Aus SYTYCD Episode 1
Let's hear what you thought of the first 'top 20' show and the result.
I thought all the dancers did fantastically well. I thought some of the choreography was great, but not all. I was disappointed with Jason Gilkison's take on the ballroom dances, although I have a theory as to why he may have done it.
I'm afraid that to me, doing something to Waltz music does not make it a waltz. I would have been happy to see some of what Jason did as an entrance and exit, and even as a mid routine highlight, but there really was no real waltz content at all. What is the point of having different styles and different dances if they are all going to meld into contemporary done to different music? What Rhys and Jemma did was beautiful, but it wasn't ballroom waltz. The jive was only marginally better. There were some jive steps in it but not really any jive technique.
My thoughts on the result.. Of the three guys and three girls in the bottom three, I did agree with the judges choices as to who went. It is always going to tough to be tossed out on the first night but they did great to have come so far and hopefully the show will have opened doors for Courtney and Khaly. Courtney really does have a very open, friendly smiley face. I was impressed with Khaly's solo, but they were all so good!
I so agree with you on this! They seemed to be trying to make _everything_ contemporary to make it better to watch or something. I guess they have artistic license, but it is nice to see some classic waltz/jive too.
Either way it was awesome to watch and definitely looking forward to the future weeks :D
Yes its a shame that the ballroom isn't really ballroom on this show. It was a beutiful dance (waltz) but it really didnt deserve the title of waltz.
My favs in the show are Hilton and Danni.
It is a shame that there was not much "ballroom" in the waltz. However, should the couple have performed a "dancesport" waltz, maybe an entrance and exit with the rest in ballroom hold, it would not have highlighted the couples talents. It would have looked stiff, certainly not smooth. Waltz is a complicated affair to perform at a high level for those not educated in ballroom.
A traditional waltz as we know and love it would have jeopardized the couples chances of excelling in this competition. As it turns out they were a hit with this routine and the qualities they brought to it. Mission accomplished!
This point can be highlighted in this weeks episode with Paul Greens choice to include promenade runs in the samba. It simply let the routine down. The couple did so well in the remaining choreography, grasping the character of the dance. But their faults were highlighted in the performance of very awkward promenade runs.
I disagree with the statement to the effect of "it wasn't really a waltz". The music contained 3 beats to the bar. Generally this qualifies as a waltz. Our problem with the issue it was not an "English Waltz" or "Diagonal Waltz" or maybe a "Dancesport Waltz".
It is a shame that there was not much "ballroom" in the waltz. However, should the couple have performed a "dancesport" waltz, maybe an entrance and exit with the rest in ballroom hold, it would not have highlighted the couples talents. It would have looked stiff, certainly not smooth. Waltz is a complicated affair to perform at a high level for those not educated in ballroom.
A traditional waltz as we know and love it would have jeopardized the couples chances of excelling in this competition. As it turns out they were a hit with this routine and the qualities they brought to it. Mission accomplished!<snip>
And this is what I hinted at when I said that I had a theory as to why Jason did do this 'alternative' choreography. It probably did help the couples stay in the competition. The general public would like it more than a less well-executed 'ballroom waltz'. However I wonder if it is defeating the purpose of the competition if the styles are 'interpreted' almost out of recognition! We want to see how the dancers adapt to areas out of their forte.
I haven't seen episode 2 yet (out last night) but I'll be watching it tonight!
This is so true and it opens that old can of worms "competition can corrupt the authenticity of dance".