Dance life

Michael Jackson has been all over the news and radio for a few days now since his death on Thursday.  It seems like everybody cared that the strange entertainer died of a heart attack, and everyone has their own opinions.  When he was alive and young he was one of the greatest entertainers ever known, up there with the Beatles and Elvis, but over the past decade or more we’ve watched him deteriorate (literally).  He’s been the subject of many jokes, from his nose, to his skin, to dangling babies over balconies, but we still all know the words to his songs and we still learn his dances in workshops.  He’s a strange guy, but who wouldn’t be if they were internationally famous by age five. 

When someone dies you look back at their life think of all the good they’ve done for the world.  For Michael the legacy he left behind is what he will be remembered for in the long run, not what he looked like.  He will always be remembered for his music and his dancing. 

Michael Jackson has the best selling single of all time, and with today’s pirating he’ll probably keep that record for a long time.  Thriller is a classic song, it changed the way we think of music and music videos and it keeps showing up in movies or on the radio long after it first came out.  How many people in the world know the thriller dance, or at least how many people would be able to recognize it if they saw it.  How many other artists are that recognizable? 

Michael Jackson made dancing cool! He single handedly changed the world of dance and made it what it is today.  His songs made people want to get up and dance, and he showed them the moves to use.  He brought together different style from cultures around the world.  He tried new things with every song and every dance and he made people want to be different too.  He showed people there is no limit and he opened the door for other singers and dancers to push the boundaries like he did. 

Never again will we see Michael Jackson’s moonwalk.  Never again will we hear his voice ring through at a live concert.  On the brink of his return he left, but he made everything he left behind that much more important to us.  How many more nose jokes to you think you’ll hear about Michael? – none.  How many times do you think you’ll hear his songs and watch his videos? – an innumerable amount. 

So who is Michael Jackson and why does the whole world care that he died? He’s an entertainer, a person who only really belonged on stage and no where else, who showed us that it’s talent and drive that change the world.  And change the world he did.  This is the Michael we should remember.

 Michael Jackson

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

(I’m writing this as I’m watching it, so it’s in present not past tense)

So the bottom three is not far from what I predicted. Auska and Vitollio are in the bottom three even though they showed their sweet personalities.  I wasn’t the biggest fan of the dance last night, so I’m not that surprised.  Karla and Jon are also in the bottom three and it’s time that twelve year old boy needs to leave in my opinion. Their hp hop dance was really sad, especially considering Karla is/was in a hip hop crew.  The last couple in the bottom is Caitlin and Jason, which I also predicted.  Jason is hot, but I’m not crazy about him and I like Caitlin but I wouldn’t be upset if she leaves.

Auska’s solo was okay but there’s only so much you can with a ballroom solo

Vitollio did a cool solo with lots of high jumps and at the end he makes it by shaking is big booty and licking his lips. I was worried he wasn’t showing personality until the end.  He has to stay.

Karla did a good solo, but to be honest I was just listening to the song and thinking about Twilight (because that song was from the movie’s soundtrack and I love it!)

Jonathan did that same exact set of flips in his last solo, he’s not sexy when he tries to be and I want him to go before I start to hate him.

Caitlin had the best solo so far! So emotional and it showed off her flexibility and technique really well.

Jason did a song to Taking Back Sunday, my old favorite band, I miss that song, he was good and went well with the song, but once again I got swept up in the music and my memories so I couldn’t focus on him.

Auska is gone, I’ll miss saying her name, but she wasn’t growing…

Good Job *clap clap* Jonathan is going, phew.

New couple next week Karla and Vitollio, let’s see how it’ll go! I’m even more excited for the Michael Jackson special on Monday though woo hoo!!!!

This was the first time I watched a top twenty episode of SYTYCD season 5 with my mommy, so that was nice. Anyways…

Karla and Jon need to go.  As soon as I hear hip hop I say bottom three, and Nigel knows it too with this couple.  Sorry guys, it wants very good.

Auska and Vitollio did a weird 80’s jazz, and although I didn’t think it was that great (and they may be in the bottom three) I think their chemistry and cute intro video about how he’s a supportive partner will get them enough votes to be safe.

