SYTYCD Season 5: Top 7 Couples Dance

Mia Michaels joined the judges panel tonight on SYTYCD stage.

Here is how the night went down:

Janette & Brandon: Cha Cha (Jean Marc G.) Music: "Hush Hush; Hush Hush" by The Pussy Cat Dolls
This was a fast paced routine, looked a little more like a disco. Brandon sang throughout the song, annoying. It was good, but I hope tonight gets better. Brandon did well with his footwork, the only part that looked like a Cha Cha.

Nigel Lythgoe: "...the best damn Cha Cha I have ever seen on this show ever... "

Mary Murphy: "... I hear a train coming... you 2 have 2 tickets on the hot tamale train..."

Mia Michaels: "... I know I have scared the bleep out of you Brandon... you have so much potential... you're gonna love me and hate me on this journey... Janette you've been on fire since day one..."

Kayla & Kupono: Contemporary (by Sonya Tayeh) Music: "Eyes On Fire" by Blue Foundation
The story of life and death in the vampire world. I liked the music the most. I just don't get any feeling from these two. Maybe it was better for the judges.

Nigel Lythgoe: "... the inspiration for Sonya was absolutely fabulous... Kupono you are a new man up there this week... I thought it was absolutely fabulous... there was so much technique..."

Mary Murphy: "...these two are alive and kicking... I think Sonya did a brilliant job of playing to your strengths... you're staying on the hot tamale train..."

Mia Michaels: "... you're a stunning couple... Sonya, for me this was your best piece ever on the show... amazing..."

Randi & Evan: Broadway (Joey Dowling) Music: Richman's Frug
This is made for Evan, he dances like he was born on Broadway.
Maybe I'm just in a bad mood tonight, but this was boring too. I have no idea what it was about. They looked good together.

Nigel Lythgoe: "... a great homage to Bob Fossi... I thought Randi, that you did very well... Evan, you have to bring a little more to the party..."

Mary Murphy: "...I think most of the time you got the character really well... it was entertaining..."

Mia Michaels: "... the choreography was there... you guys didn't take it to that level... Randi, it was a little heavy for me... Evan, I expect more from you..."

Caitlyn & Jason: Jazz (Brian Freidman) Music: "Creator" by Santigor
So it was a hip hop routine. Surprisingly much better than the couple's actual hip hop routine that was an epic fail. I really liked it. Hopefully they won't fall to the bottom 3 again.

Nigel Lythgoe:"... it was very weird.... you have to commit to it 100% and I think you both did that... I'm not sure about the costume... It looks like a dancing condom." Cat Deeley, "Safety first, Nigel."

Mary Murphy: "... I didn't think it played to your strengths... it just doesn't sit right with me... I love the two of you..."

Mia Michaels: ".... it's kind of refreshing a little, to go out there and just have fun... I don't like the tin foil (on the costume)..."

Jeanine & Phillip: Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha) Music: Love Lockdown by Kanye West
Chained together for the routine... it was a great idea. In places it worked well. In others it did not. No way to say Phillip did not do his part and Jeanine did pretty well to keep up. The chain was in the way for me.

Nigel Lythgoe: "...you should be chained together for life... "

Marry Murphy: "... I thought it was so incredibly creative... you guys really brought it on..."

Mia Michaels: "... I found myself getting caught up in the 'chainography'... it takes away from the hard hitting..." EXACTLY!!!
Jeanine said they "had been living with the chain". Phillip grabbed the mike to say, "she made a mistake right there!" The two are not 'living' together.

Melissa & Ade: Ballet (Thordall Christienson) Music: "Romeo & Juliet"
A Romeo and Juliet routine from Melissa, a true ballerina. She looked stunning as usual. Ade looked more contemporary, but evendentally that is allowed now. It was ok.

Nigel Lythgoe: "... it was beautifully danced... Ade, your footwork could be a little better, but your carriage and everthing else was great... thank you so much..."

Mary Murphy: "... I just loved it... the chemistry was just flawless..."

Mia Michaels: "... I am so excited to be celebrating classical dance on this program... I love that it's a black and white Romeo and Juliet... you can't fake classical ballet..."

Karla & Vitolio: Quick Step (Jean Marc G.) Music: "Puttin' On the Ritz" by Rufus Wainright
Finally a dance that is choreographed to it's name from start to finish. I love to watch the Quick Step and this was a good one.

