Shimmy.

Legally Blonde heads to Philadelphia

2008-10-26T21:47:00.000-04:00

PHILADELPHIA GOES BLONDE!

WILL DEBUT AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC
ON DECEMBER 2

MUSICAL WILL FEATURE ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST MEMBERS
AND FINALISTS IN MTV’S REALITY SHOW,
‘LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL- THE SEARCH FOR ELLE WOODS’

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will make its Philadelphia premiere at the Academy of Music beginning December 2 – 7.

Part of the Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $25 to $100 are on sale beginning Friday, Sept. 5 at 10:00 am. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evening at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evening at 8:00 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors’ Equity Association’s Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster “Arts & Theatre Events” for 2007.

Becky Gulsvig, the Elle understudy in the original Broadway cast, is Elle Woods in the tour. Fans of the MTV reality show “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods”, which premiered on June 2, 2008, will recognize two familiar faces in the tour casting: Third runner-up Rhiannon Hansen plays Elle’s best friend Margot and fourth runner-up Lauren Zakrin is an ensemble member and understudies the role of Elle. The reality show represented the musical’s second venture with MTV. In the fall of 2007, MTV aired Legally Blonde The Musical in its entirety to stellar ratings and was subsequently nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for “Legally Blonde The Musical,” was released on Ghostlight Records, an imprint of Sh-K-Boom Records, and captured the #1 slot on the Billboard Cast Album chart and charted at #86 on the Billboard Top 200. The album has continued its success, charting every week as one of the top-selling Broadway cast recordings and soared to the Top 10 albums (of any genre) on iTunes once the show premiered on MTV.

As on Broadway, Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach. The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.

LEGALLY BLONDE is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

The new 2008-2009 Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, begins with the launch of its first production, The Wizard of Oz on Nov. 28 – 30, followed by Legally Blonde The Musical Dec. 2 – 7. The Series also includes: A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4) at the Forrest Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28). Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-893-1955 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809.

All performances of the Broadway Series are supported by CITI, , WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Broadway Series.

www.LegallyBlondeTheMusical.com

Rocco DiSpirito's Last Dance

2008-10-15T21:47:00.002-04:00

Alas, chef Rocco DiSpirito's short but sweet time on "Dancing with the Stars" has come to an unsavory conclusion.

Bested by eight rivals (including an 82-year-old woman and an 18-year-old boy), Rocco just couldn't get his groove on with the judges, no matter how many times he flashed those dimples or compared his risotto to "cashmere in the mouth."

Rocco DiSpiritoNot unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr., Rocco couldn't find any favor whatsoever with the judges, who panned his lack of musicality and other footwork faux pas throughout the four week contest.

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America's Best Dance Crew Tour Review

2008-10-15T21:36:00.002-04:00

The next evolution of dance may very well involve white masks and gloves.

Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, a sold-out crowd made it clear that the six-man crew known as JabbaWockeeZ was the reason many of them had bought tickets to Randy Jackson's "America's Best Dance Crew Live."

From behind the judges' table on "American Idol," Jackson learned that if you've performed on a reality show, people will come see you live. So when Jackson created "America's Best Dance Crew," an MTV dance contest in which a winner is selected from a dozen dance crews from around the country, he also launched a touring show featuring five of the best dance teams - or crews, if you will - performing highlights from the show, paying tribute to modern dance pioneers (hello, Michael and Janet Jackson) and making the fans scream with delight.

"America's Best Dance Crew" somehow crammed its first two seasons into a single year. The Season 1 winner, JabbaWockeeZ out of San Diego, was crowned in March, and Season 2 ended in triumph in August for the six-man Super Cr3w of Las Vegas.

Both champions are given ample stage time in the touring show alongside Season 2 competitors Fanny Pak of Los Angeles and A.S.I.I.D (And So It Is Done) of Detroit and Season 1's roller-skating dancers, Breaksk8.

As entertaining as all the crews are in this vaudeville show for a new millennium, JabbaWockeeZ - named after Lewis Carroll's poem "Jabberwocky" - is the crew with superstar charisma. Outfitted in their spooky Michael Myers-like masks, white gloves and sharp costumes, the six men of the crew move with a fluid elegance that separates them from the pack. Oh, they pop and break and do some incredible head spinning, but they elevate street dance to art form and give it more than a touch of performance-art weirdness.

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Misty-May Treanor off DWTS

2008-10-15T21:28:00.002-04:00

Beach volleyball champion Misty-May Treanor has been forced to withdraw from the US dance show 'Dancing with the Stars' due to an injury.

Eonline reports that the double-Olympic gold winner had to withdraw after rupturing her Achilles tendon on Friday during a practice session.

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Wizard of OZ travels to Philadelphia

2008-10-15T21:20:00.001-04:00

We’re Not In Kansas Anymore…
The Wizard of Oz Travels
Over the Rainbow to Philadelphia!

Opens at Academy of Music on Nov. 28
Tickets On Sale Now!

The greatest family musical of all time, THE WIZARD OF OZ, is touching down in Philadelphia as NETworks Presentations brings this national treasure to the Academy of Music for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend on Nov. 28 through Nov. 30.

Part of the Broadway Series, tickets ranging from $25 to $100 are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Friday (Nov. 28) and Saturday (Nov. 29) at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm; and Sunday (Nov. 30) at 1:00 pm.

This magical production, based on the Royal Shakespeare Company’s celebration of the 1939 MGM movie, is presented with breathtaking special effects that will sweep audiences away, from the moment the tornado twists its way into Kansas.

Director Nigel West, choreographer Leigh Constantine and set and costume designer Tim McQuillen-Wright utilize the glamour and elegance of art deco Hollywood as the visually stunning technicolor backdrop for THE WIZARD OF OZ. Dorothy, Toto and their friends the Cowardly Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow are transported “Over the Rainbow” to adventures in Munchkin Land, the Haunted Forest, and the Emerald City.

Featuring the classic songs, as composed by Harold Arlen, “Over the Rainbow,” “Ding Dong the Witch is Dead” and “If I Only Had A Brain,” along with the beloved characters, THE WIZARD OF OZ will have the entire family captivated as they travel down the yellow brick road for an unforgettable evening at the theater.

For more information visit: www.wizardofozontour.com

The new 2008-2009 Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, begins with the launch of its first production, The Wizard of Oz on Nov. 28 – 30, followed by Legally Blonde The Musical Dec. 2 – 7. The Series also includes: A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4) at the Forrest Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28). Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-893-1955 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809.

All performances of the Broadway Series are supported by CITI, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Broadway Series.

THE WIZARD OF OZ is being produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC. For more information visit http://www.networkstours.com.

