Today is my favorite day of the year...the start of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD). I get very excited when I know American Idol is ending because I know that means MY show will finally start.
I have been watching the show since Season 2. I didn't watch Season 1 in 2005 because I was getting married (I didn't know there was TV that summer). Last year I started
writing reviews and emailed them to my best friend and my sister, but I
decided to expand my audience this year and add the reviews to my
blog. I didn't review the auditions last year, but this year I will do
that too so the whole season is captured.
I'm a little scared because I'm kind of brutally honest with my opinions, but those opinions do have validity. I used to dance professionally from the age of 8-18, and am well versed in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and tap (with a tinge of hip hop and ballroom). I haven't danced in awhile, but once a dancer, it never really leaves. Plus I live vicariously through my sister who is currently 19 and remains in the dance world. I understand what written words can do harm to someone I do not know. Last year, I knew someone who was featured on the auditions. It hurt her feelings to see negative reviews. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I just want to express my opinion of the performances.
Now, please note that I am well aware that SYTYCD is a reality show first, talent competition second. That doesn't stop me from wishing the most technical and proficient performer will win, but have been disappointed in the past when Travis Wall (Season 2) and Danny Tidwell (Season 3) came in second. Or even, Katee Shean and Will Wingfield from last season (yes, we all saw that Desmond Richardson number - only a truly remarkable pair could pull that one off).
I also know that audiences pick people very differently than critics or judges (how else did Cedric Gardner (Season 3) and Comfort Fedoke (Season 4) last as long as they did on shows past?). I give my predictions based on actual talent, performance, but do try to see how an audience member (with no dance background) may vote too.
For the past few years I have been "profiling" performers to see how the executive producers pick their dancers. I guess I am trying to determine what the breakdowns are to figure out who might make Top 20, or even who the judges might be pushing to win. I know, this is obsessive and weird, but it puts order in something as random as popular voting.
Here is the style breakdown for the past 3 years (this is a very small part of my "profiling"):
Season 2:
STYLE
4 BALLROOM
11 CONTEMPORARY
5 HIP HOP
Season 3:
STYLE
4 BALLROOM
12 CONTEMPORARY
4 HIP HOP
Season 4:
STYLE
3 BALLROOM
13 CONTEMPORARY
4 HIP HOP
Winner Summary:
Season 1 - Nick Lazzarini= Contemporary Male
Season 2 - Benji Schwimmer = Ballroom (Swing) Male
Season 3 - Sabra Johnson = Contemporary Female
Season 4 - Joshua Allen = Hip Hop Male
My predictions for what the executive producers will want to win:
FEMALE - Either Ballroom or Contemporary Hip Hopper (someone who may say they're hip hop, but really have tons of contemporary training)
OK, enough speculating. Let's get this show on the road. It's been airing since 8PM, but I wanted to wait until 9PM so I could fast forward through commercials.
Here we go...Welcome, to So You Think You Can Dance 2009!
I'm a little scared because I'm kind of brutally honest with my opinions, but those opinions do have validity. I used to dance professionally from the age of 8-18, and am well versed in ballet, jazz, modern, lyrical, and tap (with a tinge of hip hop and ballroom). I haven't danced in awhile, but once a dancer, it never really leaves. Plus I live vicariously through my sister who is currently 19 and remains in the dance world. I understand what written words can do harm to someone I do not know. Last year, I knew someone who was featured on the auditions. It hurt her feelings to see negative reviews. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. I just want to express my opinion of the performances.
Now, please note that I am well aware that SYTYCD is a reality show first, talent competition second. That doesn't stop me from wishing the most technical and proficient performer will win, but have been disappointed in the past when Travis Wall (Season 2) and Danny Tidwell (Season 3) came in second. Or even, Katee Shean and Will Wingfield from last season (yes, we all saw that Desmond Richardson number - only a truly remarkable pair could pull that one off).
I also know that audiences pick people very differently than critics or judges (how else did Cedric Gardner (Season 3) and Comfort Fedoke (Season 4) last as long as they did on shows past?). I give my predictions based on actual talent, performance, but do try to see how an audience member (with no dance background) may vote too.
For the past few years I have been "profiling" performers to see how the executive producers pick their dancers. I guess I am trying to determine what the breakdowns are to figure out who might make Top 20, or even who the judges might be pushing to win. I know, this is obsessive and weird, but it puts order in something as random as popular voting.
Here is the style breakdown for the past 3 years (this is a very small part of my "profiling"):
Season 2:
STYLE
4 BALLROOM
11 CONTEMPORARY
5 HIP HOP
Season 3:
STYLE
4 BALLROOM
12 CONTEMPORARY
4 HIP HOP
Season 4:
STYLE
3 BALLROOM
13 CONTEMPORARY
4 HIP HOP
Winner Summary:
Season 1 - Nick Lazzarini= Contemporary Male
Season 2 - Benji Schwimmer = Ballroom (Swing) Male
Season 3 - Sabra Johnson = Contemporary Female
Season 4 - Joshua Allen = Hip Hop Male
My predictions for what the executive producers will want to win:
FEMALE - Either Ballroom or Contemporary Hip Hopper (someone who may say they're hip hop, but really have tons of contemporary training)
OK, enough speculating. Let's get this show on the road. It's been airing since 8PM, but I wanted to wait until 9PM so I could fast forward through commercials.
Here we go...Welcome, to So You Think You Can Dance 2009!
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