Photo courtesy of Fox
The Top 20 have been cast and the REAL competition starts on Wednesday, 10-Jun-2009. We'll find out who each person got paired up with (this decision alone can make or break a great dancer if paired with the wrong person). We'll also see who has the right "on camera" personality to grab votes, but more importantly to executive producers (Nigel) RATINGS! Because ratings = money $$$.
As I mentioned before, I do my own unscientific, unofficial, and definitely not objective dancer profiling to determine what the breakdown is for this season and how that stacks up against previous seasons. I may even speculate about why other dancers may have been passed over.
*I am not affiliated with the show in any way. I am just a humble TV watching speculator critic who wants to express my opinions (as unfounded or biased as they may seem at times).
TOP 20 SUMMARY:
(Click on the pictures for a close-up)
Ade - Contemporary / From AZ / Age: 20
Ashley - Contemporary / From AZ / Age: 22
Asuka - Ballroom (Latin) / From CA / Age: 25
Brandon - Contemporary / From FL / Age: 19
Caitlin - Contemporary / From MD / Age: 21
Evan - Contemporary (Broadway) / From MI / Age: 21
Janette - Ballroom (Salsa) / From FL / Age: 25
Jason - Contemporary (Lyrical) / From CA / Age: 21
Jeanine - Contemporary / From FL / Age: 18
Jonathan - Ballroom (Salsa) / From FL / Age: 21
Karla - Contemporary (Jazz) / From MD / Age: 23
Kayla - Contemporary (Jazz) / From CO / Age: 18
Kupono - Contemporary (Lyrical) / From HI / Age: 23
Max - Ballroom (Latin) / From Russia (Lives in NY) / Age: 26
Melissa - Contemporary (Ballet) / From CA / Age: 29
Paris - Contemporary / From WA / Age: 19
Phillip - Hip Hop (Popping) / From TX / Age: 20
Randi - Contemporary (Jazz) / From UT / Age: 23
Tony - Hip Hop / From NY / Age: 20
Vitolio - Contemporary / From Haiti (Lives in FL) / Age: 26
Right from the get go you're probably thinking, THAT'S A LOT OF CONTEMPORARY! Yes it is, but please note I am using Contemporary as a catch all for dancers who specialize in lyrical, ballet, jazz, modern, etc.
Season 5 Styles:
4 - Ballroom
14 - Contemporary
2 - Hip Hop
It seems each season gains more and more Contemporary dancers. I do not think that is necessarily bad. What it is showing is that dancers are learning that to be competitive on the show they must be versatile and expand their dance vocabulary past comfortable styles. They are taking classes in all genres to prepare for the audition/show. Sometimes that doesn't even help (think Katua's Bollywood dance last year). However, I know a lot of viewers who do not like so much contemporary because they like seeing someone who is a "fish out of water" grow as weeks progress. Some of the contemporary dancers may already be proficient in most styles robbing the viewer of this evolution. As an ex-dancer, I'd rather see a great dancer become phenomenal.
I'd say I agree with Nigel when he said that Tony Bellisimo is the least technical dancer. I also stand by my previous statement that he was allowed to audition again in the Mia Michael round because they knew they were lacking substantial hip hop this year. So it was good timing that Tony auditioned this year versus last year when exec-producers wanted a hip hopper to win. Although, no BBoys this year. I'm a sucker for some acrobatic flairs and crazy headspins. But, to only have 2 classified hip hoppers seems strange compared to past years.
Season 5 Ethicities:
3 - Asian (Includes Pacific Islander and Happa Asians)
3 - Black (Inlcudes Caribbean)
4 - Hispanic (I may be wrong on some...my apologies if I am)
10 - White (3 Blondes & 7 Brunettes)
I am actually VERY happy about this ethnic breakdown. It is showing more diversity. In fact, for the first time ever, Asians were very prominent in the Top 32, and in the Top 20. Maybe we're not so "token" anymore. Top 32 included 8 Asian dancers (4 girls & 4 guys). Was this a talent anomaly or is this selective casting from the show? Maybe they are capitalizing on Katee Shean's past success (3rd place S4) and want to see a female Asian take the crown? If that's the case, we'll be watching Asuka & Karla very closely!