DWTS:Eliminations

2008-10-01T09:51:00.003-04:00

This season of Dancing with the Stars has been a season of superlatives. We've had the largest cast, the youngest star, the oldest star, and this year was the first time everyone has had to prepare two dances in the very first week of competition. And this week, the stars had to perform two of the most difficult styles in the second week - the earliest these styles have appeared in the history of Dancing with the Stars.

Last night's scores show the diversity in talent this year, with some very high scores and some very low scores. The audience votes have all been tallied, and we'll soon find out whose dancing journey ends tonight.

Live! From Hollywood! This is Dancing with the Stars!

As usual, we start with a lengthy recap of last night's performance show, but you all can just read my recap or my live thoughts.

For the encore tonight, Len Goodman requests to see Warren Sapp and Kym Johnson's paso doble tonight. Yay! This was one of my favorites from last night. It's totally Spanish bullfighting-meets-The Matrix.

The elimination process begins thusly: Having combined the judges' scores and the audience votes, the first two couples, in no particular order, who will be continuing to the next round are Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo, and Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff.

Uh oh, Jessica Simpson takes the stage to perform her latest country single. Is it me, or is her heart not in the performance. Her eyes are all glazed over

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DTWS: Elimination

2008-09-24T11:55:00.003-04:00

Oh Dancing with the Stars. We're only on the second episode and you've already managed to tick me off. Not a good way to end your birthday.

Spoilers!

As the show goes on, they will be revealing who is safe to dance one at a time causing some of the contestants to be nervous to the point of probably passing out. They better call Toni Braxton's name early...but who knows since they're calling names "in no particular order."

1. Lance Bass & Lacey
Dance/Song: Quickstep/"Head on the Door" by The Cure
Lacey makes unique analogies as she teaches ("Gingerbread Cookie," "Power Arms," "Prairie Dogs," etc.), which Lance digs because she's treating him like a kindergartner. It started a little rough but ended strong. He needs to work on his feet, they were a little off at times but overall it was performed well. They have great chemistry which will help them stick around for the long haul.
Judges: Len, once again doesn't like it. Bruno enjoys the fresh take on the dance and Carrie Ann was very entertained but not exactly impressed.
Score: 21 (7-6-8)

2. Misty May-Traenor & Maks
Dance/Song: Mambo/"Black Mambo" by Angel & The Mambo Cats
Misty predictably had issues with the hip movements during rehearsal but it came together during the performance. She did some solo work and had good stage presence. Her legs are great and she's got the raw building blocks but she's really got to work on her arms and shoulders and a little on her flexibility.
Judges: Positive feedback from all the judges with Len complementing her ability to work the crowd and Bruno telling her to work on her upper body.
Score: 21 (all 7's)

3. Maurice Greene & Cheryl
Dance/Song: Mambo/"I Do the Jerk" by Bill Pickney
Maurice is taking to the Mambo in rehearsal a lot better than the Foxtrot. I really like his exuberance. Like Misty, he'll have to work on his arms and shoulders but he's got the shimmy down pat. He really looked like he was leading. Oh! And he just did The Caterpillar! Word. Really good job, I can't believe it's only the second show. And I love Cheryl's outfit.
Judges: Bruno liked that it looked like he was at a party, Carrie Ann complimented him on his transitions, and Len, naturally, did not like The Caterpillar (aka The Worm). He kills me sometimes.
Score: 21 (all 7's)

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DWTS Week 1

2008-09-24T11:47:00.001-04:00

The time has finally come for Dancing with the Stars season 7 to begin! Settle into your armchairs with your phones at the ready. All 13 celebrities and their professional partners will be hitting the dance floor for the first time, and we'll get to vote for our favorites.

Which team will exceed our expectations? Which will disappoint us? Will we see a clear frontrunner as we did last season? Will this season be the best one ever?

Only time will tell, and you can be sure that I'll be faithfully recording everything as it happens right here in my live thoughts.

Live! From Hollywood! This is Dancing with the Stars!

The stars make their way down the stairs to the stage and two things are immediately noticeable: Jeff Ross has on a sparkly eye patch, and Cloris Leachman looks like she has trouble walking down the stairs - that can't be good.

First up, it's the youngest celeb and the youngest pro: Cody Linley and Julianne Hough. They have cha cha first. I love Julianne's hair and elbow-length gloves, and I'm also really impressed with Cody's skills. I guess my concerns about him not being able to get into the flirty, romantic character were for naught because he looks to be one slick dude in their first dance. Len warns them not to get too frenetically, and Bruno pipes in and says that Cody has to keep his footwork clean. Carrie Ann is freaked out that Julianne and Cody's combined age is still less than her own. Woah. And their scores: they get straight 6s for a score of 18 out of 30.

Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff are next. Woah, in rehearsal this morning, Karina took a bad step and twisted her ankle. Looks really painful! Despite the injury, she will dance tonight. She's a trooper. They've got the foxtrot tonight. Karina is dancing perfectly - you can't tell that she twisted her ankle at all - but I'm not feeling Rocco. He does get better as the routine goes on, but it started out pretty rough. Bruno is not impressed, but Carrie Ann thinks it was "cute." Len thinks Rocco needs more finesse. Carrie Ann and Bruno give 5s and Len gives a 4, for a 14 out of 30.

Toni Braxton and Alec Mazo take the stage next. Toni explained to Alec about her heart condition at their first meeting. I really hope that she won't let her diagnosis hold her back. They dance the cha cha tonight, and I'm really impressed. Toni's turns are sharp and crisp, and her footwork is for the most part clean, and the two of them together are really sexy. Carrie Ann thought it was like a week 5 routine, it was so good. Len warns her about her leg position, and Bruno raves about her sexy slinkiness. They get 7s from Carrie Ann and Len, and an 8 from Bruno, for a 22 out of 30.

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SYTYCD Tour Spoilers

2008-09-24T11:42:00.002-04:00

SYTYCDism has a complete tour set list up along with videos and other tour information!

SYTYCDism

DWTS Cast Announced

2008-09-16T13:42:00.001-04:00

The official lineup for Dancing With the Stars was announced on ABC's Good Morning America.

Kim Kardashian
Susan Lucci
Lance Bass
Brooke Burke
Cloris Leachman
Toni Braxton
Chef Rocco DiSpirito
Cody Linley
Jeffrey Ross
Ted McGinley
Warren Sapp
Misty May-Treanor
Maurice Greene

Parenting 101 The Musical Extended in Philadelphia

2008-09-16T13:39:00.000-04:00

PARENTING 101 The Musical
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND!

