Recently in So You Think You Can Dance Category

So here we are again - with another series of So You Think You Can Dance, the performer audition format first cooked up in the USA by Brits Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller, the people behind Pop/American Idol. After debuting strongly last year, Season 1 settled down to be a modest hit for BBC1’s Saturday evening schedule, and so here we are with a longer, 12 week run.

One of the things that the longer series length has allowed is more light to be shed on the audition process. Last year, all the auditions & “choreography camp” were covered in one paltry week, which was nowhere near enough to see the dancers who would go on to the live shows. This year, while the process is still limited to two weeks’ worth of shows, that does at least give us some breathing space.

Also last year, the judging line-up for the live shows had not been finalised, so the auditions saw various guest judges join Nigel and Arlene Phillips. This time, the full judging panel is in attendance throughout - so for good or ill, we have Louise Redknapp and Sisco Gomez from the start.

“This is Season 2. The judges are going to want more and expect more,” says Nigel’s VT. “I want to be dazzled. I want to be screaming. I want to be shouting,” says Arlene. I think the last two are dead certs anyway, but fingers crossed for the first.

With the demise (for now, at least) of the BBC’s Saturday night musical theatre talent shows, the main talent contest for BBC1 is now So You Think You Can Dance, which returns for a second series on Saturday. The BBC has released the pre-credits teaser from Saturday’s show:

I’ve heard on the grapevine that, after last year’s series rattled through the audition process leaving us with several finalists who we’d never “met” prior to the start of the live shows, this year the series will give a little more time to the intensive selection process that whittles down all the applicants to the dozen or so dancers who will compete for public votes every Saturday. This can only be a good thing - every year I’ve been covering the BBC’s talent competitions for The Stage, from Any Dream Will Do onwards, a major gripe has been that the audition process has been glossed over.

Nobody wants The X Factor-style series on the BBC, where the footage of talented individuals auditioning is eked out over a couple of months by giving increased amounts of airtime to people who should have been weeded out at the very earliest stages. But showing the huge amount of work that goes into auditioning, with even the best dancers having only a chance of getting through, should make for great television, while enabling the audience to empathise with both those who make the cut and those who don’t. It should also help to remind the public just how hard dancers work, and how effortless motion on stage comes as the result of arduous training.

From BBC1’s point of view, So You Think You Can Dance is a mass-market entertainment show that needs personalities to take part — and to a certain extent their dance ability is secondary. One of the reasons why I love reviewing these shows for TV Today is that it’s a chance to redress that balance, to look at the performance first and the performer second.

Each week, my review of the show will go online every Monday or Tuesday. Do please join me at thestage.co.uk/sytycd and weigh in in the comments box!

After the drama of the previous week, which saw Robbie declared medically unfit, Alastair temporarily drafted in to replace him before the (more sensible) option of restructuring the show to accommodate just three finalists, the actual live show was going to have to go some to be as exciting as the build-up.

In the end, it did, with some magnificent dances. And, as usual, one or two duff performances. But right up until the result was announced, it really was too close to call as to who would walk away with a £100,000 purse and a performance spot on So You Think You Can Dance’s American show.

The show kicked off covering Robbie’s injury, sustained during rehearsals for his intended hip hop routine with Tommy. It looked like the simplest of moves, but the arm on which he was supporting himself just slipped out from under him, causing him to fall awkwardly on his shoulder and causing it to pop out.

And so the show continues without him, albeit providing what Nigel accurately described as “a brilliant story for a reality show”…

As usual, we’ve collected the YouTube versions of the dances here in an auto-playing sequence for you. I’m pleased to say the initial group dance is included as well this week, which makes a pleasant change…

Okay, so the official word after the speculation of the last couple of days. Finalist Robbie White has dislocated his shoulder and has been declared medically unfit to continue on the show.

A BBC spokesperson tells me that it was mooted to draft Alastair back in as a replacement to compete for the title, but it was quickly apparent that it “with the best will in the world, it would be nigh on impossible for anyone to learn all the routines in such a short space of time.”

