Exclusive interviews after SYTYCD Top 4 show: Chehon, Cyrus, Eliana, Tiffany

Chris Trondsen interviewed all four finalists -- Cyrus 'Glitch' Spencer, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, Eliana Girard, and Tiffany Maher after the taping of the So You Think You Can Dance Top 4 show. They joke with Chris about their reputations with the choreographers and the fans and talk about their unique strengths that earn them the right to win the title of "America's Favorite Dancer"

SYTYCD Performance Finale - 2 must see hiphop routines: # 2 Jean Sok

This is one of the most incredible hiphop dances I have ever seen. Kudos to So You Think You Can Dance for bringing Jean Sok to their stage.

SYTYCD Performance Finale - 2 must see hiphop routines: #1 - Cyrus & tWitch

Cyrus 'Glitch' Spencer surprised many by making it to the Final 4 over hundreds of trained dancers on this season's So You Think You Can Dance. If you have doubts about Cyrus -- this final performance will dissolve them. His talent is obvious in this incredible dance on the SYTYCD Performance Finale, danced with all-star tWitch and choreographed by Christopher Scott

Video: Pacman (IaMmE) sunset dubstep by Sicilian coast

Phillip 'Pacman' Chbeeb (from ABDC's IaMmE) performs a dubstep by the Strait of Messina in Sicily. Cool use of the landscape, where the waves and the crags are complementary to his movements. From PacInMotion Youtube.

Survey: What were your favorite performances on the So You Think You Can Dance Performance Finale?

Please vote for your favorite solo and favorite duo/group performance:

poll by twiigs.com

Vote now for your favorite SYTYCD dancers - here's the online, phone and text info

The online voting is now open, for at least 2 hours after the show ends in the Pacific Time Zone. If you want to protect your favorite dancers, act now! Remember -- your votes determine who is safe from elimination. Click here to vote online at Fox.com . Performance videos are up now on the website to aid in your choices. 

If you want to text, send the dancer's name to 83676.

If you want to phone instead, the numbers are: 
 Cyrus     1-855-GOHIM 01
 Chehon  1-855-GOHIM 02

 Eliana    1-855-GOHER 01
 Tiffany    1-855-GOHER 02

 

Join us NOW for SYTYCD Top 4 show live play-by-play

 
The Play-Play for tonight's So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 episode  is now open! Tonight, it's the Top 4. This is the last time to watch the top 4 and decide which boy and which girl should win the titles of "America's Favorite Dancers".   Join me for play-by-play, if you can't watch live or just want some other opinions. The Play-by-Play will be in the comments section of this post.

And, let us know what you think about the show.  Do you think this was the right top 4? How will you choose who to vote for?  How would you compare this to other seasons?  This is your party -- humor,  conspiracy theory, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!  

Must-see Video: IBE 2012 All-Styles Battle - Redbull BCOne All-stars vs. Young Gunz

Here's the best of the best in Bboy all-stayles battles, from IBE 2012: IBE 2012. Representing Red Bull BC One All Stars : Roxrite (USA) - Taisuke (Japan) - Ronnie (from America's Best Dance Crew Season 2's Super Cr3w)(USA) - Pelezinho (Brasil) - Hong 10 (Korea) - Neguin (Brasil) - Lil G (Venezuela) - Cico (Italy). Representing Young Gunz : Prada G (USA) - Justen (Holland) - Fleau (Canada) - Thayson (Brasil) - Issei (Japan) - Jeremy (USA) - Kid Colombia (Holland) - Sunni (UK) - Pocket (Korea) - Vicious Victor (USA). Thanks for the tip Greg!

Note from reader BSG: dance team auditions at Rutgers (with video) - 9/11 and 9/13

Due to loads of commitments, we can't cover announcements of most dance events, but I make exceptions for long-time readers. BSG sent this notice: "We are Team Technique, affiliated with our school's Taiwanese American Student Association. (TASA) Our auditions will be at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, at the Livingston classroom buildings - this Tuesday (9/11) and this Thursday (9/13) from 9P - midnight." Here's a video of their performance at an Involvement Fair last week, to see what the group's about:

Join us tonight & tomorrow for SYTYCD play-by-play, polls, contests, interviews!

Join us tonight to watch and react to the So You Think You Can Dance Top 4 show -- this one will determine the winners for the season!.





- Starting just before 8M ET, we'll have Play-by-play, in case you want to find out what happens as it happens.  Feel free to comment along with me!
- Tomorrow we'll have surveys on the favorite and least favorite performances of the night.
- We'll have the next round of our contest with prizes -- Predict the two winners.
- We're planning to interview the eliminated dancers and the choreographers at tonight's taping and will have interviews posted in the next few days 

So, please join us!

Video: Ryan Feng (Quest) and Funkdation - "Maybe"

WorldofDanceTour presents a studio dance from Ryan Feng (member of America's Best Dance Crew Season 3's Quest Crew), featuring members of Funkdation (ABDC Season 7).

Exclusive interviews after SYTYCD Top 6 show with choreographers Chris Scott, Tyce Diorio, Spencer Liff, Jean-Marc Genereux

Chris Trondsen spoke to So You Think You Can Dance Choreographers Chris Scott, Tyce Diorio, Spencer Liff, and Jean-Marc Genereux after the SYTYCD Top 6 show. They talk about their routines for the week and their impressions of the top 4. Click here to watch the talk with Spencer and Jean-Marc.

Tyce Diorio also talks about his creative process and how he pushes himself to top his earlier SYTYCD work.


Chris Scott also talks about the need to show a fuller range of "the worlds of hiphop dance" to the American viewing public, showcasing all-stars like Comfort and Twitch.

Exclusive interview with SYTYCD all-star Kathryn: I couldn't have asked for a better partner than Chehon

Chris Trondsen interviewed all-star Kathryn McCormick after the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 Show. She talks about dancing with Chehon on a Tyce Diorio routine, why she thinks he should be the winner on SYTYCD, and how she loves being an all-star for SYTYCD.

