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A simple Hip-Hop Routine

Nygel Lythgoe, the Executive Producer of So You Think You Can Dance took the initiative for USA’s National Dance Day on July 31st. To make sure everyone get their booty shaking… two choreographers from SYTYCD Napolean and Tabitha Dumo put together a dance routine… a simple Hip Hop Routine that looks good, stylish, fun and doable by all. I’m sure most of you already know about this, but for those of you who still haven’t tried the video… here it is:

Top 3 Bollywood Routines ever!

Well I had earlier posted about all the Bollywood routines so far danced in SO You Think You Can Dance,  and here I pass my judgement on the top 3 best Bollywood routines performed on the SYTYCD stage till date, all choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan.

Top 3rd: Season 5 – Top 5 female dancers dance to “Dholna” from Pyaar Ke Geet. Jeanine (the second from left) went on to win the season!

Top 2nd: Season 7 – Billy Bell and Robert Roldan dance to “Ganesh” from Bombay Dreams. In my view, Robert out danced Billy here! This style just did not fit on to Billy and he was eliminated that week. Will Robert win the current season?

Best Bollywood Routine: Season 4 – Katee Shean and Joshua Allen dance to “Dhoom Taana” from Om Shanti Om. This was the first ever Bollywood routine on the show and without a doubt, this was the best! Joshua won Season 4, while Katie was the top girl that season.

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What Season 7 lacked and how it was made up for…

So far on So You Think You Can Dance the first five seasons did not have much of a difference in the competition format. With Season 6 things got a bit changed, in fact many things has changed and now we’re almost at the close of Season 7. I want to bring out certain points that weren’t that good for season 7, but still this season did somehow stand out, as compared to the others.

What Season 7 lacked:

• First of all, all the fans were disappointed, when they heard that Ballroom Expert, Mary Murphy wouldn’t be on board this season at all! That was very sad to me as well. It’s been so long since I’ve heard the Hot Tamale Scream… She was replaced by Mia Michaels who is always harsh and speaks straight to the face! The most ‘booed judge this time for sure!
• For the first time ever, only top 10 were allowed for the final stage of the competition (the Hollywood Studio). They were considerate to add an extra player, Billy Bell, to make it  the final Top 11.
• The opening live episode in the studio for the Top 11 was almost a disaster. Wrong camera angles, mis-guided focus, and fumbles here and there wasn’t the best way they would’ve opened the show!
• The top 11 wasn’t very diverse with just one B-boy Jose and just one ballroom dancer Cristina. A lil too much of Contemporary and Jazz was seen in this season
• Three injuries were seen unfairly eliminating Alex and Ashley. Billy lost out on one performance due to a minor injury but then was eliminated the following week.
• Just one Viennese Waltz so far with only the finale left!

But why Season 7 has been one of the best so far:

• In addition to the permanent panel of Nygel, Mia and Adam, we had Kenny Rogers, Tony Redpath, Tyce to spice it up and add their own flavour to the show.
• Even though we had only the top 11 this time, the energy was even more with the All Stars from previous seasons (wonder why no one from Season 1). It was so fresh to watch them team up with the new participants.
• The background screen was replaced only with lights, and what amazing lighting effects by the SYTYCD team. Too good!
• Even though we had just one waltz, we had so many other brilliant styles this time. African Jazz, Stepping, Tahitian and the show’s first ever B-Boying routine (with Jose and Dominic). Thankfully, we had only one quick step! Phew!

So yes, I think eliminating one person at a time, gives more room for the other dancers to grow, which they did, and the couple-concept is actually elevated with the All Stars infused in the show. All in all, I think Season 7 has turned out to be amazing and fun filled! But I guess we all want Mary Murphy back. We also want Mia to comment, but not in the center seat.

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Cancer: The Growing Threat…

This post may not be exactly about dance, but the emotion that the following dance piece had inflicted on all of us is unforgettable. I was not only impressed by the art and skill with which Tyce Diorio had choreographed that amazing and sacred “Breast Cancer routine”, but also the overflowing emotion that the piece spewed out. Melissa and Ade danced to this beautiful piece in So You Think You Can Dance, Season 5. I know this routine is a year old now, but since I had just started this blog less than a month ago, I have to make a mention of this.

I have added this video in our YouTube Channel’s Special Playlist and you can view it by clicking the image above. The other reason that I wrote this post is simply to show more awareness towards this growing threat of cancer. I lost my uncle and my grandfather to lung cancer. My grandmother, my aunt, two of my friend’s relatives are suffering from cancer of one or the other type. I cannot understand what precautions do we need to take. Well, the obvious may be to stop excessive smoking, etc. But what else can we do to prevent cancer other than lung cancer? What did they have to do to avoid it? we just can’t figure it out! All I can say is we must keep up hope and keep praying. When ever we find someone in cancer we must be strong and share our strength with them.

Why didn’t Paula Abdul come on SYTYCD?

Paula Abdul had been in the audience in the initial seasons of So You Think You Can Dance but was never seen or mentioned of ever since. But, in Season 6, Judge and Executive Producer of the show, Nygel Lythgoe had openly invited Paula to the show. Click the following images to watch Nygel inviting her in the first three (studio) episodes of Season 6.

  

Hmmm… so why didn’t Paula appear on the show at all! Not at all in Season 6, and surely not in the current Season 7. You all know that she also quit American Idol. Is it because she’s really busy now or does she want to devote special attention to her new Dance Show. Yep! Paula Abdul is coming up with her Dance Show to be aired on CBS. May be that’s the reason why she didn’t want to add that extra spark to other dance shows like SYTYCD.

Well, the reasons might be any. But I’m just sad that she couldn’t appear on SYTYCD even for judging a show. And now that she’s coming up with her own show, that too on another channel, I don’t think she will ever appear on SYTYCD. Our wishes are surely with her and all the best for her new show. The show dates aren’t announced as yet (Click the image above to check the site). You can follow @PaulaAbdul and the show @CBSPaulaDance on twitter.

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Hip-Hop, always the first! (Part 2)

Continued from Hip-Hop, always the first! (Part 1): Just as the many things, even the opening routines weren’t exactly Hip-Hop in Season 6 and 7. In these seasons, along with the new studio, there was a new format to the season opening as well. The first gala episode in the studio was only to showcase the dancers’ talent. No competition, no elimination!

Season 6 Opener:  The opening routine here was the Top 20 performing Jazz to “Comanche”, choreographed by the amazing and my favourite, Wade and Amanda Robson. But the next routine following that, was Hip-Hop. This was without a doubt the best hip-hop routine ever in the history of SYTYCD. Danced by the terrific trio this show has ever seen, Russell Ferguson, Kevin Hunte and “Legacy” set the new stage on fire dancing to “Beggin”, choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo… showcasing Krump, Hip-Hop and B-Boying all at once in a freestyle-cocktail!!! Click the images to watch the video.

But the jinx was kinda there. As I said in my previous post, three seasons were opened by the winner with a hip-hop routine. This is the 4th such season, opened and won by Russel! Not only that, he is the first ever Krumper in the top 20 and also the first ever Krumper to win! Wo! I actually wanted Jacob to win season 6, and Russel was my second choice. Well deserved though!

Season 7 Opener: Well this season has broken all the jinx. Top 20 was made Top 10. The opening entire group routine was Jazz again, but the following piece was Jazz, Broadway and then Hip-Hop. Even the competition episode opened with Broadway and not Hip-Hop. The first Hip-Hop routine starred Jose, along with Hip-Hop All-Stars Twitch, Comfort and Dominic (video above) choreographed by NAPPYTABS.

However… the first routine after the top 10 grand Jazz opening was Jazz again, with Kent Boyd and Lauren Froderman in it. Right now, they are among the top four and by the reactions from the judges and the audience… I think they are sure to make it to the top 2!!! So even though many things have changed, the jinx stays! If Kent or Lauren win Season 7, then 4 out of 7 seasons have the winner in the opening routine!

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