Ade and Melissa danced a really hot and sexy rumba and I loved it!  I got really into it and so did Melissa from the moment she looked at Ade.  Wow Ade has a great butt by the way.  It was a beautiful dance (and butt).

Brandon and Janette did a really great hip hop dance that mixed in som rock.  I was a bit skeptic when I heard hip hop for this couple, but as soon as I heard the idea and saw Janette rockin’ out I fell in love.  It was one of my favorite dances, if my not my favorite, of the show.  They better be safe.

Kayla and Kupono were next, and I was really worried about how they would work together.  It actually was a success.  He managed to lift her even though she probably weighs more than him. 

Evan and Randi had Mia’s contemporary routine, which always has high expectations.  It was unlike any of her other dances, I found it was actually very them, cute and quirky and out there.  I loved it. 

Caitlin and Jason did Jean Marc’s pasa doble, and it didn’t do anything for me.  Jean Marc was so funny in the video before the dance, but the actual dance was just some intense music with not so intense moves.  Bottom three tomorrow, but I don’t think they’re going home.

Philip and Jeanine ended the show with a jazz routine.  I really liked it actually, the feathers and the cute peaking around the couch.  The jump was over played…it would have been amazing if they showed him jumping he six foot couch once or twice, but not four or five times.  The judges made it seem like all the dance was was a cool jump and some ripped pants, but I thought it was better than that. But because what the judges say really impacts the viewers’ votes, I think they were too negative on this dance for them not to be in the bottom three even though it shouldn’t be.  Then again all the dances were so good it’s almost impossible to know who the bottom three will be for sure. 

Another show has passed and another couple has been eliminated. Here’s what I think of what went down:

The show started off with Randi and Evan’s Jive and I thought it was great.  They seem like the perfect pair; both short and smiley and very expressive.  The judges didn’t like Even so much, even though he seemed to be doing a fantastic job…but what do I know.  I thought they might have been in trouble because of what the judges said (and because the up coming dances were really good).  I was wrong, clearly, and they were safe.  Good for them.

Next was Ade and Melissa doing a jazz by Sonia.  I love Sonia so the dance was creepily amazing.  The judges loved it, and I loved it, so I knew they’d be safe. 

Caitlin and Jason did a Hip Hop by Shane Sparks next, and it was cute, but nothing spectacular.  I felt a little sad because Shane is such a good choreographer, but I knew they’d be in the bottom because of the judges reaction (Lil C said it was a nightmare!) Their solos went well, and it wasn’t their time to leave…they’re too good.

Brandon and Janette did a disco routine and it was a lot of fun.  The whole dance was really up beat and intense, so I’m happy that the judges and the voters liked them.  Plus I love that Lil C was finally nice to Brandon after being such a bully during vegas week.

Auska and Vitollio did a waltz, a beautiful elegant waltz, which brought the judges to tears.  It would have been inappropriate if they were in the bottom again since they both progressed and evolved so much from last week (according to the judges).

Kayla and Max did a very weird pop jazz routine with weird tacky costumes.  It was my favorite routine of the night.  I was always a bit hesitant on liking Kayla because she had a weird looking face (I know it’s mean to say but that’s how I felt) but now I love her.  I feel like she can do really well in the competition (if she can handle her new partner).  I was so surprised to see this couple in the bottom three.  The judges liked it, and I thought it was fantastic.  People must have really hated the costumes or something because they didn’t deserve to be there.  Kayla had to stay but I was sad to see Max go.  Even though he is a big creep, I found he worked well with Kayla.

I was hoping Karla and Jon would be bad, because I wanted Jon to leave since I can’t take him seriously (because he looks like a twelve year old).  They were really good though, and I loved them an extra amount because I found out Karla was from Boogie Bots, which is a hip hop crew that was on ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’.  I loved her on that show and I started to fall in love with her.  She was good and Jon was a good partner to her, so I can’t be a hater anymore.