787 Crew's last video before their Cirque du Soleil stint!

We received this message from 787 Crew: This is our last month in Puerto Rico because we already signed the contract to go to Cirque Du Soleil, from October 2012 till Sept 2014 for a totally new show at The Hotel Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV . It is going to be exciting and we will be sharing the stage with Request Crew." 

Before they leave, they have a few more workshops, including this one taught by their choreographer Pedro "Mr. P" Aviles. From GOPdance Youtube.

Video: 8 Flavahz Rock the Crop video ad

8 Flavahz (America's Best Dance Crew Season 7) have an ad video promoting Ivivva's Dance Everywhere Crop that is reportedly doing quite well for the girls and the brand. Here's the ad, in case you haven't yet seen it.

Exclusive interviews w/ SYTYCD judges Nigel Lythgoe & Mary Murphy on the top 4

Chris Trondsen interviewed SYTYCD judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy after the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 show. Nigel talks about how they create the Top 20 with dancers they love, what he loves about each of the top 4, and how each of the finalists grew over the season, and why the winners aren't easy to predict

Mary talks about each of the final 4's chances for winning based on their styles, attitudes, skill, training, and attitudes

Exclusive interviews with all-stars Comfort, Melanie, Marco, Benji after SYTYCD Top 6 show

Chris Trondsen interviewed 4 of the 6 all-stars who performed on the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 show: Comfort, Melanie Moore, Benji Schwimmer, and Marco Germar. They talk about their experience returning to SYTYCD, what it was like dancing with their partners this week (and what it was like working with partners who were then eliminated), who they think should or will win, and upcoming plans. Click here to watch the interviews with Melanie, Benji, and Marco.

Latest episode of AXI V, starring Chachi - "Perchance to Dream"

ShawnWellingDance used Chachi Gonzalez (IaMmE) in their most recent episode in a beautiful but sinister dream dance sequence.

Video: Brian Puspos (Mos Wanted Crew. Architeks) - "Stuck on Stupid"

Brian Puspos is back with a solo about "a foolish hearts vs a wary mind". From  BrianPuspos Youtube.

Time to reenter our SYTYCD Winners Contest for prizes

Time to reenter our So You Think You Can Dance  Winners contest. If you think you know the boy and girl who are going to win, then prove it!  Submit the names of the 2 dancers - one male and one female -- who you think will win this season's competition.  The prize goes to the first person to get it right, based on the week they submit the answer. If more than one person submits the right answer in that same week, we'll employ a tiebreaker rule to be determined. The prize for each will be a Tshirt of your size and choice, value up to $35 or an iTunes gift certificate worth $30..

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, add a comment with the names of the 2 winners. Subsequent weeks' entries will be accepted from Thursdays/Fridays (once I put up the new contest post) until the show begins airing on the East Coast (Tuesdays at 8pm ET).   You can enter this week's contest now -- deadline for the entry: September 11, 2012.   Good luck!

IMPORTANT:

• Create a user name you will use every week for the entire contest, and make it memorable (not just a common first name or word).
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS SYTYCD Winners' in the comment (so I can search for them easily)
• You can also submit by email at BloggingSYTYCD@gmail.com 

Videos: Funkdation battling and freestyling

Funkdation is another crew that appeared so briefly on America's Best Dance Crew that we didn't get a chance to see what they've got. Here's some recent work showing what we missed:
- In this video they freestyle with QMinor (from QMinorQuest Youtube)

The second video shows a whaacking battle between members Lily and Lorena, from kidsmosaicLA Youtube

Thanks for the links Greg!

Exclusive interviews with SYTYCD Top 6: Cyrus, Chehon, Cole, Eliana, Tiffany, Witney

Chris Trondsen interviewed contestants, all-stars, judges, and choreographers backstage after the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 show. Today, we'll share the interviews with the 6 dancers:
- In the interview with Chehon Wespi-Tschopp and Eliana Girard,  Eliana talks about feeling relieved and grateful, Chehon talks about how he got confident enough to show emotion in his dance,  and their plans for the home stretch, and they both thank their fans and talk about their strict teachers. 

- In the interview with Cyrus Spencer and Tiffany Maher,  Cyrus talks about the struggles and feeling of being overwhelmed to get to this point (being sockless, shoeless and next to very experienced dancers. Tiffany talks about this getting this far as a validation and the fact that she wasn't shown on TV before the top 20 show, and they both talk about the upcoming tour.

- In the interview with Cole Horibe and Witney Carson, the dancers talk about their reactions to the eliminations, post-SYTYCD plans, how they feel about the final 4 and who they're rooting for, and what they want to do with their spare time now that they're not rehearsing.

Video: Collizion Crew - "Cashin Out"

The latest from Collizion Crew (ABDC Season 7) shows them dancing in a garage to Ca$h Out's "Cashin Out".  Think of this as ABDC alums dancing in a garage day (along with the earlier Pharside video). Any recommendations of other worthy garage videos (as opposed to garage bands?) From CollizionTV Youtube.

Video: Pharside (Academy of Villains) - "Mirrors"

Short and very sweet solo of Chris "Pharside" Jennings (founder of Academy of Villains) from his Pharside Channel

Academy of Villains Auditions

Academy of Villains sure has had one heck of a year. Here's just a quick listing of what they've accomplished so far, with video links

VIBE XVII - Second Place
Urban Street Jam - First Place
World of Dance LA - Second Place
Body Rock 2012 - Second Place
Dance2Dance - First Place 
Hip Hop International US Adults Championships - First Place
Hip Hop International World Adults Championships - Third Place
America's Got Talent - Youtube Auditions, Semifinalist

Pretty damn impressive by any standard. And now you have a chance to be a part of that. Academy of Villains is holding auditions on September 30th at 1pm at their studio - House of Mayhem in San Mateo, California. Check out more details at the Facebook Event. Good luck to all auditioning!

