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NEW SYTYCD Pages Added! Trivia, Facts and More

Over the past few weeks I have been working hard at creating a few pages that would help compare and contrast all the dancers from the past seasons to what is going on in the current season. These pages would be continuously updated over the course of the season as well as during the off season as more information comes in… Since a lot of this is back tracking through all the past seasons there’s a lot of information to filter through.

If you look at the column in the far right under “PURESYTYCD” you will find the following additional pages for references:
SYTYCD “All Star” Choreographers
Before the “All Stars” came into being, past contestants of So You Think You Can Dance have been asked to come back and choreograph routines for a pair of dancers. Here you can find who has been asked to come back to choreograph a piece for the dancers on the show

SYTYCD “All Star” Dancers
When the “All Star” Dancers were first announced in Season 7 there was rampant speculation as to who would be chosen as the “All Star” Dancers. What was originally a pool of ten dancers grew to move due to availability for the show in Season 8. Here you could find out who was brought back as an “All Star” and when they were on the show as an “All Star” Dancer

Audition Cities
This is a table of all the cities that So You Think You Can Dance has visited before “Vegas Callbacks” (originally called “Hollywood Weekend” in Season One). This table is broken down by season.

SYTYCD Crossover with Dancing with the Stars
Several ballroom dancers that have been on SYTYCD have crossed over to the other major television dancing show: Dancing with the Stars. How those dancers have fared on the other major dance show are found here along with whom they were partnered with.

SYTYCD Top 10 Dance Style Breakdown
A common question for SYTYCD is what dance styles have been represented in the Top 10. Well now you can find out. Here are all the dance styles broken down by season for the Top 10 (5 guys and 5 girls) as well as Top 4. Since Season 6 was a Top 11, I kept it as a Top 11. A table that show a breakdown of the dance styles throughout all seasons is also here.

SYTYCD Top 20 Dance Style Breakdown
Similar to the above, this is a Top 20 breakdown of all the dance styles that have been represented on So You Think You Can Dance. Here are all the dance styles that are broken down by season for those that have made it on the show (10 guys and 10 girls). Again, since Season 6 was a Top 11, I had to include that too. A table that show a breakdown of the dance styles throughout all seasons is found at the top of the pages. Also of note: Season 1 had a Top 16 as opposed to being a Top 20.

SYTYCD Top 20 Show Trivia
This is probably the most involved information page… included is the following:
– Top 20 dancers that have auditioned in previous seasons
– Top 20 dancers that have gone through the choreography round in their audition city
– Top 20 dancers that have had to “dance for your life” during Vegas Callbacks
– additional notes that affected the dancers

What to expect down the road:
– Pages dedicated to the choreographers on the show broken down by dance style and a final accumulation page of all the choreographers and how many have come through the show
– Pages dedicated to the Top 20 Show Trivia including age breakdown, who was in the bottom, etc
– Pages dedicated to the season by season breakdown of the dance styles attempted

If you have any information (and please provide verification) that could help make the above pages even better feel free to comment or just Contact Us at PureSYTYCD.com!

June 18, 2012 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)

Alex Wong – Crave Music Video – Exclusive First Look

Alex Wong (SYTYCD, Season 7) has a music video for his song “Crave” coming soon! Watch this exclusive sneak peek about the making of the video and the choreography. Lauren Gottlieb (SYTYCD, Season 3) is the video’s director and choreographer, and Legacy (SYTYCD, Season 6) is the video’s associate director and co-choreographer. Video Below 🙂

February 23, 2012 I Written By

www.youtube.com/danceon

Here’s YOUR Chance to Interview Season 7 Dancers

Hi everybody!

Ovation TV is interviewing Season 7 dancers next week and they’d like YOU to send in your questions for their “You Asked For It” segments. Better yet, they’d really like you to film yourself asking your questions so they can include them in the interview clips. It’s like YOU get to interview the dancers. They’ll see you asking your question and then they’ll answer you.

