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.

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!

Dance as installation art

This has to be one of the most fascinating things I've ever read about, and wish I could experience, but alas I have plans all weekend thanks to visiting friends. If you have the interest and opportunity I would definitely plan to head to the ICA this Saturday or Sunday to view this 4-hour installation dance "exhibit."


"Epic Proportions"

So You Think You Can Dance is BACK

So, as each new season sets off on SYTYCD, the dancers featured on the show exhibit more and more prowess, strength, creativity and grace.

But for some reason, this season is starting a little slow for me.

I want more fire, more passion, more OOMPH!

And hopefully I will get it in the coming weeks.

Don't get me wrong, I have been thoroughly enjoying the choreography ... Mia Michaels, Mandy Moore, Tyce Diorio ... kudos to the creativity that is MIND-BLOWING! Mandy Moore's contemporary routine performed by Gev and Courtney the Knicks City Dancer was beautiful ... it made me want to get off the couch and and turn turn turn.

But the dancers themselves need to edge it up and step it up. I am a firm believer in the passion of dance, in the hope that even during a stately viennese waltz, fire can sear to the audience through the eyes and movements of the dancers.

I hope my wishes come true.

This week's shows showcased the top 9 couples and I have to say I was extremely satisfied with the results of last night's finale.

and the winner is... DANNY!

The So You Think You Can Dance finale was this past Wednesday and Thursday on Fox, and it was a great one! The show resurrected some past favorite numbers chosen by the choreographers as well as brought back some of the top ten, and top 14 since Anya, Jesus and two other dancers not from the top ten will be traveling on tour to approximately 50 cities. And luckily for me my best friend Margaret from high school attends Boston University and got us pre-sale tickets to the Boston show at Agannis Arena on September 22.

I cannot wait.

Danny and Anya performing "Apologize"

SYTYCD

It has been an extremely long time since I have posted, due to a trip to Europe, countless weddings, a week-long vacation in Lake George, NY, not to mention working full time at my part time job and taking a summer class.

But as this season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE begins to wrap up, I have to put in my two-sense.

I can't help but support Danny and Sabra, hands down the most talented dancers left in the final six. It just seems to me they are both on a whole other level than some of the other dancers. Lacey dances with a "fluff" feel: just skimming the surface of technical training. But Danny turns so effortlessly it's extremely hard to take your eyes off of him. And Sabra's energy and personality always shine through when she's performing.

I haven't been following the show closely, being out of the country for 15 days and working full-time hasn't helped me catch up on my SYTYCD episodes, but after watching One Republic perform their song "Apologize" and found out Danny and Anya had performed it during an earlier episode ... I went straight to YOUTUBE.

Why might you ask? Not only do I love the song, but I have finished choreographing a piece for the Northeastern University Dance Company's Fifth Annual Winter Concert coming up this December to the Timbaland produced version of "Apologize."

The contemporary piece performed in a partnering setting was powerful and beautiful. I LOVED IT! Almost as much as I enjoy performing my own choreography to the moving music. Although Anya has been voted off the show since that episode ... the beauty of the piece resonates even in the shoddy-quality YOUTUBE video.