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THE FOLKS WHO THINK THEY CAN DANCE: We go one on one with contestants Donyelle, Musa, Ryan, Martha and choreographer Shane Sparks.
*It’s just a theory, but the popularity of Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” may have something to do with the age-old fish-out-of-water appeal – in this case, the joy of watching contestants attempt to cut a rug in a style far removed from their area of expertise.
For example, a ballroom dancer fluent in quick step will have to be just as skillful in Ciara’s 1-2 Step or as smooth as Chicago folks steppin’ in the name of love in order to advance in the competition.
So far, six couples – paired at random to begin the final 10 – have shown enough talent and versatility to avoid the wrath of the viewing public, which gets to vote out their least favorite couple each week.
“We have people that are so well-rounded, if they’re not skilled in one certain style they’re good enough to pick it up,” says Shane Sparks, who serves as one of the show’s choreographers and judges. “This year we have straight dancers. Last year we had maybe three people that were very, very talented. This year I swear all that are on here right now are incredible, well-rounded.”
Among them is contestant Donyelle Jones, a 26-year-old Lancaster, Calif. native trained in hip hop, jazz, ballet and modern dance. Last week, Jones and her partner, West Coast Swing specialist Benji Schwimmer, drew the most enthusiastic applause of the night for their graceful performance of the Viennese Waltz.
The ovation went beyond just the dramatic execution of the dance, which the judges all praised as well. It appeared to express particular admiration for Jones, whose physique is a bit bigger and softer than most of her waifish counterparts. Benji, who weighs nothing but a buck 0-5, lifted, carried and dipped Jones during the routine with ease – looking as graceful as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Top Hat.”
Jones, a teacher at Extensions Performing Arts Academy in Lancaster, says the staff and clients there are part of her vast support system back home.
“They’re going crazy, they’re passing out fliers,” says Jones. “They have group meetings every Wednesday night and vote together, I have a lot of friends and family supporting me.”
Couples in the competition must pick their dance style out of a hat each week. The genres include jazz, contemporary, pop, tango, modern, American jive, disco, hip hop, krumping, paso doble, quickstep, lyrical, Broadway, Viennese waltz and salsa. Once couples have a category, off they go to a choreographer to learn their routine for the competition. In addition to Sparks, the choreographers include Dan Karaty, Mary Murphy, Brian Friedman, Ron Montez, Doriana Sanchez, and Mia Michaels.
This season’s “So You Think You Can Dance” champion will receive a new car, a one-year contract to perform in Céline Dion's show in Las Vegas and a cool $100,000.
“If I win this competition, I’m gonna just jump up and down for three days in a row,” laughs 28-year-old contestant Musa Cooper, a model and actor from Camden, New Jersey. “I’m going to take the money and pay off college bills, loans, try to invest some money and hire someone to teach me how to manage my money correctly and make that amount last.”
Musa, whose dance background is in hip hop and street funk, is also studying to become a fitness trainer. Partnered with contemporary dancer Natalie, Musa has also impressed the audience with his ability to boogaloo out of his breakdancing comfort zone and be believable enough in such styles as the mambo, contemporary, quick step and last week’s challenge of disco.
One of the strongest dancers to emerge so far is Raleigh, North Carolina’s Martha Nichols, an 18-year-old muscled dynamo who was trained as a competition dancer in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop and lyrical. Her run so far has been with 18-year-old Virginia native Travis Wall, a lyrical and jazz dance specialist.
“I love working with Travis. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better partner,” said Martha, who with Travis has already conquered Broadway, krumping, hip hop and last week’s category of salsa.
Another appeal of the show is getting to watch partners from opposite sides of the cultural spectrum work through their differences and perfect a routine.
“I feel it’s a great expression for your inner self – to come out and just not hold your feelings inside and express it to the world,” gushes 20-year-old Brooklyn native Ryan Rankine. His partner is 24-year-old Heidi Groskreutz, straight from the O.C. (Newport Beach, CA.) The perennial bottom three couple has managed to hang on through rounds of the Viennese waltz, contemporary, hip hop and a show-stopping Cuban rumba two weeks ago that went over extremely well with both the audience and the judges.
“Since the first week we’ve created a relationship that’s building and building as we tackle these different dance forms we pick out of a hat – and that are foreign to us most times,” says Ryan of his partner. “But it’s been a great experience so far, a great journey.”
The journey continues throughout the summer with performance shows on Wednesdays from 9 to 10 p.m., and eliminations airing Thursdays from 9 to 10 p.m. on Fox.
For MORE, go here: http://www.fox.com/dance/
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