Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
agree with steve like the format for a single day show that is
So You Think You Can Dance Season 10
- Thread starter Yanou
- Start date
duffypratt
Member
Nigel said that last night because Jenna is a ballroom dancer, and actually could have performed a cha cha at a high level. Or course, that kind of choreography would have exposed her partner even more and he would have definitely faced elimination. (Now its only probably). So, should the choreographers make a routine that make the dancers look good (and the choreographers), or should they make a routine that is true to the style but looks terrible? With the Viennese Waltz last week, a real waltz would have made both dancers look terrible, and the show look bad, so they cover up the obvious weaknesses, and Nigel says nothing. Here, he complains more because it was a chance really to show Jenna off, and they obviously want her to stay around for a long time. Also, the complaints are especially weak since the show basically invented the "lyrical hip-hop" category, which basically means ersatz hip-hop for contemporary dancers who can't do the real thing.
I'm still kind of surprised that no-one on the show has even said a word about Jenna being in Stacey Tookey's company as an apprentice. She is a competing latin dancer, but should they really pretend that she has no other experience? or that she's not connected to one of the long-time choreographers on the show? Very bad.
Next week, Jade is definitely in the bottom three and probably his partner as well. When they give someone Bollywood, they might as well just hand them a ticket home, especially in the early rounds.
I'm still kind of surprised that no-one on the show has even said a word about Jenna being in Stacey Tookey's company as an apprentice. She is a competing latin dancer, but should they really pretend that she has no other experience? or that she's not connected to one of the long-time choreographers on the show? Very bad.
Next week, Jade is definitely in the bottom three and probably his partner as well. When they give someone Bollywood, they might as well just hand them a ticket home, especially in the early rounds.
Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
or samba!!
bia
Forum Master
Yes, odd, but consistent with the way they tell the story of the show. On the one hand, during auditions, Nigel gets upset at them if they've never had any training in a variety of styles, since by this point they should know what they need to do to prepare for the show. On the other hand, once they're on the show, they get a label as a one-style dancer, with praise for whenever they dance well out of that style. I saw a recent interview with Mary Murphy (linked from DF?) where she was still talking about Russell as an "untrained dancer" and how impressive his success had been. When you can say that about a dance major at a performing arts high school, just because he auditioned in a "street" style, it's clear that backgrounds matter only to the degree that they fit the nice neat story they want to tell.
Well said.
Jenna isn't the first contestant whose professional connections to the show's choreographers have been ignored, and... well, considering the health of the show, she actually may be the last.
Found this article on the Dance Spirit web site.
http://www.dancespirit.com/2011/01/lyrical_hip_hop/
Its Roots
Perhaps the first time you heard “lyrical hip hop” was on Season 4 of “SYTYCD.” Mark Kanemura and Chelsie Hightower had just performed a routine about a workaholic and his neglected girlfriend choreographed by the D’umos to Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.” Guest judge Adam Shankman jumped out of his chair with delight and called the dance lyrical hip hop. However, this wasn’t the birth of the movement.
The D’umos (and many others) taught similar routines throughout the ’90s. In order to get Las Vegas executives to hire them, the D’umos made street dance mainstream by telling relatable stories and using pop music.
Lyrical hip-hop choreography was more fitting to the Las Vegas stage than freestyle dance battle sequences. “Things that come from the street have a completely different aesthetic. Street dance is done in a circle, so there’s no sense of ‘What am I projecting to the audience?’” Forman says. “With lyrical hip hop, the moves are made to be done in front of an audience that’s looking at a stage.”
http://www.dancespirit.com/2011/01/lyrical_hip_hop/
Its Roots
Perhaps the first time you heard “lyrical hip hop” was on Season 4 of “SYTYCD.” Mark Kanemura and Chelsie Hightower had just performed a routine about a workaholic and his neglected girlfriend choreographed by the D’umos to Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love.” Guest judge Adam Shankman jumped out of his chair with delight and called the dance lyrical hip hop. However, this wasn’t the birth of the movement.
The D’umos (and many others) taught similar routines throughout the ’90s. In order to get Las Vegas executives to hire them, the D’umos made street dance mainstream by telling relatable stories and using pop music.
Lyrical hip-hop choreography was more fitting to the Las Vegas stage than freestyle dance battle sequences. “Things that come from the street have a completely different aesthetic. Street dance is done in a circle, so there’s no sense of ‘What am I projecting to the audience?’” Forman says. “With lyrical hip hop, the moves are made to be done in front of an audience that’s looking at a stage.”
Generalist
Active Member
It seems that in this show, the only couples who have a competitive chance are mixed race -- black men partnered with white women. White men with black women haven't done near as well.
The preponderance of these pairings seem surprising considering the large number of blacks on the show. Like for instance -- why are there so few couples that are black men and black women? If the problem was that white men can't dance then it would seem that black-black pairings would dominate.
The pairings seem odd considering that in true ballroom competition mixed race couples seem no more or less competitive than other pairings. My perception is that mixed race couples represent a tiny minority of the dance population, so they probably earn a smaller number of competitive wins.
