We now come to Season 3, probably my personal favorite season of them all. The dancers this season were hilarious, probably the most funny the show has ever seen. Now, this isn't my favorite simply because a Utah dancer (Sabra) won...but that helped.
The first dance I am highlighting is another great lyrical hip hop by Sabra and Dominic. Dominic was the rockinest, this guy just kept pulling ballroom out of the hat and still rockin' those dances even though he came on the show as a breaker. However, in this dance, we not only got to see his hip hop talent, but we also got to see just why Sabra won, this girl is amazing. Choreographed by Shane Sparks.
Here is another breakout performance, much like Why danced by Allison and Ivan, where Neil, who had previously been getting less than awesome reviews from the judges wowed them with this Wade Robson routine that he danced with Lauren. (Neil is one of my favorites, so there may be some bias in picking this as a top 25.)
Next is probably the first dance on this show to make me cry, it wasn't nominated for an Emmy but I sure don't know why. Choreographed by Mia Michaels, this is her vision of what it will be like for her to meet her father in Heaven when the time comes. The concept, song, costuming, dancing, and on and on are just inspired and very refreshing. It is danced by Neil and Lacey
Now, this dance is classic and so super awesome. Danced by Sabra and Neil and choreographed by the lovely Mandy Moore (not the singer people), it is danced to Sweet Dreams by the Eurhythmics. Mandy seems to be on an 80's kick for the last...uh...10 years? But it's working for her! This is also known as...the table dance. Enjoy.
This next dance was performed in the finale, and was choreographed by Mia Michaels and danced by Neil and Danny, the final 2 boys on the show. It was pitting the two guys against each other and making them really compete against each other. I thought it was a great to see sheer masculine athleticism in dance and get some character out of the two guys.
Another SYTYCD classic that came from this season, something everyone seemed to be talking about, was another Wade Robson piece, anyone surprised? This one was performed the very first week of the competition by Sara and Jesus. The concept of homeless people that perform for themselves at night...is truly something only Wade could come up with. And we love him for it.
Last, but clearly not least, is the lone Emmy award winner for the 3rd season. Once again choreographed by Wade Robson, this dance, The Chairman's Waltz danced by Jaimie and Hok, is more commonly called the 'hummingbird and flower dance'. One of the coolest things about this dance was the way Wade was able to use Jaimie's gorgeous lines and technique while also emphasizing Hok's unique breaking capabilities and movement qualities. An Emmy worthy dance.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
SYTYCD Top 25: Part II
We come to part II, season 2 of the SYTYCD countdown. Let's get right down to business shall we?
Why-Allison and Ivan, a contemporary dance choreographed by Tyce Diorio. This was Tyce's first season with SYTYCD, though not his first dance. He choreographed Unwritten and Steam Heat earlier in the season, both wonderful dances, but not quite rivals to this one. This dance feature Allison, a Utah dancer whose technique/flexibility/core/everything is amazing, and Ivan is a hip hop, pop and locker who kind of moves like...water. At least for me, this dance really surprised me as regards to Ivan, and remains one of my favorites.
Of course, this countdown wouldn't be complete without the famous bench dance. It really doesn't need much introduction. Choreographed by Mia Michaels, danced by Travis and Heidi (both of whom ended up in the top 4), and the winner of an Emmy.
This next dance, Sexy Love, also danced by Allison and Ivan, marked the first use of what the judges like to call lyrical hip hop on the show. It's the first time I'd really seen a slower hip hop song with strong hip hop moves yet a softer feel. This dance was great, but mostly marks the countdown because it is the forerunner to more, and greater, lyrical hip hop dances (just wait until season 4 people, Tabitha and Napolean will blow your mind). But this is a great dance, choreographed by Shane Sparks.
This next dance, Black Mambo danced by Benji and Heidi was great for a number of reasons. First, choreographed by Alex Da Silva, and as I said on my last post, I like that guy. Second, both of these dancers specialize in ballroom. Often in this competition because there aren't usually more than two or three ballroom dancers, it isn't often that they are paired together. So these two, champion ballroom dancers are paired together with one of the greatest mambos this show has seen. Last, but not least, Benji and Heidi are cousins! And that's just cute.
Alright, we've come to the last wonderful dance of Season 2 worthy of this Top 25. This dance launched millions of iTunes browsers looking up Roision Murphy, opened up millions of competition dancers to start dancing a little more awkwardly, and cemented the position of Wade Robson in the hearts of those who hadn't known him before. Ramalama Bang Bang was choreographed for the Top 10, and was recently re-shown on Season 5's 100th show extravaganza, and Wade himself joined the dancers! Awesome right? I am including the original performance of the dance, as done by the top 10 of season 2. Oh yeah, and this dance got an Emmy too. We love us some Emmy's!
Why-Allison and Ivan, a contemporary dance choreographed by Tyce Diorio. This was Tyce's first season with SYTYCD, though not his first dance. He choreographed Unwritten and Steam Heat earlier in the season, both wonderful dances, but not quite rivals to this one. This dance feature Allison, a Utah dancer whose technique/flexibility/core/everything is amazing, and Ivan is a hip hop, pop and locker who kind of moves like...water. At least for me, this dance really surprised me as regards to Ivan, and remains one of my favorites.