HILARIOUS NEW MUSICAL PARODY
TAKES SCREAMINGLY FUNNY LOOK AT
RAISING KIDS FROM BIRTH TO MARRIAGE!

Tickets Available Now!

(Philadelphia – Sept.3, 2008) – The new musical parody, PARENTING 101 The Musical has been extended through November 30 due to popular demand.

After making its Philadelphia premiere and garnering rave reviews, PARENTING 101 will continue playing at the Kimmel Center’s Innovation Studio.The hilarious new production takes a loving and screamingly funny look at the joyous and crazy ride of raising kids all the way from videotaping their arrival at birth to letting them out of the nest to fly on their own..

“The skits are outragious and bold….Parenting 101 is fun for all,” said the Philadelphia City Paper. “The audience couldn’t get enough of the hilarity…Rush out and tell friends not to miss it!” advised The Evening Bulletin.

Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets at $47 are available by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, or at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad St. & Spruce St., (open daily 10:00 am to 6:00 pm). Group discounts are available by calling 215-790-5883. Performances include: Wednesdays through Fridays at 8:00 pm; Saturdays at 5:00 pm & 8:00 pm; and Sundays at 3:00 pm.

A loving look at the trials and tribulations of raising children, PARENTING 101 was conceived by sisters Nancy Holson and and Susan Holson. Observing parenting skills and styles together since birth, both women have children and drew on their own experiences in creating PARENTING 101. In addition, Nancy Holson is the Emmy Award winning creator of The News In Revue and Bush Wars. PARENTING 101 is authored by Nancy Holson and Jay Falzone, with Book and Lyrics by Nancy Holson and Jay Falzone. The production was directed and choreographed by Jay Falzone.

The musical review includes a song for every milestone of PARENTING 101 from labor pains, through sleep deprivation, potty training, puberty, dating, teen troubles, college, marriage and finally, the kids getting married and giving birth to kids of their own.

Each song is a well-known pop or show tune with new comic lyrics that capture the moments that all parents (and grandparents) know and remember all of their lives.

The cast of four actor/singer/dancers play Moms, Dads, Grandmas, and kids at every stage of growing up, from toddler to new Mom & Dad. The three-member band includes keyboard, drums and guitar. For more information visit: http://parenting101themusical.com

PARENTING 101 is produced by Philadelphia producers Howard Perloff and Martin Woldow, Peter Breger Productions, and Kimmel Center, Inc

The new 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, begins with the launch of its first production, The Wizard of Oz on Nov. 28 – 30, followed by Legally Blonde The Musical Dec. 2 – 7. The Series also includes: A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4) at the Forrest Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28). Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-893-1955 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809.

All performances of the Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Cadillac Broadway Series.

Legally Blonde the Musical In Philadelphia

2008-09-16T13:38:00.001-04:00

PHILADELPHIA GOES BLONDE!

WILL DEBUT AT ACADEMY OF MUSIC
ON DECEMBER 2

Tickets On Sale September 5!

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL will make its Philadelphia premiere at the Academy of Music beginning December 2 – 7.

Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $25 to $100 are on sale beginning Friday, Sept. 5 at 10:00 am. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad and Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evening at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evening at 8:00 pm; Sunday evening at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Sorority star Elle Woods doesn't take "no" for an answer. So when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.

In its first year on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL earned seven 2007 Tony Award nominations, ten 2007 Drama Desk Award Nominations, a 2007 Outer Critics Circle Award and the chorus of the musical was honored by Actors’ Equity Association’s Advisory Committee on Chorus Affairs (ACCA) with the first ever ACCA Award. The musical also ranked in the top ten list of the most requested Ticketmaster “Arts & Theatre Events” for 2007.

Becky Gulsvig, the Elle understudy in the original Broadway cast, is Elle Woods in the tour. Fans of the MTV reality show “Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods”, which premiered on June 2, 2008, will recognize two familiar faces in the tour casting: Third runner-up Rhiannon Hansen plays Elle’s best friend Margot and fourth runner-up Lauren Zakrin is an ensemble member and understudies the role of Elle. The reality show represented the musical’s second venture with MTV. In the fall of 2007, MTV aired Legally Blonde The Musical in its entirety to stellar ratings and was subsequently nominated for two 2007-2008 Daytime Emmy Awards.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for “Legally Blonde The Musical,” was released on Ghostlight Records, an imprint of Sh-K-Boom Records, and captured the #1 slot on the Billboard Cast Album chart and charted at #86 on the Billboard Top 200. The album has continued its success, charting every week as one of the top-selling Broadway cast recordings and soared to the Top 10 albums (of any genre) on iTunes once the show premiered on MTV.

As on Broadway, Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell is the director and choreographer. Music and lyrics are by both Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, and the book is by Heather Hach. The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Gregg Barnes, lighting design by Kenneth Posner and Paul Miller, orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and sound design by ACME Sound Partners.

LEGALLY BLONDE is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig, Fox Theatricals and Dori Berinstein, in association with MGM Onstage, Darcie Denkert and Dean Stolber.

The new 2008-2009 Cadillac Broadway Series, where theatrical presentations in Philadelphia will be presented at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre, begins with the launch of its first production, The Wizard of Oz on Nov. 28 – 30, followed by Legally Blonde The Musical Dec. 2 – 7. The Series also includes: A Chorus Line (Dec. 16 – Jan. 4) at the Forrest Theatre; Ain’t Misbehavin’ (Jan. 9 – 11); Jesus Christ Superstar (Jan. 30 – Feb. 1); RENT (Feb. 3 – 8); Happy Days – A New Musical (Mar. 24 – 29); Riverdance (Mar. 31 – Apr. 5); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (April 7 – 12); Movin’ Out (May 15 – 17); and Spring Awakening (June 23 – 28). Subscription packages are on sale now by calling 215-893-1955 or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/subs0809.

All performances of the Cadillac Broadway Series are supported by Cadillac, CITI, Target, WPVI-TV 6, The Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of the Cadillac Broadway Series.
www.LegallyBlondeTheMusical.com
# # #

She Loves You Opening in Philadelphia!

2008-09-16T13:30:00.000-04:00

SHE LOVES YOU!
ARRIVES IN PHILADELPHIA ON SEPT. 24!!

MUSICAL CELEBRATION WILL FEATURE
FORMER BEATLEMANIA CAST MEMBERS

Producer Rick Belzer A Philly Native!

(Philadelphia – Sept. 3, 2008) SHE LOVES YOU!, a concert and multi-media experience recreating the music of The Beatles -- performed live by former Beatlemania band members -- will make its Philadelphia premiere in the intimately distinctive setting of the Society Hill Playhouse (507 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia) beginning September 24 for a limited 10-week engagement.

