One thing I look forward to every summer is a new season of So You Think You Can Dance. It’s been TV crack for me ever since I happened to catch an episode in its second season, and I was happy to see that they started making a Canadian version last year. I think what makes the show great is that the dance numbers are only a few minutes long each, meaning that with my ADHD I can actually pay attention the whole time (and with Tivo I can fast-forward through the annoying screams of the judge Mary Murphy).
It seems my favourite genre is contemporary, which is interesting as I didn’t really know it existed until I saw SYTYCD. Mom used to take me to ballets all the time back when I was a kid and she still liked me, but that was all I ever really knew about dance beyond movies like Strictly Ballroom and Dirty Dancing. Neither of which made me want to take up the art more than I wanted a hot boyfriend who was strong enough to lift me. Contemporary dance, however, makes me wish that Mom had put me in dance classes back when I watched ballet and said I wanted to do that; alas!
I was reminded of how much I liked that style last week when I saw this piece choreographed by the Canadian Stacey Tookey, to The Frame’s Falling Slowly.
Here’s the original dance that got me really interested in the show in 2006 (which I blogged about at the time, too):
I think what grabs me about contemporary is how organic and emotive it is; it talks to my mushy inner core. It also talks to my flabby outer core, saying that I really need to hit the gym.
I know what you mean. I loved Miles & Lisa’s Mirror dance (by Blake McGrath) on SYTYCD Canada. I tear up every time…
There are apparently some excellent local modern dance troupes in Vancouver, though I haven’t seen any for years. Have you seen any? Err…I can’t even think of any of their names.
There’s La La La Human Steps in Quebec. This is my favourite piece of their work:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wUPXrO8Nys
Since my sister has been taking dance classes for the last 3 years, I’ve spent a fair amount of time watching dance recitals/competitions in the last 3 years. Coincidence? Well, no, of course it’s not a coincidence. You think I’d sit through 40 dance numbers if my sister wasn’t in #37?
And while I adore my sisters jazz & ballet (a dozen 7 yr olds dressed like strippers are hilarious.. although I was a little appalled by this years selection of “U Can’t Touch This” as her musical number. Sorry, but 1990 called, and it wants it’s shitty music back), my favorite dances (usually done by the bigger kids) are the “lyrical” dances… which seems pretty similar to contemporary, except lyrical is supposed to be more “acting out” the song.
Hands down the best one I’ve seen so far was two teenage girls dressed up like the guys from Flight of the Conchords doing a lyrical dance to this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLEK0UZH4cs
I just about killed myself laughing.
I had a similar experience with SYTYCD. Being a musician I had always somehow assumed that dance was a lesser art form, lacking in variety and depth. Well, obviously this assumption wasn’t based on any actual knowledge, and when I ran across the TV show I was blown away.
As for Mary, I happen to like her. She’s just enthusiastic. I also like the main guy. As opposed to Simon on American Idol who has turned into something of a caricature of himself, the British guy on SYTYCD comes across as fairly honest. I don’t like Little C, though. Little C: I don’t think those words mean what you think they mean.