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August 28, 2005
Effortless
Now that I have admitted my weakness for musicals, I will admit another little tidbit: I watch “So You Think You Can Dance?”
It is a silly name. When I first heard of the show, I doubted that it would be any good. Sure, I am an “American Idol” fan, but I didn’t think they could do it with dance.
I have been very surprised. There is a level of respect present that I didn’t anticipate. The attention to different dance styles and recognition that to be a good dancer, one must be flexible in method has impressed me. The dancers themselves have blown me away.
I expected a bunch of fast-moving, tricked out kids who were talented but not necessarily “trained.” Although some of the contestants did start from a less traditional background, their talent has proved them to be exceptional. (For example, Ryan the amazing breakdancer has proven himself to be more than tricks.)
Instead of being a show about “club dancing” as I had anticipated, this is a show about “real” dancers: those who have rhythm, can learn choreography, can freestyle, and can rein in technique. Just as “American Idol” was looking for a “triple threat,” this dance show is looking for a true dancer, not just someone who has a few terrific moves.
Typically, I am quite critical of other dancers. I know what good technique looks like, at least for lyrical jazz and tap. I remember I was a bit put off during Fosse when I saw that one dancer didn’t quite “get it,” but the Playbill had said that she had done a tremendous amount of research on Bob Fosse. Too bad the research didn’t translate to her movements. But on SYTYCD, many of the kids are phenomenal.
I have my favorites, and they are those who truly make dancing seem effortless. They have fluidity and weightlessness, jumping to enormous heights without straining, then landing without a sound. They can twirl in uniform time without bobbing. For example, Blake might have been cocky during the initial audition process, but his dancing makes me catch my breath. Melody and Ashle have the beautiful strength and flexibility that I wish I had at my peak. I sometimes felt weightless and able to command my body to move without thinking about each step, but I never attained perfection as some of these contestants seem to have. Once in awhile, I felt as though I could fly. These contestants appear to do it every day.
Posted by karianna at August 28, 2005 09:28 PM