Nigel Lythgoe: "... there were so many good things about that... it was really entertaining..."

Mary Murphy: "...they brought the whole thing alive... it was really well done..."

Mia Michaels: "... Jean Marc is a genius... it's amazing what a choreographor can do for dancers... I was surprised... "

Well overall it was much better than last week on SYTYCD. This season has yet to live up to SYTYCD Season 4. That group was just amazing. Phillip Chbeeb continues to impress me, I hope he stays in for a while. No clear leader yet.

So You Think You Can Dance unfurled the curtain on Nigel Lythgoe's newest endeavor in the dance world. A charitable foundation for under privileged dancers. Check it out at:
Dizzyfeetfoundation.org
Katie Holmes will dance on the 100th episode of SYTYCD on July 23rd.

SYTYCD Season 5: Week 1 Auditions Brooklyn & Denver

FOX Thursday 8/7c 5/21/2009

Gabi Rojas led off the greatness of SYTYCD Season 5.

The judges gave Gabi a standing ovation. Looking like Debbi Allen, Nigel Lythgoe said it was one of the best auditions he'd seen in 5 years. Mixing performance with dance. He said he thought he would see Gabi in the top 20. Mary Murphy gave Gabi Rojas the first "Hot Tamale" scream. Gabi Rojas got her golden ticket straight to Hollywood.

Next up came a contortionist pair. Well one of them could "joint-tortion". The other thought he could dance, if he had "schmean" on his face (smeared make-up). It was ...weird. The were sent to choreography for pure "morbid curiousity".

Katherine Leach was up next. Another not ready for prime time player. Calling herself "Crazy" Kate, she lived up to her name... oh wait, she said it was because she was crazy about dancing...

Peter Sabasino (21, Philadephia, PA) came on the SYTYCD floor in tap shoes and clean up.

This was a great audition. He's a good looking guy too! "Your like a tap dancing boxer," said Nigel Lythgoe. "Great variety, great look...I'm not talking about the clothes..." said Mary. On this audition, Peter Sabasino made it straight through to Vegas.

The inspirational dance goes to Tiffany Giegel (23, Brooklyn, NY).

Born with a birth defect that left her with only 3 vertebrae, she still did pretty well. Nigel Lythgow gave her a real critique, as he always does for the serious ones. "The bravery you have to come on a show like this is stunning to me..." said Lythgoe.

Maksim K. (sorry, I'll learn the name if he makes the top 20).

Nigel Lythgoe really liked the performance, minus the winks. Mary enjoyed the ball room dancing. He was sent to the choreography.

We were only allowed the slightest glimpse of those who went straight to Vegas. It is gonna be great!

Time for what looked like another joke audition. Nabuya.... (again with the last name).

This guy was actually good. He looked like it was gonna be... not good. It was very surprising. Nigel Lythgoe seemed to enjoy it. "My fear is that you won't be able to do anything other than that... we'll see...". Mary really enjoyed the audition. As did Napoleon and Tabitha.

Making it out of choreography were: Maksim, Nabuya and 27 others (total) are going to Vegas from Brooklyn, NY auditions Day 1.

Arielle Taylor came back for a second try.

The young dancer went as far as Vegas and was cut. She was still in high school at the time. Nigel Lythgoe really likes her. Mary loves her. Arielle Taylor earned another ticket to Vegas.

Amanda Clark and her partner tried a dance called the Bolero. Not sure what it was supposed to look like. It left the judges speechless... not in a good way.

Nina and Igor were up next with a hot Latin routine. The twirl at the end was awesome. Nigel Lythgoe, "You could put wet clothes on and spin dry them!...I thought you were tremendous" Mary loved it, I knew she would. Tabitha and Napoleon enjoyed it as well. They were not sent through though, as many couples, they had to prove it in choreography.

Kellin Stancil was up next.

He was very good. Vry very good. You could feel his emotions. He just lost his aunt recently and told of how he danced for her. He is a very eloquent young man. The judges were moved. Nigel gave him his ticket to Vegas.

Chimezie Nwosu was the hip hopper of the night. Looking like Twitch from last year's SYTYCD. It was a snappy audition. Nigel said he liked him, but wanted to see him do other things. Leading to a choreography chance. Not yet as good as Twitch, but he may grow into it.

