View Jonathan and Karla's contemporary dance to The Frames' beautiful "Falling Slowly"
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
SYTYCD Elimination Episode Tonight ... Mixed Emotions
The episode is ending as we speak ... and I have to say that the three couples in the bottom should not have been. And the fact remains that the competition has lost a gorgeous dancer and versatile dancer in Ashley, and the one male dancer, Max, was a very strong ballroom presence on the show.
The dances from last night ranged in difficulty and inventiveness with a serious lack in entertaining hip hop, if only Shane Sparks would step up to the plate and bring a great performance (clearly Tabitha and Napoleon have spoiled us all with their amazing pieces).
A surprise for me, however, was the piece that Jonathan and Carla performed. It was a gorgeous and emotional piece to "Falling Slowly" by The Frames with incredibly gorgeous and athletic assisted lifts and wonderful musicality. One thing lacking for me was Carla's lack of emotion in her face. She legitimately had one expression for the entire piece, and it distracted from her beautiful form and technique. Jonathan, the baby faced youngin' has completely redeemed himself to me, he was on with this piece and put 1000 percent into it, heart and soul.
As for Kayla and Max's pop/jazz wonder, as a dancer it is easy to understand it and value it for entertainment purposes as well as artistic uniqueness. It was a fun and funky new style that we really haven't seen on the show before, and it was refreshing and performed with pizzazz and enthusiasm and great skill.
The tango performed by Philip and his partner Jeannine. Mary gave Philip a C- for technique, which is accurate and deserved. He was shaky and a little awkward. Regardless of Philip's shaky tango moves, Jeannine's sex appeal and commitment to this piece carried them to next week's episode. Luckily, the viewers love Philip, but he needs to step up his game in other genres so that he doesn't fall in a rut and eventually get kicked off the show. They were not even in the bottom three couples which was a huge shock to me.
I'm off to bed because I'm incredibly tired, but I will update more when I have more time.
And now, I can't stop listening to "Falling Slowly" on repeat :)
The dances from last night ranged in difficulty and inventiveness with a serious lack in entertaining hip hop, if only Shane Sparks would step up to the plate and bring a great performance (clearly Tabitha and Napoleon have spoiled us all with their amazing pieces).
A surprise for me, however, was the piece that Jonathan and Carla performed. It was a gorgeous and emotional piece to "Falling Slowly" by The Frames with incredibly gorgeous and athletic assisted lifts and wonderful musicality. One thing lacking for me was Carla's lack of emotion in her face. She legitimately had one expression for the entire piece, and it distracted from her beautiful form and technique. Jonathan, the baby faced youngin' has completely redeemed himself to me, he was on with this piece and put 1000 percent into it, heart and soul.
As for Kayla and Max's pop/jazz wonder, as a dancer it is easy to understand it and value it for entertainment purposes as well as artistic uniqueness. It was a fun and funky new style that we really haven't seen on the show before, and it was refreshing and performed with pizzazz and enthusiasm and great skill.
The tango performed by Philip and his partner Jeannine. Mary gave Philip a C- for technique, which is accurate and deserved. He was shaky and a little awkward. Regardless of Philip's shaky tango moves, Jeannine's sex appeal and commitment to this piece carried them to next week's episode. Luckily, the viewers love Philip, but he needs to step up his game in other genres so that he doesn't fall in a rut and eventually get kicked off the show. They were not even in the bottom three couples which was a huge shock to me.
I'm off to bed because I'm incredibly tired, but I will update more when I have more time.
And now, I can't stop listening to "Falling Slowly" on repeat :)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
I'm so behind, this is a bit embarrassing
So I am a complete week behind on So You Think You Can Dance results, but must say it was a mixed emotions finale show for me last week. I was desperately backing Paris Torres, the car crash survivor who cannot feel one of her legs, but is a graceful, entertaining and wonderfully beautiful dancer. She was robbed.
