SYTYCD Auditions #1
I can’t stand watching American Idol auditions. The first season or two, I’ll admit there was a certain Schadenfreude about them. But that was eventually replaced by this scummy feeling I had for laughing… which in turn was replaced by flat out disgust in the show for setting people up to look like fools so often. I don’t like it.
And I don’t particularly love the audition process on So You Think You Can Dance either, but I do think it’s milder with that kind of thing. One of its strong points for me is that there seems to be a real love of dance coming from the judges. I just don’t get that from the ones on Idol. Maybe because when it comes down to it, the AA judges are picking a potential pop star… the judges on SYTYCD are really just handing out a title for well rounded dancer.
Also, know this. Regardless of how amazing or terrible their voices may be… Regardless of how gorgeous or unattractive they may look to you… in order for any of them to believe they have what it takes to be America’s next mega star… they all must posses large amounts of delusion.
It’s true… Delusion is actually a fuel in the entertainment industry. Because if you do have what it takes, that delusion will challenge you… help you eventually fulfill your dreams…
But if you don’t have what it takes, then that delusion will most likely embarrass you. Make you look crazy, desperate, pathetic. And in an audition for American Idol, that delusion will boost their ratings at the expense of your dignity.
But on SYTYCD, I think it’s a little different. Sure there are plenty of people who have unrealistic dreams of being a dancer. But there’s something so much less desperate about the worst of that bunch… maybe because we know that even if they could actually dance… even if they could actually make a career out of it… they’d still just be a dancer. A modest professional. Struggling to survive. Breaking their body. Constantly putting their emotions through the wringer. Little fame or glory… just a hard artist’s life. That’s an intense thing to want.
Anyway, I started watching tonight’s season premiere about 25 minutes late. I came in at the tail end of a female dancer with (what looked like) a physical deformity. Was she any good? I’m guessing no, because they didn’t keep her for the choreography.
Things I took away from tonight’s episode:
- The Japanese locker… was I missing something there? Did anyone else think it looked sloppy as hell, and fairly one level?
- The umbrella dance did not do it for me. At all. Way too sentimental. So much so that it actually distracted me from the dancing. And I’m not even touching the breakdown afterwards. I guess I need to see more from that guy.
- The du(de)et was ridiculous.
- Natalie Reid was my favorite thing on the entire episode. Gaht DAMN, girl!!!!
UPDATE: @adnauseam just sent me this link to the first girl who performed, Gabi Rojas. I missed her audition cause I came in late. But had I seen it, I don’t think I’d have cared for much else on the episode until Natalie. Check it out.
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kelseroo on 22 May 2009 at 2:11 pm #
I don’t watch AI anymore, for the same reason I don’t watch dancing with the stars. It is more about celebrity then it is talent. I like SYTYCD. I feel like the finalists on this show actually deserve to win. I also usually like the judges- their critique is very helpful, because the average person would not be able to distinguish between good and bad dance- especially towards the end when all the dancers are good. Then it is about technique, which only people familiar with dance would get. I think most people can make judgment calls about a singer- we are listening to music constantly so we have a (somewhat) trained ear. Most people don’t watch dance all the time, so they don’t know how to critique dance. Watching this show with my mom is hilarious;-) (she is a choreographer/dance teacher)
I feel the same way about the auditions at the beginning. I wont start watching the show until that part is over!
John Cabrera on 22 May 2009 at 5:44 pm #
Yeah, the judges do a great job of helping the average person, understand the technical nuances of dance. That alone makes the show far superior in my opinion. It’s pretty amazing that 5 years ago if you had said the word “contemporary dance” to someone on the street, chances are they either wouldn’t know what you were talking about or they’d imagine some sort of avant garde performance piece . Now the word has this sort of cool pop sound to it.
That being said, I do think Nigel is totally out of place on the panel. Besides the fact that he’s always sticking his foot deep in his mouth… I just don’t think his understanding of dance is on par with the rest. It’s this kind of a general, “I know a little bit about all styles cause I love it so much” expertise. Which isn’t really an expertise at all. And it’s strange to have the producer of the show influencing the final decision. It’s the one thing that’s not right about the show.
Jeans on 22 May 2009 at 5:48 pm #
Yeah, the episode was pretty well bookended by Gabi’s and Natalie’s performances. Thank goodness! What did you think about Brandon’s audition? I think that Natalie’s audition coupled with Brandon’s is what made Mary shortcircuit and cry. The way I’ve been talking about her today can kinda make it seem like I detest her, but I assure you I don’t! I normally enjoy her overly emotional self!
John Cabrera on 22 May 2009 at 6:00 pm #
I think she’s a fun character within that bunch. But I also think that when it comes to ballroom, she’s a pro pro pro. Honestly though, I didn’t get why she broke down with Brandon. I mean, he’s a strong dancer, sure. But dancing to Carmina Burana??!! Come on. Whenever I hear that song I just immediately start thinking of the trailer to Warlock 2.
Jeans on 22 May 2009 at 6:24 pm #
Haha, whenever I hear the Carmina Burana I expect to see a village getting pillaged or a great civilization falling to ruin… so.. if Brandon wanted to send a strong message, he sure accomplished that!
kelseroo on 22 May 2009 at 6:25 pm #
True true, John. I hate it when people are considered to be “experts” on something when they don’t really have qualifications. Heck, they should make all of us judges!
kelseroo on 22 May 2009 at 6:25 pm #
Oh, and Gabi is awesome!
Joanna on 23 May 2009 at 1:44 pm #
Gabi Rojas is flat out amazing. She dances with her eyelashes!
Vanessa on 26 May 2009 at 5:11 pm #
Sorry, I’m coming into this a little late (just saw the post).
For the most part, all I have to say is ditto. Completely agree with you about the audition process. I like the way that, for the most part, the judges encourage the people auditioning to keep dancing for enjoyment and taking classes, even if they aren’t good enough for the show (which is a big difference from American Idol’s Simon). Also, like Kelseroo, I can’t watched American Idol or Dancing with the Stars either. (In fact, before it came to the US, I saw Dancing with the Stars in Australia and wondered why it was so popular…then it came here.)
I don’t know a ton about dance, but of the styles, I know the most about hip-hop and completely agree about the locker. He was okay, but didn’t do anything special and wasn’t locking tight enough, in my opinion. I also agree on the umbrella dance. There was too much of the umbrella and not enough focus on his dancing. The girl that you came into the show on was there more for the inspirational factor. She was born with only 3 out of the normal 7 (I think) vertebrae and wasn’t expected to live past infancy. So, it’s amazing that she’s even living, let alone dancing! She was definitely better than you would think just by looking at her, but not good enough for the show.
Natalie and Gabi are both fantastic and I will be shocked if they’re not in the Top 20.