If you’ve ever heard the opening piano riff from Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll” then surely the picture that comes to mind is of a stringy high school kid on the verge of manhood, sliding across the living room floor in his button down shirt and tightie-whities. Yes, I speak of Mr. Tom Cruise in the 1983 film Risky Business. “Princeton could use a guy like Joel.” Amen.
To continue where I left off with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, I adore when dance is used in a non-dance movie. It’s just so real-life. When you are so excited you can’t contain yourself, you do a little jig. When you are completely alone and want to let loose, you pull out your hairbrush and sing “I Will Survive” at the top of your lungs while gyrating in front of the mirror. When you need to step in for your best friend to do a skit, you dance to “Canned Heat” (uh, what).
Here’s the original, that stands the test of time:
As all iconic images do, they spawn copies, spoofs and tributes. Here’s a quick one from the TV show “Scrubs”:
And another from “The Nanny”:
Here’s the sexiest version I’ve ever seen:
Wow, bazoombas…
How about a bunch of athletes? Kobe, don’t you think those shorts are a little long for tightie-whities??
Tonight on Dancing With the Stars, the judges submitted a NEW challenge to the stars and their pros: Telling a Story! This is so up my alley I can barely contain myself. Dance as a Story is MY BAG.
Whew! Let’s start the show.
Ooh! We get examples of the Waltz, the Paso Doble and the Quickstep from our beautiful pros, what the stars should aspire to do. And THERE’S Lacey Schwimmer! So fantastic to see her on the DWTS floor.
First up is Evan and Anna, doing the Quickstep to the “Hot Honey Rag” from Chicago. OMG the Quickstep is really a super, super hard dance and Evan did wonderfully. I didn’t see a tremendous story except in the very beginning. The lady kept the man waiting. But then they just danced. Ok, not an A+ in my book, but really great on the dancing! OH, and just to add to that: THEN we find out in the fishtank that Evan has two broken toes. Cripes boy, what a pro! Judges’ scores: 9-8-8
Before we go to commercial, they give us previews of what’s to come in the rehearsal rooms: stress stress stress, drama drama drama, tears tears tears. Looks like we’re in for it, folks!
Next is Buzz Aldrin, who is hangin’ in there and promoting the space program, by gum! They have a story that could really be a tear-jerker; a daughter greeting her father back from war. Ashly his pro is so really sweet to him and just keeps him on the right track. He did a great job and he looked good. The judges try to be as kind as possible, but he knows that he’s not really that great and it’s all good. Judge’s scores: 5-4-4
Jake and Chelsie are up after the break, and they’re doing the Quickstep to “Walk Like an Egyptian”. What? Ok, gotta see if this can work. And there is stress in the rehearsal room. Frustration! Put it into the dance, folks. Seems like the frustration paid off, they do very well. Lots of props, too, which I thought they weren’t supposed to use. Anyway, they are super fast across the floor and the performance and storytelling is good. The judges pick at his frame and legs, which are a bit soft. Judges’ scores: 7-7-7
Nicey and Louis are next and they choose a story that is close to both of them (if I’m not mistaken, Louis is gay), a interracial couple falling in love in the 60′s, a time when in some places it was actually still illegal. This is a different side to Nicey, and very genuine and sweet. It affected her to put herself in the place of the role she was playing. ACTING! BRILLIANT! Louis did a fantastic job on choreography, and her ivory dress with the various panels really brought the most out of it during the spins. I felt that she was very graceful, even in the face of a stumble at the beginning. Their song was a world class duet from Billy Preston and Syreeta (“With You I’m Born Again”) and really added to the story. The judges really love Nicey, but were picky about the stumble and her technique, which she needs to work on. I disagreed with Carrie Ann that the story was confusing, and it didn’t have a happy ending. But that wasn’t the point of the story. I felt Nicey’s intoxication with a love that fills her heart, but the danger of knowing how society will react and possibly retaliate. She was super vulnerable, and Louis, too. This is first-rate dance as a story. Judges’ scores: 7-7-7
Mr. Ochocinco and Cheryl are next with the fiery Paso Doble, set to this fantastic song sung by Antonio Bandaras in the beginning of the movie “Desperado” (love it). Chad does pretty darn well with it (even after the rehearsal drama). Very powerful and dynamic. He really focused on Cheryl and wanted the girl. Great comeback from last week! Judges’ scores: 7-6-7
Miss Pam and Damien are next. They were the surprise in the bottom two last week, since she was such a crowd-pleaser. This week they’re back with the Paso Doble–their story is of a woman and the bull-fighter. She loves him, but she hates what he does as an animal activist (they are very cruel to the bulls in bullfighting). She looked fabulous and did a great job telling the story. She’s not just a blonde bombshell, that’s not all she can do. The routing seemed at times a little sloppy, but I think that was just her passion. She did great. Judges’ scores: 7-7-7 (lots of 21s tonight)
Aiden and Edyta are next and we see that even though he had a comeback last week, he was super nervous and actually vomited backstage (thanks ABC for blurring the gross stuff out). They are doing the Quickstep tonight and things are lighter for the two of them as they celebrate his birthday and his wife and beautiful 7 month old girl come in with cake (Edyta eats cake?). Their dance is pretty good, but I realize that I completely missed what their story was supposed to be. Len says that he was a bit careful, and I didn’t see that, but I did see his shoulders way up by his ears. I’m sure he’s nervous as hell, with a stomach to match. Judges’ scores: 7-6-7
Erin and Maks are next with a Waltz telling a story of trust: Erin has to dance over half of their waltz while BLINDFOLDED. It was pointed out to me by a reader that Erin actually does have prior dance experience, so I’m not looking at her in quite the same way this week, but she really is graceful. I thought it was a really beautifully done by both of them. Judges’ scores: 8-7-8
Kate and Tony are next with a Paso Doble done to “Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga, a song that speaks directly to Kate, because they follow her wherever she goes. Kate can’t seem to connect with Tony for the passion and anger, and he calls in an acting coach. She sees a lot of emotion that is bottled up inside, and it needs to come out. Do we really want Kate Gosselin letting all her emotions out? Hmmm…During the dance she comes at Tony with intention and anger, but she steps around the floor like she has clogs on her feet. Not a lot of grace. Tons better than last week, though. Carrie Ann said it was “odd”. Judges’ scores: 5-5-5
Nicole and Derek have the Quickstep and their story is two sailors slacking off to “Anything Goes”. Nicole freaks out a little at the difficulty of the dance, she’s scared. The dance is A-MA-ZING. Really first rate. And I love that this wasn’t Nicole’s “Pussy Cat Doll” card. It was completely opposite of what she is used to doing. Super cute and technically hard as hell. And…not a Quickstep, according to the judges. Too bad. But true. Loved it. Judges’ scores: 8-6-9
And who will be the surprise elimination this week? Tune in tonight to ABC and find out! (then be like me and watch LOST, because you just can’t get enough suspense) ;o)
Head judge and executive producer of So You Think You Can Dance Nigel Lythgoe seemed to say over and over in season 6: “The chair is here for you Paula, come and join us!” Well, those weren’t his exact words, but you heard him talk about it enough through the entire season. And did Ms. Paula Abdul show up? No.
Well, that’s very unfortunate for her, because Nigel has officially withdrawn his invitation for her to come on SYTYCD. Pity. Seems her deal for a new Star Search just fell through (as reported by PopWrap).
At first I kinda chuckled about that, you know, “loopy Paula” and all. But then I went, wait. I would have really liked that. I mean, enough with her being a judge, why couldn’t she come on and choreograph? If you will remember back a few years ago, Paula Abdul was the go-to choreographer in Hollywood and the music industry. Yeah, remember “it’s Janet. Miss Jackson if you’re nasty?” I do.
I mean, look. Paula was discovered by THE JACKSONS for pete’s sake, at a Laker’s game. They saw her dancing with the Laker Girls and invited her to create the choreography for their “Torture” video, a process she’s not sure how she even got through. “My only problem was how to tell the Jacksons how to dance. Imagine me telling them what routines to do. I was young, I was scared.” But survive she did and went on to choreograph their Victory tour.
And tell me you didn’t know she choreographed this scene from the beloved american film Big:
Geez, I mean she even did those great African dance scenes in Coming to America (one of my favorite comedies), and she IS an Emmy Award-winning choreographer (for The Tracey Ullman Show and American Music Awards).
What really brought her to the forefront and ultimately, I think, led her to a music career is her close relationship with Janet Jackson during the Control era. And you have to remember that Janet was just coming up, too. Control really put her on the map and set her apart from the Jackson family. And damn if they weren’t hyper-danceable songs.
Ooooooo, I got chills just watching the open dance moves. Hot Hot HOT!! And it’s more jazz than hip-hop (didja SEE the guy do a zillion pirouettes??), something you just don’t see anymore in music videos. Little elements of West Side Story thrown in as well. Hurrah for 80′s stirrup leggings and big jackets with shoulder pads.
So loopy or not, she is a dance icon in America, and in my heart. Love ya, Paula–come back to the dance world!!
I’ve been tuning in here and there on America’s Best Dance Crew and seen some pretty nice stuff. Crew dancing is not usually my bag (although the kids are certainly talented), so I don’t normally jump up and down about it.
But last week was Disco Week on ABDC, and first that made me perk up. The crews were going to be given a disco song, and they had to incorporate some movement from the song/video clip AND put in a disco dance lift. Easy peasy, right? Well, just tell that to the Heavy Impact Crew who are just that–heavy. AND sooooo much fun to watch!! Just look at these guys. They embrace their differences, rub the bellies and just get to work. Sincerely, although there were great things about all the dances that night, I don’t think I enjoyed any group as much as Heavy Impact. Plus their song was “You Should Be Dancing” by the Bee Gees. Nuff said.
Just watch them tear up the dance floor. That is passion, enthusiasm, and love for dance:
