I know I know. This show was over months ago. However, whatever deal Fox struck with Hulu was redonk and resulted in Hulu users getting a new episode A MONTH after its air date.
So I was a bit behind. But no more! Hulu finally aired the season finale. \o/
But I am here to talk about the dances, and the ones that I felt were the most emotional, the most entertaining, etc.
An interesting thing about this season was that the judges selected their personal favorite numbers from the previous seasons for the dancers to perform. This was definitely both a good and bad thing. On one hand, some of these numbers were amazing. ON the other, it was a lot to live up to.
Alex and Eliana working it
First up of my favorites is a number with All Star Alex. I love Alex. I think he is amazing. And I am glad that he is one of the All Stars they brought back for routines. He had entered the competition a few years ago, but a torn Achilles heel knocked him out. I was so sad when that happened, but am happy to see him on the stage again.
Bang Bang [My Baby Shot Me Down] with Alex and Eliana
Eliana is a classically trained ballerina, and has amazing skills. This number though shows her really broken down, not dancing pretty, but rough and emotional. I loved it.
My biggest jaw dropping moment was when the two female finalists were dancing a classic broadway number from Chicago, but with a pole. Also, I love Chicago.
When You’re Good To Mama with Tiffany and Eliana
But it wasn’t a strip tease; they used the pole in a way that made sense for the number [I felt]. And it definitely looked like it took a LOT of strength and working together to make sure they were in sync.
So sexy
My favorite routine that was a previous season number was by Lindsay and Cooper. They had the Mia Michaels number that was originally done by Kayla And Kupono in season 5. This still gives me chills; it’s so raw and emotional. And I really liked Cole’s interpretation of addiction. In the end, I do think that the original was the most intense, but I do think they did a great job.
Gravity with Lindsay and Cole
Gravity with Kayla and Kupono
As far as group numbers, I really like the NappyTabs routine. I have seen this song used 398749876 times at dance competitions, but I liked the version used here and the choreography in that it felt like something I hadn’t seen before.
The Beautiful People [District 78 Remix] with the Top 20
I also have to give a shout out to the show for the fact that they took advantage of having TWO ballet dancers in the top 20 and had them do a duet. I was ridiculously giddy when they said it would be from The Nutcracker. I have seen that ballet so many times I can’t even count anymore.
The Nutcracker Suite Pas de Deux with Eliana and Cheyon
Overall, the reason I love this show continues to hold strong – you have to be talented to make it. This talent can’t be faked. I wish that the deal with Hulu was different so that I didn’t have to wait so long to see the whole season!
I won’t spoil who won just in case, but you should definitely check out the show!
4 comments
Autumn says:
10/25/2012 at 8:02 am (UTC -7)
Just a note on the pole dance bit: have you watched any clips from professional pole dancing competitions? I kid you not, watching the insane athleticism involved in some older clips was pretty influential in me taking up a dance minor. The dancers looked a tiny bit clunky (understandably) on the pole, but very good over all. It’s nice to see pole dance getting stage time in a widely-viewed venue. Here is my favorite example ( slightly NSFW since she’s not wearing a whole lot): http://youtu.be/u6KnUW9N3Zo
I’m not a huge fan of the aesthetic used in the number in general, though. I don’t like the jazz aesthetic at large (talking about 1980s and beyond jazz), so no fault of the performers. This is especially true since Bob Fosse is my favorite choreographer (he was the original choreographer for Chicago).
I’m going to stop talking now because I could do a whole series of blog posts on Fosse. Maybe I will! We can have a dance week on CWC and drive everyone else crazy.
Alex says:
10/25/2012 at 12:04 pm (UTC -7)
The honest answer there is that I haven’t seen any professional pole dancing before, so I think that is partly why I was impressed by the number. But watching the link you sent me, I definitely see the caliber possible now and how it can be compared to the number on SYTYCD. That girl is insanely athletic. :O Thanks for sharing!!
Did you watch this past season? I agree with you on 1980s and beyond jazz, I didn’t like dancing it, and watching it I feel like if it isn’t done right feels just..slow and off with the music? If that makes sense? There were a few numbers this season that I felt were just on the edge of being good but I just missed the mark for me, and I’m pretty sure they were all jazz, thinking off the top of my head. XD
I think we should do what we want and talk about dance for a week. LOL.
Autumn says:
10/27/2012 at 6:16 pm (UTC -7)
I’m glad you liked the video! Felix Cane’s lines are absolutely perfect at all times. It’s crazy.
I don’t really watch SYTYCD, honestly. I was so badly put off by all the other dance shows on TV that I now avoid the entire genre. I do watch the routines when someone links them to me, though. We were taught how to do Laban Movement Analysis using a few clips from SYTYCD. I really love Season 4′s Top 16 routine by Mia Michaels (http://youtu.be/djsTqP-0CdY) but I love super percussive pieces. She is a really popular choreographer among folks at my school.
Anyway, regarding jazz–the best way I can describe my dislike of it is that it seems very fake and not very interesting. It reminds me of valley girls and that sort of aesthetic. That said, I’ve liked almost every jazz class I’ve taken–I just don’t like watching it.
What boggles my mind is that I took a class on the history of jazz dance from the 1900s through today and I still can’t point where exactly it stopped appealing to me aesthetically.
Alex says:
10/27/2012 at 11:07 pm (UTC -7)
I think what I like about SYTYCD is that it is just focused on the dancers – there is no drama, just talent. And yes, Mia Michaels is absolutely outstanding. I like Sonya Tayeh as well.
I haven’t studied dance in school – but that’s something I do regret sometimes, having been a dancer. We just learned what we needed to in order to dance every week, but didn’t learn the history of dance, or other styles. Just ballet ballet ballet.
Did you see the TED talk on choreography? It was really interesting to watch.
A Choreographer’s Creative Process in Real Time
I never liked dancing jazz, I quit when I was in high school. >.> I understand what you are saying completely. I was really excited when more contemporary pieces became more popular in dance competitions. I feel like jazz lacks that emotional punch.