Christian really stood out fo rme in this routine.

SOLOS

Shane“Fancy Footwork” – Choremo

Another amazing solo from Shane. I really find him the strongest of the male dancers.

Melissa“Commander” – Kelly Rowland

She was amazing, so much power and energy, when she dances she commands attention. She has been consistently great this whole season and I will not be surprised if she wins.

Lindsey“Beautiful” – Me’Shell Ndegeocello

Easily the most growth this season. Her solo showed such maturity and commitment, I had goosebumps watching her dance.

Matt“Ain’t No Sunshine” – Bill Withers

For me the most improved male dancer. I am surprised he is still around over some of the other dancers, but he is holding his own and his solo was very good.

Christian“Beautiful People” – Chris Brown

I often forget he is ballroom because he really does so well in every genre thrown at him. I appreciated his upbeat solo that was ballroom but very fluid and fun.

Jordan“This Woman’s Work” – Greg Laswell

Jordan was my pick to win since auditions. I adore her and I will stick to my decision for her to win, her solo was amazing, her dancing all season has been consistently great.

POWER RANKINGS

This is tough. I am ultimately voicing my predictions for the win….

Since day ONE I have been a Jordan fan, and even though Melissa has quickly crept up on (and at times even surpassed) Jordan, I am going to stick with Jordan to win. Melissa a close second (or if I am wrong, Melissa will win and Jordan a close second) I guess there are two ways to do this – MY OPINION and what I THINK CANADA’S OPINION WILL BE….

Mandy’s Thoughts:
1 – Jordan
2 – Melissa
3 – Lindsey
4 – Shane
5 – Christian
6 – Matt

Prediction based on Canada’s Votes:
1 – Melissa
2 – Jordan
3 – Christian
4 – Matt
5 – Lindsey
6 – Shane

WHY ARE THEY SO DIFFERENT?
Because, I think Canada, like USA SYTYCD, sometimes gets it wrong, or some dancers simply have more fan support for whatever reason. This is why the “winner” is called “favourite dancer” not “best dancer” at the end.

We often see the same fantastic dancers keep getting bottom 3, while some less talented dancers stick around week after week. Every season of every SYTYCD it happens. Of course, we all have different opinions on what we like, but that is how it goes.

For example, I think Joey should be in the finale, within Top 3 to be honest, but he is gone. I also thought Denitsa stuck around way too long. I could go on, but I won’t.

For the Comments….
Give me your Power Rankings, Also comment on any past results, who should have gone sooner or stayed longer?

FINALE – SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2011 on CTV

Top 8 Perform on SYTYCD Canada

I apologize for this post being delayed, and I further apologize as I have not seen the episode yet because I got caught up tonight after a long day and went to the movies with a friend.

I probably won’t get to watch before tomorrow results so PLEASE use the comments below to rank the performances and predict the results.

Tonight the TOP 8 Performed:

Here is the break down of the show:

Jordan and Adam
Hip_Hop – choreographed by Luther Brown
Say It With Me – Chris Brown

Solo: Melissa
Crime for a Crime – Ani DiFranco

Solo: Matt
Hold On (feat. Amber Coffman) [Sub Focus Remix] – Rusko

Lindsay and Shane
Contempoaray – choreographed by Stacey Tookey
Uninvited – Alanis Morissette

Solo: Christian
Miami 2 Ibiza – Swedish House Mafia vs. Tinie Tempah

Solo: Denitsa
Airmail Special (Club Des Belugas Remix) – Ella Fitzgerald & Club Des Belugas

Denitsa and Christian
Samba – choreographed by Gustavo Vargas
Tambourine – Eve

Solo: Lindsay
Half Life – Imogen Heap

Solo: Shane
Hit the Lights (feat. Lil Wayne) – Jay Sean

Melissa and Matt
Jazz – choreographed by Melissa Williams
Nobody’s Perfect – Jessie J

Solo: Jordan
What Turns You On (Live) – Katie Thompson

Solo: Adam
Fire – Raghav

Jive: Top 8 (choreographed by Danny Arbour)
Land of a 1,000 Dances – Union of Sound

Tomorrow Night is Results as well as a group performance choreographed by Sean Cheesman – Can’t wait!

PLEASE post your thoughts on tonight’s performance below…
I will do a post tomorrow on the results as well as my thoughts / ranking (I plan to watch BOTH episodes tomorrow after work)

SYTYCD Canada Top 12 Tonight

Tonight we see Canada’s Season 4 Top 12 dancers perform.

With such an amazing week of SYTYCD USA finale’s I am still giddy about Melanie’s win! Some amazing routines from her and others, as you can see by scrolling down at some of the posts this week including bloggers favourite routines of the season.

While Season 8 USA has ended, Season 4 Canada is only half way through…

I apologize for not posting results from last week, but I was camping and away all week.

In a nutshell the Top 14 danced to “Rumour Has It” by Adele in a Melissa Williams choreographed Jazz number. Not only were there amazing dancers, but also lights and visuals. One camera angle looked down at dancers as they rolled and moved on the stage and the floor lit up with the word “Love” and hearts and so on. I will post a youtube video for you if I can find it.

Solo’s from the bottom three dancers included: Yulia, Carlena and Geisha for the ladies and JP, Shane and Joey for the guys.

In the end it was Carlena & JP that went home.

Tonight we are ready for the Top 12 and I am hoping for a little more fire. Last week was probably my least favourite episode this season. The dancers and routines were not up to the level we usually see and I was quite disappointed.

Tune in tonight if you have CTV or check back this evening for my summary and Power Rankings.

Stacey Tookey’s “Gasoline Rainbows” Routine SYTYCD Canada Top 14 Joey & Geisha (VIDEO)

This was a really awesomepiece by Stacey Tookey. I really like the concept and the song “Gasoline Rainbows” by Amy Kuney.

Emilie’s Top Partner Routines from Season 8

This one was really, really hard, which just goes to show you how many great routines there have been this season. I know we feel like the choreography has been lacklaster and maybe the dancing too. Maybe it’s felt over-produced. But we’ve said that before. Usually, after the season’s over and we see the tour, re-watch videos, we remember all the great highlights of the season. SO, I’m going to share some of my favorites now.

I can’t even really put these in order because they’re all amazing in different ways. I’ll list the ones with All-Stars first, how about that?

1. Christopher Scott’s “Misty Blue” with Sasha and All-Star Twitch (Top 10)