Dancing inside the box: So You Think You Can Dance contestants on their best--and worst--moves.So You Think You Can Dance There are several local versions of the reality television show So You Think You Can Dance:
n. 1. A popular urban youth culture, closely associated with rap music and with the style and fashions of African-American inner-city residents. 2. Rap music. adj. , ballroom, Broadway, salsa, and more. Borrowing from the American Idol American Idol is an annual American televised singing competition, which began its first season on June 11, 2002. Part of the Idol franchise, it originated from the British reality program Pop Idol. format, the early auditions include dewy-eyed amateurs who are told by the judges to find another career--or worse. Only the most charismatic and TV-ready dancers from each of four cities are invited to the semi-finals in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . The next round eliminates all but 10 guys and 10 girls, who are paired off to pas de deux pas de deux (French; “step for two”) Dance for two performers. A characteristic part of classical ballet, it includes an adagio, or slow dance, by the ballerina and her partner; solo variations by the male dancer and then the ballerina; and a coda, or in randomly selected styles. The judges, who include Nigel Lythgoe (also the executive producer), Mia Michaels Mia Michaels is an Emmy Award winning American choreographer. She has worked with Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, and Prince, and is best-known for contemporary dance choreography. , Shane Sparks Shane Sparks (born 1974) is a hip hop choreographer best known for his work as a judge and choreographer on the American television dance competition So You Think You Can Dance. , Mary Murphy Mary Murphy may refer to:
Who are the brave young souls who pack up their hopes and dreams and head for the show? Dance Magazine interviewed six dancers who held on for many weeks. And, because the show brings up so many questions about the training, presentation, and judging of dance, we are including questions to ponder in the following pages. We a want your input! Look for the orange bubbles. DONYELLE JONES, 26 Hometown Studio City, CA Training Hip hop and jazz, some ballet, modern, tap, and musical theater. Hardest genre When I was learning the cha-cha, Dmitry [Chaplin] was helping me practice and he'd be like, "No, no, you're doing salsa arms! It's different for cha-cha." Nerves I start freaking freak·ing adv. & adj. Slang Used as an intensive: Traffic was a freaking nightmare. [Alteration of frigging, present participle of frig.] out when they call my name, and then for the first 10 seconds I feel like I'm going to throw up. How do you deal with the pressure? I pray I beg; I request; I entreat you; - used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go s>. See also: Pray a lot, like 20-30 times a day. Toughest moment Mia wanted to send me home after Vegas. Rough spot I lost five to seven jobs last year because of my weight, and I lost my motivation. I hadn't danced for five months before I auditioned for the show. The Vegas audition gave me the push I needed to get back in class. Advice If you're going to do it, don't do it halfway. RYAN RANKINE, 20 Hometown Brooklyn, NY Comfort zone Modern and contemporary ballet Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointework from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of . How did you get to So You Think? I had to empty my bank account to buy a $400 plane ticket. The callback for So You Think in Vegas conflicted with the second week of the spring concert at SUNY SUNY - State University of New York Purchase, so I got kicked out of school. Hardest genre The Viennese waltz. It's very regal, like you're dancing with your queen and your court. You have to go out like you're ice skating, like you're dancing in the clouds. Handling the judges' criticism I take it in and I reevaluate myself. I still haven't really let go in this competition yet. Back home, everyone knows me as an animal onstage; I totally eat the stage up. Have you bonded with the other contestants? They are absolutely amazingly beautiful. Everyone's like family here now. Advice to young dancers You should always go with your heart. Don't let anything stop you. Who is your dance hero? Desmond Richardson. When he was on the cover of Dance Magazine, I had it on my wall. Just because you're a black man doesn't mean you can't have your ballet lines and dance with ballet companies and go to Europe and do Chicago and keep on pushing it forward, no matter what the stereotype is. What are your hopes about being on SYT SYT Sweet Young Thing SYT Save Your Time (software) SYT See You Tomorrow SYT Scottish Youth Theatre SYT See You There SYT Standard Young Tableaux (enumerative combinatorics) SYT South Yorkshire