Tickets at $45 are on sale now and available by calling 215-923-0210, online at www.comcasttix.com, or visiting the Society Hill Playhouse box office, 507 S. 8th Street (open Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 5:30 pm). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts by calling 1-888-4-SHE-LOVES. Performances include: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; matinees on Saturdays & Sundays at 3:00 pm.

SHE LOVES YOU! will take audiences back to the sights and sounds of the era of love, revolution, and music of the 1960’s. The live musical performance by band members includes a repertoire of 30 of the Fab Four’s greatest hits, along with an audio and visual multi-media retrospective of America during the 60’s era showing classic television footage, vintage newsreels clips, retro commercials and bits from variety shows….a truly nostalgic retrospective that is sure to conjure up great memories. Audiences are encouraged to dress in their best ‘60’s attire for every performance!
- more-

Page 2……………

She Loves You! Producer Rick Belzer, born in Philadelphia and raised in the Bucks County area, is a former Broadway lighting designer who worked on Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice including ‘Cats,’ ‘Evita,’ ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and ‘Starlight Express.’ Belzer was the executive producer and artistic director of the Candlewood Playhouse in Fairfield, CT for 10 years, producing over 80 full-scale musicals.

Band members include former Beatlemania cast members David Leon (John) and Alan LeBoeuf (Paul), along with John Brosnan (George) and Carmine Grippo (Ringo).

Alan LeBoeuf as "Paul " (Bass Guitar and Vocals)
From Warren, NJ, Alan attended Rutgers University before pursuing a career in entertainment. Alan's 1st major break was landing the role of 'Paul McCartney' in Broadway's 'Beatlemania'. After 2 years on Broadway, Alan moved to Nashville to form 'Baillie and The Boys,' that signed with RCA and had 7 straight top ten hits on the country charts. After 2 successful albums, Alan left the band to tour with 'Legends in Concert' and 'Beatlemania'. Alan also performed at EPCOT, Walt Disney World with 'The British Invasion' for 4 years.

David Leon as "John" (Guitar and Vocals)
After graduating UCLA with a degree in film production, David starred in the Broadway and motion picture production of "Beatlemania", also playing his home town of Los Angeles at the Pantages and Shubert Theater. His band "Helmet Boy" recorded an album for Electra Records. He has also performed with such well known artists as: The Rembrandts, Rick Springfield, Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Peter Noone and Herman's Hermits, The Box Tops and Tiny Tim. David writes screenplays and has optioned two that are in production.

John Brosnan as "George" (Lead guitar and Vocals)
John is a songwriter & musician and lives in London. He grew up in Melbourne & studied classical piano & theory at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. He was a member of 'Niki Phillips & The Corporation' who had the Top 10 hit 'Something About You'. He moved to London in 1992 and worked with Alex Smith (Moving Pictures) Malcolm Foster (Pretenders, Simple Minds) & Andy Thomson (Elton John, Meatloaf, Dire Straits) signed to Polygram. He lived in America from 1995 to 1997 where his band, signed to Sony in New York and scored a Billboard Top 100 hit 'Something is Wrong'.

Carmine Grippo as "Ringo" (Drums)
Born in New Haven, CT and now residing in Los Angeles, CA, Actor/Musician Carmine Grippo has appeared on television and in motion pictures such as the "Tom Arnold Show", "Evening Shade", "Wayne’s World II", and "The Last Man Standing". In mid-1994 he joined "The Moptops" and has since appeared on numerous television programs such as NBC's "Dark Skies" as Ringo Starr. Television credits include the Evening Shade, Cheers, Tom Arnold Show, Dark Skies, Beverly Hills 90210, and The Tonight Show. Film credits include the Waynes World 2, Last Man Standing, and Independence Day

For additional information visit: www.shelovesyouyeahyeahyeah.com.

America's Best Dance Crew Renewed For Season 3

2008-09-16T13:26:00.001-04:00

MTV's interactive reality television hit, "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew" has been renewed for a third season and is scheduled to premiere this winter. Auditions for the upcoming season of America's Best Dance Crew (ABDC) are slated to begin in mid-October.

"We will be holding pre-auditions in D.C. later in September. One of our casting directors will be in D.C. and will pre-screen crews to see if they have what it takes to attend the official audition," said Anastasia Lee, director of communications at MTV.

The official auditions will take place in Atlanta, Los Angeles, St. Louis and New York City in mid-October.

To audition for America's Best Dance Crew, applicants must be 18 years of age and over and be a part of a crew of 5-7 individuals. According to Lee, the audition process, as well as the live audition, will remain the same for season three of ABDC.

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America's Best Dance Crew And The Winner Is.....

2008-08-22T08:49:00.002-04:00

The Las Vegas B-Boy group Super Cr3w, who staved off elimination at the bottom three times during the season, won the finale of "Randy Jackson Presents: AMerica's Best Dance Crew" Thursday

In doing so, they beat Houston's SoReal Cru, the mixed-gender group who defied and eventually won over their parents to become the first crew on the show to never face elimination. Until, of course, Thursday night.

A reported 39 million voted on the second season finale of a show that's stood out in the crowded field of TV dance competition reality shows because it concentrated on street level, self-choreographed and largely self-taught dancers.

Super Cr3w held attention all season for innovative and explosive stunts, that included a flying Superman in a routine that helped turn the corner for them.

As winners they get $100,000, a trophy, and the title "America's Best Dance Crew."

They'll also have featured spot on the fall tour, "America's Best Dance Crew Live" that starts Sept. 18 in Miami and includes stops in New York Sept. 23, Boston Sept. 25 and Albany Oct. 1.

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Shimmy's SYTYCD Picks Part 2

2008-08-08T17:34:00.006-04:00

Wade Robson's Homage to the Rabbits

The Best of SYTYCD Group Routine

Shimmy's SYTYCD Picks

2008-08-08T09:22:00.002-04:00

Opening Routine with Top 20

Mary Murphy and Dmitry

Robert Muraine and Phillip Chbeeb

More Coming Later!

America's Best Dance Crew Recap

2008-08-08T09:16:00.002-04:00

Pac-Man and Pretty in Pink. He-Man and hightop fades. Don’t tell me you don’t love the ‘80s! There’s absolutely no shame in savoring the decadence and absurdity of the era – the fashions, the hairstyles, the slang (Totally!), the music, and the dance moves. I remember when I first learned to do the wop (1987) and the cabbage patch (about two years ago), and I can’t wait to take a further trip down memory lane.

