December 3, 2009

More Dancin' Diatribes

Hatched by Dafydd

This time, for "the other dance show" -- So You Think You Can Hip-Hop Dance.

SYTYCD is really for the younger set; my sister and my brother's wife both love this show, but neither watches Dancing With the Stars.

In this dance competition, twenty dancers (ten each) are selected from literally thousands of auditioners. They're paired up, then each week, every couple draws a dance style randomly; the styles range from hip hop (too much hip hop, in my opinion), to ballroom, jazz, Broadway, contemporary (basically modern ballet), and more exotic dance styles (Bollywood, Lindy Hop, Russian folk dance, etc.).

Professional choreographers design the dances, which the couples perform, competing against each other. Each week, viewers get to vote: For the first half of each season, they vote for couples; for the last half, for individuals.

On the "results" show, dancers wind up in the "bottom three" or "bottom two" based on viewer votes. Then one guy and one gal are cut, based upon the judges' decision (first half) or viewer votes (second half). In the end, "there can be only one."

For any of youse who watch SYTYCD, you might imagine that my favorite male dance contestant would be the brilliant ballroom dancer, Ryan Di Lello. Not so! He was my favorite, up until a couple of weeks ago; but now my favorite is the contemporary dancer Jakob Karr.

(My favorite female dance contestant was and still is Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan's wife; I do hope Ryan hangs on long enough to get paired with his wife one week... and I hope they get a ballroom number!)

Jakob is simply astonishing -- a cross between season 2 winner Benji Schwimmer and hall of famer Ray Bolger (the guy who played the Scarecrow in the 1939 version of the Wizard of Oz). He has never been in the bottom three, nor was he in the bottom two tonight. Although he's a contemporary dancer, he seems able to master nearly every dance style they throw at him... though of course Ryan is better at ballroom. (But Jakob does a better ballroom than Ryan does contemporary.)

Most interesting to me is his physical flexibility, hence my otherwise cryptic remark above about Ray Bolger: Jakob can move his body in ways that no human male can possibly move, leading to my conclusion that he's a double-jointed alien.

To me, he is clearly the -- best -- dancer on this season of the show, male or female... possibly the best dancer ever on any season. So that's my prediction: Jakob Karr will win this season of SYTYCD.

...Just etching it in stone to be the first (among those blogs I read) to make such a bold prediction. As Detective Inspector Grim (David Haig) said on the Rowan Atkinson series the Thin Blue Line, "My butt's hanging way out over the line, and I don't want any cock-up!"

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, December 3, 2009, at the time of 12:00 AM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt

I agree; Jakob has a quality of being a true adept, a remarkable artist -- and so humble. I am in my mid 50's and love the show. The skill exhibited by these amazingly dedicated dancers is stunning. I also learn a lot also about dance styles I never heard of or cared about. And the coreographers have created some great works of art. This is a great entertainment-escape show.

The above hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 3, 2009 8:47 AM

The following hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt

I agree; Jakob has a quality of being a true adept, a remarkable artist -- and so humble. I am in my mid 50's and love the show. The skill exhibited by these amazingly dedicated dancers is stunning. I also learn a lot also about dance styles I never heard of or cared about. And the coreographers have created some great works of art. This is a great entertainment-escape show.

The above hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 3, 2009 8:47 AM

The following hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh

Michael Babbitt:

Up until this week, my favorite dance this season was the "cane" dance with Jakob. But now my favorite is the second dance he did this last Tuesday.

I don't recall who choreographed the cane dance, but the one this time was choreographed by the mohawk woman, I forget her name. I wouldn't be surprised if she choreographed the cane dance, too; she's really been on a roll this season.

Dafydd

The above hissed in response by: Dafydd ab Hugh [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 3, 2009 12:16 PM

The following hissed in response by: Sachi

I believe the cane routine was choreographed by Mandy Moore. The mohawk woman is Sonya Tayeh.

The above hissed in response by: Sachi [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 3, 2009 1:22 PM

The following hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt

I believe her name is Sonya Tayeh and yes she has provide some really dramatic choreography. I never really knew much about choreographers. But after watching you can really tell why those at the top of their business are at the top. And then they try new comers and we all discover a new great artist together. Again another wonderful education.

By the way, I went to the last on the road Season 5 show in Everett, WA. that included Phillip and Caitlin. Wow to see Jeanine and Brandon and Jeanette, Evan and the others was great; after following all season was like watching a family member. I splurged on right side front row seats and it was awesome. My girlfriend and I are over 50 but we were wooping it up as if we were in our 20's.

The above hissed in response by: Michael Babbitt [TypeKey Profile Page] at December 3, 2009 1:22 PM

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