Times ? If I could just touch one person out there, one little African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. boy that's like "Wow, that could be me!" That's what Desmond was for me. Hopefully the message will get out there. ASHLEE NINO Ni·ño n. El Niño. Niño See El Nino. , 21 Hometown Dallas, TX Comfort zone Funk-style: popping and locking. Hardest genre The '80s disco because it is full of lifts, turns, and leaps, which I'm not used to. Goal I want to put popping more into the mainstream, get it the respect it deserves. People have this image of it as a mild street dance, but it actually takes years of training to master. Biggest stress You only have a couple of days to learn the steps, so whether you're sick, tired, or in a bad mood, you have to keep dancing. It's hard when cameras are on you 24/7 and you know that you're being judged. You have to be yourself no matter what. Partnership Ben, my partner in the beginning, is the comedian of the group; he's a riot. He always makes me laugh, even on the most stressful days. Nerves They really kick in right before we go out, when that horrible music comes on. I say a quick prayer and tell myself what an honor it is to have made it into the top 20. Coolest dance experience I recently went to Tahiti and taught hip hop to kids there. Ultimate dream I'd love to dance with Janet Jackson or Missy Elliott but I also want to travel the world and use hip hop to bring kids away from drugs, alcohol, and violence. TRAVIS WALL, 18 Home base Virginia Beach, VA Comfort zone Contemporary, jazz, lyrical. Fun fact Travis' brother is Danny Tidwell (see "25 to Watch," January, 2005). Who coached you to get to where you are now? My mom, Denise Wall. Plus, I won the New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. Dance Alliance Teen Outstanding Dancer of the Year award two years ago and toured with them for a year. Do you have a "company class" in the morning with all the competitors? We warm up ourselves. When we first got here we had a whole day off so I got a studio, and gave a contemporary class for anyone who wanted to take it. What do you hope to do after this? I am starting my own clothing and costume line. I am obsessed ob·sess v. ob·sessed, ob·sess·ing, ob·sess·es v.tr. To preoccupy the mind of excessively. v.intr. with rhinestones! I would love to do my own thing in dance, do another TV show or even have my own reality show. What have you learned about yourself through this? That am vulnerable, get shy and start to close up when the cameras are around. Best tip f you nave ballet and hip hop under your belt you can fake just about anything ALEKSANDRA WOJDA, 22 Home bose Chicago, IL Comfort zone Contemporary, jazz. Training Northwestern University, Giordano jazz Current job I teach at Inspire School of Dance in Plainfield, IL. I'm missing my students' recital, but they are excited I'm in this. Dream job Gus Giordano Jazz Dance or Hubbard Street Dance Chicago  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . Facing up to the judges As a dancer, you're always in front of the mirror. You have to open up to critique. Judges' helpful hint One comment was that my honesty as a dancer showed. I've had a hard time going to college and balancing dance, and it confirmed that I'm going in the right direction. What's it like to perform on TV? It's surreal to think that millions of people are watching. What made you nervous? Being in the bottom three couples made me nervous. When I performed my solo I let my nerves take a hold of me. I didn't let myself fully enjoy the moment because I was thinking, "Ohmygod, what if they don't choose me!" I was mortified mor·ti·fy v. mor·ti·fied, mor·ti·fy·ing, mor·ti·fies v.tr. 1. To cause to experience shame, humiliation, or wounded pride; humiliate. 2. . ALLISON HOLKER, 18 Hometown Orem, UT Comfort zone Jazz, lyrical, contemporary. Dream job I want to reach every area of dance! I want to be in the Celine Dion show, a Broadway show, go on tour with a singer, and open my own studio. What's it like to perform on TV? You have to know where the cameras are at all times, and you have to reach the whole TV audience. What makes you nervous? Working with a partner because this is the first time I ever have. You have to have a connection with that person--with your personalities, and in dance. What have you teamed about yourself? I learned that I really enjoy ballroom! After the show, I want to start training in ballroom. I enjoy working with a partner and I think it's fun to have someone leading you. Strategy for handling nerves I don't let myself talk myself down before I go onstage. I'm just happy to be here. I can't think about the pressure. Advice for this competition You have to absolutely work hard and at least take a couple classes of everything. |
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