Of course, this countdown wouldn't be complete without the famous bench dance. It really doesn't need much introduction. Choreographed by Mia Michaels, danced by Travis and Heidi (both of whom ended up in the top 4), and the winner of an Emmy.
This next dance, Sexy Love, also danced by Allison and Ivan, marked the first use of what the judges like to call lyrical hip hop on the show. It's the first time I'd really seen a slower hip hop song with strong hip hop moves yet a softer feel. This dance was great, but mostly marks the countdown because it is the forerunner to more, and greater, lyrical hip hop dances (just wait until season 4 people, Tabitha and Napolean will blow your mind). But this is a great dance, choreographed by Shane Sparks.
This next dance, Black Mambo danced by Benji and Heidi was great for a number of reasons. First, choreographed by Alex Da Silva, and as I said on my last post, I like that guy. Second, both of these dancers specialize in ballroom. Often in this competition because there aren't usually more than two or three ballroom dancers, it isn't often that they are paired together. So these two, champion ballroom dancers are paired together with one of the greatest mambos this show has seen. Last, but not least, Benji and Heidi are cousins! And that's just cute.
Alright, we've come to the last wonderful dance of Season 2 worthy of this Top 25. This dance launched millions of iTunes browsers looking up Roision Murphy, opened up millions of competition dancers to start dancing a little more awkwardly, and cemented the position of Wade Robson in the hearts of those who hadn't known him before. Ramalama Bang Bang was choreographed for the Top 10, and was recently re-shown on Season 5's 100th show extravaganza, and Wade himself joined the dancers! Awesome right? I am including the original performance of the dance, as done by the top 10 of season 2. Oh yeah, and this dance got an Emmy too. We love us some Emmy's!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
5 Seasons. 25 Dances. SYTYCD Countdown: Part I
It has recently been requested that I, Lynette Yorgason, a true fan since day 1 of So You Think You Can Dance, compile a list of the top 10 dances of all ever. Well that turned out to be impossible so the number was expanded to 25, be grateful I stopped there! I was gunning for 50 but I still have an education to keep up people!
And since it would probably be physically impossible for me to actually rank these and choose a number one (it's like choosing children people, dancing...children...), I'm going by Season.
Season 1
For those of you who have been watching with me since day 1 will remember, the first season was not about the choreography and much more about the dancers. So the Top 16 (yeah, there weren't even 20, wacky right?) were taught routines that were still tricky, but more about showing skills of the dancers than the choreographers. In fact, two different couples were given the same choreography for the first few weeks. I mean come on, hardly even the same show right? Anyway, the choreography became progressively cooler as the season went on, but in the wake of all the other masterpieces this show has created, the only one worth mentioning was from the Season Finale, choreographed by Mia Michaels (her amazing choreography is one thing about the show that has never changed) to Message in a Bottle by the Police and danced by Ashle Dawson and Melody Lacayanga.
Warning, the host of the show is yet another thing that changed, and if you remember Lauren Sanchez you will realize just why I love Cat so...so so much.
Now, Season 1 does deserve a couple of honorable mentions if only for the sole reason that I miss Alex Da Silva...a Latin choreographer that stopped choreographing for the show a few seasons back. However, this mambo and salsa, danced by the same couple the first two weeks of the first season rocked my socks for two reasons. One, Alex Da Silva, I just loved not only his music but his style, very cool and different. Second, Ryan Conferido, a rockin´awesome breaker who blew everyone away when he whipped out this smokin´samba on his first week in the show. So for you Ryan and Alex, I put the mambo and samba from season 1 as honorable mentions.
And since it would probably be physically impossible for me to actually rank these and choose a number one (it's like choosing children people, dancing...children...), I'm going by Season.
Season 1
For those of you who have been watching with me since day 1 will remember, the first season was not about the choreography and much more about the dancers. So the Top 16 (yeah, there weren't even 20, wacky right?) were taught routines that were still tricky, but more about showing skills of the dancers than the choreographers. In fact, two different couples were given the same choreography for the first few weeks. I mean come on, hardly even the same show right? Anyway, the choreography became progressively cooler as the season went on, but in the wake of all the other masterpieces this show has created, the only one worth mentioning was from the Season Finale, choreographed by Mia Michaels (her amazing choreography is one thing about the show that has never changed) to Message in a Bottle by the Police and danced by Ashle Dawson and Melody Lacayanga.
Warning, the host of the show is yet another thing that changed, and if you remember Lauren Sanchez you will realize just why I love Cat so...so so much.
Now, Season 1 does deserve a couple of honorable mentions if only for the sole reason that I miss Alex Da Silva...a Latin choreographer that stopped choreographing for the show a few seasons back. However, this mambo and salsa, danced by the same couple the first two weeks of the first season rocked my socks for two reasons. One, Alex Da Silva, I just loved not only his music but his style, very cool and different. Second, Ryan Conferido, a rockin´awesome breaker who blew everyone away when he whipped out this smokin´samba on his first week in the show. So for you Ryan and Alex, I put the mambo and samba from season 1 as honorable mentions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)