So, the situation now is that the three couples dances that Robbie would have danced with fellow finalists Charlie, Lizzie and Tommy will now be danced by Alastair, Mark Calape, and Drew McOnie. None of them will be eligible for the title, leaving only three dancing vying for the series crown.

After the jump, Robbie talks about his injury…

Some late breaking speculation online, backed up by an article from the Lancashire Evening Post, suggests that Robbie White has had to drop out of Saturday’s final after sustaining an injury in training.

Yesterday, choreographer Simeon Qsyea tweeted that a training session had ended in a fatal (sic) fall, while adding that the [unnamed] dancer was ‘safe at home’. He followed up by noting, “Rehearsals ended up with the Hospital!! its all gone a bit crazy right now”.

Given the time of evening (I’ve been out reviewing Jerusalem at its West End opening) I’ve been unable to confirm anything beyond what the LEP has stated. And, to compound things, I’m going to be unavailable for most, if not all, of tomorrow (Thursday) for personal reasons. However, The Stage will endeavour to get you the most reliable information to you just as soon as we get it.

In the meantime, the relevant clause in the BBC’s statement of terms and conditions for So You Think You Can Dance states:

Contingencies cover withdrawal of any dancer or judge for health reasons or other unforeseen circumstances or outside the control of the BBC. The remedial actions may include, but not be limited to changing the format of the show, including, removing, substituting or adding dancers and or judges; and cancelling, suspending or altering voting at any time. In the event of any contestant leaving the competition, the BBC will decide on contingency plans as it deems necessary and appropriate to the circumstances.

If the LEP’s report is true, the situation must be heart-breaking for Robbie, who danced his heart out last Saturday to earn his place in the final. I only hope that his injury will heal quickly and that he’ll be back dancing as quickly as possible.

For the remaining finalists, it certainly throws a spanner into any predictions. Who knows how voters loyal to Robbie may decide to change their vote — plus, with an out of the blue reprieve for Alastair, will that be enough to give him the impetus he needs to be a contender once more?

Whatever happens, what was already promising to be a highly watchable final has now become unmissable. It’s a shame, though, that it’s come at the expense of a competitor’s health.

This week’s So You Think You Can Dance was a different experience for me, as the BBC were kind enough to invite me down to the studio to save me live tweeting from home. And it was a great atmosphere down at TV Centre, and it was great to have the chance to meet Nigel (shorter than I imagined) and Sisco (taller) as well as all the dancers (who are all shorter than I’d thought. Even Robbie, who strides out like a Leviathan in comparison to the others, but is of, I’d say, average height).

But enough of the hob-nobbing (for now, at least) and back to the show. As it was the semi-final, the structure changed slightly again: all three couples, again selected at random, would be dancing two routines as a pair, as well as each dancer doing a solo and, in the results show, all six joining together for a group dance.

As usual, couple dances (and, this week, the group dance) are in the video playlist below. The main show and results show are still available on iPlayer until next Saturday.

Drew McOnie and Yanet Fuentes, last Saturday’s departing dancers from So You Think You Can Dance, talk about their time on the show, and the future.

First, choreographer Drew, who’s a little upset that he didn’t get to dance Broadway competitively:

Next up, Yanet also laments the lack of an opportunity to learn Broadway under Stephen Mear, as well as working with Rafael Bonachela on contemporary dance:

Next Saturday’s semi final sees the six dancers further whittled down to the four who will compete for the series title the following week. TV Today will be in the studio watching the performances live, so next week’s show review will be a little different…

As the number of dancers still in competition get whittled down, with us just down to four guys and four girls, the gap between all the dancers is clearly narrowing. I still feel that, in two weeks’ time when the one overall winner is announced, it’s far more likely to be one of the boys — but this week I did feel that the playing field was a lot more level than it has felt previously.

Apparently this week’s audience share for SYTYCD were, according to overnight figures, quite a bit down on previous weeks. I’m sure that will disappoint people at the BBC, who do like to ensure that BBC1 has a strong presence in live Saturday night viewing. However, as I discussed last month, the BBC’s remit means that ratings alone, especially overnight ones, shouldn’t be the only means by which the Corporation’s output should be assessed.

