A few years ago, I remember thinking that Canadian Idol wouldn’t last and that it would just be a cheap knock-off of its American counterpart. Six seasons later, even I couldn’t predict how wrong I was and how I now believe that the show is even better than American Idol. This is why when I first heard about So You Think You Can Dance Canada, I was completely optimistic this time around.
Make no mistake about it. So You Think You Can Dance Canada is the hottest ticket in town. Unlike Canadian Idol which has the luxury and space of its Bassett theatre location, SYTYCDC has a much smaller location as it originates from the Showline Studios in Toronto. What is great about this location is that if you do manage to secure a live show ticket, you are in for one of the coolest Canadian experiences around because the feel of the studio is quite intimate
I finally got to check out my first live performance show (that was pre-taped on Monday) and it was awesome.
The set-up of the spectacular-looking stage really adds a great layer both to the show and to the live performances. The back of it is lighted and the colors of the backlight can be changed with the push of a button. There is a catwalk on top (where we usually see host Leah Miller at the top of every show), and this also allows some audience members to get a bird’s eye view of the dances. The judges are set-up to the left of the mosh pit area (where the majority of the audience members stand) and this pit is in front of a few traditional seats where most of the VIP’s in attendance (including guest choreographers) park themselves.
The show started just after 8 PM and after the judges were introduced (this week fans were lucky enough to get the full-out “hot tamale train experience” with Mary Murphy being in attendance) and Leah’s introduction, it was time for the Top 14 to rock the house in a Halloween-themed episode.
LISA & VINCENT
Since the dismissal of my favorite team in the competition a couple of weeks ago (Dario and Romina… seriously Canada, what were you thinking?) I have maintained that Lisa & Vincent are the best dancers currently in the competition. Unfortunately, their samba this week definitely left my assessment in doubt as it was sloppy and the first time that I have seen them show weakness in the competition. Maybe my presence served as a jinx? There was a major slip near the end of the dance and Lisa admitted that they didn’t even get to finish the proper ending that they had planned. While the judges were sympathetic, I think this was more because of what Lisa & Vincent had done in the past rather than what they just did. Unfortunately, I think they are in trouble.
Commercial.
LARA & MILES
Lara has been my sentimental favorite since the competition started because she attends the same chiropractic school that my sister does. She’s also one of the hottest girls I have ever seen. That ultimately results in Miles getting some Murtz love as well (no, not literally) as he is Lara’s partner. Actually, with the rumors that they might be dating swirling around given the intensity of their recent performances, maybe I should be rooting against Miles! Kidding. Lara & Miles came out dressed in ice cream scooper outfits which they promptly tore off seconds into the Benji Schwimmer-choreographed West Coast Swing. Schwimmer obviously included some of his trademark partner cartwheels and the team pulled it off without a hitch. Mary Murphy said that the ending was rough and guest judge Rex Harrington said that he liked Lara’s bra. Tre commented on the fact that Lara & Miles kept drawing the tougher routines and Jean-Marc Genereaux said something about it being soft and smooth and wild and crazy at the same time. This is also a good time for me to give props to Jean-Marc. Whoever made the decision to include him as a permanent judge this season should be promoted. He has been the STAR of the series thus far and his comments while sometimes difficult to understand are almost always hilarious and full of vibrant vigor. He has also helped to give the Canadian series a sense of identity. I am a big fan!
Commercial.
ARRASAY & NICO
If Canada’s favorite dancer had to named today and if I had to put my reputation on the line as the world’s foremost reality television expert, I would bet the house my parents’ house on Nico winning the competition. The Black Angel has been promoted heavily throughout the season and has clearly positioned himself at the top of the class. He was also lucky enough to get one of the best partners around in Arrasay who has been like a sponge in terms of soaking in dances that she isn’t familiar with. This week, the pair did a Luther Brown-inspired hip hop routine and came out in camouflage army fatigues. It was completely in sync as usual and the pair looked like they had been breaking-dancing for years. Rex and Jean-Marc admitted they were big fans of the couple and in the sweetest moment of the evening, Arrasay admitted how much Nico helped her pick-up the hip-hop style to which Nico told her that she helped him in weeks before. What a heartbreaking tear-jerker!
ALLIE & DANNY
At the eTalk Toronto International Film Festival Party, I had the chance to talk to Leah Miller on the red carpet and I remember her telling me about how hot this cast was. I remembered that conversation in great detail as I took in Monday’s live show and the veracity of Miller’s comments was definitely evident in the Allie & Danny pairing. I believe that Allie and Danny are the dancers that best compliment each other and while one is an expert in ballet and the other prefers ballroom, they seem to mesh well together. I was interested to see how they would tackle a contemporary routine and they did a good job. It was very reminiscent of Jessica and Will’s ‘Adam & Eve’ number from the U.S. version of the show. Tre’s comments sometime bore me and this was no more prevalent than in this case where she went on and on about how dancers take what they are given and make it their own or something. In my opinion, the judges either have to critique or be entertaining. We all know what categories Mary Murphy, Nigel Lythgoe and Jean-Marc fit under. Tre, unfortunately, is in the middle and that simply doesn’t work.
Commercial.
NATALLI & FRANCIS
It seems like the much-maligned pair of Natalli and Francis have been in the bottom ever since the pair started. It’s hard to decipher why. It’s certainly not because of a lack of personality, at least from Natalli’s end as she has popped on the screen each time that she has been on it. That’s obviously why she has been able to save herself so many times. I think Francis might be dragging her down only because he seems so tied to ballroom that it seems hard to picture him doing anything else. Seriously, do you see that guy krumping? Me neither. This week, the pair had theatre and they did a good job with Natalli playing the role of a scorned woman. It was good. Nothing to write home about, but good. Rex Harrington really got a laugh from the crowd when he said that the pair made “sexy Rexy Rocket to the Stars.” (which was an obvious jab at Mary Murphy’s hot tamale train). Tre said that she didn’t want to lose the pair (a sign of things to come?) and once again, Jean-Marc provided the hilarity when he said that Francis “fit the profile of a bad boy… Natalli fit the profile of a wild and crazy girl and that it was rough, rugged and raw.”
Commercial.
CAROLINE & JESSE
The pair most likely to leave the competition on Thursday was definitely the Caroline and Jesse duo. The judges have had it out for them for awhile and they needed a super strong performance to save themselves. Unfortunately, they didn’t nail it. Their hustle was bland and it just was lost in all the other performances of the evening. Mary didn’t hold any punches and she immediately admitted that it did not work for her and told Jesse that he almost fell on his partner. Mary said that “the basics of the hustle weren’t there” and that the “dancing wasn’t there.” Rex agreed and said that Jesse looked awkward. Rex also said that it looked like Caroline was a ‘Maninizer’ (a reference to the new Britney Spears ‘Womanizer’ song). After the comments, Jesse was gracious and admitted that he was not familiar at all with the hustle style and that he just enjoyed the fact that he could learn it.
KAITLYN & IZAAK
I really didn’t want to use the ‘save the best for last’ cliché, but there was no getting around it. The Kaitlyn and Izaak jazz funk routine was the highlight of the entire show. It was restaurant-themed, with Kaitlyn playing the role of a waitress and Izaak being her demanding customer. The routine was choreographed by Blake McGrath and it was probably the best routine of the entire series so far. It was the first time, Izaak really got into character and the chemistry between the pair was quite clear. It really was an amazing routine. The crowd had a huge pop at the end, the judges loved it and I found myself now torn between Lara and Kaitlyn as to who is my favorite. Unbelievable!
Here’s how I see it.
The Best:
1. Kaitlyn & Izaak
2. Arrassay & Nico
3. Lara & Miles
In Danger:
1. Caroline & Jesse
2. Lisa & Vincent
3. Natalli & Francis
