It’s kinda a bummer that a bunch of So You Think You Can Dance videos got taken down. I realize that Fox owns the show, so they get to do what they wish with them. Oh well.
This one from my favorites list is still standing, however, so I get to write about it. I swear, Cat Deely and the Judges couldn’t say “cheeky” enough while talking about this dance. From season 5, Evan and Randi performing a Mia Michaels contemporary to “Koop Island Blues”.
This is a decidedly lighter side of Mia, and I love that as much as her darker side. I’ve always adored mismatched couples, and that’s exactly what you see the first moment in the dance, especially with Randi wearing those stilletto platforms (those come off eventually) and towering a half a foot over Evan. You can just see this slightly dorky guy who can’t believe his luck to get this curvy, sexy bubbly girl on his arm. And of course, the focus of his admiration happens to be her behind.
Mia uses clever and cute choreography to illustrate this admiration and tongue-in-cheek”iness” abounds.
“I was born into the studio and all I really know is dance.” Travis Wall
And know it well he does! He didn’t win the So You Think You Can Dance title when he was a competitor on the show (he came in second to Benji Schwimmer), but who cares? Travis is now a permanent fixture on SYTYCD as a choreographer. Can’t get much better than that, huh?
He started in season 5 with Jeanine and Jason’s Contemporary number to Jason Mratz’s “If It Kills Me” (known as the locket dance), a really gorgeous dance full of dynamic, passion and a little bit of craziness.
A really, really, fine debut for the show and absolutely goes on my “Best of the Best” list. He went on in season 5 to choreograph the top 8 in a Jazz number to “Let it Rock” by Kevin Rudolph.
In season 6 he continued contributing with contemporary numbers for Ellenore and Ryan, Ellenore and Legacy, and Ashleigh and Ryan. But the one dance that I felt was forgotten too quickly was with Bianca and Victor very early on. Most likely because the dancers were among the first to be eliminated for the show. But their dance to “Wasted Time” by (goooorgeous) Me’Shell Ndegeocello worked very well, even for a tapper and ballet dancer. They have this very sensual moment where he holds her near the end and she body rolls against him so subtlety. They took time in the moments and I noticed.
Well done by all. Thanks for some great dancing, Travis!
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!
It’s time to pick a hip hop number, and it’s also time for a group number. I really love group numbers, it’s the time when (even though it’s ONE MORE dance for the kids to learn), they can let loose, just be free and have fun. No pressure of critiques or phone calls. You really see them enjoy themselves.
Here’s the Season 4 Top 18 Group Hip Hop to Flo Rida’s “Elevator”. Choreographed by Shane Sparks. Just loooove the suits, don’t you? And the girls get to wear those cool zoot suit pants and corsets. This number is pretty stunning and slammin’ with lots of tricks, and just plain good ‘ol steps. Plus, you get the token bootie shake by all the girls. Priceless.
The LA Times today published a great article by Vincent Boucher on costume designers for So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars. This is a great read and gives a little insight on what goes into the creation of costumes for these talented dancers. He spoke with Soyon An who designs for So You Think and Randall Christensen (who is incidentally a former dancer) who designs for Dancing With the Stars for the story. Check it out here on the LA Times site. Enjoy!
'SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE': Show judge Adam Shankman says costumes affect how viewers see the acts. Shown here: Russell Ferguson and Noelle Marsh. (Mathieu Young / FOX)
