June 11th, 2010 by soullldiva

I’m still not certain how the new format for season 7 of So You Think You Can Dance is going to sit with me. All I know is, I had a frickin’ BLAST watching the introduction show, where all the dancers are showcased with their respective “all-stars”. No pressure this time around, no cutting this week, it’s all fun and hard work and lots of sparkling. The only thing I will say about cutting 20 down to 11 is that 9 new dancers lost out on the chance to be on the show. But we won’t get less dancing, so I guess I am satisfied.

The show stared off with a gigantic, explosive bang with a Wade (thank you gawd) Robson dance: Teaparty and Croquet anyone? Only Wade can turn something stuffy into a hawt, cutting edge dance. On grass. To “Fame” by David Bowie. I watched it three times in a row. Love. It. Let’s treat ourselves again, shall we?

This is most likely the last chance that we will get to see the Top 11 dance without (or nearly) a care with phone numbers or judges’ thoughts. And a dancer who dances with the knowledge that nothing negative will be said about their performance on prime-time TV is something special to see, ya’ll. Free expression and excitement on a level that is causing me to salivate in my Venti Iced Green Tea with 1PCL.

Let’s get going. First up is Lauren and Kent, dancing a Travis Wall number with all-stars Mark and Kathryn. How do you even describe this? The costumes are complicated and rock with parasols and cravats–and don’t upstage the dancers. Fierceness and grandness with fire in their eyes. Travis tells us it’s set in the 20′s in Paris and about the dark and twisted souls who come out at night, celebrating the fall of an empire. Totally got it. And Mr. Wall is now my favorite new choreographer for this season. I have my stand-bys with Wade and Mia, but am looking forward to much more Travis.

Alexie (finally made it!!) and Melinda are up next doing a Tyce DiOrio jazz number with all-stars Allison and Lauren. Ooo, and it’s a Sweet Charity number. A little predictable for four girls (or West Side Story), but he girls are pure pleasure to watch, and the song is so character driven how could they not get that much into it? The only thing I miss is the live singing (but that would be a different show). LOVE the dresses. The red one shouldered one on Allison is my favorite. Love that Cat wants to come up and pose with them on the stage. And even though I thought there would be no negative notes, Nigel felt the need for the critique for Melinda, shame.

Jose, the lone B-Boy in the top 11 is next doing a TappyTabs number with Comfort, Twitch and Dominic. What a crew. I love the beginning, bedcuase it’s Jose vs. the three all-stars, like they want him out, and it also makes it easy for him to dance solo. Sweet booty shake by Comfort! And OH what a move putting the feet inside the hoodie and doing a backwards somersault to reveal his shirt–he’s part of the group, ya’ll. Very cool, high, energy, great  stunts. Fresh NappyTabs, baby.

Did I just hear the words Jason Gilkison? Oh yes, I did, and it’s coming up for all-stars Pasha and Anya and newbie ballroom hottie Cristina. Two girls, one guy and a big competition. Amazing lift and flip of Anya over Pasha’s shoulder. Jason does it again with an incredibly hot ballroom number that breaks the mold. I’m getting chills. You get that they BOTH really want the guy and are fighting for him. Loved that they stretched out the ending and the girls led him on then pushed him to the floor. Go girls. (and another critique again, Nigel? Ugh.)

Celebrated returnees Alex and Billy are next dancing a Mia Michaels piece with Ade (love him). Mia gets to talk about the piece beforehand, and speaks about time and the journey of life for a man, from childhood to the infirm age. Billy is the boy, Alex is the man and Ade is the elder. Beautiful lines, amazing extension and a huge amount of emotion laced right in. “This Bitter Earth” plays and these three men dance their lives out on stage, this is a truly gorgeous piece and not overdone in any way, IMO. Storytelling at it’s best. Thanks, Mia.

Adechike, Ashley and Robert are the last three doing a Sonya Tayeh number with all-stars Neil and Courtney. The costumes leave a bit to be desired, but I love the combination of a little hip hop and classic jazz moves. Sony a knows how to do that best. Just plain fun. And I love Sonya because she loves dancers and loves making them give all they have.

Next week the competition stars for REAL. I hope my nails can grow a little more!  I’ll be there watching.

Didja love it, didja hate it? The stage is still the infernal new stage, but no video projections. What do you think? Let me know!

March 22nd, 2010 by soullldiva

Wow, what a week for moi!

I am super excited that my very good friend and dance teacher, Maria, is going ahead with her original musical “From the Heart of Love”(TM). I was part of the original workshop when it was done back in 1997 at the Glendale Center Theatre. It was an amazing production to be a part of, as it began with just a really beautiful poem (and was slated to only be a poetry reading with dancing), and grew to be a full-fledged show, with scenes, original music, and all types of dancing from ballet to African, swing to rhythmic stepping (we had a former member of STOMP! in our cast).

Maria and her producers have brought the project out again for a backers audition in August, and we’re beginning auditions tomorrow. The (what turned out to be) huge task of setting up all the auditions came down to me. Now, I’d done this before, but not on this huge of a scale. We’re holding auditions from 1pm to 8pm, and I was to double-book appointments every 10 minutes. That is a total of eighty-six (I spelled it out so I could bold it) appointments to fill.

Now, you think it would be easy-peasy to fill up an audition in THIS town. Yes, I’m talking about Los Angeles. A town where probably half the population is in the entertainment industry in some way, yet only about 10% (or less) of them work regularly. It’s a tough biz, baby.

We had posted casting calls online, and got a good amount of submissions. Maria also had people she’d already worked with the wanted to have come in. First I went through all the submissions (with Maria) and picked out those we wanted to see, then transferred them one by one from the online sites to a spreadsheet with their info and personal notes about them (like, they do Bollywood, or mime) we’d all want to know. That took more time than I thought!

Then the calls. I made over 75 phone calls and got to speak to probably only about 25 of them initially (you artists are busy). Then I waited. And waited. And sent a few emails out, and a few Facebook nudges. And calls trickled in. Wow, talk about biting my nails! I started actual calls on the Thursday before the Monday audition and just now (on Sunday) have filled the day with 56 appointments.

Whew! I’m exhausted. And the auditions are tomorrow!! And there will probably be more auditions before the workshop cast is finished.

But now is where the real fun begins: the discovery of wonderful, beautiful, orignal talent. And what are we looking for? The Individual. As Miss Mia Michaels says, “You are the only one of you.” Damn straight.

Let you know how it goes, cross your fingers for us!!

January 28th, 2010 by soullldiva

Last week we learned that the famed Mr. Adam Shankman (judge on So You Think You Can Dance and director/choreographer of Hairspray) would be holding auditions for dancers in the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Telecast. A story by Sandy Cohen was published on the ABC Entertainment website and gave a really nice, personal recount from three dancer’s point of view. Pictures were also published of Adam with Travis Wall next to him, and Adam dancing with the auditioners. Really great to see him in action! You can read the full story here. Enjoy!

Producer and choreographer Adam Shankman, center, watches a dancer perform during open dance auditions for the 82nd Academy Awards Telecast in Burbank, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (AP)

Producer and choreographer Adam Shankman, center, demonstrates a dance move during open dance auditions for the 82nd Academy Awards Telecast in Burbank, Calif. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (AP)

January 26th, 2010 by soullldiva

Ok, well not really. It’s only for today’s round of NYC auditions. Lucky ducks, those dancers! Hopefully she’ll return for more auditions, or one week of the top 20 shows. One can only hope!

January 20th, 2010 by soullldiva

Think you got what it takes to dance for Adam Shankman on the 82nd Academy Awards telecast? Well then, get your buttinsky over to Burbank, CA this weekend and audition! Eat your Wheatiesand “Break a Leg”!!!

Check out Adam’s video invitation to dancers and the press release here on the Oscars.org website. Ciao!