This week, the three remaining crews are performing twice in two separate mini challenges. For the Groove Step Challenge, the teams must build a routine using retro steps from popular dance videos. On top of that, they each have an additional physical challenge to accomplish.

Crew: Super Cr3w
Master Mix: “Bust A Move” by Young MC; “The Humpty Dance” by Digital Underground; “Word Up” by Cameo

For this challenge, Super Cr3w must perform their chosen ‘80s dance style with only four feet on the floor. They decide they want to do the Humpty Dance (“People say you look like MC Hammer on crack, Humpty!”) and they accomplish this by creating two wobbly towers. Shane Sparks thinks they were “crazy” and was impressed by the one-handed hops one Cr3w member does on another’s chest. Lil Mama also loved their amazing stunts and believes they truly lived up to their name. JC Chasez is happy to see them going all out and showing a bit of everything in their routine: choreography, creativity, and athleticism. It was “a great way to start the show.”

Crew: SoReal Cru
Master Mix: “Poison” by Bell Biv Devoe; “Now That We Found Love” by Heavy D; “Every Little Step” by Bobby Brown

SoReal Cru’s physical challenge is to start a chain reaction during their routine and they choose one of my personal favorite moves, the Kid ‘n Play. Lil Mama expected more from the crew but still had fun watching them. JC enjoyed seeing all the old moves, especially the high-blast running man at the top of the performance, but saw some loose choreography from crew member Andrew. Shane thinks they performed moves well, but lost energy throughout the duration of the routine. I’m still searching for the chain reaction. Did they even do it?

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She Loves You - Philadelphia

2008-08-08T09:12:00.001-04:00

SHE LOVES YOU!
PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE!
OPENS SEPTEMBER 24!

A MUSICAL CELEBRATION SALUTING
THE BAND THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
AT SOCIETY HILL PLAYHOUSE
FOR 10 WEEKS ONLY!

TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!

(Philadelphia – August 6, 2008) SHE LOVES YOU!, a concert and multi-media experience recreating the music of The Beatles -- performed live by former Beatlemania band members -- will make its Philadelphia premiere in the intimately distinctive setting of the Society Hill Playhouse (507 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia) beginning September 24 for a limited 10-week engagement.

Tickets at $45 are on sale now and available by calling 215-923-0210, online at www.comcasttix.com, or visiting the Society Hill Playhouse box office, 507 S. 8th Street (open Monday – Friday 11:00 am – 5:30 pm). Groups of 15 or more will receive discounts by calling 1-888-4-SHE-LOVES. Performances include: Wednesday & Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; matinees on Saturdays & Sundays at 3:00 pm.

Philadelphia is only the second national touring stop for SHE LOVES YOU! “We chose Philadelphia because the Beatles played here twice, once in 1964 and again in 1966. Very few US cities had the distinction of seeing them live in concert not once, but twice,” said Philadelphia-born Rick Belzer, the show’s producer. “Philly loves the Beatles!”

SHE LOVES YOU! will take audiences back to the sights and sounds of the era of love, revolution, and music of the 1960’s. The live musical performance by band members includes a repertoire of 30 of the Fab Four’s greatest hits, along with an audio and visual multi-media retrospective of America during the 60’s era showing classic television footage, vintage newsreel clips, retro commercials and bits from variety shows.
A truly nostalgic retrospective that is sure to conjure up great memories.

SHE LOVES YOU! is guaranteed to entertain audiences of all ages. The New York Times said “It’s all about Love for The Beatles!,” and the Connectiticut Post praised “For Beatles fans, She Loves You! is perfection!” Audiences are encouraged to dress in their best ‘60’s attire.

Band members include former Beatlemania cast members David Leon (John) and Alan LeBoeuf (Paul), along with John Brosnan (George) and Carmine Grippo (Ringo).

For additional information visit: www.shelovesyouyeahyeahyeah.com.

So You Think You Can Dance Finale!!!

2008-08-08T09:07:00.003-04:00

The long journey came to a close tonight on So You Think You Can Dance. The final four dancers, Joshua Allen, Twitch Boss, Courtney Galiano and Katee Shean came back tonight to find out which of them has won the title of America's Favorite Dancer plus a pot of $250,000.

To keep them company and to entertain us all at home for the two-hour broadcast, the rest of the top 20 dancers came back, many of them to reprise some of the judges' favorite routines. (Unfortunately, Jessica King was not in attendance tonight, likely due to her injury.) Along with these encore performances, there were many guest performers as well. This was by far the most entertaining episode of the entire season. I know rationally that it lasted two hours, but I didn't even notice the time going by. It was that entertaining. Read on to see what happened.

Well, here's the important news first. Courtney was eliminated first. Then Katee, but there was a surprise tonight. This year, the producers of So You Think You Can Dance wanted to award the top guy and the top girl, so Katee came away with a second place prize of $50,000. Not too shabby. So it was down to the two hip hop boys, and in the end, Joshua was crowned the fourth winner of So You Think You Can Dance.

Keep Reading

Shimmy's SYTYCD picks

2008-08-07T16:22:00.003-04:00

Katee and Joshua

Twitch and Courtney

Twitch and Joshua

So You Think You Can Dance Top 4

2008-08-07T16:18:00.002-04:00

I'm so incredibly excited for tonight's Final Four performance show. We've got four incredibly talented dancers who, I am positive, will bring out the big guns tonight and show us their most impressive routines yet.

Who are you pulling for? The nearly flawless Katee who has had a virtually perfect season thus far? Or her long time friend Twitch, possibly the least formally trained dancer of the season, but one who has showed enormous potential? Or how about Josh, he of the cute butt and amazing technical ability? Personally, I'm all for Courtney, the most improved dancer of the top 20.
Cat Deeley, wearing a shiny, shiny gold number and five-inch heels, welcomes the final four dancers out on the stage. She explains that tonight, everybody in the final four will be dancing with everybody else. She welcomes our....joodges! Mandy Moore joins Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe in the judges panel.

The first pair to hit the floor tonight are Courtney Galiano and Twitch Boss, dancing a Tabitha and Napoleon D'Umo hip hop routine. This routine is about a crazy, deranged girlfriend going out to a club to look for her boyfriend. Courtney really takes to this character. They dance to "Church" by T-Pain, which is the perfect song choice for this fast-paced routine. Woah, Twitch spins with Courtney's body balanced on his head. Crazy! Normally, I love Twitch and Courtney, and I love the D'Umos, but I'm left wanting a little bit more. The judges shower them with high praise.