Our survey: what were your favorite performances during the SYTYCD Top 6 show?

What were your favorite performances during the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 show? Please pick one solo and one pairing.

poll by twiigs.com

Our survey: What were your least favorite performances during SYTYCD's Top 6 show?

Please pick one solo and one pairing for our survey on you least favorite performances during the So You Think You Can Dance's Top 6 show.

poll by twiigs.com

Join us now for SYTYCD Top 6 Show Play-by-play!

The Play-Play for tonight's So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 episode  is now open! Tonight, it's the Top 6. Two more dancers will go home tonight.   Join me for play-by-play, if you can't watch live or just want some other opinions. The Play-by-Play will be in the comments section of this post.

And, let us know what you think about the show.  Were the right people sent home tonight?  How would you compare this to other seasons?  This is your party -- humor,  conspiracy theory, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!  

Must-see Jabbawockeez Video at Hip Hop International - Full routine + rehearsals and interviews

thewockeez Youtube just released a long video of the Jabbawockeez time at the 2012 Hip Hop International where they received the Living Legends of Hip Hop Award. The video shows the crew working on the routine, talking about their preparation, and then culminates in the full routine that they presented on the final night of HHI

Mrs. Song (ft Mike Song) | Umma Gangam Style

Mike Song may be one of the most talented dancers out there right now, but did you ever wonder where he got all his natural talent from? Turns out Mrs. Song is rather the awesome dancer herself.

Dance Hero JP - Season 4 Episode 1 Recap

DanceHeroJP is one of my favorite dance shows and with good reason. For those of you who don't follow it, it's similar to ABDC in that crews compete to win by doing a choreographed routine. However, unlike ABDC, routines are longer (generally a full two minutes), wtihout any restriction to challenge, song, or artist. The camera angles are also pretty decent, and no one gets eliminated, they only get points (from the judges, the audience, and Youtube views) to be ranked at the end (which means more dancing for us!)

Anyway, we're now in the fourth season of the show (each season being 3 episodes), so here's my recap of the routines this week.

Area Rock Styler (58 points) is a crew that has been in three of the past four seasons - if anything you can say they're persistent. I've always found them a creative, energetic, and fairly talented all styles crew. Over the past four seasons they've definitely cleaned up, and it shows in this routine. Hopefully their persistence pays off for them.

Tokyo Beat Surf (51 points) Another veteran crew (though I believe from Season 2 onwards), again, their growth is pretty clear, with better illnes and blocking all around, and tigher choreography. This season should be pretty close between them and Area Rock Stylers. They show good foundation in different styles, and hopefully they retain their creativity from past seasons.

Memorable Moment (41 points) The top performer of the new crews, this is pretty interesting. They seem to be somewhere between ballet, jazz, and contemporary, with just a touch of military march perhaps? Definitly good for something interesting, though if they'll branch out and do different things remains to be seen.

Triqstar (39 points) is back from last season. They were pretty focused on production value year, but seem to have simplified it down a bit to focus on more energetic, though no less precise popping. I feel like they could clean up a bit some of the lines, but their control otherwise is phenomenal, second only Time Machine, winners of season one.

Nada Panio (39 points) is a new group this season. They bring a new style,  a cross between broadway and contemporary. It's slower tempoed than a lot of the other dancers no less engaging. If they could get a really really big moment in their routines (which comes from music selection), that might help for them.

Big Dogss (38 points) is another new group this season. They come across as a lot more a street crew in their presentation, with a lot of foundation in street styles (though still with adding their own flavor in. In a lot of ways, they're like Area Rock Styler was at the start of their run. Even if they don't win this season, I'm looking forward to seeing them return in the next season.

Inner Beauty (34 points) - While not as techincally skilled as other routines (with regard to being clean lined, foundation, etc), it was very very very interesting concept wise. For a full half of the routine, they were dancing down, and then started some "shirt-ography," which is really weird to think about, but ends up working really well on purpose and ended up being my favorite moment of the whole night.

Macho Pirates Opera Company (31 points) - Well... They're baaaaack. Not quite as bizarre as last season, but still pretty out there in terms of concepts and execution. My own words will be insufficient to describe this and do it justice, so watch it yourself.

In addition to these routines, we have two guest performances by both Beat Buddy Boi and Twiggz Fam, winners of the second and third seasons of this show respectively. These are both longer routines than normally seen on this show, Beat Buddy Boi's at 12 minutes, and Twiggz Fam's at 6 minutes. We can't embed them, so click on their names above for the routines!

Join us tonight & tomorrow for SYTYCD play-by-play, polls, contests, interviews!

Join us tonight to watch and react to the So You Think You Can Dance Top 6 show.

- Starting just before 8M ET, we'll have Play-by-play, in case you want to find out what happens as it happens.  Feel freee to comment along with me!
- Tomorrow we'll have surveys on the favorite and least favorite performances of the night.
- We'll have the next round of our contest with prizes -- Predict the two winners.
- We're planning to interview the eliminated dancers and the choreographers at tonight's taping and will have interviews posted in the next few days 

So, please join us!

Feng Videos - If I Die Tomorrow and Bad

Feng from Quest Crew has a couple of videos that are definitely worth checking out. Both show off his unique style of dancing that's totally and entirely his own.

The first is a choreo to Far East Movement's "If I Die Tomorrow" at the new Movement Lifestyle studio. He's joined by Ellen Kim, Mike Fallorina and George Anzaldo.


The second is a freestyle to Afrojack's "Bad" around San Francisco when he was in town to judge World of Dance Bay Area.
 

World Order | Change Your Life

I'm a bit late here, but our favorite MMA fighter turned dancer/singer has a new video out. Genki Sudo returns with his group World Order in the music video for his new song "Change Your Life." It's a bit different than their other videos (with a change in wardrobe), and a bit of acting. The same signature robotic synchronization is still present though. Watch for the Dragon Ball references! Reminds me of another video... 

