The So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) season six competition officially started as the top 20 dancers performed last night. They were paired into 10 couples and each couple randomly selected a particular dance style to perform. The night featured innovative choreography, stunning lines, soaring jumps, powerful lifts and exciting performances from all. This could be the most talented bunch of dancers ever to appear on the show.
The first couple to dance last night was Phillip & Jeanine. She is a compact and versatile stage dancer and his main strengths seem to be street styles like popping and hip hop. This week, they were given a narrative hip hop routine to perform, which was fortunate for both of them because it allowed Jeanine's contemporary stage sensibilities to augment Philip's unique isolation's and pops. They moved in unison with choreography that told the universal story of the trials and tribulations of being in a relationship.
Asuka and Vitolio danced next in a busy Broadway jazz number set to ragtime music from the musical Chicago. She wore a pill box hat and he, a bowler hat, and they both threw down big leaps, huge lifts and high leg kicks. Through the costumes, camera props and red balloon, the piece didn't really show off what the dancers could do. Their approach was a bit monodynamic, each movement had the same attack and intensity of the last movement.
Karla and Jonathan then took the stage to perform disco choreography set to modern music. Jonathan is young and inexperienced while Karla seemed to have some stage experience. Yes, as one of the judges pointed out, Jonathan could do the splits and slid beneath Karla's legs – but, so what? Many of the other steps of this dance were thrown away and could have been cleaner and more exact. These are the artistic details that come with experience. Maybe the two will hit it harder next week.
Evan and Randi performed a contemporary dance with jumps that hung in the air and interesting tricks and techniques that were well integrated into the choreography. This was SYTYCD at its best. A short couple with Cat Deeley towering over them as they received the judges’ feedback, you'd never guess their size as they danced together because their lines seemed to extend beyond their reach and because of their passion and commitment to the performance.
Paris and Tony took the spotlight in a fast, synchronized hip hop routine. With strobe lights, headphones and busy costumes, there was a lot going on besides the dance and the performers became lost in it all. Although the steps were done with precision, the dance lacked the feeling of authenticity as if it were theme park hip hop and not the real thing.
Bollywood in Hollywood with Caitlin Kinney and Jason Glover.
Then came the blond, acrobatic Caitlin and the long-limbed Jason who performed in the East Indian Bollywood style. She, with her arched feet and sharp attack, danced like a gymnast and was able to do a handstand in the splits and hold it. Her charming, elfish smile could win anybody over. Jason complemented the dance with an elegant and artistic movement quality, paying attention to the smallest details of the fingers. He is a contemporary dancer who will be around on the show for awhile, in my opinion.
The foxtrot was performed by Janette and Brandon. Janette is a self-taught salsa dancer from Miami and Brandon is a muscular contemporary dancer from Salt Lake City. Janette is highly expressive with ample personality penetrating the floodlights. Her natural movement style makes it look as if she was born to dance. Brandon's extraordinary facility makes him one to watch in this competition. His stocky upper body helped him throw her around in the most excellently executed lifts, however, it also created stiffness in the the shoulders and neck which he will have to overcome.
Next, Ashley and Kupono became crash test dummies in a brilliant conceptual modern piece by the great American choreographer Wade Robson. Kupono's lanky, angular body worked well as the nervous crash test character, but Ashley smiled throughout the dance, which seemed a bit too expressive for a dummy and more like an affectation learned in attending dance competitions. In spite of that, they performed the steps together and the strong concept of Wade's choreography carried the piece to success.
Another moment of So You Think You Can Dance at its best occurred when the dimple-cheeked ballerina Melissa and the strong, gentle giant Ade performed a beautiful pas de deux. Melissa’s masterful artistry, excellent lines and dynamic movement quality demonstrated the advantage of her performing experience. Ade’s attentive and powerful presence complemented her in a watchful way. He always looked after her, as a good partner does, and together they created magic.
Finally, Kayla and Max took the stage to perform the Samba. Kayla had never danced ballroom before, and she may not have been a ballroom dancer prior to the show, but she is one now. With stage presence galore, she delivered a thoroughly convincing performance and was hot, fast and dynamic. Everyone expected Max – the ballroom dancer – to perform the samba well, which he did, but you couldn't take your eyes off of Kayla, although she couldn't have done it without him leading her around the dance floor so well. They were strong finishers to the night's performances.
As usual, host Cat Deeley was stunningly gorgeous and likable beyond belief and the judges were opinionated or overly enthusiastic, but, certainly, it was the dancers who set the evening on fire. This is poised to be a great season.
Eric Wolfram appeared on renowned stages like the Paris Opera in Paris, The Kirov in St. Petersburg, Lincoln Center in New York and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. while performing with the critically-acclaimed Royal Winnipeg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Today, he films dance in New York City.
*Disclaimer: The views of Eric Wolfram are not necessarily the views of Voice of Dance*
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