Look For Changes On So You Think You Can Dance - Season 9

Yes, you're reading it right here!  Due to the dismal finale last year of So You Think You Can Dance, changes are being made to this year's Season 9.  According to the show's producer, Nigel Lythgoe, who's also a judge on the show, FOX has cancelled the results show which airs the day after the performances.  And I couldn't have been more happier.  I think the other networks and producers should follow suit, like Dancing With The Stars, American Idol and the X-Factor (shows that Ryan and I both quit watching).

Supposedly there was a 9% decline in viewership in the Season 8 finale, where Melanie Moore was crowned the winner. Regardless, they were signed on for another season, so at least we got that.  That's if Ryan and I choose to watch it this year. [source]

3 Minutes

This short film is really great.  I absolutely loved it.  I came across it earlier in the year, and have now found the time to blog about it.

It stars my favorite character on Glee, the lovely Harry Shum, Jr. and former So You Think You Can Dance contestant, Stephen 'tWitch' Boss.  So as not to give the story away, there is a reason the film is titled "3 Minutes". 

Check out the video after reading how this short film came to be. It's really interesting.

I liked the idea of this short story called “The Most Dangerous Game” so I adapted it back when I was in film school, but when I made it back then I didn’t have many people to help me make it so it didn’t turn out too great. After being in the industry and living in LA for a few years now, I got a chance to make new friends and really take advantage of their professional talents.

The producers of the piece, George Wang and Don Le were in talks with Harry Shum Jr. to collaborate on something when I met them. They brought me on the project, and were initially going to do a different idea involving dancing, however, the more we developed the idea, it proved to be not very feasible. That’s when we decided to do this “3 Minutes” idea. [source]

Blade's Box of Jams: Track #2 - Set Fire To The Rain

I'm turning on my headphones, and currently listening to...

Ryan and I are catching up on our shows from last week, and one of my favorite performances of the night was SYTYCD's Jordan and Jess dancing to Adele's, "Set Fire To The Rain."  While most of the judges, including Lady Gaga were critical of their performance, I was very sad to see them go.  Especially when I felt there were others who were not worthy enough to go through.

What The GAGA Was That?

The Lady's new video made it's debut on So You Think You Can Dance last night, and I wasn't too impressed.  But at the same time, I'm also glad she did this boring ass video, so that everyone can shut the hell up.  All too often we've heard of artists sounding too much like another artist from the past, that it gets really old.  So I wouldn't doubt it if Gaga did this on purpose - creating a video that probably didn't cost her much to make.  Why go all out, making videos that cost her a horrendous amount of money, just to be compared to someone else?  

Regardless of her reasons, I love the song, I love the reason why she wrote it, and I love her - for standing up for what she believes in.  

My Ryan adores you Gaga, and so do I.  We will stand behind you on the Edge of Glory!

P.S.
Dear Nigel Lythgoe, WTF was that on SYTYCD last night? You premiere the video, then cut it off midway through the song. Dumbass!

Meet Your Season 8, So You Think You Can Dance Top 20

I haven't been blogging about this year's So You Think You Can Dance, because I didn't feel the need to waste my time writing about the auditions.  Ryan and I saw them, and nothing's different.  Well, the hot tamale train a.k.a. Mary Murphy was back, but other than that it was the same routine, as it is year after year.  There were a few we had hoped would make it, but nothing too earth shattering.  Then again, I would have been pissed if little Jess Leprotto would not have made it through - he's adorable.

This year's top 20 were chosen a wee differently this year, instead of choosing them, and waiting to the following week to see them perform, they actually revealed the contestants a handful at a time, then cut to a live studio audience on their new stage.  It was pretty spectacular way of introducing the contestants - Kudos to the producers of the show!

The first four dancers to be chosen were Melanie Moore, Sasha Mallory, Miranda Maleski, and Ricky Jamie (The Contemporary Group).  They performed to a fabulous song I never heard before, "In This Shirt" by The Irrepressibles.  Choreographing this performance was Stacey Tookey.  I absolutely loved this piece!  I'm a big fan of contemporary dancing, so this, along with a couple others, was my favorite tonight.

Next up were Chris Cole, Tadd Gadduang, Robert Taylor Jr., and Wadi Jones (The Hip Hop Group).  They performed to, "Everyday (Coolin')" by Swizz Beatz feat. Eve.  Choreographing this performance was Dave Scott.  Another excellent performance, not to mention two of my favorite boys, Tadd and Wadi were in this bunch.

Another one of my favorites of the night, Iveta Lukosiute, who had auditioned before, but never made it, finally got her chance.  She performed a ballroom number with season 3 hottie, Pasha!  They danced to Ven a Bailar (On The Floor) by Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull.  I actually like this version better than the one currently playing on the radio.

Jordan Casanova, Marko Germar, Missy Morelli, and Clarice Ordaz (The Jazz Group), danced to, "Vanguardian" by Steed Lord.  Choreographing the performance was Sonya Tayeh.  This performance had Sonya written all over it, and rightly so - it was utterly amazing.

The next two contestants I'm in love with.  It's okay Ryan knows this. :))  Jess Leprotto (Broadway) and Nick Young (Tapper) were next to learn they made it to the top 20.  They performed to "Funkier Than a Mosquito's Tweeter" by Nina Simone - never heard of it.  This performance was choreographed by Christopher Scott.  While I love the two boys, I'm not a fan of broadway or tap, but they did make it really fun - Nick is a really good Tapper.