Video: Charles Nguyen (Poreotics) &, Anthony Lee + Poreotics & Quest members - "Bonfire"

"Bonfire", the latest collaboration between Anthony Lee (Kinjaz) and Charles Nguyen (ABDC5's Poreotics) also features Poreotics members Chad Mayate and Laurence Devera as well as Ryan Feng (member of ABDC3's Quest Crew. From PoreoticsHD Youtube. Thanks for the tip Greg!

Video: 8 Flavahz dance to Tony Tzar choreo at Carnival: Choreographers Ball

In June 2012, Tony Tzar choreographed this routine performed by 8 Flavahz (ABDC Season 7) at the Carnival: Choreographers Ball. On Twitter, the girls call it "still one of their most exciting performances of all time."

Tony Tzar Feat. 8 Flavahz - The Carnival : Choreographers Ball in June 2012 from Tony Tzar on Vimeo.

Video: Alonzo Williams (Rhythm City) workshop - "Burn"

Alonzo Williams (leader of ABDC4's Rhythm City) taught a class at BDC Broadway Dance Center NYC. The videos shows his solo work and dancing by class members. From CallmeZo1 Youtube. You can find out more about his classes and current projects at Rhythmcityent.com

Exclusive SYTYCD interviews: Choreographers Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Christopher Scott & more

Chris Trondsen interviewed several of the So You Think You Can Dance choreographers after the taping of the Top 8 show. Click on the names to watch: 

- Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo talk about the judges' reactions to their tango for Chehon and the process of working with dancers for the show
- Mandy Moore talks about choreographing to "The Power of Love",  what it's like for the choreographers when their dancers are in the bottom, and her work on the SYTYCD tour.
- Sonya Tayeh talks about working with Cole and Lindsay this week, her connection to the competitors, the diversity of the dancers this season, and her outside projects including a potential for a Broadway show.
- Christopher Scott talks about choreographing Baltimore club dancing for Will, his connection to the dancer, his sadness for any of them going home, the skills of all the contestants this season, and his current projects including his Emmy nomination, his Lifestyle Dance Channel on DS2dio

Concept video from Pharside and Krystal Meraz (Academy of Villains) - "100"

Christopher 'Pharside' Jennings and Krystal Meraz -- the directors and choreographers for Academy of Villains -- created a concept video to "100" just after the crew left America's Got Talent. The Youtube description says it all: "This video is a shout out to everyone in the industry that has never changed and always kept it 100% real with people. I've learned and experienced first hand how fake people can get in this industry, and wanted to show that i can dance just like you, but i don't choose to. Appreciate every one's art form and dance, and make sure you always keep it 100% real with people... or there is no friendship or trust. Thank you for watching." From  pharside Youtube

3 videos by IaMmE members (plus some IaMmE love from Twitch)

IaMmE (ABDC6 winners) continue to make outstanding videos in all combinations -- individual dancers, subsets, and the full group. No wonder that Twitch (So You Think You Can Dance all-star) told us that IaMmE was his favorite Youtube performer (click here to watch the interview).
First: Emilio Dosal solos to B.o.B's "Out of My Mind" on IaMEmiliodosal Youtube.

Next, Phillip 'Pacman' Chbeeb and Jaja Vankova dance a story about a second date to Aaliyah's "I care for you" on JaJAvankova Youtube. Thanks for the links,  Oluponle! 

Finally, here's a DanceOn video with Pacman, Jaja, and Brandon Harrell called "Dreaming Big"

Exclusive interviews with SYTYCD judges Nigel Lythgoe & Mary Murphy after Top 8 Show talk about who might win

Chris Trondsen interviewed judges Nigel Lythgoe and Mary Murphy after the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 show. Nigel talks about  Lindsay and Witney (two longterm friends) competing against each other in the bottom 2, how dancers have to be used to competition and rejection, how this is the most diverse season ever, and who he thinks who will win.

Mary talks about her enjoyment of the week's show, her sense of how viewers might vote, how amazing choreography and magical moments will determine the winners, and her admiration for Chehon during this episode.

Exclusive all-star interviews after SYTYCD Top 8 show: Twitch, Melanie, Alex, Lauren

Chris Trondsen interviewed SYTYCD all-stars Twitch, Alex Won, Melanie Moore, and Lauren Gottlieb after the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 show. The dancers talk about their performances, how they feel about the contestants at this point, what it might take to win, and their current projects. In addition, Chris gets personal with Twitch, who talks about his favorite food (grilled chicken breast and California rolls), favorite Youtube artists (Phillip 'Pacman' Chbeeb and IaMmE and Kubscoutz), the last time he cried, emoticons,  signature scent (kimchi!), and what pumps him in movies (training montages). Click to watch the videos for Alex, Melanie, Lauren, and Ryan Dilello.

Comic video of the day: Charles Nguyen (Poreotics) and Anthony Lee - "Gangnam Style tutting"

Just what I needed to start off my long weekend -- some Gangnam-style comic tutting from Charles Nguyen (Poreotics) and Anthony Lee (Kinjaz). From anflowny Youtube. Thanks for all the links today, PerezOverride!

Video: Jet Li (Poreotics) freestyle at Beatdown Toronto

Jet Li (member of ABDC Season 5 winners Poreotics) danced freestyle at Beatdown Toronto, and dedicated the dance to his deceased father. FromPoreoticsHD Youtube. Also from Beatdown -- Boss, the winners of the competition Thanks for the links PerezOverride!

Exclusive interviews after SYTYCD Top 8 show: Chehon, Cole, Cyrus, Will, Eliana, Tiffany, Witney, Lindsay

After the taping of So You Think You Can Dance's Top 8 show, Chris Trondsen interviewed all the Top 8 contestants, as well as many of the all-stars, choreographers and judges. Here are the interviews with the contestants:

- Eliana and Tiffany talk about how they make each other laugh, favorite Family Feud questions, Eliana shows her 'funny' dance, the styles they still want to dance on the show, and thank their fans.