By Asuka, who should've immediately been sent home after that heinous solo of pure fluff. The judges seem to think she can do no wrong, I believe otherwise. I feel we should expect more from a classically trained ballerina who is also well-versed in Latin ballroom. Not that Tyce gave her and Vitolio any quality choreography to work with in that Broadway number during last Wednesday's episode (failure and boredom struck me as I watched through my fingers with pained eyes).
As for Tony, he was personable and had a great style, but alas his technical background wasn't sufficient to pull him through to the second episode (and in actuality I wish he hadn't taken the second Broadway Style Brother's spot but ... the past is the past).
The choreography during that Wednesday episode varied from impressive, inventive and entertaining, to boring and questionable. I will go into more detail in the coming days (hopefully before tonight and tomorrow's episodes which I have to miss but will be DVRing).
As for now, I'm signing off.
By Asuka, who should've immediately been sent home after that heinous solo of pure fluff. The judges seem to think she can do no wrong, I believe otherwise. I feel we should expect more from a classically trained ballerina who is also well-versed in Latin ballroom. Not that Tyce gave her and Vitolio any quality choreography to work with in that Broadway number during last Wednesday's episode (failure and boredom struck me as I watched through my fingers with pained eyes).
As for Tony, he was personable and had a great style, but alas his technical background wasn't sufficient to pull him through to the second episode (and in actuality I wish he hadn't taken the second Broadway Style Brother's spot but ... the past is the past).
The choreography during that Wednesday episode varied from impressive, inventive and entertaining, to boring and questionable. I will go into more detail in the coming days (hopefully before tonight and tomorrow's episodes which I have to miss but will be DVRing).
As for now, I'm signing off.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Catching up ...
I haven't been keeping up with this blog, even though I had planned on despite this being "purely" for my Online Journalism class, about a million years ago. Or rather two.
However, I haven't stopped dancing these two years even after graduating college and working full time as a publicist in downtown Boston. But I am excited to catch up on my dance experiences, dance events and performances around Boston and Northeastern University along with other schools, and to talk about dance classes, studios and innovate new styles.
Not to mention So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) which came to Boston last Thursday to audition for their fall season, after merely one episode into this spring's season which just started.
So far, while there are have been many, and I mean MANY, incredible dancers ate the auditions for the season on Fox now, there were definitely some exceptions (hello Seattle, do you have more than one decent dancer who isn't making a mockery of this art form?!?!)
I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy watching people dressed in ridiculous outfits (bikini girl on "American Idol") who are simply auditioning on reality shows just to be "funny" (a word I use extremely generously). I want to see people wow me, someone dancing with so much emotion I cry, a male dancer who can do 13 fouettes in a row and make it look effortless.
I did get some of that, but not much. I am a bit disappointed about the talent, since last season and the previous season's top 20 dancers have been nothing short of amazing and inspiring.
Needless to say, I was shocked when Natalie, the tall and graceful redhead who just NEARLY made the top 20 last season was booted off after one of the first Vegas rounds, to Sonya's choreography.
Other shockers included Priscilla, Gaby and Megan Kinney (sister to Kaitlyn who is still on as part of the top 16 female dancers). Needless to say all three were strong dancers, although Gaby really couldn't handle any other style except her own quirky and thought-provoking modern/contemporary dance style. She floundered in the hip hop and DID NOT give it her all. I believe that the biggest part of dance in facials and emotion, and if you aren't going to throw 10,000 percent of your being into a performance, get off the stage.
I'm curious to see who does make it into the top 20, especially after so many talented guys got cut as well including Silky, the young and lighthearted tapper who impressed me from the get-go.
Left with a cliffhanger after last night's first Vegas auditions episode, I am chomping at the BIT to find out who makes the top 20 tonight.
And a side note: While I do SOMETIMES enjoy watching ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" I can't help but feel cheated. These celebrities, especially figure skaters and pop stars (cough cough Kristi Yamaguchi)have had dance training and it isn't really fair to claim they are being challenged. It also feels a bit contrived and can be a bit boring.
