Ever wonder what a "lyrical contemporary" dancer does? You're about to find out on this season of So You Think You Can Dance. The live rounds of this year's competition kick off on July 11, but until then we can speculate about the newest batch of contestants, which also include a "martial arts fusion" dancer and an "animation popping/robotics" dancer. Check out the top 20 and let us know who you think will be taking the crown this year!
Photos courtesy of Fox
Most of our favorite shows are wrapped for the season, but that doesn't mean your DVRs will be getting a break for the Summer. There's a whole crop of series (both old and new) that are coming your way, and BuzzSugar editors Becky Kirsch and Shannon Vestal are breaking down the five must-see shows to get you through the Summer. Watch and tell us which show you're most excited about.
Emmy-nominated choreographer Stacey Tookey is famous for her work on So You Think You Can Dance, but she's also worked with many celebrities, including Christina Perri, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, Bette Midler, and Michael Buble. Initially pursuing a career in classical ballet, Stacey has since done work across all dance genres including jazz, hip hop, and contemporary. We learned more about what inspires Stacey's work as well as how she keeps her body healthy and fit despite her demanding schedule.
FitSugar: What inspires your choreography?
Stacey Tookey: My inspiration definitely starts with music. Especially for So You Think You Can Dance, you have to get the music approved beforehand, so I don't start the choreography and the whole concept before approval. I pick music I'm drawn to, sometimes because the artist's voice is so pretty, raw, and passionate. I also love violin, because it tears at my heartstrings. I want to choreograph something that makes people feel something and walk away with an impression and an emotion. I am also drawn to new artists.
FS: Can you tell us how you "discovered" Christina Perri?
ST: When I choreographed "Jar of Hearts" on SYTYCD a year ago, Christina was not signed, and she was trying to make it as an artist while working at a cafe in Beverly Hills. The first version I heard wasn't even a produced version – it was on my friend's computer. She got the song produced so it could be on the show. Her manager put it on iTunes just in case viewers wanted to download the song. At the time, no one had heard of her. The night it aired, she was the number one googled thing in the world. The next week she was flown to NYC to choose from a handful of record labels wanting to sign her, just from her exposure on SYTYCD. I saw her last week at the end of her headlining tour, and seeing her on stage like that made me cry. I felt like a proud parent. People like that are unseen all the time, but I'm glad that I had something to do with her success.
So You Think You Can Dance season eight has a winner! Melanie is taking home the honors after last night's final round of performances against the others in the top four. Like Nigel predicted, a girl won, and her fellow female Sasha came in second, followed by Marko and Tadd in third and fourth place.
Melanie has proved versatile and impressed lots of folks all season long — I called Melanie as one of my early favorites, and the judges have been favoring her as well. This win is no surprise to me, but were you rooting for someone else, or are you happy that Melanie is the season eight winner?
Photo courtesy of Fox
Suri Cruise was in the audience to watch Katie Holmes as a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance in LA last night. Katie wore a cute Lacoste and Malandrino dress for the occasion. Katie's a familiar face at the studios, having performed a solo on the show's 100th episode back in 2009. The final four contestants, Sasha, Melanie, Marko, and Tadd, each performed four choreographed routines with Katie, Mary Murphy, Kenny Ortega, and Nigel Lythgoe weighing in after each round — if you missed the action check out our recap of the So You Think You Can Dance semifinals. Katie was there to give her opinions, though earlier in the week, it was she who showed off her own moves on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. Self-professed car dancer Katie gave Jimmy a sample of the upper body moves she busts out behind the wheel. Suri inherited her mom's love of fancy footwork, as the little one is frequently seen in a ballet costume. Tom Cruise likewise shakes it in the upcoming Rock of Ages.
It's been a mighty, emotional roller coaster on So You Think You Can Dance. Sasha, Melanie, Marko, and Tadd each performed four dances to show off their skills before America decides who will be the winner of season eight. The nerves and exhaustion is challenging everyone, but click through to see which dancers proved they deserve to be on top.
Photos courtesy of Fox
Melanie, Sasha, Marko, and Tadd will be on next week's finale of So You Think You Can Dance, while Ricky and Caitlynn were eliminated. I felt like this was expected, because Marko and Tadd have been strong dancers throughout the competition, but struggled to connect emotionally with the audience. It was sad to see Caitlynn go, because she has grown tremendously. Nigel commented, "Caitlynn dances from her head and overthinks things too much. Melanie dances from her heart. Sasha dances from her soul. I think all three are incredible dancers." Are you excited that Melanie, Sasha, Marko, and Tadd are the remaining four dancers?
Photo courtesy of Fox
The top six dancers remain on So You Think You Can Dance, and the stakes are high, since next week is the finale. Each contestant danced three times last night: pairing with an all-star, dancing solo, and partnering up with one another. While not as emotional as last week's show, the top six did show off all their skills, especially when using difficult props. Click through to see this week's rundown of SYTYCD.
Photos courtesy of Fox