Philip and Jeanine on the other hand can be hated.  Philip looked really awkward when he was dancing the tango, and it was definitely not top twenty level.  If he did that in Vegas week, he’d be out like Natalie.  Of course the judges were sympathetic and nice, so the viewers and voters were too.  He should have been in the bottom, but I’m not surprised that he managed to be safe because what the judges say is really important.  I’m positive that if they said he should go home for that performance, or even if they said that he’s in danger for that performance, then he would have been in the bottom three.  They were too nice.  I loved Philip at the beginning, but now I’m kinda over my obsession. 

The last dance of the night was another hip hop with Shane Sparks by Kupono and Ashley.  This one was really cool, and I thought the whole shadow idea worked well.  The end of the dance fizzled out though and once again the judges weren’t very nice.  Poor Shane, he didn’t choreograph last season and when he comes back this year both his dances are in the bottom three.  I knew Kupono and Ashley would be in the bottom three, and I thought it would be them leaving the competition for sure.  No one really knows Ashley and Kupono can’t handle a woman.  I don’t want to be mean, but Kupono isn’t manly or strong enough to lift a girl.  He has gone two weeks without any lifts, but I don’t know if he can go a third.  Poor Kayla deserved a great partner, and I don’t think Kupono is man enough for her.  I see them being in the bottom again next week because they’re not well suited for each other.  It depends on what dance style they get, but I’m crossing my fingers they do well.  I guess we’ll see next week.

There are two worlds of dance: competitive groups and solos of all styles, and ballroom.  Since I’m so involved in the first world of dance I sometimes forget the other exists.  I pride myself on being an active member of the dance community and it seems as if my school and I know every competition and convention that is going on in Montreal.  In reality we don’t even know the half of it.  My school and I do jazz, ballet, hip hop, tap, irish, highland, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater, and more.  So when people ask me what kind of dance I do, I’m always tempted to say everything.  It only really hit me last dance class when we had a guest teacher showing us salsa and latin ballroom how much of the entire dance world I’m missing out on.  I think of dancing as a hobby for young and fit women, but ballroom opens up a whole new realm for men and women of all ages.  With ballroom the steps are fun and simple and there aren’t the same restrictions and physical demands as other styles of dancing.  After a two hour salsa and Latin ballroom class we were all sweating but feeling great.  Ballroom dancing didn’t have the same intensity as ‘our’ dancing does.  We dance very hard and very fast for short periods of time, and with salsa it’s a different pace which makes it easier for adults. 

Ballroom dancing is a lot more intimate than my world of dancing.  You have to connect with your partner the whole time and move together.  When we’re dancing in a group if you make a mistake you stick out like a sore thumb.  In ballroom you and your partner help each other so making mistakes can be avoided.  The whole experience was fun and enriching.  We went from partner to partner and I got to be a part of my peers dancing in a way I never could before.  Seeing the way someone moves and dancing with them are vastly different, so in salsa when I danced with some of my class mates I got to know them as dancers better by adapting to their movements just having fun.  At first we were all a bit shy, but by the end of the class I could have danced with anyone.  I was just having fun and taking advantage of this rare opportunity. 

I’m getting older (not old, but growing up) and I’ve been thinking about how many years I can keep dancing.  When I’m in my thirties, unless I’m a teacher, there isn’t much place for me to continue dancing the way I do now.  This ballroom class gave me hope for the future because now I know that even when I’m much older dance can always be a part of my life.   

So the first couple has been eliminated: Tony and Paris, and if you read my last blog you’ll know it’s not what I was expecting.  I will admit that most of my admiration for Tony was because of his cute looks and personality and not so much for his dancing.  He may not have been as good as I wanted him to be, but being the first to go home is a little harsh though.  Let’s face it being the first to go home is almost worse than not making the show at all, because it means you can’t come back and try to win again.  In a few weeks we’ll probably already be asking who left the first week, then go, “oh yeah, them.”  (I’ve already forgotten about what’s her face who left.)

The bottom three couples were: Karla and Jon (who were not very good), Auska and Vitolio (who’s dance was cheesy but they had good solos) and, of course, the couple who left: Paris and Tony. 

I’m not surprised Auska and Vitolio were in the bottom three, but I can see them doing well in the competition if they work hard and get good dance styles and choreographers.  Karla and Jon I’m not as happy with.  They are a ‘nobody’ couple, meaning that neither of the dancers are recognizable from past episodes, and I wasn’t that intrigued by their dancing.  Jon is a ballroom dancer, but his ballroom is a joke! He looks like a little kid who hasn’t hit puberty yet, so I can’t take him seriously as a strong male ballroom dancer.  His solo was just a bunch of flips to disguise the fact that he can’t shake his body like a salsa dancer.  Tony’s solo wasn’t that great either, it was too much comedy and not enough dancing, the way he always seems to be.  Comparing the two though, I think Tony would have done better in the long run, I can’t see Jon being successful in the competition. 

 BYE BYE TONY:

Although I’m disappointed with the results, I’ve gotten over it (since it’s been almost a week) and I’m ready for the new episode tomorrow. 

So the first week of couples dancing started and I was really happy with everyone.  Even though there were a few unknown faces I think the couples were made really well and people I don’t recognize are with my favorites.  Even their heights and looks worked well together with each couple. 

So my favorite dance of the night (or one of them) was the first dance by Jeanine and Philip.  They did a hip hop routine by my favorite choreographers Tabitha and Napoleon.  the dance was about a couple that couldn’t go to sleep if they were mad at each other, and it was so well done.  The girl was good, but I was just watching Philip who’s been my favorite since the first episode.  They’re gunna go far in the competition.

Auska and Vitolio didn’t do so well.  I hate Tyce, that’s obvious, and it was his fault entirely that they did badly.  The judges wanted them to put their own personality into the moves, but how can you when your moves are cheesy and emotionless.  They’re gunna be in the bottom three. 

Kayla and Jon were the next couple, and they did a Cha Cha routine.  It was not sexy.  It seemed cheesy and juvenile, not smoking hot and seductive.  Jon looked like a male cheerleader.  The judges liked their dance, but I think they’ll still be in the bottom three couples.

Randi and Evan did a jazz by Tyce…two Tyce in one show.  It was actually really good.  It had more emotion and chemistry so I got into it, but also both dancers were so good technically (as the judges say, they had nice lines). 

Paris and Tony did another hip hop routine, and once again I was just watching the guy.  Tony was so sexy during this dance I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.  I thought he hit everything well, but the judges were a little mean.  I liked them, so I hope they’re safe.

Caitlin and Jason did Bollywood, and I really liked the dance.  Jason looked like he was a professional bollywood dancer, and the girl was cute…but clearly didn’t look Indian.  Bollywood dances always do well, so I’m sure they’re gunna be fine.

Janette and Brandon weren’t as good.  When you get stuck with a Foxtrot, you’re screwed.  I’m sure they were good, but nothing stood out to me as being amazing.  I think they’re in the bottom three…which means more drama for Brandon.

Kupono and Ashley did a super weird, super cool dance as crash dummies.  The costumes and makeup were so cool, and Kupono (although he looked like an overly skinny woman) was so good! Ashley looked so good too, even in her ugly costume.  They are safe for sure.

Melissa and Ade were also one of my favorites, so they better be safe!  The best move of the whole night by far was when Melissa jumped in a Russian split and Ade held her up.  She held her split in the air so well, I couldn’t believe it was humanly possible! I had tears in my eyes this dance was so beautiful, and it didn’t even matter that I had no idea who either of these dancers were. 

The last dance of the night was Kayla and Max, and it was hot!  Usually when they say its gunna be a hot ballroom dance, this time Samba, I never see the entertainment or the hotness, but I really enjoyed this dance.  It was fun and upbeat and well done, and for once I liked the female dancer better than the male.  They’re gunna be safe.

Let’s see who’s leaving the competition…

Now that we have this season’s SYTYCD top twenty the competition really begins…but it’s made me realize how much favoritism affects dancing.  Only a small number of dancers get their story told on television, and the others go virtually unnoticed by the audience at home.  This means that going into the first week of competition thousands, maybe millions, of people already have their favorites picked out and they know who to vote for before they’ve even danced.  It gives some dancers an unfair advantage of course, but that’s the way dance is.  The better you are and the more creative you are the more attention and adoration you’ll get.  Of course all the dancers are good, but they can’t all have dramatic stories to tell, so it makes their dancing seem less dramatic.  Essentially they pick out the dancers with the most drama, their favorites, and then they become Canada’s favorites. 

Favoritism is always a part of dance, even in my dance school.  It’s not a bad thing because it allows our school to showcase its best dancers, but it leaves some people feeling insignificant.  I know what its like to be in the back of a dance, but I also know what it’s like to see the final product and understand that I still matter even though I may not be the best.  It must be sad for those people who made it to top twenty without their unique story told, but they still made it to the top twenty, so they still matter just as much as the others.  In my dance school we’ve all been dancing for a long time, and every year we get better, but we dancers (and our teachers) know to an extent what are capabilities are.  We all have to accept the fact that some of us can do turns and jumps and others are flexible and others have that ‘wow’ factor.  Even though we all bring something special to dance there are still some dancers who never seem to be in the back because they’re just good at everything.  We’ve seen that as glamorous as that seems it doesn’t always work out to the dancers benefit.  Look at Natalie and Brandon.  They were front runners in the competition since their first auditions.  It seemed as if they were both guaranteed a spot in the top twenty because they were so good.  Then through out the next rounds the judges constantly say they aren’t living up to their expectation.  Being good, being the best, puts a lot of pressure on a dancer, but the judges can’t help having higher standards for the better dancers and more sympathy for those with less dance experience or a sad dramatic story.  That’s the way it is. 

I guess we’ll see how important favoritism’s role is in this season.

I would just like to say, WHO ARE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE! The top twenty is made, and I’m sure they’re all great but it seems ridiculous that some of these amazing dancers didn’t get any camera time.  I’m really bad at recognizing people, so a bunch of these people are completely random in my mind.  I’d like to give my opinion on each dancer, but since I don’t know some of them…they’ll have to settle for a question mark and hopefully I’ll fall in love with them when the show starts. Can’t wait for the show!

Top Ten Girls:

Randi Evans - ?

Karla Garcia - ?

Caitlin Kinney – Her and sister both auditioned (and they both did the same flip when they got their tickets to Vegas.) In Vegas week they were always together, but Caitlin’s sister got cut before she did, even though I like her sister better.  I was actually surprised she made it after dancing for her life because they said she was too old fashioned…I guess not.

Asuka Kondoh – I remember her audition (I’m actually watching it now, haha) because she’s an adorable little Asian. She looks so fragile, but I really like her for some reason.

Janette Manrara – I remember her from her ballroom audition where her and her partner did an amazing spilt kick, plus she’s pretty, so I was really happy she was the first one to make it to the top twenty.

Jeanine Mason - ?

Kayla Radomski – Kayla was the one who was very close with her grandparents.  I thought it was the most random thing when they showed videos of her and her grandparents playing with their dog, but that’s how I remember her.  She’s good but she wears too much make up.  

Melissa Sandvig – She’s the ballerina, she was the ‘naughty ballerina’ who the judges liked during auditions, but she seemed to disappear after the audition.

Paris Torres – I liked Paris’s first audition because she had nice accents and worked with the music, but I forgot about her until I saw that she made the top twenty.

Ashley Valerio - ?

Top Ten Boys :

Kupono Aweau – His first audition was really weird because he had a chair with him as a prop, but he never used it, he just danced around it which pissed me off…like what’s the point of the chair then? Mary said he was too feminine and Nigel said he hated his hair and the host Cat couldn’t say his super long name (actually no one could).  So I remember him, but everything I remember seems to be negative so I was surprised he got this far.

Tony Bellissimo – TONY! I love him and his eyebrows and his crying and his cuteness.  I don’t remember his first audition though. I only got to know him during Vegas week, which is the opposite of everyone else.

Brandon Bryant – Brandon probably had the most camera time because his audition was amazing and made Mary cry, and then the rest of the time Mia and Lil’ C were expressing their disappointment because he didn’t live up to their expectations.

Phillip Chbeeb – I love Philip the popper, and I hope he does well because he’s one of my favorite guys.  He was on last season but didn’t make it to the top twenty because he got pneumonia, so he went to Vegas before he even danced.

Jason Glover – I kept asking my friends, “who is that?” about Jason because he was so hot but I didn’t recognize him.  I still don’t know what dance style he does or if he’s good, but he’s hot and he’s in the top twenty.

Vitolio Jeune – ?

Max Kapitannikov - ?

Evan Kasprzak – This is the younger Broadway brother.  I always liked him better than his older brother because his dancing was more fun to watch, but I liked his brothers personality a lot better.  I wrote in my last blog that it would be between the two brothers for the last spot in the top twenty, and I wanted Evan to make it.  When his brother Ryan was saying that he never makes it as a dancer because he’s too bald, too short and so on I felt so sad for him and wanted him to get it at the last second.  Oh well, I feel like Evan will fit in better with the other dancers on the show.

Ade Obayomi - ?

Jonathan Platero - ?

I am not happy about last night’s SYTYCD episode. It was Vegas week, which means the judges needed to eliminate more than 80% of the remaining dancers, and in my opinion they made some mistakes.  The biggest mistake they made was letting go of Natalie, who was my favorite dancer this season.  She was doing fine throughout the first few rounds, or we have to assume so because they didn’t show much of her on camera.  The first time we really saw her was during Sonia’s jazz routine where she was chosen with Brandon to demonstrate how the routine was supposed to be danced.  When it came time to perform in  front of the judges she did a great job, but the judges were looking at her with disgust.  I didn’t get it, she was doing the routine well, and Sonia loved her, but the judges told her to leave the competition, without even letting her dance for her life or perform again.  It seemed so out of the blue that I kept waiting for them to say it was a joke.  They didn’t…and their decisions remained as irrational and weird.  I got even more upset when Gabi went on stage and blew her routine.  It was horrible, painful to watch even, yet the judges gave her a second chance.  They let her go to the next round because they liked her solo audition even though the performance she just gave didn’t merit any sort of success.  The next round Gabi was just as bad, and once again the judges were lenient and they let her dance for her life where guess what…she stayed.  Where were all these chances for Natalie?  Another thing that bothered me about the whole episode was Mia. She was acting very mean, a little too mean for SYTYCD.  She was saying things like, “I like to cut people, you know me, I’ll cut you” even saying “I like to see dancers who can’t dance go home.”  Her comments were a little unnecessary and hurtful, and she was the judge to say she was disappointed with the dancers the most often.  When Gabi was performing Mia’s choreography Mia was a judge, and I think that had something to do with all the second chances she got.  Sonia wasn’t on the judge’s panel when Natalie was performing her dance, and if she was, I’m sure her opinion would have at least given Natalie the dancing for your life option.  ANYWAY, it was hard to get over this aggravation, but all this happened before the episode was even half over, so I had to try and cheer up and enjoy the rest of the show.

To distract myself from Natalie I turned my attention toward Tony.  He’s a cute hip hoper with adorable eyebrows and a great personality.  I wasn’t that big a fan of his opening solo with the briefcase containing Nigel’s face, but later in the show, when he was doing Mia’s lyrical routine I fell in love with him.  I got chills watching him and it was hard to believe he was hip hop, but once again the judges and I disagreed so they said they didn’t like him.  At least he got a second chance to perform the choreography, and he was so grateful.  After he redid the routine he just started crying, and it was so cute it made me love him even more. The judges let him stay in the competition, which surprised me, but I think they did the right thing because I sense top twenty material. 

After they made all the cuts there were 16 girls and 16 guys left standing?  Of those 32 dancers I recognized just over 5.  Who were all these random faces on stage and why hadn’t they gotten any camera time.  I hate when that happen, you spend weeks getting attached to dancers then you have to watch them leave suddenly. Then you’re left with a bunch of random dancers who you feel no attachment to.  Oh well I just hope the few I recognize, like the sweet little Asian ballroom dancer, Tony, Philippe the popper and the brothers make it.  As my friend suggested (and the previous for next week confirmed) Tonight the two brothers will probably be the last two to be called, meaning on of the Broadway brothers will go and one will make it to the show.  I like them both, but I think the younger brother is more fitting for the show and a stronger dancer. So I guess we’ll see tonight who makes it into the top twenty (and if we recognize them or not).