TORONTO – No, I don’t think I can dance
Yes, I do think they can.
That’s the abridged version of my So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) Tour review. For those who want more Murtzcellanious details on the highly-anticipated show that finally arrived at the Air Canada Centre in downtown Toronto last night, I urge you to read on.
I want to make it clear that I have only recently been versed in So You Think You Can Dance. While I only saw my first episode a few days ago (and subsequently all of season 3), I knew that the show had always had a big following and I definitely wanted to see what all the fuss was about before the hometown stop. I have to say that despite the lack of backstabbing that is prevalent on every other reality show that I love (and a prerequisite theme for almost anything that I currently watch), I became an instant fan. I used to be impressed by American and Canadian Idols that could sing. That was before I saw these talented artists who were doing up to three or four different dances a week. This was in addition to the fact that the majority of these complicated routines were with partners that they initially didn’t even know. The concept was mind-boggling to me.
Featuring an unbelievable 38 performances in total, with 18 even before the intermission, the hugely successful FOX reality show hit a Canadian stage for the first and only time yesterday, playing to a sold-out audience. The Tour featured the top ten contestants from SYTYCD and also included performances from other Top 20 finalists. Those invited included:
– 2007 Winner Sabra Johnson
– Danny Tidwell
– Lacey Schwimmer
– Neil Haskell
– Lauren Gottlieb
– Pasha Kovalev
– Sara Von Gillern
– Jaimie Goodwin
– Kameron Bink
– Dominic Sandoval
– Hok Konishi
– Anya Garnis
– Shauna Noland
– Jesus Solorio
Before the show ‘officially started,’ trivia questions with the dancers were played for the audience members who arrived early. These were interspersed with American Idol videos. Gotta love the FOX cross-promotion. We learned interesting tidbits about the dancers including golden nuggets like Shauna’s fear of bellybuttons and Danny’s obsession with sunglasses (he has over 100 pairs!)
The tone for the high-energy set actually began with a video-taped message from executive producer and judge Nigel Lythgoe where he introduced the top five most memorable auditions. This was definitely a great move by the Tour’s organizers. The auditions were amusing and served their purpose in the sense of exciting the audience that was already there while also allowing late-comers to arrive without missing a proverbial beat.
The host of the show, Cat Deeley, then “appeared” on the video screen and introduced the dancers. I have to say that this was the only lowlight of the show for me. I thought that at least on the Tour, I would not have to deal with the voice that grated me during the series, but alas, I was wrong. It was definitely a forgivable offense though, because even I can admit that Cat’s pre-taped presence definitely made the audience feel like they were seeing the real dancers from the real show at a real performance.
After the top 10 were introduced, the standout performer of the night, Dominic Sandoval grabbed the microphone and said “Toronto” repeatedly which predictably brought louder cheers everytime. He had a great line when he ‘almost’ thanked everyone for their votes (considering Canada cannot vote for any of the dancers).
The performances then began with Neil and Sara’s “Knock On Wood.” Their disco number was a hit on the show and Neil’s suspended backflip was definitely something to see.
While there were many dances that stood out, on this night, the best was one that was never seen on the show and exclusively choreographed for the Tour. Danny and Jaimie never danced together on TV, but their jive to Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend was spectacular (despite a slight speedbump by Jaimie when Tidwell tried to do a pull-through).
The screaming girls who bought their tickets just to see Neil were not left disappointed as the lanky Buffalo boy brought brilliance with many of his fan-favorite numbers including his Paso Doble with Sabra, his breathtaking “Time” routine with Lacey, his jazz version “Sweet Dreams” with Sabra and his “Two Princes” partnership with Danny.
The screaming guys who bought their tickets just to see Lauren (and there were quite a few, believe it or not) also could not complain after seeing the strikingly beautiful Gottlieb execute her dances to perfection. Her ‘Transformers’ and ‘Angel & Devil’ routines with Pasha and Neil respectively were particularly awesome.
While fans had to wait until after intermission to see Wade Robson’s critically-acclaimed “Flower & Hummingbird” jazz routine performed by Hok and Jaimie, the delivery was well worth it. The pair’s live conception was just as exhilarating as their TV version. Hok also brought the house down when he teamed up with fellow breakdancers Dominic and Sara for a previously-unseen breaking-dancing program.