You can see their interviews with the Season 6 dancers here, as an example. This is the first time they’ve asked for fan questions to be filmed, so it’s a new experience for everyone. They’re pretty fun interviews – especially the ones with Kathryn and Lil C. I’ll include the “You Asked For It” segment with Kathryn:

E-mail your videos and questions to Ilsa Berg (Iberg at ovationtv dot com) by TOMORROW! I know it’s short notice, but if you don’t have a chance to film a question, be sure to still send in your questions anyway. Tell them you’re a reader of PureSYTYCD and ask questions that any of the dancers can answer and your questions will have a better chance of getting picked for the interviews.

Ovation TV is re-airing previous seasons of SYTYCD Friday-Monday. Right now, they’re in the middle of re-airing Season 6 and the reruns of Season 7 will begin in October and Season 8 in January. Here’s their current programing schedule.

I’m sure Ovation TV has noticed that our community of SYTYCD fans have the best debates and discussions and that’s why they asked for YOU to submit your questions for the Season 7 dancers.

August 10, 2011 I Written By

The Table Has It

This is a silly post I got the idea for last week (Sasha and Twitch made me think of it). It occurred to me that while routines with props can go either way, there are A LOT of routines choreographed around a table that seem to be highly memorable. So, I thought it’d be fun to look at some of those.

First, probably the most memorable table routine, the one that people generally think of when you say “the table routine” is from Season 3. Sabra and this week’s All-Star Neil dancing a Mandy Moore jazz routine.

Next memorable I’d say is the Travis Wall contemporary routine danced by Ellenore and Legacy in Season 6, the “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” routine.

Then, there’s the super-hot crossbreed of samba and hip hop that Dmitry and Nappytabs choreographed for Season 5’s Top 16, which featured several tables (and water!).

I also couldn’t help thinking of this Tyce Diorio-choreographed jazz routine with Season 7’s Kent and All-Star Courtney featuring one of my favorite Amy Winehouse tunes, “Amy, Amy, Amy” Amy Amy Amy - Frank.

Season 7 also had a phenomenally memorable Top 6 group routine which featured a table. Choreographed by Mia Michaels, it should’ve shown off eventual winner (and this week’s All-Star) LoFro, who was injured, but instead All-Star Allison (then and last week) took her place.

Here’s a video of LoFro performing it on tour:

Which brings us to the inspiration for this post, last week’s “Misty Blue” Misty Blue - Misty Blue, choreographed by Christopher Scott and danced so fabulously by Season 8’s Sasha and All-Star (of all time) Twitch.

All of this “evidence” that tables make for great routines *almost* makes me wish that Caitlynn and Mitchell’s Stacey Tookey choreography to “Turning Tables” Turning Tables - 21 had had a table in it instead of two armchairs and lamps. Except, it’s just so memorable on its own. I’ll include it anyway.

Can y’all think of any other great table routines I’ve forgotten? Can you think of a bad table routine ever in SYTYCD history? And you’re not limited to the American version of the show. Go for it!

UPDATE:

Thanks for commenter Anne who reminded me about Wade Robson’s Season 6 Top 20 routine, “Comanche.” I miss Wade so much. This is such a good one, check it out:

July 26, 2011 I Written By

Top 10 Results Thoughts and Discussion

Here are my live thoughts on tonight’s Top 10/All-Star results episode. I hope you’ll join the discussion, too!

The Top 10 group Broadway routine was cool in some parts, but felt kinda loose and empty in some places. I’m not familiar with the choreographer’s work, so I don’t know if this is typical of his style. Anybody? Was it just me or was there a lot of little wobbles and out of unison moments? Was that Clarice off the the right in the back and really off in the beginning? I really liked the Chorus Line-esque gold hats and unison bits at the end, though.

I’m bummed that they’re still cutting 1 guy and 1 girl and Amanda is confused that the judges are still apparently in control of the fates of the Bottom 4 (got that wrong in the Power Rankings, yesterday).

