Tag Archives: so you think you can dance

Dancing to T Pain

TV & Movies, , , , ,

I wouldn’t really call myself a T. Pain fan, nor would I ever endorse the lyrics of this song which is just wrong on so many levels. But I have to admit I loved the scene in Step Up 2 where Tyler (Channing Tatum) and Andie (Briana Evigan) had a dance-off to this song.

I’ve seen other people dancing to this song after that, but I’ve never really liked it since I always invariably compare it to the dance scene in Step Up 2. But then I saw Twitch and Courtney using NappyTabs’ choreography in So You Think You Can Dance, and I have to say – I liked this as well. Here’s the full video of the performance.

Broadway and Jazz in So You Think You Can Dance

Whenever I watch So You Think You Can Dance on YouTube (I’m usually out on Saturday nights while it’s being aired on cable), I’m more interested in watching the hip-hop or even krump routines compared to the other genres. But after seeing these two performances, I’ve now included jazz and Broadway among my favorites. Here’s Sabra Johnson and Neil Haskell in their jazz performance to “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” choreographed by Mandy Moore. The song incidentally reminds me of an ice cream commercial that was popular when I was a kid.

Here’s my favorite couple Chelsie Hightower and Mark Kanemura in their steamy Broadway performance to the song “I’m a Woman,” choreographed by Tyce Diorio.

Napoleon and Tabitha’s Choreography in So You Think You Can Dance

 

I first heard of Napoleon and Tabitha D’Uomo (a brilliant husband-and-wife team of choreographers) in So You Think You Can Dance when they did my all-time favorite hip-hop number in the show (more about that at the end of this post). I didn’t really think that much of them until I realized that they choreographed all of my favorite routines this season.

Here they are in reverse order of preference.

# 5 DON’T TOUCH ME by Busta Rhymes

I love this song, but mainly because it’s in one of the ACDC dance battle videos (Adam/Chu Dance Crew, star and director from Step Up 2). Anyway, I thought this was a really funny routine, and I thought Kherington did a pretty good job even though she had no hip-hop background.

# 4 LIKE YOU’LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN by Alicia Keys

Like one of the judges said, it sort of reminds you of Ghost (starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore). You want them to be together, but they can’t. It is a very moving routine, mainly because of the story-line that Napoleon and Tabitha incorporate into their choreography.

# 3 NO AIR by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown

https://youtu.be/dRNVyGOkxb4

This is another emotional number with a sad-story line. Joshua is about to go to the war, and is saying goodbye to Katee. Katee isn’t trained in hip-hop as well, but I think she did a pretty good job.

# 2 PARTY PEOPLE by Fergie featuring Nelly

Comfort (the girl) was amazing. Mark isn’t really a hip-hop dancer, but wow. I love how he moves, and I love the steps. I love the song too, and Napoleon and Tabitha are right – the performance just makes you move and groove to the beat.

# 1 BLEEDING LOVE by Leona Lewis

This is my absolute favorite. You can’t watch this without feeling the pain of Chelsie about her workaholic and emotionally aloof husband, Mark. The performance is moving and emotional, and the audience can’t help feeling the same way. Now that’s bleeding love.

Allison and Ivan from So You Think You Can Dance

So You Think You Can Dance is one of my favorite TV shows today. I don’t get to watch it regularly (I’m usually not at home during Saturday evenings) but I try to watch the performances via YouTube. For season 2, my favorite couple was Ivan Koumaev and Allison Holker. Since they’re my favorites, I guess it comes as no surprise that my two favorite performances of the entire season were theirs – a hip-hop routine and a contemporary dance. It’s interesting because Ivan is a hip-hop dancer, and Allison is a contemporary dancer, so one of them was always in their element during both performances.

SEXY LOVE by Ne-Yo (choreographed by Shane Sparks)

This is a very relaxed, “no aggression” hip-hop routine. I love how Ivan makes dancing look so effortless! I love the choreography also – it’s actually my first taste of lyrical hip-hop. This is so much better than their other hip-hop dance “Turn It Up” though maybe it was because I didn’t like the choreography so much. Unfortunately, Allison wasn’t at par with Ivan, but that’s understandable because she’s not trained in this genre. “Sexy Love” was actually their last dance together, since Allison got cut afterwards.

WHY by Annie Lenox (choreographed by Tyce Diorio)

This is a very beautifully fluid contemporary dance that showed the world how much Ivan has grown as a dancer. Really, given his background in hip-hop, his popping and locking and gliding, you’d be surprised to see him pointing his toes and doing extensions. This performance was so good that they did it again during the finale.

By the way, Allison was one of the cheerleaders in High School Musical 1 and 2. I didn’t see her there though – I’d have to watch the movies again to see.