- Cole and Chehon talk various topics about the differences between the dance styles of the Top 8, how being bullied enabled Cole to become a stronger person, Chehon's mother watching the show from the audience, Cole's sister (Cara from Fanny Pak) in the audience, and send a message to their fans. And they answer fan questions on which all-stars they'd like to partner with, and what 3 words they'd use to describe themselves.

- Will and Lindsay talk about what jobs they want to do next (Dancing with the Stars, Glee), who they want to room with on the SYTYCD Tour, reveal some secrets about each other, and offer some encouragement to the Top 6.


- Witney talks about Lindsay's elimination on the show, Cyrus decribes appreciation at fan support, how it felt getting to dance their solos before the live audience, Witney describes her personal dance style, and they both talk about they have to do to make it to the finals

Time to enter our So You Think You Can Dance Winners Contest for prizes!

Time to reenter our So You Think You Can Dance  Winners contest. If you think you know the boy and girl who are going to win, then prove it!  Submit the names of the 2 dancers - one male and one female -- who you think will win this season's competition.  The prize goes to the first person to get it right, based on the week they submit the answer. If more than one person submits the right answer in that same week, we'll employ a tiebreaker rule to be determined. The prize for each will be a Tshirt of your size and choice, value up to $35 or an iTunes gift certificate worth $30..

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, add a comment with the names of the 2 winners. Subsequent weeks' entries will be accepted from Thursdays/Fridays (once I put up the new contest post) until the show begins airing on the East Coast (Wednesdays at 8pm ET).   You can enter this week's contest now -- deadline for the entry: September 5, 2012.   Good luck!

IMPORTANT:

• Create a user name you will use every week for the entire contest, and make it memorable (not just a common first name or word).
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS SYTYCD Winners' in the comment (so I can search for them easily)
• You can also submit by email at BloggingSYTYCD@gmail.com 

Video: Chachi's entry for Bieber's Believe Tour

If the people picking dancers for Justin Bieber's Believe Tour are using popularity as a key criterion, then Chachi Gonzales (IaMmE) should be a sure thing. Thanks for the link, Di Zhang!

Video: 8 Flavahz members on Chinese TV

Four of the 8 Flavahz members danced on Sohu TV in China. Thanks for the tip, Geese!

Video: Teaser for Documentary on the history of Kaba Modern

There will soon be a documentary on the 20 year history of Kaba Modern (ABDC Season 1). Here's the teaser for that documentary.

KM 20 - Kaba Modern: The First 20 Years | Sneak Preview from Loyd Calomay Films on Vimeo.

MercerMZ's Review (with all the videos) of So You Think You Can Dance's Top 8 Show.

The Top 8 dancers took to the stage tonight to dance with the All-Stars again. And with the departure of 2 of the strongest technical dancers of the season, there's really no more room to hide. So, how did the performances go this week? How was this week compared to the rest? And of course, did America make the right vote? Let's find out. Click here to read the full review.

Here are two highlights from the show -- Chehon's tango and Cole's solo.

What were your favorite performances during the SYTYCD Top 8 Show?

poll by twiigs.com

Our survey: What were your least favorite peformances during the SYTYCD Top 8 show?

poll by twiigs.com

Vote for your favorite SYTYCD dancers - here's all the online, text, and phone info

The online voting is now open, for at least 2 hours after the show ends in the Pacific Time Zone. If you want to protect your favorite dancers, act now! Remember -- your votes determine who is safe from elimination. Click here to vote online at Fox.com . Performance videos are up now on the website to aid in your choices. If you want to text, send the dancer's name to 83676.

If you want to phone instead, the numbers are: 
Chehon     1-855-GOHIM 02
Cole          1-855-GOHIM 03
Cyrus        1-855-GOHIM 04

Tiffany    1-855-GOHER 01
Witney    1-855-GOHER 03
Eliana     1-855-GOHER 04

Join us now for live SYTYCD Play-by-Play

The Play-Play/Party Room/Critics Corner for tonight's So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 episode is now open! Tonight, it's the Top 8. Two more dancers will go home tonight. Join me for play-by-play, if you can't watch live or just want some other opinions. The Play-by-Play will be in the comments section of this post.

And, let us know what you think about the show. Were the right people sent home tonight? How would you compare this to other seasons? This is your party -- humor, conspiracy theory, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!

America's Got Talent Semi-finals dance videos: Academy of Villains, Scott Brothers, Turf

On the August 28 America's Got Talent semi-finals episode, three dance acts competed. The results will be announced tonight, but for those of you who missed the show, here are the dances. Click to watch Turf, and to watch Scott Brothers. Below is the latest from Academy of Villains:

Videos: Collizion Crew - "Pop That"

Collizion Crew (America's Best Dance Crew Season 7) has been busy this summer, performing in the Essence Music Festival and making videos. You can see a lot of this on their CollizionTV Youtube. My current favorite is their newest video: "Pop That".

Join us tonight and tomorrow for SYTYCD play-by-play, surveys, contests & more

Join us tonight to watch and react to the So You Think You Can Dance Top 8 show.

- Starting just before 8M ET, we'll have Play-by-play, in case you want to find out what happens as it happens.  Feel freee to comment along with me!
- Tomorrow we'll have surveys on the favorite and least favorite performances of the night.
- We'll have the next round of our contest with prizes -- Predict the two winners.
- We're planning to interview the eliminated dancers and the choreographers at tonight's taping and will have interviews posted in the next few days 

So, please join us!

AGT Voting Information - Academy of Villains, Scott Brothers, Turf

Tonight we had three dance acts perform on America's Got Talent - Academy of Villains, The Scott Brothers, and Turf. Only three acts will make it through, so vote vote vote so that a dancer has a chance to win this show for once! 

Academy of Villains - 1-866-602-4812
Scott Brothers - 1-866-602-4805
Turf - 1-866-602-4807

Also vote online at AGT's Website. You can vote up to 10 times for each method (calling in or website). Voting is open for 2 hours. 