I'm interested to hear other opinions on why mixed race is so successful on this show compared to real dance competitions.
Is there some kind of political agenda on this show that requires mixed race, or is it that mixed race sells better viewership results?
The preponderance of these pairings seem surprising considering the large number of blacks on the show. Like for instance -- why are there so few couples that are black men and black women? If the problem was that white men can't dance then it would seem that black-black pairings would dominate.
The pairings seem odd considering that in true ballroom competition mixed race couples seem no more or less competitive than other pairings. My perception is that mixed race couples represent a tiny minority of the dance population, so they probably earn a smaller number of competitive wins.
I'm interested to hear other opinions on why mixed race is so successful on this show compared to real dance competitions.
Is there some kind of political agenda on this show that requires mixed race, or is it that mixed race sells better viewership results?
It would be interesting to see an actual analysis of this to see if there is indeed anything other than "random" pairings. But, it's not so simple because there are other ethnicities involved, and there is the element of mixed ethnicity.
Then there is the question of whether or not there is a an "equal" proportion of dancers in each style.
Serious statistical analysis would require serious effort. Maybe someone has done that, and it would be interesting to see that analysis.
Meanwhile, Nigel said that they paired Aaron and Jasime based on their height, as one stated reason for a pairing.
None of the on line sources identify any of the dancers by "race" or "ethnicity." Rather, "style" is the identifier, which we know to be only a shorthand and reference point.
And, even though the judges are talking about "power couples," people vote for individual dancers, not couples. And, if they did what they did last season, the partnerships go away and individuals are paired with "all stars" from past seasons when they get down to the top 10.
Forget about "real dance competitions."
This is about finding America's Favorite Dancer, while putting on a show, having first class dancers to perform choreography, being nominated for, and winning Emmies, etc.
Then there is the question of whether or not there is a an "equal" proportion of dancers in each style.
Serious statistical analysis would require serious effort. Maybe someone has done that, and it would be interesting to see that analysis.
Meanwhile, Nigel said that they paired Aaron and Jasime based on their height, as one stated reason for a pairing.
None of the on line sources identify any of the dancers by "race" or "ethnicity." Rather, "style" is the identifier, which we know to be only a shorthand and reference point.
And, even though the judges are talking about "power couples," people vote for individual dancers, not couples. And, if they did what they did last season, the partnerships go away and individuals are paired with "all stars" from past seasons when they get down to the top 10.
Forget about "real dance competitions."
This is about finding America's Favorite Dancer, while putting on a show, having first class dancers to perform choreography, being nominated for, and winning Emmies, etc.
TemptressToo
Member
I always thought it unfair that it isn't so much about who dances well...it's a popularity contest. "Entertaining" dance styles get more support from the general, uneducated public.
chachachacat
Well-Known Member
Not the point. The point is, don't eliminate them at the top of the show.
SYTYCD seems to have gotten the point.
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Couldn't agree more. Some, like Christina Applegate, make very astute comments (better, in fact, than we sometimes get from Nigel and Mary), but most -- such as the one tonight -- are beyond useless.
So, it wasn't social Argentine Tango (duh!) but, I was impressed by Leonardo's ganchos. Lucky for Hayley, I'd say, because, I think Curtis wouldn't have been able to show her off as well as Leonardo did.
It would have been nice if they had given Hayley more tango specific movements.
How long ago was Forever Tango in New York? Is it still there?
The stern face thing comes from the African cool look, and I can't quite make out Leonardo's reply to Nigel's question.
It's on YouTube (so it says), but I couldn't find it, but you can watch here.
http://ohyeahsytycd.tumblr.com/
And this is interesting...
If you're in Los Angeles, SYTYCD choreographers Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo just began offering lessons in Downey (The Elk Club at 11233 Woodruff Ave., Downey).
I seem to remember Skippy Blair telling a story about pushing a piano to that Elks when she first started teaching on her own in the late 50s.
It would have been nice if they had given Hayley more tango specific movements.
How long ago was Forever Tango in New York? Is it still there?
The stern face thing comes from the African cool look, and I can't quite make out Leonardo's reply to Nigel's question.
It's on YouTube (so it says), but I couldn't find it, but you can watch here.
http://ohyeahsytycd.tumblr.com/
And this is interesting...
If you're in Los Angeles, SYTYCD choreographers Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo just began offering lessons in Downey (The Elk Club at 11233 Woodruff Ave., Downey).
I seem to remember Skippy Blair telling a story about pushing a piano to that Elks when she first started teaching on her own in the late 50s.
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Mr 4 styles
Forum Master
that AT was excellent!! its always great when the contestants get a pro!!
Hayley will prolly win for the girls
Hayley will prolly win for the girls
bia
Forum Master
I agree that it was really good, and that she lucked out to be dancing with Leonardo. Don't know about the prediction though. Not to say you're wrong, but I have a really hard time choosing between the remaining girls -- it's a very strong field. In contrast, the next few guys to go are pretty clear. Speaking of borderline guys, I was glad to see Alan get a chance to strut his stuff this week -- looked great.