SCREW CANADA!

(And I mean that in the nicest possible way. Eh?)

Tonight I was watching the first part of the season finale of “So You Think You Can Dance” (the US version) (hereinafter known as SYTYCD – US); however, before my 8:00 PM (Pacific) start time, I was whiling away a few minutes catching up on some other routines that I may have missed. Mainly, the ones from our Northern brethren, SYTYCD – CA. (And for those of you not following along, SYTYCD – CA is So You Think You Can Dance – Heathens.)

During season 5 our own, our very, very own,  Juliet Waters and Knight Writer gave some faboo recaps, with Frank Apisa doing a wonderful job of alternate. This season though? Crickets. (The insect, not the game.) Where the hell are my insightful, yet snarky, commentators?

Since the Fab ‘free have been silent during this, our season 6, I’ve had some time to figure out, on my own, my personal favo(u)rites of this season. (See that? I threw in an unneeded “u” for our Canadian neighbor(u)rs! I did that to make them feel welcome, and loved. I am encompassing, people, ENCOMPASSING! And, no, that is not a euphemism for free love. Well, maybe it could be. Anyway … )

(Okay, fine. FINE! Full disclosure – I was taught by Irish nuns, so I am guilty of tossing in a(n) “U” here and there. Hither and yon. Needed or not. I won’t even get into the fight that I had with my high school English teacher, when she docked me points about my superfluous “u”’s.)

Where was I?

Oh, yes. Dancing.

So tonight, since I had time to kill, I decided to peek in on our counterfeit counterpart dancers.

As much as it kills me to say this, I cannot contain it.

HOTSHITDAYUUUUMN!

The Canadians canno(u)t outdo us! So I had to look back at SYTYCD – US, Season 2. And I re-found this:



Watching them side by side, I have to say that the Heathens did a FANTASTIC (and whoamygawdhawt!) routine, but shit. Did you SEE the SYTYCD – US dance, from the same season? (On a side note, I honestly didn’t watch the first season, so you won’t see clips here. Blame that on me traveling.)

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So, I can’t find clips for the SYTYCD – Heathens season 3 on youtube, I’m linking to one of their season 1 clips. As much as it kills me inside, I LOVE that they have dancehall as a genre. We ‘merikans could learn something.


However, SYTYCD – US season 3 offers this:



SUCK IT, CANADA!

Ahem. Er.

Moving on, season 4.

Sadly, youtube has let me down. I CANNOT find S4 for Canada here. (Juliet, help a sistah out?)

Since I can’t find S4 for Canada, the win has to go to SYTYCD – US by default. I mean, how can THESE dances lose?

(And if you do vote against them, the terrorists win. Just sayin’.)



I don’t care – this dance ranks right up there. *MAYBE* the Canadians had a dance that could compete, but this is one that will live forever in my synapses. Have you dreamt with a broken heart? Yes? So have I.)

Another one from season 4 (SYTYCD – US):



And another:

 

 

(Take THAT Canada!)

And then, you keep knocking down our doors (or we knock on yours, for healthcare and equality). Either way, it doesn’t matter:



And then? We pray. (Even though, now after many years of Catholic school, I am not a “Christian”, I still LOVE hymns. Psalms. And those high holy songs. “Ave Maria”? Is one of the most beautiful pieces of music, at least to me. That someone choreographed a dance to it, and that person being Mia Michaels? Makes me weep. On so many levels.:



Okay, moving on. Season 5.
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Once again, youtube kills me. When I try to search, “SYTYCD Season 5 Canada”, all I can find are videos for the American show.

(Maybe that is the Universe saying, “Pfft!” to Canada? I have no idea.) So, assuming that the Universe is correct, here are some of the better dances from season 5.

Don’t be sad, Canada, that you can live up. Prove me wrong and provide some links.

Here are some stand-out performances from season 5. (It’s okay that you are “heathens”, my friendly Canadians. C’mon, you have the market cornered on hokey and highland dancing. Give us this, why don’t’cha?)



As much as I feel the addiction piece, above. This one? Kills me. KILS ME!

 

 

And, as much as I felt that Jeanine was the dancer who should have won, and did win, the dance that really got me was this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSolNmTF9a4  (Damn youtube not allowing embedding. PLEASE. Click through.)

It made me cry the first time I saw it. It makes me cry, still. I …

Er …

Uhm …

Yeah …

If you are born of a woman.

If you are a sibling of a woman.

If you ARE a woman.

Or even know a woman …

Or love one.

This piece will touch you.

(On a personal note – the first time I saw this piece I thought that the woman was “keeping on, keeping on” with the support of a partner. My friend, whose mother is fighting breast cancer, saw it as the woman going “into the light”. Her mother? The one fighting cancer? Saw it as a woman fighting against all odds with the support of friends, family, and loved ones. I guess it all is our perspective, no?)

I guess we all see what we want to, or expect to. Eh?
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Honestly, I admit – I was underwhelmed by the top 20 they chose. During auditions I saw some that I felt should have stayed; and those picked TO stay, I was snarky against.

However, for this most recent round of SYTYCD – US (as opposed to those damned heathens), I have to admit … I am happy with their top 6 (couples).
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Maybe it’s because I try to see the best in people. Or maybe it’s because I AM a dancer as well. Either way, I love SYTYCD.

As a dancer, it’s hard. The singers. The actors. The “pretty ones” – they all get a spot before you. And that is a hard pill to swallow. I guess I am just happy that my niche is getting the limelight it deserves.

The next time you are out and about, enjoying some musical theatre, look at the background. In those leaves you will find us – the dancers.
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I propose this: the top 2 from each season of SYTYCD (– US and SYTYCD – Heathens), we go head to head. (Sorry SYTYCD – Australia. I mean, y’all are great dancers as well, but? Really? You are just prettied up criminals. No offence meant to Natalie; You? Are a wonderful human being. But, when it comes to competition, and dance, the gloves are off. *MUAH* We love you. But still, your country is founded on those “ye olde convictes”. I don’t give a hoot that you can dance like this. We will SO take you! Bring it. BRING IT! I say.)



Sweet dreams really ARE made of these. Or this.

 

Who am I (or you) to disagree?
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Screw NAFTA. Screw the Kyoto.

Dance it out.

Dance it out, people. Dance it out.
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(If you had to chose, what would be the last dance that you would want to have people identify with you? It could be ballet, it could be SYTYCD, it could be anything. What would be your swan song?)