Video: 8 Flavahz Master Class at Millennium Dance Complex

Six of the 8 Flavahz (ABDC Season 7) recently taught a class at Millennium Dance Complex. From Youtube.

TiVO Alert (with video): Academy of Villains on America's Got Talent tonight!

Academy of Villains makes a return visit to America's Got Talent tonight. Watch it (8pm ET/PT on NBC) and be sure to vote for them (info at the America's Got Talent site), to help them move on to the next round. Here's a new video of their preparations for the show:

Video: Tight Eyez (Street Kingdom) - "Hype the Hype"

Street Kingdom (ABDC Season 6) is creating a series of videos to spotlight their core members. The first is this video of Tight Eyez called "Hype the Hype". From OfficialTightEyez Youtube.

Video: Brian Puspos with members of Mos Wanted, Elektrolytes, 8 Flavahz - "No Lie"

The latest choreography from Brian Puspos (Mos Wanted Crew) features dancing by him, with appearances by fellow Mos Wanted Crew members Jun Quemado, Bam Martin and Ian Eastwood, as well as Tamara Rapp (8 Flavahz), Marcus Jone (Elektrolytes), Aja George, Mike Fallorina, Jed Florano, and Ade Willis. From BrianPuspos Youtube. Thanks for the link, KonKreet!

Exclusive SYTYCD interviews at Top 10 show: choreographers Stacey Tookey, Travis Wall, Dmitri Chaplin, Spencer Liff

After the taping of So You Think You Can Dance's Top 10 show, Chris Trondsen interviewed many of the choreographers for that night's routines. The choreographers talk about working with this season's dancers and the all-stars, their assessment of this season's competitors, their current projects, and some backstage perspectives not shown on TV. Click to watch the videos for Dmitri Chaplin, Stacey Tookey, and Spencer Liff. Here's the interview with Travis Wall:

Video: Mos Wanted Crew at World of Dance Bay Area

World of Dance posted an extended video showing the full performance of Mos Wanted Crew (ABDC Season 7) at their Bay area event in August 2012.

Video: Poreotics competing on Chinese TV show

Recently, Poreotics (winners of America's Best Dance Crew Season 5) competed on a Chinese TV show. As with shows like America's Got Talent, you've got some odd camera angles and judges' reactions mixed in with the performance. I can't tell how they did compared to the other group which had a children (always hard to compete against on shows like these!). If you have more info about this show, please leave a comment. Thanks for the link, PerezOverride!

What questions would YOU like to ask the So You Think You Can Dance dancers and choreographers?

We plan to continue interviewing dancers and choreographers backstage at the tapings of So You Think You Can Dance.  Now that you've watched the performers and choreographers for several weeks, what else would you like to learn about them?  We want some new and fresh questions that will interest/amuse/intrigue the dancers, choreographers and the audience alike!

Leave a comment on some questions you'd like to have answered, either in general or for specific people.  If we use your question, we'll give you credit of course! And, this will be part of a master list; even if we don't use your question this week, it might get asked at the next taping. Thanks!

3 Mos Wanted Crew member videos: Ian Eastwood, JP Goldstein, Jun Quemado

In the last week, Mos Wanted Crew members have released several videos of solo work:
- Ian Eastwood was a member of the 2012 Summer Drop faculty and performed in their showcase.  TheHipDrop Youtube  also has videos of S**t Kingz, Keone Madrid, and other faculty. Thanks for the tip, Your Name____.

- JP Goldstein dances in studio for BoogieMonstarz on TheJPGoldstein Youtube:

- Jun Quemado goes lyrical hiphop to "The Best Part" on MrJunQuemado Youtube:

Video: Lando Wilkins & friends from Mos Wanted Crew & Boxcuttuhz - "Cheerleader"

Lando Wilkin's newest piece features fellow Mos Wanted Crew members --Brian Puspos, Bam Martin (also with Boxcuttuhz), Jawn Ha, Ricky Cole -- as well as fellow Boxcuttuhz members -- Jed Florano, Megan Batoon, Aye Hasegawa -- and other dancers including Darina Littleton, Mike Fallorina. It's an unusual video for Lando, mixing dance with abrupt cuts and non-dance movement. From LandoWilkins Youtube.

Exclusive interviews with SYTYCD All-Stars: Allison Holker, Kathryn McCormick, Jaimie Goodwin

Chris Trondsen interviewed six of the So You Think You Can Dance All-Stars who
returned to perform on this season's Top 10 show. They talk about what
it was like to return to the show, their partners this week, current
projects, and how to keep up with them. Click here to watch the
interviews with Allison Holker and Jaimie Goodwin. Below is our interview with Kathryn McCormick .

Exclusive interviews with SYTYCD Allstars: Alex Wong, Twitch, Nick Lazzarini

Chris Trondsen interviewed six of the So You Think You Can Dance All-Stars who returned to perform on this season's Top 10 show. They talk about what it was like to return to the show, their partners this week, current projects, and how to keep up with them. Click here to watch the interviews with Alex Wong and Nick Lazzarini; below is our interview with Twitch.

Video: Street Kingdom - "Hype Out"

Members of Street Kingdom performed in the Ukraine's Hype Out Dance Event in August 2012. From MaliceTM Youtube.

Video: Kyle Hanagami and Koharu Sugawara ' "Skin"

Kyle Hanagami and Koharu Sugawara choreographed and perform in this compelling dance video. From kylehanagami Youtube. Click here to watch

Exclusive interviews with SYTYCD Top 8 dancers on style, all-star partnerings, roommates, and more

Chris Trondsen interviewed the Top 8 dancers on So You Think You Can Dance after the taping on August 21, 2012. They talk about a variety of topics including the choreographers, their all-star partners, the pressures of being in the bottom 2, their roommates, the differences between SYTYCD and the real dance world, roommates, changing their persona, and reality TV. Come back in the next day or two for interviews with the all-stars, choreographers, and judges.