Here’s a spoiler space as I start to talk about the results…

Read more..

July 21, 2011 I Written By

Introducing Your Season 8 All-Stars

Tonight’s Top 10 episode is going to rock, not least of which because it’s the first time we’ll see the Top 10 dance with the All-Stars.

First, we have Melody Lacayanga, the Season 1 runner-up. I chose her disco with SYTYCD Canada judge/choreographer Blake McGrath because I don’t normally go for disco and this Doriana Sanchez disco was fun. I didn’t watch Season 1, but looking back over the season, it seems like Melody’s partners tended to get eliminated a lot. I hope this doesn’t happen to her Season 8 partners!

Allison Holker from Season 2 was an All-Star last season and had some phenomenal routines. I’m going to resist my urge to find videos from last season and instead give you something from her original season. Here is her Alex da Silva Argentine tango with her original partner Ivan Koumaev.

Pasha Kovalev was also an All-Star from last season and I am NOT going to show you the phenomenal tango he did with winner Lauren Froderman. No, I am NOT. I’m going to stick with first seasons and show you him “out of his element,” dancing Mandy Moore jazz with Sara von Gillem.

Yet another All-Star from last season, Twitch Boss was originally the runner-up from Season 4. Chelsie Hightower, who was also from Season 4, was scooped up by DWTS along with Lacey Schwimmer, danced this fun Nappytabs hip hop with Twitch during their season.

Comfort Fedoke, also from Season 4 and also an All-Star last season, also danced with Twitch. Instead of showing you that video, I’m going to show you dancing with Mark Kanemura, Chelsie’s partner for most of the season, in another awesome Nappytabs hip hop.

Brandon Bryant was the runner-up of Season 5. I so want to show you his Wade Robson jazz with Janette, but Margaret showed that video in her All-Star post (same reason I didn’t show Pasha & Sara’s West Coast Swing). So instead, I’ll show you their Dave Scott hip hop, where they were both “out of their comfort zones.”

As an All-Star last season, Kathryn McCormick danced so much with Robert that I could just give you one video for both of them. However, let me show you Kathryn in her Season 6 glory (she came in 3rd), especially since her season didn’t get their own tour. So here she is, with runner-up Jakob Carr in a contemporary routine choreographed by Desmond Richardson and Dwight Rhoden.

Season 7’s Robert Roldan (3rd in his season) has already danced once in Season 8, with Caitlynn Lawson, so he was already an All-Star as far as I was concerned. Because the All-Stars started at Top 20 last season, most of his dances are with Kathryn or another All-Star. I wanted to show you his Dee Caspary contemporary with winner Lauren Froderman, but it wouldn’t embed. Instead, I’ll show you their Dmitri Chaplin (Season 2 and DWTS) samba because it’s fun and they were both out of their element.

Chelsie’s only going to be an All-Star for tonight’s episode and it sounds like they may switch up the All-Stars from week to week. It’ll be interesting to see who else they bring on board and all of the great routines that result. Also, I haven’t ever seen it confirmed, but Allison and Twitch may be dating and it’ll be interesting to see them together as All-Stars again. Also, I’m dying to see our Georgia peaches, Kathryn and Season 8’s Melanie Moore dance together. You know what else I’d love to see? I’d love to see a current contestant dancing with an All-Star and choreographed by another SYTYCD alumni. That would be awesome. 🙂

Are they any Season 8 contestant/All-Star pairings you’re dying to see?

July 20, 2011 I Written By

Choreographer Kelley Abbey

I really loved the Kelley Abbey Top 12 Group routine last night and was intrigued by a comment I saw when I was re-watching the video online. A commenter said that it was a “remake” of a routine that was danced by one of the Australian Top 20s. I watched the last season of SYTYCD AU and really, really loved it, so I did remember one Kelley Abbey routine in particular that I’ll share with you, but it took some digging to find what the commenter was talking about.