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SYTYCD Spoilers

2008-08-06T10:46:00.000-04:00

******SPOILERS******
Taken from IDF

Judges are Nigel, Mary and Mandy Moore

Ladies--->
Court/Katee- Tyce Broadway to instrumental version of the Trolley Song from Meet Me In St. Louis. Katee is in pink, Court is in yellow. ItLots of roses and wickety wack on the costumes, it's like a cross between a sheperdhess and a flamenco dancer, sort of. The dance uses a prop, white parasols, which the girls were both nervous about according to the package. Lots of jumping and synced up dancing.

Katee solo- to Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap, a quintessentially Katee solo. She wore this patterned silk hankerchief dress.

Court solo- to (I'm pretty sure) Special Two by Missy Higgins (it's definitely Missy, I'm just not totally sure on the song). She wore a low-backed bright yellow dress. It was a little more contemporary than we've seen from her, but still with lots of jumps and turns.

Guys---->
Twitch/Josh- Russian trepak by Yuri- I-can't-remember-his-last name to Nutcracker Suite. White shirt with blue trim and blue pants (Josh) and white shirt with red trim and red pants (Twitch), very traditional Russian costumes. Incredibly athletic routine, lots of jumping and turning by Josh, floorwork section by Twitch in which he is all on his knees the entire time.

Twitch solo- not sure on the music. No "T" shirt, but a "T" shirt used as a doo-rag. Lots of popping and hand movements, more than we've seen from him before, IIRC.

Josh solo- Red and blue striped shirt and jeans, he actually ran off the stage and jumped onto the judge's platform and started dancing. Lots of playing to the audience and to the judges, he does several sections of booty shaking and ends in the splits...

Ladies/Guys--->

Twitch/Katee Waltz- Melanie and Tony to "Feeling Good" by Michael Buble. Katee is in an ankle- length sky blue dress with lots of fringe, Twitch is in a tuxedo. Twitch does some heavy lifting in this, including a full press over the shoulders in the middle of one that the judges went crazy for. Judges love it for the most part, Mary tells Katee that she could walk into the US Ballroom Championships in September because she is so good.

Courtney/Josh Jive- Jason Gilkin (Glikman?) to "Dirty Boogie" (I think) by The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Josh is in jeans, white shirt, and burgandy leather jacket. Court is in tall boots with fringe and a burgandy leotard-almost dress that has short skirt of fringe that is accented with a fringe detail at the top. Lots of fast footwork and flicks, lots of lifts including an around the world with a flip kick sequence thing that the judges go crazy for. However, Nigel pretty much pans the number by saying that the technique wasn't really there. Mandy says it lost energy which suprised her. Mary went on and on about how difficult it was.

Courtney/Twitch Hip Hop- NappyTabs to a very popular song that I can't remember right now, but I know it was on the Step Up 2 Soundtrack if that helps anyone. She's the crazy demented girlfriend who is mad at him for going out to the clubs. They're both in light colors, him in a vest and khakis and a tie (I think), her in plaid pants and a beige-y shirt. Lots of isolations and accents on the music, including this sequence where Court mimes punching him in the face, chest, and "family jewels.

"

Josh/Katee Contemp--> Wade to John Mayer song that I didn't know. Wade says it's about love being hard work, and a couple who has a big fight and is now making up. Katee is in anther (darker) purple negliee, Josh is in a blue shirt and (I think) blue pants. I had a hard time seeing this one, and they didn't put it on the monitors because it was only being shot with one steady cam and one single light in a continuous, round shot. It should look cool on TV. There was a lot of floorwork and partner work, including this memorable bit where Josh kisses Katee's elbow.

Special Performances-->
Debbie Allen Dancers feat. Nigel- Tap routine to Boogie Wonderland mix with some other songs. Group of little dancers, and then Nigel comes in and does a sort of battle type thing with them. They all waddle of like penguins, it's very entertaining and "show-biz," if that makes sense. They did record a sound track before, so you should be able to hear the sounds.

Mary and Dmitry Samba--> I'm pretty sure it's to that "Danced with the DJ" song that Will and Court did. If not that song, then it's a song by that same artist. Dima is wearing black pants and a white, slouchy button down that he....wait for it.....gets ripped open by Mary. Mary is in a short red dress with three layers of fringe and a lot of rhinestones, along with silver t-strap heels that are rhinestoned, and four chunky, rhinestoned red and white bracelets. Lots of footwork in their samba, as well as some samba rolls. Mary has a very coquettish, subtle style which really surprised me- I thought she would be more aggressive and sharp like Heidi.

The Jonas Brothers performed their song Burnin' Up.

Group dance is a Scottish-inspired number by Mia, dancers are wearing kilts, guys are shirtless, girls have contrasting tartan vests and kilts. They use a burgandy curtain type thing in the beginning. Mia says the dance is celebratory of their time on the show. It's VERY athletic and quirky, lot of isolations and jerking and rebounding, as well as lots of jumps and partner work. The song is an instrumental, lots of bagpipes.

Past seasons contestants perform a group routine to Rihanna- "Don't Stop The Music"
with Season's Four Top 20

Season 1: Melody, Ryan
Season 2: Benji, Travis, Ivan, Allison, Dmitry
Season 3: Neil, Lauren, Dominic, Jaimie, Hok, Anya
Season 4: Top 20

SYTYCD Returns For A Fifth Season

2008-08-06T10:44:00.001-04:00

If there was ever any doubt, FOX has made it official that So You Think You Can Dance will return for a fifth season. The show has grown and into a big summer time hit for FOX, so its renewal wasn’t difficult to see coming. Both the Wednesday and Thursday telecasts of So You Think You Can Dance have ranked among the summer’s top five regular programs among adults between eighteen and forty-nine.

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Shimmys SYTYCD Picks

2008-08-01T10:06:00.003-04:00

Mark and Courtney

Twitch and Chelsie

Josuha and Katee

America's Best Dance Crew Top 4

2008-08-01T09:53:00.001-04:00

Last week a major upset occurred on America's Best Dance Crew when Supreme Soul was eliminated. The judges even said they expected Supreme Soul to be in the finals with Super Cr3w, and Lil' Mama called America out, telling them to vote out Boogie Bots. Did America listen?