Cyrus and Lindsay:


Chehon and Cole:


Eliana and Tiffany:


Will and Witney:

Video: Can (Poreotics) - "Robot Family"

Can Nguyen (ABDC5's Poreotics) teaches the folks at Just Kidding Films how to reach their robotic potential

Enter our So You Think You Can Dance Winners contest for prizes!

Time to reenter our So You Think You Can Dance  Winners contest. If you think you know the boy and girl who are going to win, then prove it!  Submit the names of the 2 dancers - one male and one female -- who you think will win this season's competition.  The prize goes to the first person to get it right, based on the week they submit the answer. If more than one person submits the right answer in that same week, we'll employ a tiebreaker rule to be determined. The prize for each will be a Tshirt of your size and choice, value up to $35 or an iTunes gift certificate worth $30..

To enter: Each week, we'll publish a new post for this contest. When the weekly post is up, add a comment with the names of the 2 winners. Subsequent weeks' entries will be accepted from Thursdays/Fridays (once I put up the new contest post) until the show begins airing on the East Coast (Wednesdays at 8pm ET).   You can enter this week's contest now -- deadline for the entry: August 29, 2012.   Good luck!

IMPORTANT:

• Create a user name you will use every week for the entire contest, and make it memorable (not just a common first name or word).
• MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE WORDS SYTYCD Winners' in the comment (so I can search for them easily)
• You can also submit by email at BloggingSYTYCD@gmail.com 

Videos: World of Dance Bay area winner Beta 010, Stepboys, Funkdation

World of Dance uploaded videos of highlights from the WOD Bay area event in August 2012. Below, watch the performance by  Beta 010 who swept all the awards: Crowd Favorite, Best Costume, Best Theme, and 1st place!). And click here to watch the second place winners Chapkiss Dance and ABDC alums Stepboys and Funkdation

Exclusive videos from HHI: Elektrolytes show some moves, answer fan questions

Chris Trondsen interviewed Elektrolytes at 2012 Hip Hop International. Click here to watch the ABDC7 winning crew show some of the moves in their routine for the competition and talk about why they want to compete at HHI. In the second video, the crew answers fan questions including who would get killed first in a horror movie, who would be the villain in a movie, where they want to travel to, what food they'd dive into, and their favorite candy.

Take our survey: what were your favorite dancers on the So You Think You Can Dance Top 10 show?

poll by twiigs.com

Take our survey: what was your least favorite performance on So You Think You Can Dance Top 10 show?

poll by twiigs.com

Join us now for live play-by-play of the SYTYCD Top 10 episode!

 
The Play-Play/Party Room/Critics Corner for tonight's So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 episode  is now open! Tonight, it's the Top 10. Two more dancers will go home tonight.   Join me for play-by-play, if you can't watch live or just want some other opinions. The Play-by-Play will be in the comments section of this post.

And, let us know what you think about the show.  Were the right people sent home tonight?  How would you compare this to other seasons?  This is your party -- humor,  conspiracy theory, nostalgia and almost everything else (except obscenity and abject disrespect) are expected and welcome!  

Video: IaMFree - Pacman in Croatia

IaMFree is back for Episode 3, featuring Phillip 'Pacman' Chbeeb tutting in Croatia. Go to Youtube for all the IaMFree episodes.

Video: Jabbawockeez dance with Phillie mascot Phanatic

Short and funny: To promote their performances in Atlantic City, Jabbawockeez (ABDC Season 1 champions) visitied a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game and danced with their mascot, Phanatic.

Hypersquad Studios x HippoEsthetics

Check out this video of members from Hypersquad studios (home studio of Academy of Hype) dancing while rocking HippoEsthetics gear. This video's information says that they'll be performing on August 26th at DunkXchange in Honolulu, Hawaii, so if you happen to be there, be sure to check it out.

Join us tonight & tomorrow for So You Think You Can Dance Play-by-play, surveys, contests, & interviews

Join us tonight to watch and react to the So You Think You Can Dance Top 10 show.

- Starting just before 8M ET, we'll have Play-by-play, in case you want to find out what happens as it happens.  Feel freee to comment along with me!
- Tomorrow we'll have surveys on the favorite and least favorite performances of the night.
- We'll have the third round of our contest with prizes -- Predict the two winners.
- We're planning to interview the eliminated dancer and the choreographers at tonight's taping and will have interviews posted in the next few days 

So, please join us!

Video: Mike Song Tutting Tutorial #6: Isolations

Mike Song is back with another tutting tutorial - basic isolations. Go to MikeSongDance Youtube to catch up with the rest of his tutorials.

Video: Megan Lawson (Fanny Pack) - "Boyfriend"

Megan Lawson (member of Fanny Pak from ABDC seasons 2 and 7) does solo to Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend". From Meganquwre Youtube.

Video: Ian Eastwood (Ft. Quick Crew) - "Till I Die"

Ian Eastwood (member of ABDC7s Mos Wanted Crew) and Quick Crew dance to Chris Brown's "Till I Die" while in Czechoslovakia. From DJIcon Youtube.

Video: Di 'Moon' Zhang (IaMmE) dancing in Italy

Di "Moon" Zhang (member of ABDC6's IaMmE) filmed scenes of his dancing in Florence, Sicily, and Venice. From DImoonZHANG Youtube.

ABDC alum news: New Elektrolytes site, new Poreotics Fan of the Month Contest!

 - Elektrolytes (winners of America's Best Dance Crew Season 7) have a new website with videos, pictures, merchandise, and information on booking them. Just go to Elektrolytes.com

- This is the one-year anniversary of Poreotics' Fan of the Month Contest. This month, you can choose from any of the past challenges to win. Good luck!

Video: Dumbo (Poreotics) freestyle at Hit the Floor

Matt 'Dumbo' Nguyen was a judge at Hit The Floor Competition in Quebec on August 18, 2012. He also entertained the audience with some freestyle. From Hitthefloor2011 Youtube.