SYTYCD however never ceases to amaze, is always exciting and choreographers even win Emmy Awards (i.e. Mia Michaels for her Season 3 Heidi and Travis "bench" dance). The mix of styles, the emotion the choreographers put into their work, the drive and determination and talent and passion the dancers express really comes across and makes any dancer, or anybody remotely interested in dance, take note and pay attention.
One ironic aspect of both of the shoes, SYTYCD heavy hitters Chelsie Hightower (one of Season 4's Top 6 girls) and Lacey Schwimmer (Season 3's #2 female dancer) are now both dancing as the ballroom experts they are on "Dancing With The Stars." It is great to see dancers having great careers and continuing to choreograph and dance.
Tune in to Fox TONIGHT at 9 pm EST to find out your Top 20 dancers for this season!
However, I haven't stopped dancing these two years even after graduating college and working full time as a publicist in downtown Boston. But I am excited to catch up on my dance experiences, dance events and performances around Boston and Northeastern University along with other schools, and to talk about dance classes, studios and innovate new styles.
Not to mention So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) which came to Boston last Thursday to audition for their fall season, after merely one episode into this spring's season which just started.
So far, while there are have been many, and I mean MANY, incredible dancers ate the auditions for the season on Fox now, there were definitely some exceptions (hello Seattle, do you have more than one decent dancer who isn't making a mockery of this art form?!?!)
I'm one of those people who doesn't enjoy watching people dressed in ridiculous outfits (bikini girl on "American Idol") who are simply auditioning on reality shows just to be "funny" (a word I use extremely generously). I want to see people wow me, someone dancing with so much emotion I cry, a male dancer who can do 13 fouettes in a row and make it look effortless.
I did get some of that, but not much. I am a bit disappointed about the talent, since last season and the previous season's top 20 dancers have been nothing short of amazing and inspiring.
Needless to say, I was shocked when Natalie, the tall and graceful redhead who just NEARLY made the top 20 last season was booted off after one of the first Vegas rounds, to Sonya's choreography.
Other shockers included Priscilla, Gaby and Megan Kinney (sister to Kaitlyn who is still on as part of the top 16 female dancers). Needless to say all three were strong dancers, although Gaby really couldn't handle any other style except her own quirky and thought-provoking modern/contemporary dance style. She floundered in the hip hop and DID NOT give it her all. I believe that the biggest part of dance in facials and emotion, and if you aren't going to throw 10,000 percent of your being into a performance, get off the stage.
I'm curious to see who does make it into the top 20, especially after so many talented guys got cut as well including Silky, the young and lighthearted tapper who impressed me from the get-go.
Left with a cliffhanger after last night's first Vegas auditions episode, I am chomping at the BIT to find out who makes the top 20 tonight.
And a side note: While I do SOMETIMES enjoy watching ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" I can't help but feel cheated. These celebrities, especially figure skaters and pop stars (cough cough Kristi Yamaguchi)have had dance training and it isn't really fair to claim they are being challenged. It also feels a bit contrived and can be a bit boring.
SYTYCD however never ceases to amaze, is always exciting and choreographers even win Emmy Awards (i.e. Mia Michaels for her Season 3 Heidi and Travis "bench" dance). The mix of styles, the emotion the choreographers put into their work, the drive and determination and talent and passion the dancers express really comes across and makes any dancer, or anybody remotely interested in dance, take note and pay attention.
One ironic aspect of both of the shoes, SYTYCD heavy hitters Chelsie Hightower (one of Season 4's Top 6 girls) and Lacey Schwimmer (Season 3's #2 female dancer) are now both dancing as the ballroom experts they are on "Dancing With The Stars." It is great to see dancers having great careers and continuing to choreograph and dance.
Tune in to Fox TONIGHT at 9 pm EST to find out your Top 20 dancers for this season!
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