Going through from choreography were: Igor, Chimezie and 14 more from day 2 go on to Vegas.

Heading west to Denver, CO, the SYTYCD team were again hit with the good the bad and the weird.

Kayla Radamski broke the ice in a great way.

She looked a little glam, but she backed it up. Nigel Lythgoe really liked her. All the judges loved her, in fact. Kayla earned a ticket to Vegas. Her grandparents were there to celebrate with her.

Misha Belfer and Mitchell Kibel were up next. They danced as a couple, not a team. It was a ballroom performance. It was weirdly good, individually, but not together. Nigel Lythgoe said "it was a bit like watching Will Farrell in Blades of Glory..."

Making it through choreography and on to Vegas were 11 more from Day 1 in Denver.

For Day 2, Cat Girl took the stage, "dancing" to the theme of Star Wars. It was aweful, and she cried when the judges were mean.

Elias Holloway (18 Sate Fe, NM) and his 16 year old brother Enok, the youngest of 14 kids.

Wow. These guys were awesome. Even doing the 'pull-up' from last season's show. It was a fun audition. Elias Holloway was sent on to choreography. Elias did not make it this year, but look for him in the future.

Saving the best for last!

Natalie Reid, Katee's roommate, from last year's finale, came back as she was told to after just missing out.

Natalie has worked hard and it shows. She moved Sonja to near tears. Mary was also impressed. Nigel Lythgoe told her she was amazing and gave her a ticket to Vegas. Katie was the first person Natalie Reid called (or that's how they showed it).

Brandon Bryant showed his growth as well.

Dancing superbly. Mary was moved to tears this time. She actually sobbed and said "I have the greatest job in the world.. to sit here and see somebody do what I can never do...if you don't make it to the top 20 this year, I'll just die..." Nigel told Brandon to really bring his personality to the show... and gave him a golden ticket to Vegas.

All totalled from Day 2 in Denver 8 more dancers for a grand total of 19 dancers from Denver going to Vegas.

Next week: Miami and Memphis

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Joshua Allen Wins SYTYCD Season 4 8/07/08

After the Confetti Cleared Joshua Allen
Wins the Dance Competition
FOX Thursday 8/7c 8/07/08

After all the fanfare and dancing ended for Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance there was one young man left standing, Joshua Allen. The nineteen year old untrained Hip Hop dancer from Ft. Worth, Texas. Never before had a street dancer found themselves in the final two. This time both the finalist were from the street. Stephen 'Twitch' Boss has nothing to be sad about, finishing what had to be a close second.

Both the ladies of the final four were let go early, with Courtney leaving first. Really not a big surprise. She is fantastic, but the competition was too great. Katee was let go a short while later with a bonus, this year's top female and top male win a $50,000 prize. She finally showed raw emotion that was not choreographed. That's a lot of money to a dancer. I think that was Katee's only downfall, her lack of enthusiasm off the dance floor.

When it came down to Stephen 'Twitch' Boss and Joshua Allen, it didn't really matter anymore. Both men have their loyal followers and they co-mingle peacefully. Joshua just seems able to take every single jump, step or hand gesture one step further every time.

Filling in the rest of the two hour finale we were treated to an encore performance of the judges and choreographers' favorite routines of the season. This show differs from shows like American Idol, in that the judges prove they know what they are talking about. Mary Murphy gave a Latin dance that I could have never seen and been happy. Nigel Lythgoe tied on tap shoes and showed he could still tap with the best... well, he can still tap. He's such a ham, it was funny though... Read full article!


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SYTYCD: Season 4 Finale

Joshua, Twitch, Katee and Courtney
FOX Wednesday 8/7c 8/06/08

This is the closest finale I've seen on So You Think You Can Dance. Every other season there was a clear cut leader, but this year... how do you even guess. Each dancer has proven themselves to be worthy of the Season 4 Finale: Joshua Allen, Steven "Twitch" Boss, Courtney Galiano and Katee Shean.

Tonight's show also showed why Cat Deeley is the best hostess on a talent show, she does the best interviews. Her sense of humor brought out the best in all four of the finalist. You just never know what Cat will do next, as proven by the golden grill teeth she took out of Twitch's mouth last week...Finish Article!


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