Tonight's episode of America's Best Dance Crew features Missy Elliott as the final four crews perform to her songs and she even does a live performance herself. On a personal note, I'll be in Los Angeles over the weekend for the Teen Choice Awards, where America's Best Dance Crew is up for five awards, so hopefully I'll be able to catch up with some of the stars like Lil' Mama or even season 1 winners JabbaWockeeZ, themselves nominated for two awards.
Your Take
isablezhou2 said: She's a big star. I am her big fan. I saw her dating on a age gap relationship site called ''"ageromance.... see all » crystalcrystal18 said: i hate them all u see all » fwefoiwoyraoiewu2 said: Yes, SoReal Cru may have a mixed-gender thing going for them, but then again, so does Fanny Pak. As far as... see all »

The show opens with the final four crews doing a ridiculously awesome routine while Missy “sings.” The fanny packs are back again, and they really need to win this competition, if only so MTV can use them to promote their new movie musical The American Mall, coming August 11 at 9pm. It features Autumn Reeser (aka Taylor Townsend from The O.C.) and So You Think You Can Dance's Neil Haskell. Plus, it's a musical set in a mall. I'm so there.

Missy is sitting in with the judges, and I hope she's as outspoken as the rest of them. The top two crews are safe while the judges vote off one of the bottom two. We learned that Boogie Bots are in the bottom two, and after last week's comment, they're as good as gone.

THE TOP 2

SoReal Cru – “One Minute Man”
It's smooth and good with some clock-inspired moves, but I realize now my problem with SoReal is that they're the only crew left without a hook. They're not ‘80s, b-boys or Transformers, they're just a very good dance crew. However, my fellow BuddyTV writer Leslie Seaton pointed out that SoReal Cru has something lacking in most crews, namely a mixed gender aspect. Most crews are all-male, so they have a broader appeal.

JC Chasez says they're not hard enough and Shane Sparks takes exception to that. There's something dirty about JC yelling, “Was it hard?” In the words of Michael Scott, “That's what she said.”

Super Cr3w – “We Run This”
After two weeks in the bottom two, they're going to bring it hard. It doesn't really matter as long as the judges decide, because they're so high on Super Cr3w that they would stay in over any other crew against them. They start with a human tower three people high, end with an amazing tableau of one guy extended in mid-air over the end of the stage and they even do the Carlton Banks stripper move from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. If they don't win this whole competition, something is seriously wrong.

JC calls it “an amazing performance,” and he's not lying. Routines like this are the reason I have completely fallen in love with this show. Shane claims if they're ever in the bottom two again, he's gone. Missy even says Super Cr3w made her video look whack.

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So You Think You Can Dance Eliminations

2008-08-01T09:50:00.001-04:00

So You Think You Can Dance narrows it down to the final four for the finale and as Nigel said last night, really anyone of them could be in the finale and they all deserve to be there. Cat Deeley in a beautiful shimmering blue dress sadly announces that the last two before the finale are leaving as she said that America has chosen. Welcome to So You Think You Can Dance.

The opening number with the Top 6 all in white and set to Bette Midler’s, The Rose, was dynamic as always and it is indeed easy to see how this has been one of the best season to date on SYTYCD. After the number, Cat greeted the audience and once again introduced the judges from last night, Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy and Adam Shankman. Cat talked about the plea to go to declareyourself.com and Adam Shankman told of a new part of the winner’s prize would be a feature dance role in a Movie that he is directing. Nice! Again, this is a show with a heart.

Nigel gave a quick speech to the dancers about the rejection factor as a dancer. The speech was heartfelt and certainly again shows the heart of this show. Mary added her praise as well as she started to cry and Adam gave them advice to take the great experiences into their life and be gracious to their fans as they all have them now. The Top 6 then danced solos for the last time.

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SYTYCD Top 6

2008-07-31T13:33:00.001-04:00

Top six, America!" chirps Cat, who also proclaims this the "toughest season ever." My grandfather tells me that this show was really tough in the '30s.

Adam Shankman joins Mary and Nigel at the judges' table

Courtney and Mark are practicing the Viennese waltz with Jason Gilkinson. Mark apparently grabs Courtney's boob, which I imagine is about as threatening as the shower curtain brushing one's breast.

David Cook sings "The Time Of My Life" as they waltz across the stage, with nice turns and arm movement. This song might be a little fast for a waltz -- it has them bobbing up and down very rapidly. Nice lifts.

Adam says it's "terrifying" up there for the judges, because all the dancers are so good, and they don't know how America's going to vote. He praises Mark's "rise and fall," which is I guess what the bobbing up and down is. Mary screams something about how they know how to choreograph in the LAND DOWN UNDER! When her voice returns to normal human speaking levels, she praises the dance. Nigel also liked it, and takes the opportunity to plug American Idol, which is where that song apparently secreted from.

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SYTYCD Top 6 Spoilers

2008-07-30T08:53:00.002-04:00

******SPOILERS*******

Adam Shankman is the guest judge this week.

Courtney and Mark - Viennese Waltz by Jason Gilkison (SYTYCD Australia) and Jazz by Sonya Tayeh Song: “Time of My Life” by David Cook

Katee and Joshua - Contemporary by Tyce DiOrio Song: “All By Myself” by Celine Dion and Paso Doble by Jason Gilkison

Chelsie and Twitch - Mambo by Tony Meridith and Melanie La Patin and Hip Hop by Napoleon and Tabitha

Order of the solos here. Chelsie, Twitch, Katee, Josh, Courtney, Mark.

Julianne Hough: Emmy Nominee

2008-07-30T08:51:00.001-04:00

Julianne Hough, two-time Dancing With the Stars champion, has been nominated for an Emmy in the Outstanding Choreography category.
Julianne is being recognized for her mambo, “Para los Rumberos,” with former partner, race car driver Helio Castroneves. The award for the category will be handed out at the 60th Creative Arts Emmys, Sept.13, in Los Angeles.

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Buddy TV Talks with Supreme Soul from ABDC

2008-07-26T19:18:00.002-04:00

The finale for season 2 of America's Best Dance Crew aired last night. Or at least, it should have been. The judges all agreed that Supreme Soul and Super Cr3w were the two groups they expected to see in the finale, so it was quite the shock that they were the two bottom crews, leading to Supreme Soul's elimination.

BuddyTV spoke to Bionic, one of the members of Supreme Soul, about the elimination and the time on the show. He talked about how the crew felt during the final show, his reaction to the belief that Supreme Soul was too cocky, and how the crew choreographed its routines. Continue reading to listen to the interview or to read the highlights.

While the judges expressed shock at the bottom two on last night's America's Best Dance Crew, the members of Supreme Soul were humble, well aware of the fact that anything could happen. They'd been in the bottom before and after seeing A.S.I.I.D. go home, they had no delusions about being safe. Similarly, Bionic also knew that going head-to-head with Super Cr3w would be difficult since they are the best of the other crews.

-Though Supreme Soul was perceived as being cocky early on, Bionic chalks that up to a desire to compete and win. They weren't being cocky to intimidate, they simply wanted to come out and do their best and try as hard as they could to win, and that hunger was confused with cockiness.