Video: Brian Puspos (Mos Wanted Crew, ArchiTEKs) & Alan Truong - "Lessons for the Lover"

Brian Puspos (Mos Wanted Crew, ArchiTEKS) and Alan Truong (ArchiTEKS) recently collaborated at a workshop, performing to Usher's "Lessons for the Lover". From TheArchiTEKS Youtube.

Brat Pack (choreographed by Lorena Liebman from Blueprint Cru) - audition video for Bieber's Believe tour

The Brat Pack from Canada's Got Talent is the all boys 8 Count crew. They are also Canadian Hip Hop Championship silver medalists. Here's their audition for Justin Bieber's "Believe" tour, choreographed by Lorena Liebman (ABDC5's Blueprint Cru).

MercerMZ review (with lots of videos): So You Think You Can Dance Top 14

So, after having 2 weeks to rest and relax as the Olympics thrilled and excited viewers all over the world, the remaining dancers geared up to take on one the most interesting episodes from any season in the USA's version of the show. I say interesting because I have mixed feelings about tonight's episode; On one hand, I like to revisit old routines that I enjoy, but on the other hand, I've complained in the past about the British re-using routines from both the US and Australian version of the show. It's mostly because I'd rather see new, original pieces rather than playing the comparison game to a piece that may not be as good as the original. Still, with tonight's performance, comparisons will be inevitable, so as an added part to my usual reviews for each routine, I'll be making comparisons to the original performances, which you'll be able to view and compare as well.

Why all the talk of comparisons? Because tonight's episode of SYTYCD was a tribute to the Emmy-Award winning contemporary choreographer Mia Michaels. Yes, sorry to those who may not be as interested in this style as, per se Ballroom, Broadway, Jazz and, of course, Hip Hop, but all of tonight's routines were in the exact same style: Contemporary. Each couple had to recreate one of Mia's memorable contemporary pieces from the last 8 seasons. So how did the couples compare to the original routines? How did this episode compare to the last few? And did America make the right choice in picking the Bottom 6 dancers? Let's find out.
Click here to read the full review, with the videos of both this episode's dances and the originals to which they were compared. Here's one of my favorites, danced by Cole and Lindsay:

Video: Can (Poreotics) and Julie Zhan's dance in "Seize the Night" video challenge entry

The CMF Distinguished Filmmakers Network (DFN) and Lenovo have launched the "Seize the Night" Alternate Ending Challenge. DFN members produced alternate endings to Lenovo's short "Seize the Night" video (beginning around when the enter button is pushed on the Ultrabook). The alternate ending with the most views by September 9 wins US $15,000. Click here to see all the entries. Can Nguyen (member of ABDC 5's Poreotics) and Julie Zhan dance in one entry directed by Kelly Li, on Youtube.

Video: Pacman (IaMmE) and Les Twins Jam Session

ShawnWellingtonDance recently released an extended video of a jam session between Phillip 'Pacman' Chbeeb and Les Twins filmed in 2010. 

Important: Please sign Bboy petition to properly accredit the flare (and avoid appropriation by gymnastics community)

This message is from Ninjaboi (who is internet-less today): 
The gymnastics community wants to appropriate the flare and call it the "Hamminator" after Morgan Hamm who was the first to do it in gymnastics competition. There's a petition going around to have them give proper accreditation to Pablo Flores of Soul Control Crew, the first bboy to actually complete continuous airflares with record. Hamm himself has given accreditation to the bboy community, and the bboy community really feels that credit should be given where credit is due. Right now there's only 3300 or so signatures out of 100,000 goal, so any help to push it forward would help. Below is a video of Pablo Flores. Click here to view and sign the petition. Thanks!

Exclusive videos: Interviews with all the SYTYCD Top 14!

Chris Trondsen has been covering So You Think You Can Dance for us, and scored interviews with all the Top 14 dancers, as well as judges and choreographers. Today, we're featuring his dancer interviews:
- George and Will
- Chehon and Audrey
- Janelle and Dareian
- Witney and Lindsay
- Amelia and Matthew
- Cole (FYI -- the brother of Fanny Pak's Cara Horibe)  and Tiffany

- Cyrus and Eliana

Videos: Bandits and Rascals winning performances at Hip Hop International 2012

As reported earlier, Skool Rascals swept the gold medals for the US at Hip Hop International 2012. Here are more videos from the winners:
Bandits won the US Varsity Division with this performance:

Juniors won the US Junior Division with this performance.

Videos from. Youtube. Thanks for the links,Albert!

Exclusive interviews at HHI: Vinny Castronovo ( formerly w/ ICONic Boyz) answer fan questions, trades family 'secrets' with sister Bianca

Chris Trondsen interviewed Vinny Castronovo (formerly a member of ICONic Boyz) and his sister Bianca at Hip Hop International in Las Vegas August 2012. In the first of three parts (click here to watch) , Vinny talks about returning to HHI, how he's enjoyed meeting dancers from all over the world, who he was excited to watch at HHI, and how their meet and greet went.  In the second part, he answers fan questions including whether he plans to submit a video for Justin Bieber's Believe tour, what he orders at McDonalds, his favorite movie and ice cream flavor, his craziest dream, his biggest pet peeve (rude people!), who he'd like to play him in a movie, his favorite super hero, what color socks he wears, and many other questions

In the third part, Vinny and his sister Bianca answer questions and reveal secrets about each other including their daily hair routines, funny habits,  her celebrity crush, Vinny's shoe collection, what each other's rooms look like (including posters), and their habits when they're alone (singing, posing!)

Exclusive interview (with some workshop footage) from Hip Hop International: Les Twins

At Hip Hop International, we were one of the only media outlets to score an interview with Les Twins. The dancers talk about the love from the HHI attendees, how they change their performances continually, the importance of freestyle, say hi to family, friends, and fans, and describe what roles they'd play in superhero movies. And the video shows scenes from their workshop.