markbernstein ([info]markbernstein) wrote,
@ 2009-10-22 11:32:00
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SYTYCD musings
The auditions are over, Vegas week is done, and So You Think You Can Dance has chosen its top 20 finalists for season six.

For those of you who've never watched:

This is my current favorite show on TV. The dancers, and the choreographers they work with, are amazingly talented. Best of all, there's none of the back-stabbing and mean-spiritedness associated with most reality shows. The contestants, the judges, and the host all seem to like and respect each other, and focus on the quality of the performances.

Next week is a great jumping-on point. On Monday, they'll be broadcasting a one hour special introducing the contestants, something they've never done before. I Expect a bunch of biographical material, interviews, and audition footage, along with some group dance numbers. Tuesday is the first live competition show of the season, where the 20 contestants form 10 couples, and each couple performs one dance. This is the heart of the show, and the performances range from very good to jaw-dropping to moving.

For those already watching:

As much as I liked season five, I think this one will be better. While the dancing in season five was technically great, there weren't as many standout personalities, or as much star quality, as in previous seasons. (I found Joshua, Katie, Twitch, and Courtney a lot more interesting than Jeannine, Brandon, Kayla, and Evan. Well, OK, I loved Evan, but I have to admit that he wasn't as good at picking up other styles as most finalists.) There are already people in the season six pool who've caught my attention.

As always, some of the contestants have gotten more air time than others, so it's not fair to pick favorites yet, but the ones I'm already following with interest include (in no particular order) Ellenore, Bianca, Mollie, Channing, Billy, Russell, Legacy, Nathan, and Phillip.

Who do you have your eye on?



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[info]allisona
2009-10-22 04:00 pm UTC (link)
The finale of this season's "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" happens this weekend. After that, I'll likely start focussing in on the new American season again :).

I agree, though, that it's the best reality series on the air (though I like "The Amazing Race", too).

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[info]drzarron
2009-10-22 06:16 pm UTC (link)
Diana and I are rooting for Russell, the Krumper. Watching him do his thing was very good, but watching him pick up the other styles is jaw dropping. He's just got the chops. Legacy will go early, he doesn't have it outside of his style.

Bianca, the tapper, gives great performance, and seems to be able to pick up new steps. I'd like to see her go far. Mollie has great potential. Karen is smoking and strong, would like to see her do well.

I'm hoping Nathan does well. Been interested in him since he got the free pass all the way to new season. Ryan is so much better than his wife. She'll be gone quick and he'll go far.


Until Fox posts bios, here are two links to pics and bios:

http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/2009-10-22-gallery-so-you-think-you-can-dance-season-6-top-10-men

http://www.hitfix.com/galleries/2009-10-22-gallery-so-you-think-you-can-dance-season-6-top-10-women

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[info]scs_11
2009-10-23 03:14 am UTC (link)
My early personal favorite is Russell the Krumper. The talent is deep, and he really brings some personality to his dance. His attitude-free, open and humble approach to learning is going to serve him very very well. When he was out of his field he had more difficulty bringing his personality forward, but it seemed to be directly related to how comfortable he was with the material. The more intense one-on-one training he'll get on the show should turn him into a monster. I will be completely unsurprised to see him in the final four.

Bianca is another I'll be watching closely, but frankly, I've yet to see her do anything as awesome as the tap duet she did with Ryan. It'll depend on how well she can pick stuff up once they get into the closer training of the top 20. To her credit, she's got more personality than most of the other women combined, and it comes out in her tap. If she can do it in other fields, she'll be in the final four.

Ariana Debose struck me as graceful, athletic, and beautiful in everything she did. She needs to bring more personality forward, but she might be able to pull off top 10 on sheer dancing chops.

Dark horse: Pauline Mata. What little we saw of her was good enough for top 20, but we just didn't see very much.

First ones who'll be out the door: Ashley DiLello, Legacy Perez, Mollee Gray. Frankly I'd not have put Perez or Gray into the top 20. Perez just doesn't have the chops. Nigel was dead on with Mollee - she dances like a teenybopper. Both should have been encouraged to grow and try again next year.

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