One of the things to note about the Tour was the fact that it didn’t lag. Described as a ‘well-oiled machine,’ the account could not any more accurate for the show which made two hours and 30 minutes seem more like 60 minutes.
After being in the front row for every Backstreet Boys concert (and being very excited about their reunion), not missing a single taping of Canadian Idol over the last five years, checking out a live taping of Rockstar: INXS and even seeing M.C. Hammer, T.L.C. and Boyz II Men all on the same stage, I can honestly say that the So You Think You Can Dance Tour is just as good. The fact of the matter is that both the television show and the live Tour provided something that I have never seen before. I don’t think I have seen an all-dance show since I was 12 and was dragged to The Nutcracker. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. And I got to see very hot girls in very little clothing and it wasn’t even my birthday.
This is a show that you must check out.
And I can totally do the Viennese Waltz now. Seriously.
Set List
1. Opening group number “Madskillz”
2. Neil & Sara’s “Knock On Wood” (Disco)
3. Kameron* & Shauna’s “I Thought We Had” (Contemporary)
4. Pasha & Sabra’s “Mr. Pin Stripe” (Quickstep)
5. Lauren’s solo
6. Danny & Jaimie’s “Girlfriend” (Jive)
7. Dominic & Sabra’s “I’ll Stand By You” (Contemporary)
8. Kameron solo
9. Sabra & Neil “Espana Cani” (Paso Doble)
10. Matrix group number
11. Pasha & Lauren’s “Fuego” (Transformers) (Hip Hop)
12. Dominic, Hok & Sara Break Dancing Routine
13. Lacey solo
14. Pasha & Anya (ChaCha/Samba Combination)
15. Jaimie solo
16. Neil, Danny, Lauren & Sabra’s “Mein Herr” (Vaudeville/Cabaret routine)
17. Danny & Anya’s “It Had To Be You” (Viennese Waltz)
18. Kameron* & Shauna’s “Ease On Down The Road” (Broadway)
19. Lion King group number
Intermission
20. Group number “The Moment I Said It”
21. Jesus & Sara’s “Cabaret Hoover” (Broadway)
22. Pasha solo
23. Danny & Anya’s “You & Me” (Viennese Waltz)
24. Dominic solo
25. Neil, Danny, Pasha, Lauren, Sabra, Shauna’s Swamp routine.
26. Jaimie & Hok’s “The Chairman’s Waltz” (The Hummingbird & The Flower) (Jazz)
27. Neil solo
28. Pasha & Sara’s Rockefeller Skank (West Coast Swing)
29. Sabra & Dominic’s “Make It Work” (Hip Hop)
30. Danny & Neil’s “Are You The One” (Two Princes) dance style?
31. Sara solo
32. Neil & Lacey’s “Time” (Contemporary)
33. Danny solo
34. Neil & Lauren’s “Night Of The Dancing Flame (The Angel & The Devil) (Jazz)
35. Sabra solo
36. Danny & Anya’s “Hip Hip Chin Chin” (Samba)
37. Sabra & Neil’s Sweet Dreams (Jazz)
38. Closing group number “Hair Spray: You Can’t Stop The Beat”
Stay tuned for “Dance Week” on Reality Dish. It will feature my interviews with all of the dancers! What happens when Murtz meets Lauren for the first time? Stay tuned.
The So You Think You Can Dance Tour continues until the end of the month. Here are the remaining stops:
Nov 03 Detroit, MI – Joe Louis Arena
Nov 04 Indianapolis, IN – Conseco Fieldhouse
Nov 05 Chicago, IL – United Center
Nov 07 Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center
Nov 09 Cincinnati, OH – US Bank Arena
Nov 10 Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena
Nov 12 Grand Prairie, TX – Nokia Theatre
Nov 14 San Antonio, TX – AT&T Center
Nov 15 Houston, TX – Reliant Arena
Nov 18 Glendale, AZ – Jobing.com Arena
Nov 19 San Diego, CA – San Diego Sports Arena
Nov 21 Los Angeles, CA – Nokia Theatre
Nov 23 Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena
Nov 24 Sacramento, CA – Arco Arena
Nov 25 San Jose, CA – HP Pavilion at San Jose
Nov 27 Portland, OR – Rose Garden
Nov 28 Everett, WA – Everett Events Center
Nov 30 Reno, NV – Reno Events Center