She seems to only choreograph Top 20s or 12s from what I’ve found. Check it out.

From SYTYCD US Season 6, Kelley Abbey’s Top 20/Top 6 Finale routine

From SYTYCD AU Season 1, Kelley Abbey’s Top 12 Group routine

From SYTYCD AU Season 2, Kelley Abbey’s Top 12 Group routine

SYTYCD AU Season 3, Kelley Abbey’s Top 20 routine

And, I’m not sure what season this is from, but I think it’s AU’s 3rd (and last season), the guest performance from the FAME musical, which Kelley Abbey choreographed and which includes AU alumni. Pay particular attention around minute 1:36. Anything seem familiar?

July 15, 2011 I Written By

SYTYCD Season 8 Premiere – Your Thoughts

It was a phenomenal first episode of SYTYCD Season 8, with the Atlanta and Oakland auditions. There weren’t many of those too unbearably bad and uncomfortable additions (though, there were a handful, of course), which makes me happy. I like to see good dancing!

Some preliminary thoughts for you, but mostly I want to hear YOUR THOUGHTS:

-One of my favorite dancers of the night, Melanie Moore, is from my hometown, Marietta, GA. Amanda and I are both from Georgia and one of our favorite dancers is too, Kathryn McCormick.

-I am so glad that Ryan Ramirez is back!

-Which makes me wonder…WILL Alex be back this season? And will he be back as a contestant or as an All-Star later in the season?

I know there was so much else going on, but that’s what’s coming to me now. Your turn! What are you excited about or wondering after the premiere episode of Season 8?

And don’t forget to help us fill in the music from the Atlanta/Oakland auditions. There were some really great songs tonight, but I didn’t catch them all and maybe you can help!

May 26, 2011 I Written By

Christina Perri’s Album Lovestrong and Free Single

Hi everybody,

I’m popping my head up out of the woodwork to let you know that Christina Perri’s new album Lovestrong Lovestrong. - Christina Perri is available and includes her gorgeous song “Jar of Hearts” Jar of Hearts - Lovestrong., which we all fell in love with when it was featured on SYTYCD in Season 6.

“Jar of Hearts” got some major play on my radio and instead of getting tired of it, I liked it better and better with every listen, so I’m excited to listen to the whole album.

The first song on the album, “Bluebird,” is available as a free download. Make sure you grab it now, because free downloads tend to expire within a week.

And just cause I’ve missed everybody, here’s a link to Kat’s video of Kathryn and Billy dancing to “Jar of Hearts.” Hope it makes your day a happy one. I hope it whets everybody’s appetite for Season 8, which will premiere on the 26th OF THIS MONTH! Whooo hooo!

May 12, 2011 I Written By

“Burn the Floor” heats up Chicago during the SNOWPOCALYPSE

As they say in the performing arts world: “The Show Must Go On” The Show Must Go On - Queen: Greatest Hits I & II

There were predictions hitting towards two feet of snow in parts of Chicagoland but a call to Broadway in Chicago confirmed what most businesses, stores and restaurants would not do in downtown Chicago… the show was open and was going to go on as scheduled. Granted, considering how quickly the temperature rose during the first number of the show “Ballroom Beat” (YouTube clip) this came as little surprise to those in attendance. When the first beats of the African rhythm filled the auditorium, you knew it was going to be hot. Dancers appeared throughout the auditorium, in the balcony, in the aisles… dancing and shaking to the rhythms before jumping onto the stage for an amazing opening number.

Read more..

February 2, 2011 I Written By

My life can be summed up in the following two quotes: 1) "I am married to engineering and am its faithful wife by day, but at night my wanderlust takes hold and the arts becomes my jealous paramour." and... 2) "Engineering is my safety net. Writing is my passion. Acting is my escape when the other two become too much." So where does dancing fit in? Pretty much anywhere at this point... =)