The final 5, Caitlyn Lawson, Ryan Ramirez, Mitchell Kelly, Ashley Rich, and Alexander Fost (Another Contemporary Group), took to the stage dancing to, "Moth's Wings" by Passion Pit.  The performance was choreographed by season 2 alumni, Travis Wall - he has truly made a name for himself with the extraordinary performances he creates.

You can catch 3 more performances after the jump...

Where is Mia Michaels from SYTYCD?

Whatever happened to Mia Michaels? Was she fired? Was she let go?

Actually, these are the many questions people have been asking me recently.  At least the fans, and my friends who love So You Think You Can Dance.  

According to E online, before you start thinking there was some huge drama backstage or in the dressing room, Mia left at her own accord.  Looking upon the years ahead, she will be starring in her own Bravo reality show, writing a book, and is currently developing a Broadway show.  As people in this industry know, we all have dreams we wish to fulfill, and I'm sure others will agree.

"Last year when I was sitting on the [judges] panel, I knew it wasn't the right fit because I felt too glossy sitting on the panel," she exclusively tells us. "People were so focused on what I wore and my hair. I wanted to get dirty and back to the work. I am an artist and I'm a visionary. I need to paint my world now and not be constantly linked to So You think You Can Dance."

Not that she doesn't appreciate what SYTYCD has done for her. "It's been a great platform," Michaels says. "It was a wonderful platform. I'm staring at [my] two Emmys right now. It was an amazing, amazing thing for me but I feel like I have to fly. I have to now focus on Mia's world."

Personally, I didn't think she fit at the judge's table - I'll be the first to admit it.  

If you know Mia, or get to know her,  she's a very talented and active artist; Sitting down was not her forte, and everyone knew that. Hell, I read about it in the morning papers, and online blog sites.    Before the interview was finished, she did manage to say this, "I heard they're bringing Mary Murphy back and I'm really happy for her," Michaels says. "I've sat in that chair, but I feel like that was Mary's chair."

And it's true, it did feel odd without Mary Murphy there; I constantly brought it up, and so did the rest of the world. Who knows? Maybe she'll choreograph a dance routine this season, and we'll get to see her creative talent once again.  

If not... we wish you luck, Mia.  Good Luck, and God Bless you and your endeavours - you'll truly be missed.

Mark Kanemura: Lady GaGa Gave MeThe Courage To Be Myself

If you watched "Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden" on HBO last weekend you may have noticed this gorgeous fellow right here >>>>>>>>>>>>

His name is Mark Kanemura; Most recognize him from Season 4's So You Think You Can Dance.  I totally loved him during that season and felt he deserved the win, more-so than Joshua or Twitch.  I mean look at him, he's absolutely beautiful.

And for those who never knew, Mark was a part of Lady Gaga's entourage during the Monster Ball Tour.  I knew it was him dancing up there, but of course I had my skeptics. Well in June of last year, Mark had an interview with PopWatch from The New York Post, where he stated that Lady Gaga gave him the courage to be himself.  Here is part of that awesome interview...

PW: It kind of foreshadowed your work on the Lady GaGa tour. What has that been like?
Mark: It’s been a dream come true. It sounds so generic to say that, but at the same time, people who know me know that working with her was so specific to me. That was the one job I put out into the universe. I just had to, had to, had to dance with this amazing artist. There’s just something about her that I need to be around and experience. 

PW: I'd imagine it's a very surreal existence on tour with GaGa.
Mark: It is. You wake up, go throughout your day and end up on stage with this incredible freak. I could not believe that I was doing that. I was so drawn to her was because I felt the way that she viewed art was relatable to me. She gave me courage to be who I was, and who I wanted to be and sometimes it’s hard to wear that freaky self that I am. She’s really inspirational. The journey itself has been incredible. 

PW: How has working with her changed your dancing?
Mark: They way that she is with her music and her fashion is the way that she is with her dance. When she’s performing, she holds nothing back. She lays it out there for you. To be around someone like that, who encourages you to go there, is incredible. Plus the choreographers – Laurie Ann Gibson and Richie Jackson – do an incredible job of not only choreographing, but encouraging the dancers to put ourselves in the dance. And that’s rare in the industry. They don’t want robots on there. 

PW: How did you get hired, an open call?
Mark: The story itself is crazy because I couldn’t go to the audition. I was in Nebraska teaching, so it was a huge gamble not going to the audition for an artist I really wanted to work with. But I had worked with the choreographers before somehow they remembered me from this past job, so they hired me.

PW: So you got the news in Nebraska?
Mark: When my agent told me I literally started crying my eyes out. I was running around with crazy eyes and people were scared. And on top of that I had just had this large cup of extremely large coffee, so those two together weren’t a great combination. I was bouncing off the walls, crying, screaming. It was the most ridiculous thing. I lost my marbles.

PW: Can you pinpoint a most memorable moment with her?
Mark: [laughs] It would have to be my first [performance with GaGa], the VMA’s doing "Paparazzi." Although, when I first met her, that was crazy too. She came in and we showed her the routine and I was like, “ok Mark, this is your opportunity” so danced harder than I ever had before. And I almost had an asthma attack [laughs].

And for those who question his homosexuality, I'll let the following pictures answer that for you.  The pictures feature another Lady Gaga dancer, Jeremy Hudson, who's appeared in her music videos, Telephone, Alejandro, and Born This Way.

More pics, and a very hot video after the jump...