So You Think You Can Dance wasn't a part of my TV-watching repertoire until the summer 2009 season. My friends thought it was odd, given my fixation on and obsessive coverage of Dancing with the Stars; after all, SYCYCD alums Lacey Schwimmer, Chelsie Hightower and Dmitry Chaplin have all served as pro dancers on DWTS since their stints on the Fox reality dance competition. In addition, I'm a former dancer myself so it seemed approrpriate that I'd want to see other dancers in action. As my friend Kristin reasoned, why not see how they got their public starts? So I did.
So far, it's been interesting. My favorite dancers keep changing. The guys tend to blend together for me (isn't that terrible?!) but the girls are all clearly different in my mind. Here are my random thoughts on the ladies... so far!
So You Think You Can Dance 2009 gal #1: Melissa. Amazing. Incredibly graceful, lithe, the perfect dancer's body all-around. Elle MacPherson may be The Body, but Melissa is SYCYCD's The Body. She's excelled in her routines thus far; her extensions are beautiful. I'd like to see her thrown into a really aggressive hip hop routine, or perhaps one of Mia Michaels' crazy modern numbers. I'm wondering if she'd falter. If not, she'd be a great pick to win the competition. And of course, it doesn't hurt that she's 29. As a thirtysomething myself, I like seeing her shine among all of the very-recent-kids in the pack!
So You Think You Can Dance 2009 gal #2: Randi. Adorable. That's the first word that comes to mind when I think of Randi. She struck me as wholesome and innocent at first glance, and I've been largely impressed by every dance she and Evan have performed. In fact, I think she's really carried Evan and wonder if she'll do that for her new partner next week as well!
So You Think You Can Dance 2009 gal #3: Janette. Power-house. Total power-house. It seems like Janette can go and go and go; she embodies the spirit of don't stop til ya get enough. (Just a little Michael Jackson tribute thrown in there for good measure.) Despite her go-go-go'ness, she doesn't sacrifice style for motion; her precision is beyond impressive. And of course, as a loyal DWTS fan, I have to note that she bears a physical resemblance to Cheryl Burke, if only in the hairstyle.
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Comments: 10
Oh MAN..I sooo forgot his was on! Since we have cable I miss these good shows cause usually husband has the tv on something../ Err.,. Im going to watch the rest! Im bumed.. I loved this show!
Nope, I don't watch
The only thing I watch these days is the Golf Channel because that's what my husband has on. Dancing sounds like much more fun!
I think Janette is my #1 and Melissa is my #2. I like Randi, but she didn't seem at the top of her game this week. Caitlin bugs me...always has...
I don't watch the show...but it was good to see an article from you. It's been a while! Hope all is well!
I love this show too. Hubby even has it set to record if we are not going to be home to watch it. I think all of them are great dancers. I hate to see one of them go.
Melissa is my favorite too! I think she could pull off a Mia Michaels- did you see her Sonya Tayeh routine? That was insane! And she had another contemporary-type by the other blond choreographer that she did so well. I'd be really interested to see her do a hip hop too.
Kayla is a new favorite for me. She is just so darn good and getting better.
I agree with Randi- she IS adorable. There is no other word to describe her better.
Jeanette I could see joining the Dancing With the Stars cast next year.
Jeanine- I was really surprised to hear the judges tell her she's basically in the top 10. She could really bomb her solo tonight (I think she will be in the bottom 3 couples). If she is up against, say Melissa and Jeanette I don't think she'd make it. But she is really good too.
I was seeing Caitlin leaving tonight. And Kupono unless the "right" dancer is in the bottom three with him. Then I don't know!
I have the same problem with the guys. Kupono is standing out more and more for me, but I'm thinking he won't make it past tonight. There were a few from the past years that really stood out because of how different they were. But with 5 contemporary dancers (or so it seems) and one popper, the popper is the only one that really stands out for me (Jeanine's partner, whose name I cannot remember).
It's hard to see a carrier bring a not-so-good dancer into the top 10. Obviously, they are ALL good, but some of them deserve it more than others but lose out because their partner brings them down.
Well, I missed the first week of the season. D'oh. I was sick and completely forgot it was on so I didn't set the DVR. Boooo. Melissa just has a maturity about her that the others don't yet have. Could just be a function of her age, but could be something else, too. Not sure yet.
I was miffed when they sent Vitolio home last week. I tend to find Kupono boring most of the time. I can't remember the popper's name either, lol. I do like Brandon a lot. And Ade most of the time, though I'm wondering if that's because he's paired with Melissa. Guess we'll see when they all get new partners next week!
You're right about Melissa. It's her face and expressions, her body, the way she carries herself- everything together makes her...well, to put it like the judges did- a fine wine.
Sometimes it is so obvious when a dancer has been carried into the top 10, or brought their partner there. Other times you don't see it coming until they get their new partner and they either keep on excelling or totally bomb.
At first I thought that Popper was a carrier for Jeanine until she started upping her game. I'm a bit concerned about Evan, especially because he is vertically challenged. I'm thinking that all but Jeanette are really tall, and maybe Jeanine. I remember two years ago in the top 20 there was a girl named Heather who was really tall and was partnered with someone her own height. In heels, for the dance she was taller than her partner and it looked so funny that they were in the bottom three and were both cut. I can see that happening to Evan.
I'm going to go crazy for the next 40 minutes!
Oh, and you can see just about any episode on You Tube so if you want to see the ones from the first episode I think they are all on there. I watch them almost every day. I'm a little nuts about it!