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Top So You Think You Can Dance Routines of the Past

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 & The Mambokats - Horizontal Mambo - 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 - Blood in My Eye - 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 & Mr. Collipark - Da Muzicianz - 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” Elisa - Dancing - 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 - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) [Remastered Version] - 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” Pitbull - El Mariel - 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” Club Des Belugas - Night Over Rio - Latin Flavoured Lounge & Club Tunes - Hiphip Chinchin 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” Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love - Single - Bleeding Love routine by Nappytabs needs no explanation.

Sonya busts out an amazing piece for Courtney and Mark to the song “The Garden” Mirah - Advisory Committee - 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 - Jordin Sparks - 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 - Rockferry - 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” Céline Dion - A New Day Has Come - 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!!

July 21, 2009 I Written By

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

You Might Be A SYTYCD-a-holic if…

You might be a SYTYCD-a-holic if…

you know what SYTYCD stands for (it’s So You Think You Can Dance for the uneducated in the room).

you’re still reading about SYTYCD on the Tuesday after the Thursday results show.

you’ve read all 95 comments on this SYTYCD discussion thread.

you check Pure SYTYCD more than you check your email.

you know how many days until the SYTYCD tour comes to your town. (116 days, 11 hours, but who’s counting)

you know that Hok is an amazing B-boy dancer, not a bird.

you know that Cat is not an animal, but a tall lady with a beautiful accent.

you know how to quickly hit mute when Mary Murphy is on camera (sorry, I had to throw this one in there).

you’ve sometime used the names Branette, Evandi, Kaypono, or Melade. In fact, even if you know what those names mean.

you’re excited to see a little boy named Nathan Trasoras dance.

your body starts reacting when you hear the words bench, door, bed, couch, or table used with the words dance routine.

If any of the above match you. There’s no need to fear. You’re not alone. It just means you are a SYTYCD-A-HOLIC. Embrace it! Get one of the SYTYCD-a-holic t-shirts and wear it proudly.

Are YOU a SYTYCD-a-holic?

I Written By

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

So You Think You Can Dance 100th Episode

A lot has been made about the So You Think You Can Dance 100th episode. Considering I’ve been blogging about SYTYCD since June 30, 2006 (man I had a crush on Heidi Groskreutz…and still do) that will make this my 78th episode blogging about SYTYCD. 457 posts and somewhere around 1.5 million pageviews later and I still love writing about and watching SYTYCD. I love the prediction I made in my first post about SYTYCD linked above, “I don’t think it will be the blockbuster that American Idol(same producer) is, but it is well worth watching.” Well, it’s not as big as American Idol, but it’s gone on longer and gotten bigger than I thought it would be. What most of you don’t know is that if it weren’t for that first post about Heidi, I wouldn’t be 1/20th the blogger that I am today. I’ll save that story for another time. Ok, excuse that small walk down memory lane for me.

Back to the 100th episode. We’ve beat to death that Katie Holmes will be doing a Judy Garland tribute on SYTYCD. Cat also told us that the following 3 dances would be re-danced for the SYTYCD 100th episode. Of course, why wait for Thursday? Might as well enjoy them now and again on Thursday.

First up, the Travis and Heidi (Woot!!) bench routine by Mia Michaels to the song “Calling You“—Celine Dion. This is a fan favorite and is officially called “The Bench Routine”

Next up, Hummingbird and Flower by Hok and Jamie choreographed by Wade Robson to the song “The Chairman’s Waltz” John Williams - Memoirs of a Geisha - The Chairman's Waltz from Memoirs of a Geisha. What I think makes this dance so special is that only Hok could do this dance justice. I can’t see anyone else execute it the way he did.

Finally, a Wade Robson group routine called Ramalama Bang Bang to the song “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” Róisín Murphy - Ruby Blue - Ramalama (Bang Bang)—Róisín Murphy. This wasn’t my favorite routine, but it includes my favorite SYTYCD top 10 and so I’ll be very glad to see them again.

I’m sure we’ll have more discussion about this again on Thursday, but why wait until Thursday. These routines are really quite incredible.

I Written By

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