Sunday, July 12, 2009

I Know I Can't Dance

I'm new and late to the hot tamale train but I have been watching So You Think You Can Dance the last few weeks thanks to my girly girls who are not shy about pausing lifts and rewinding shimmies.

I know people have been blogging/Facebooking/Tweeting about SYTYCD for, what, years now? I know because I have been tuning out whenever I see the letters SYTYCD. But I'm into it now and I have a couple of questions and comments. First of all, can someone explain chemistry to me? What is it? If you are an actor or a dancer and have chemistry with someone, does that mean you are secretly in love with them? Or get along with them really well? What is it? I ask this because I am wondering how being a gay man-dancer affects your chemistry with your hetero-woman dance partner. Are we allowed to talk about this? I guess I'm wondering if an element of chemistry is sexual attraction.

Next, so much depends on choreographers, right? There are the ballroom people who are great (the woman was on What Not to Wear, remember?), and there's Mandy Bore--I mean Moore, there's a bunch of other ones--including the notorious Russian Folk Dance creators who I picture as a sort of goofy version of Boris and Natasha. (Pity, they won't work in THIS town again.) And then there's Wade Robson. Wade Robson is the only one who knows how to make people look cool. He's cool, I guess, but more than that he can make up dance movements that make you look cool. That's a real talent. I think Wade Robson is some kind of genius. I mean, a lot of people say he is and I agree.

You can't talk about Wade without mentioning Michael Jackson--another genius who somehow could figure out which weird movements look cool all together. All the individual moves of Thriller are so strange. Who would have guessed the cumulative effect would be so awesome? Of course Wade was one of Michael Jackson's child proteges, along with Macaulay Culkin. And out of respect for Wade who is fiercely loyal to MJ, no jokes. But he must have learned a lot from him about dancing. Seriously.





I do think Wade is really cool, but there's something about being so obsessed with Michael Jackson that you copy his exact movements and outfits that is a little disarming and maybe just a tinge on the nerdy side of cool. Also, ever see a cool guy move his shoulders that fast? I bet you haven't. Wade pulls it off with aplomb--all 6'4 of him.

22 comments:

  1. I must say that this season hasn't been the best, not much has really gelled this year. Normally Mandy Moore is fantastic. Mia Michaels is still great, but I haven't felt it this year like last.

    And chemistry? You know it when you see it.

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  2. You actually don't have to be sexually attracted to someone to have chemistry. Case in point: I have on-stage chemistry with Jake Suazo.

    Speaking of chemistry and/or attraction, Wade is a man my husband needs to fear. Wade and Sting.

    Does Jake Suazo read your blog?

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  3. Watching his moves gave me the chills, and made me miss MJ.

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  4. That is a VERY INTERESTING question. I think....hm. I'm not sure WHAT I think! Because I was going to say that I'd had what I'd call "chemistry" with female co-workers in the past, but then I wondered if that might contain an ELEMENT of sexual attraction even though I'm straight.

    Or maybe it doesn't contain any sexual attraction. Maybe it's just a sparkly "This is such a fun and easy and pleasant relationship" feeling.

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  5. Agree with Hailey about Wade and Sting. Mmmm.

    I think chemistry is way easier to spark when there are two people of the same sexual attraction, but I also think it's just about "getting" the other person in general. I also think chemistry is easier with bunsen burners and safety glasses.

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  6. Check him out when he was like 8 years old. . .

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d33-HgdZbI

    yeah, I'm too lazy to do the whole coding thing.

    Chemistry. . .I think they're fantastic actors.

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  7. Remember when Wade was showing someone a dance and he said, "Now do an ugly hunchback--the uglier the better." That's the kind of thing I would never conceive of. I think SYTYCD is great. MUCH better than American Idol. But I like singing more than dancing so it hurts me more personally when it's bad. That's why I can't take Idol. Or Paula. Although Mary's no walk in the park, oh no she isn't.

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  8. A friend of mine is wishing that I could get into SYTYCD...and I've tried twice. But OHMYWORD the judges are not fun. Apparently they rub me the wrong way. Worse than Paula. It would seem we don't have ANY chemistry.

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  9. I find Wade Robson amusing. I always love his dances, but I think the whole zen-master thing is strange. After all, once upon a time, he was Britney Spears coreographer and rumored to be romantically-involved with her. I still remember him from those days. But if watching his dances means I don't have to watch one by Tabitha & Napoleon or, worse, Tyce D'whatever-his-name is, then I'm happy.

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  10. I think Mia Michaels is good too, but her style doesn't appeal as much to me personally.

    As far as Britney is concerned, I thought I had a crush on her but I guess I really had a crush on Wade for making her dance so cool. I feel sad for Wade that two important people in his life have gone stark raving mad.

    I also think Wade is a very good teacher--probably better than the other choreographers on the show. I just love Wade. I find it curious that he has no Australian accent. No one seems to mind when people like Wade Robson emigrate to the US from Australia. I wonder if Jason Chaffetz likes SYTYCD.

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  11. New Question: Can you have chemistry with a person you hate? Can you fake chemistry?

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  12. I think Wade and Mia are secretly related. They both have the same mannerisms and they are both the best at choreography.

    This is the first year I haven't had a favorite right away. Don't get me wrong, still loving watching it (but have to fast forward through Mary Murphy).

    Glad you are finally watching it!

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  13. Oh, my favorite dancers are Brandon and Jeanette. I feel sorry for Evan because he is a dwarf. I really hope he draws "Shire" one of these times.

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  14. Well, this may be the only time I ever get to say this, so please indulge me, but I have been watching SYTYCD for the last few years (I only missed the first season) and so I KNEW SOMETHING WAS COOL BEFORE YOU DID. HA!

    Anyway, the best year was the Benji year, and then the Lacy year. THis year kinda bites. Mia and Wade are my faves, although this year has just been meh from both in my opinion.

    I think chemistry does have a sexual component, but I don't think that necessarily excludes a gay/straight couple. I can't explain, but I know it is true.

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  15. If you hate someone, no you can't fake it. Unless you are supposed to be a fighting couple. Then your chemistry will be amazing.

    Shire? That comment made my week.

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  16. Thanks for the props on Shire. I've been WAITING for someone to mention it. I'm really surprised the judges haven't made a crack like that.

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  17. Chemistry is a psychological concept, and there are probably several types of chemistry. To narrow in on the topic at hand, if the type of dance is sensual, then that attraction would be mandatory. In the previews I've seen for "So You..." the dancers were typically clad so as to suggest sensuality, and their moves did as well.

    In many other types of dance, you can be "one" with your partner irrespective of attraction.

    I believe that chemistry can't be faked for very long before some people realize it.

    Nice video, by the way. That guys got the moves down. I love watching someone so good at their craft.

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  18. I have watched a few of the shows. I liked the first season with the guy that played Mr. Peterman on Seinfeld.

    I am really into Dexter and Weeds on showtime. Both ROCK!!

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  19. I keep thinking and thinking about this post. You bring up some compelling issues about talent, style, and chemistry. I have (surprise!) opinions on all of them. I agree with Hailey and I'm still thinking about being able to "fake" chemistry. Does it count if you fool the audience, or if you fool the other person? Hmmm. . . . You are interesting, Kacy. Interesting like Wade and Mia.

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  20. Oh man! The props about Shire comment was me, on my mom's laptop! I want props for my own props to Shire comment comment!

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  21. If you've got on stage chemistry with someone, it soooo means you want to *boink* them. I mean, do drug addicts talk to their dealers because they want to have a friendly conversation over tea and biscuits? No. I can tell you from acting on stage myself, if I'm spending all that time rehearsing with my "partner", chances are, we are going to do the horizontal polka!

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  22. I totally saw that redheaded lady on what not to wear.

    Love the leggy blonde. Kayla?

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