There are very few things in life that I regret. One is dating an abusive scumbag a*hole rather than be reunited with my first love, Marty. (I know, bad choice. Story for another day.) The second is that I should have taken more dance classes when I was young. I should have stuck with it. I believe that in all of us there is a little artist who either got shut down too soon or never got the opportunity to explore developing those skills. There’s something about dance that I just understand. I dream in dance and cheesy 80s music videos. In my mind at any moment everyone could just start singing and dancing like a flash mob and then we’d just go back to our everyday life, just a bit more energized.
I bring all this up because one of my favorite shows, So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD), is all revved up ready to go. The auditions are done and the Top 11 are chosen. Top 10? No, 11 this season. I suppose Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer, couldn’t live without both Billy Bell and Alex Wong (brought back from previous season auditions). Wasn’t it Top 20 last year? Yes, well Nigel thought that he would mess with a good thing to make it more competitive. In an interview with Maximo TV, he said that the changes will help us get to know the dancers better. I’m not so sure. Hopefully with the smaller number of dancers the eliminations will only be one per week instead of one guy and one girl. That would be a welcome change.
But the All-Stars? The show is bringing back dancers from the previous seasons and will be partnering with the newbies in the form of dance that the All Star dancer excels. I’m a bit disturbed by this. In last night’s show I was having a hard time finding where the newbies were vs. the All Stars. In some of the routines (particularly the Sweet Charity number), I kept finding that my eyes went to the All Star and not the contestants. That may be a problem. I like that in previous seasons the contestants were coupled together having to learn (for many) a whole new kind of dance. I feel like it created more of a family within the group because they work so hard together creating these incredible performances. I think it makes this season more competitive, but not more cohesive within their group.
Whatever the new setup may be, if Thursday night’s show was any indication of what the season may be, it is exhilaratingly talented, that’s for sure and I look forward to being thoroughly entertained. I love dance and this form of creativity. It makes me want to shake my booty even more at my Jazzercise class. It’s funny I find that when I watch SYTYCD I point my toes and my muscles move along with the performances sometimes. you could call me a couch dancer. I think I missed my calling.
Don’t miss an episode and be sure to visit Not Just Another Jen each Thursday. I want to hear your comments on the show. Cheers dancers (from the couch or the stage)!
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I absolutely missed my calling in song and dance! This show brings it to me every week though and I LOVE it. SYTYCD and Glee, that is.
As for the new format, I’m trying to be patient and see how the season unfolds, but I like the former layout so much that I can’t imagine this being as good. I kept watching the All Stars, but didn’t want to be watching them. I wanted to watch Lauren and Alex and Kent! My eyes kept being pulled though. Anyways, let’s couch dance and enjoy and see where this season takes us. It brings me so much happiness! Ha! That really sounds pathetic.
Bryn, I feel ya. And so very far from pathetic. I think it’s the positive vibe that we both need. It feels so good to watch people fully expressing their vitality and see the freedom of movement. It does something for me (uplifts). And I think it’s something that I believe we need to see expressed (more) in the world. I know that sounds trippy, but I think you know what I mean. Simply put, it brings joy.