Dance Review: So You Think You Can Dance Live - Page 5

Speaking of the emotionally charged work on display throughout this live extravaganza, a very special mention must be made of the one performance that actually brought me to tears. Choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux, Twitch and Kherington performed a Viennese Waltz to the strains of "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion. What made this one especially great was a taped segment from the television program in which Genereux explained that he has a severely disabled daughter afflicted by Rett Syndrome. This disorder robs its sufferers of nearly all motor skills. In the case of Genereux's daughter, the one thing that elicits an animated reaction from her is watching movement such as dance. He choreographed this piece for her, with the hopes he would see a physical reaction from her.

The elegant beauty of the dancing, when given this heartrending context, resulted in more than a few visibly moved spectators. It wasn't the closing performance of the show, nor the flashiest, but definitely a true showstopper. It was a prime example of how effective and worthwhile So You Think You Can Dance is.

After hearing about all the hard work and dedication the dancers put into their skill, I wondered what the next step would be for each of them. While the similarly-styled television show American Idol is searching for the next music superstar, fame (outside of the dance world) is not generally the outcome for even the most successful dancers.

Jessica wants to use the show as “a springboard” and hopes to keep getting better. Chelsea agreed that improving one's art is the key to longevity as a dancer. “The minute you think that training is over is the minute that people start flying past you like a race,” she said. Chelsea also plans to keep training and auditioning, in hopes of landing "that one big contract.” Mark, the most low-key of those I spoke with, plans to keep teaching and would like to work with different companies such as Cirque Du Soleil. The show’s winner, Joshua, aspires to become an R&B recording artist. But, as much as he loves to sing, he assured me, “I never want to give up the dance.”

Article Author: Sherry Lipp

Sherry writes mostly music and DVD reviews, and on occasion she gets to do an interview. She plays the guitar, loves to read, watch movies, and write. Sherry also is a gluten free food blogger, and enjoys coming up with grain and sugar free recipes.

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