But back to the show, and as with previous weeks, the couples’ dances are available below. This week more than any other, though, I felt that the real highlights came from one or two of the solo dances and, in particular, the boys’ group dance — and to my disappointment, the BBC doesn’t put those highlights onto YouTube. However, the main show and the results show will be available for the rest of the week on the BBC website.

After Saturday’s show Hayley and Mark were eliminated, so it’s their turn for an exit interview:

And so to the third live show, and with just ten dancers the format changes slightly. As we pointed out before, couples are now selected randomly and the public would be voting for individuals — but there were more changes to come: a group dance each from the girls and the boys, plus each dancer would get to showcase their individual talents in a solo routine without having to wait for the dance-off and that ridiculously annoying countdown.

The routines started off with a solid Bollywood-style number from the girls that produced nothing to distinguish one dancer from one another (on Twitter, I suggested Lizzie may have just pipped it for me, but on review I’m not sure that’s fair on the other four).

After that dance (and the promise of a group number from the boys at the end of the show) it was on to the first couple to dance - Drew and Lizzie.

As in previous weeks, I’ve assembled the group dances into a YouTube playlist below. Unfortunately, the BBC don’t release the solo or group numbers and we won’t link to non-BBC clips for obvious reasons. However, both the main show and the results show will still be available in iPlayer for the rest of the week.

A very brief mention for tonight’s National Television Awards, which we already previewed in the week’s Square Eyes preview.

Amongst all the hoo-ha of the awards themselves (and the recipients saying how wonderful they are because they’re voted for by the public, before turning up to the BAFTAs and then saying how wonderful they are because they’re voted for by their more knowledgeable peers) will be a number of on stage performances.

Go out and make the tea while The X Factor novelty act John and Edward are on — of more interest is that choreographer and government dance champion Arlene Phillips will be dancing on stage with the ten remaining So You Think You Can Dance contestants.

Save for the odd video clip of her choreography instruction, such as on the behind-the-scenes segments of the Britannia High DVDs, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Arlene dance, so this will be a unique experience.

They’ll be dancing to Christina Aguilera’s Ain’t No Other Man, which was the group number from the top of last Saturday’s results show. I’d imagine, then, it’ll be a variation of Frank Gatson’s choreography.

Either way, as long as the silly-haired Dublin twins (or Calvin Harris and his pineapple) don’t make an appearance in the number, I’ll be watching.

• National Television Awards, tonight ITV1 7.30pm

So, after last Saturday's much-better-than-the-previous-week live show, we said goodbye to dancers Chloe Campbell and Gavin Tsang.

Below, listen to each of them talk about their time on the show.

First off, Chloe:

Followed by Gavin:

And so we progressed onto the second week in the BBC studios at Television Centre. And after last week’s show, which I felt suffered at the hands of some dodgy camerawork, that side of this week’s programme was much improved. In addition, the instant replays during the judges’ summaries, now that I was expecting them, didn’t jar quite as much.

Overall, then, it did feel like a more confident, more appealing show. Although somebody needs to tell Cat Deeley that, as she already towers over most of the dancers she shares a stage with, she could possibly tone down the heels a little…

Update: the playlist below shows all six couples’ dances. Watch each one in order, or use the controls at the bottom of the player to switch to your favourite

As you’ll know if you read our breakdown of the So You Think You Can Dance boys and their experience, Drew McOnie has an immense amount of choreography experience already.

At some point in the past (the videos aren’t dated, he made a series of short videos for BBC Blast, the Corporation’s website that encourages young people to explore the creative arts. Under the umbrella title of ‘Get Dancing’, they are short videos talking about the appeal of dance, and how to start getting involved if you feel dancing may be for you.

PART 1: WHAT’S THE STORY?

[link]

Parts 2-4 after the jump.

So now that the fourteen dancers are down to twelve, we have to say goodbye to Anabel Kutay and Chris Piper — but not before they each give an ‘exit interview’:

ANABEL

CHRIS

Next week’s show starts at 6.30pm, followed by the results show at 8.20pm. The musical guest will be 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke.