Even when I am travelling I somehow cannot make it without So you think you can dance. Is that an addiciton? No, I think It is just an admiration and passion. So, this week top 16 performed. I have checked all performances (whereever you are, Youtube functions in the same way ) and noticed the overall review was better than last week. I think my favorite this week was rumba by Courtney and Gev. As you will notice they showed magnificent chemistry that developed between them and I must say they got a really good technique too (do not forget they have to get it in just a few days. Here is the clip:
Another best for me (seeing it only once of course) is a hiphop routine on Bleeding love, performed by Chelsie and Mark. Choreography was made by newcomers in the show, Napoleon and Thabitha, and it was fabulous. I loved it, something fresh in the show, with the story (you know I love storytelling in dance). I think they were crowned as a couple of the night and I might as well confirm to that. Really really nice routine.
Now, since today is Friday, I can already inform you on this weeks weakest links. Hm, should I?
On the elimination night 3 couples were again nominated as bottom 3 (as a result of US TV voting):
- Chelsea and Thayne: unfortunatelly they got the quikstep, known as a kiss of death in SYTYCD, and I guess it was no different for them: It really is hard to learn that dance and not look like a Pinnochio
- Comfort and Chris: they did not get animalistic enough for their routine, which kinda made us expect they will find themselves in bottom 3
- Kourtni and Matt: they worked with a new choreographer, wilder choreographer, which was an interesting novelty and they danced it well, but compared to other routines I guess it didn not stand out enough
The judges then talked about it and eliminated Chelsea and Chris. This means, next week Comfort and Thayne will be paired up.
Talk soon!
America had a rough night yesterday. The pressure and feeling that somebody will have to leave the show, is not too pleasant. The results show started with amazing group routine choreographed by Shane Sparks.
Then came the results. People voted and Cat Deeley revealed 3 bottom couples from Top 18 show. Here are the names and links to their performances (the ones they were judged on):
- Chelsea & Thayne (I hope it wasn’t because of their costumes)
- Susie & Marquis (they danced SALSA, but as a latin dancer Susie got a lot of critiques)
- Comfort & Chris (Cat was holding up a sign, saying Chris is not a tree… well, see for yourself )
Each of the bottom dancers had to perform solo to save their life. After a short brake judges have reached the decision and eliminated Susie and Marquis. That salsa was obviously not good enough. Since we are salsa dancers let’s think about it – was that really that bad? No, especially when you think they only have a few hours to get the choreography, synchronize and perform it. This is just a proof of how tough this competition really is. The judges and people are getting stricter each year, but on the other hand, the dancers are getting better as well.
Dancing production in BU-BA
If we move from States to Slovenia, just a quick info, that yesterday BU-BA had it’s own ‘We think we can dance show’. A yearly production, where all students perform and show what they have learned in past year. The evening was packed with shows. We had a lot of salsa groups, swing dancers, sexy belly dancers, new rising star La luna dance group. In addition, Dulce locura performed the Sway routine again and, believe or not, after a looong break, BU-BA show team appeared with a new show! Crazy ha,.. well, I’ll try to put some clips on asap, till than enjoy the real So you think you can dance
Another round of performances in my favorite TV show, So you think you can dance. Top 18 performed (on Monday I believe) and it was broadcasted yesterday on Fox TV. Thanks to modern technologies and some sleepless internet addicts, there are already some clips on the web for us to see. In general, judges were not as happy and excited as we are used to. Most of the performances were average, but then sunshine came through and Katee&Joshua got standing ovations from all – the crowd and the judges. Wow, I’ve never seen Nigel do that?! But truly Tyce’s broadway routine really was awesome and the couple lived and breathed through it. They were both out of their genre and did a spectacular job.
Another quite positive critique came for Twitch and Kherington dancing on Celin Dion’s A new day has come Viennese waltz. At first impression I liked the outfit, cause it was more contemporary-like and so was the dancing. They did dance it beautifully, yet Mia had some doubts. Mary was in tears though. I think I am still getting used to this American style of ballroom dances. When I did the waltz, we danced in closed position, doing the square, but the American style is more open, quite different from the European version. So basically, they were dancing the American Viennese waltz.. Oh, that reminds me of Season 2 and Donyelle, saying Vietnamese waltz (she couldn’t pronounce ‘Viennese’) I guess it is a whole another world on the other side of the ocean. Back to Twitch and Kheringotn – enjoy the beauty of the dance. They did nice
Tonight is the eliminations night. We’ll see what America thought about Top 18.
I couldn’t let go. Decided that this year I will inform you about the progress of 4th So you think you can dance season, which started in May. This week was the first week of Top 20 performers. They were paired up into couples and each given their own dance genre, choreographer and routine to deal with. There were already some great routines. Personally, after only watching the show once (you know I will watch it another gazillion times ), my favorite were:
- Katee and Joshua’s hiphop A beautiful, flowing, yet tight and extremely synchronized routine
- Chelsie and Mark’s contemporary
Mia Michaels did it again! This whole picture was phenomenal: the costumes, the choreography and the dancing. AMAZING! Chelsie was like this big snowflake in Marks arms
Besides that I liked the Chelsea and Thayne’s chacha as well… and many more
This was Wednesday night in the States. Yesterday night came the eliminations. After watching all routines people then have a chance to vote for their favorites and keep them safe from eliminations. After the number of votes are collected, the bottom three couples are named and they have to perform their own solo routine. The strict jury then decides who is the weakest in the competition, so one girl and one boy has to leave. Yesterday they eliminated the first two: ballerina Rayven and ballroom dancer Jamie. It’s always sad to see people leave, but that’s the purpose of the show – to choose America’s favorite dancer!
I’m sure you’ve heard of the famous salsa statistic, that every weekend somewhere in the world at least one salsa festival takes place (sometimes even more). And if you start searching the web you will soon discover that is so very true. But we like festivals – we like those huge parties, great DJs, new classes and more than that, great company and meeting new people.
Next weekend will be interesting in our neighboring country Austria. Dado and Connyare preparing their Salsa Splash festival, a weekend event with Israel Gutierrez, Manuel Mascarell, Charlotte and Andrea Stewart. The concept of intermediate/advanced-classes-only has proved itself to be a very successful and on high-level. Plus we already know their school produces great dancers, so the parties sound promising as well. They are expecting round 100 class attendants and approximately 500 people at the party. Besides all guest teachers, Dado&Conny will present a brand new show of their group.
We got a special call and invitation from Dado. He says we should come: “If nothing else, Slovene people should come because of their guilty conscience. Austrian guys came to Slovene parties often, more often then you came to Graz.”
Oops… should we prove him wrong?!
I think there were at least 12 of us,… maybe even more… wearing red or black Salsa Power shirts and dancing in the first row (?! standing row that is) on Saturday’s concert of Cubismo in Križanke (Ljubljana). It was awesome! The band gave us one of their best concerts I think. Or maybe our excitement is more a consequence of not seeing them in a while. They used to be here once a month, but now it’s been a while I guess
After the concert our feet were too hot to stop so we headed to center in pursue of some place with salsa music and a small place to dance. And what do you know, a place in Ljubljana called Stara mačka, does have latin nights every weekend. And more than that, it has a small stage where one or two couples can do some partnerwork. Really cool. But after that, after 1 a.m., there was nothing left, nowhere else to go. So we are all cheering, that after next Cubismo concert BU-BA organizes an after party What do you think, Maša? Let’s make a Bubismo after party! It’s just impossible to go home after that experience…
It kinda took me a while to publish some salsa news, but there are so many excuses for that. In my strong believe that late is still better than never I give you my review on Salsa flower Power now. That Saturday was a total success. I didn’t attend classes (shame on me!) but I did hear they rose to all expectations. I did attend the party, however, and enjoyed like it was my first – in a good way that is. The new venue, Klub Cankarjevega doma, is just fabulous. The terrace and it’s view, the floor and ambient, everything meets the criteria of ‘What is top salsa place’. I was pleased to see so many foreign salseros, glad that they have finally figured out, that we do have good salsa in Ljubljana The party ended after 3 a.m. and continued in Tango bar on an after party. That one wasn’t empty either!
Every good salsa party needs show program and Salsa Flower Power introduced four great shows: Anke&Gil, Dado&Conny, Latina Bianca from Belgrade and a group of BU-BA students with their ever first performance. I think it’s only fair we give them a special place in this review. Congratulations to all!
) and noticed the overall review was better than last week. I think my favorite this week was rumba by Courtney and Gev. As you will notice they showed magnificent chemistry that developed between them and I must say they got a really good technique too (do not forget they have to get it in just a few days. Here is the clip:
)
So we are all cheering, that after next Cubismo concert BU-BA organizes an after party 