In the hip hop world, and on ABDC, you'd think Asians dominated because there are so many groups that were either all or part Asian. Last season's winner (Quest Crew) is 95% Asian with the exception of Dominic Sandoval (D-Trix) from SYTYCD S2. Quest Crew also includes SYTYCD alums: Hok Konishi (Season 3) and Ryan Conferido (Season 1). Jabbawockeez (ABDC Season 1 winners) have many Asians on their roster as well.
This makes me speculate why the other Asians didn't make it.
ASIAN GUYS:
I wonder if Ricky Sun was TOO Asian for primetime. It was obvious he had an accent; even Asuka teased him about it. But then again, we didn't see the rest of his auditions to know how well he performed. I never even saw that first Asian guy who got cut. I don't even know his name or dance genre. And I have no doubt Alex Wong would have made it if his company had let him. I would have loved to watch him dance more. I hope we see him again. That development most surely helped Kupono through. I am sure they ackowledge how similar he is to Mark Kanemura (S4) and that's not always a good thing because Mark was so unique that you don't want to appear to cop out with a "copy cat". I love Kupono though so I don't care how he got there. =)
ASIAN GIRLS:
Two girls made it, Asuka and Karla. I really knew Asuka had a good chance of making it when she reauditoned because she almost made it last year (losing out to Chelsie Hightower) and she's good in her style. I don't know Karla, but she is very pretty. It had to be between her, Pauline Mata, and Paula VanOppen because they are all classified as Contemporary. I know Pauline is a good all around dancer, but she excels at hip hop and has great feet for contemporary. She may not have the technique of some of the other dancers, but she has a very bubbly personality. They didn't give her much airtime, so I never actually saw her dance. Paula VanOppen has a HUGE following on the competition circuit. She always won. I have to say I wasn't feeling her new haircut. I think it edged too far into the tomboy look and it made her less soft. I liked her hair a little bit longer.
This is my favorite video of Paula dancing. She was only 14 when she competed with this number in 2005. I like how fluid she seems. It's the second video down.
So You Think Can Pronounce My Name?
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In the end, no matter how much speculation or early favorites we have, the dancers must prove themselves weekly. They may not get a style their comfortable with, or they may just not resonate with the viewers. If they don't do well, or if they aren't likable, they do run the risk of being in the bottom three. And I have seen many dancers save themselves with a solo versus others sent home for bad solos. It could all be gone in 30-sec.
I look forward to reading other people's blogs and comments as the season progresses and I wish all the dancers well as they embark on the journey that is So You Think You Can Dance.
(Click on the pictures for a close-up)
Ade - Contemporary / From AZ / Age: 20Ashley - Contemporary / From AZ / Age: 22Asuka - Ballroom (Latin) / From CA / Age: 25Brandon - Contemporary / From FL / Age: 19Caitlin - Contemporary / From MD / Age: 21Evan - Contemporary (Broadway) / From MI / Age: 21 Janette - Ballroom (Salsa) / From FL / Age: 25Jason - Contemporary (Lyrical) / From CA / Age: 21Jeanine - Contemporary / From FL / Age: 18Jonathan - Ballroom (Salsa) / From FL / Age: 21Karla - Contemporary (Jazz) / From MD / Age: 23 Kayla - Contemporary (Jazz) / From CO / Age: 18Kupono - Contemporary (Lyrical) / From HI / Age: 23 Max - Ballroom (Latin) / From Russia (Lives in NY) / Age: 26Melissa - Contemporary (Ballet) / From CA / Age: 29Paris - Contemporary / From WA / Age: 19Phillip - Hip Hop (Popping) / From TX / Age: 20Randi - Contemporary (Jazz) / From UT / Age: 23Tony - Hip Hop / From NY / Age: 20Vitolio - Contemporary / From Haiti (Lives in FL) / Age: 26Right from the get go you're probably thinking, THAT'S A LOT OF CONTEMPORARY! Yes it is, but please note I am using Contemporary as a catch all for dancers who specialize in lyrical, ballet, jazz, modern, etc.
Season 5 Styles:
4 - Ballroom
14 - Contemporary
2 - Hip Hop
It seems each season gains more and more Contemporary dancers. I do not think that is necessarily bad. What it is showing is that dancers are learning that to be competitive on the show they must be versatile and expand their dance vocabulary past comfortable styles. They are taking classes in all genres to prepare for the audition/show. Sometimes that doesn't even help (think Katua's Bollywood dance last year). However, I know a lot of viewers who do not like so much contemporary because they like seeing someone who is a "fish out of water" grow as weeks progress. Some of the contemporary dancers may already be proficient in most styles robbing the viewer of this evolution. As an ex-dancer, I'd rather see a great dancer become phenomenal.
I'd say I agree with Nigel when he said that Tony Bellisimo is the least technical dancer. I also stand by my previous statement that he was allowed to audition again in the Mia Michael round because they knew they were lacking substantial hip hop this year. So it was good timing that Tony auditioned this year versus last year when exec-producers wanted a hip hopper to win. Although, no BBoys this year. I'm a sucker for some acrobatic flairs and crazy headspins. But, to only have 2 classified hip hoppers seems strange compared to past years.
Season 5 Ethicities:
3 - Asian (Includes Pacific Islander and Happa Asians)
3 - Black (Inlcudes Caribbean)
4 - Hispanic (I may be wrong on some...my apologies if I am)
10 - White (3 Blondes & 7 Brunettes)
I am actually VERY happy about this ethnic breakdown. It is showing more diversity. In fact, for the first time ever, Asians were very prominent in the Top 32, and in the Top 20. Maybe we're not so "token" anymore. Top 32 included 8 Asian dancers (4 girls & 4 guys). Was this a talent anomaly or is this selective casting from the show? Maybe they are capitalizing on Katee Shean's past success (3rd place S4) and want to see a female Asian take the crown? If that's the case, we'll be watching Asuka & Karla very closely!
In the hip hop world, and on ABDC, you'd think Asians dominated because there are so many groups that were either all or part Asian. Last season's winner (Quest Crew) is 95% Asian with the exception of Dominic Sandoval (D-Trix) from SYTYCD S2. Quest Crew also includes SYTYCD alums: Hok Konishi (Season 3) and Ryan Conferido (Season 1). Jabbawockeez (ABDC Season 1 winners) have many Asians on their roster as well.
This makes me speculate why the other Asians didn't make it.
ASIAN GUYS:
I wonder if Ricky Sun was TOO Asian for primetime. It was obvious he had an accent; even Asuka teased him about it. But then again, we didn't see the rest of his auditions to know how well he performed. I never even saw that first Asian guy who got cut. I don't even know his name or dance genre. And I have no doubt Alex Wong would have made it if his company had let him. I would have loved to watch him dance more. I hope we see him again. That development most surely helped Kupono through. I am sure they ackowledge how similar he is to Mark Kanemura (S4) and that's not always a good thing because Mark was so unique that you don't want to appear to cop out with a "copy cat". I love Kupono though so I don't care how he got there. =)
ASIAN GIRLS:
Two girls made it, Asuka and Karla. I really knew Asuka had a good chance of making it when she reauditoned because she almost made it last year (losing out to Chelsie Hightower) and she's good in her style. I don't know Karla, but she is very pretty. It had to be between her, Pauline Mata, and Paula VanOppen because they are all classified as Contemporary. I know Pauline is a good all around dancer, but she excels at hip hop and has great feet for contemporary. She may not have the technique of some of the other dancers, but she has a very bubbly personality. They didn't give her much airtime, so I never actually saw her dance. Paula VanOppen has a HUGE following on the competition circuit. She always won. I have to say I wasn't feeling her new haircut. I think it edged too far into the tomboy look and it made her less soft. I liked her hair a little bit longer.
This is my favorite video of Paula dancing. She was only 14 when she competed with this number in 2005. I like how fluid she seems. It's the second video down.
So You Think Can Pronounce My Name?
- Ade
- Asuka
- Kupono (actually Kuponohi'ipi - Yeah, they nixed that one fast)
- Max (actually Maksim)
- Paris
- Vitolio
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In the end, no matter how much speculation or early favorites we have, the dancers must prove themselves weekly. They may not get a style their comfortable with, or they may just not resonate with the viewers. If they don't do well, or if they aren't likable, they do run the risk of being in the bottom three. And I have seen many dancers save themselves with a solo versus others sent home for bad solos. It could all be gone in 30-sec.
I look forward to reading other people's blogs and comments as the season progresses and I wish all the dancers well as they embark on the journey that is So You Think You Can Dance.
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