-The seven members of Supreme Soul are accustomed to competing as solos or pairs, so the large group made planning the choreography a bit difficult. The other challenging part was that all the members have choreography ideas, while other crews might only have one or two dancers who help to choreograph the routines.

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So You Think You Can Dance Eliminations

2008-07-25T20:53:00.002-04:00

I guess we're at that point in the So You Think You Can Dance competition when I shouldn't feel all that surprised when someone is in the bottom two, especially when it comes to the guys (well, and the girls who aren't Comfort). Even still, I got the wind knocked out of me a little bit early on in Thursday's results show when the first of the two guys in danger of elimination was revealed. I wasn't the only one who was emotional, though: The results were clearly hard on the dancers — and the studio audience, for that matter. I'm still feeling sad, so let's get to chatting. To see what went down last night, read more.

Well, no shocker on the girls' side: Comfort's headed home—again. And we watched her goodbye highlights reel — again. It was obvious that Courtney was really bummed out to be in the bottom two, maybe even a little shocked. But if anything, this might be a good thing for her, as it could remind fans of the tiny brunette that they have to vote for if they want her to stay.

Mark's reaction to the fact that he wasn't in the bottom two was the most genuine "I'm safe" response we've seen on the show this season. He really lucked out (and knew it!) given how awful his foxtrot was. And it was so sad when they told Twitch he might go home! Were those actual tears? I wanted to hug him!

But, wow: They sent Will home. Can you even believe it? I'm still in shock. He was, to me, the best dancer on the show, and maybe that's what doomed him. As Nigel explained, so often on these shows, if a contestant is assumed to be safe, they don't get the votes and go home prematurely. Not to be a drama queen here, but I can't believe there will be no more Will dances! I wasn't ready for this to end. I might actually go through withdrawal! It should have been Mark, people. It should have been Mark.

Keep Reading

Shimmy's SYTYCD picks

2008-07-25T09:15:00.002-04:00

Katee and Twitch

Comfort and Mark

Courtney and Will

SYTYCD Finale Mary to take the Stage??

2008-07-25T09:08:00.001-04:00

If you ever thought So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy should put her footwork where there mouth is, your wish is about to be granted.

The TV Fanatic has learned that the show is planning a huge number for its two-part finale airing Aug. 6 and 7. And Mary may be taking to the stage to appear in it.

“I am working on something that is a secret for the finale, which will probably be the biggest surprise in ten years,” she told me at luncheon for the release of Core Rhythms dance exercise DVD at Dance Times Square Latin and Ballroom studio in New York City. “And it is something that involves me.”

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America's Best Dance Crew Recap

2008-07-25T09:05:00.001-04:00

Fanny Pak
Using lacrosse sticks and countless other pieces of gym equipment, this is incredibly fun and silly, with a story about unruly kids who rebel against the gym teacher and eventually throw him in the locker. Brilliantly, the locker is adorned with pin-ups of *NSYNC JC Chasez and Saved by the Bell Mario Lopez. GENIUS!!! Both the judge and host seem rather amused by it. The judges are a bit critical of the overuse on props, but that's what made me love it.

SoReal Cru
This crew is joining the marching band, but they're not allowed to use the instruments by playing them, but instead they must use trombones as percussion tools. They bring it hard, but honestly, I'm just not feeling this crew. Lil' Mama agrees about the hardness, which means I'm slowly learning about dance through this show.

Boogie Bots
The D.C. crew will play the benchwarmers, with water bottles, chairs and headbands. I'm impressed that they can make a 20-second opening all on chairs interesting. There's also a cool volleyball spike and a Flashdance ending with a water cooler of confetti being dumped on one guy sitting in a chair. JC is a bit of a hater, but Shane Sparks defends them.

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Buddy TV visits ABDC Set

2008-07-25T09:02:00.001-04:00

The America's Best Dance Crew set is smaller in person. When I sat in on rehearsals for this week's episode during the Television Critics Association press tour, my first reaction was that there are fewer seats than I'd imagined, and they're much closer to the stage than they look on TV.

A similar thought ran through my mind when Lil' Mama came out. I should've guessed from her name, but I wasn't expecting the 18-year-old judge to be so tiny, especially given her big, often outspoken voice during the episodes. Still, looking up at the five remaining banners and getting a sneak peek at what's in store for the crews tomorrow was a great experience.

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Chris Brown has new Dance Reality Show

2008-07-25T08:57:00.001-04:00

Move over So You Think You Can Dance, America's Best Dance Crew, and all the rest. Its time to make make room for yet another reality TV dance competition. R&B hottie Chris Brown is teaming up with Survivor and Apprentice producer Mark Burnett to create a new dance competition series with a hip-hop/street dance focus.

According to Variety, the show's contestants will compete in "dance-offs" each week and there will be a weekly elimination show.

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Missy Elliot to Appear on ABDC

2008-07-25T08:53:00.002-04:00

The MTV series "Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew" will welcome six-time Grammy Award winner Missy Elliott on July 31. She will premiere a performance of "Shake Your Pom Pom" from her upcoming seventh studio album Block Party.

During the show, Elliott will be accompanied by the remaining top four dance crews who will work together to show off the freshest moves. Known for her groundbreaking videos and for showcasing some of hip-hop's most innovative choreography, Elliott will then watch from the audience as the crews perform to some of her most popular hits. Elliott's longtime collaborator, choreographer Hi Hat, also will be on hand throughout the episode to help the crews fine-tune routines with the superstar's sensibility.

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SYTYCD Top 8 Spoilers

2008-07-23T09:19:00.001-04:00

*****SPOILERS*******

Judges: Nigel, Mary and Toni Basil

Will Wingfield & Courtney Galiano: Samba & Hip-Hop by Napolean and Tabitha
Twitch & Katee Shaen: Contemporary by Mia Michaels & Broadway by Tyce Diorio
Mark Kanemura & Comfort Fedoke: Foxtrot & Hip-Hop by Napolean and Tabitha
Joshua Allen & Chelsie Hightower: Argentine Tango & Disco

Shane Sparks on Dance Crews

2008-07-22T12:31:00.000-04:00

For years, there wasn't much mainstream media outlets for dance crews and choreographers to highlight their work and gain respect. However, that has changed even to the point of red carpet photographers noticing and taking photos of these crews due to the popularity of MTV's "Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew". The show's judge, Shane Sparks agrees with this observation. "We're bringing that recognition. Dancers should be respected just like singers, just like actors in the entertainment industry. From Basketball players to football players, we work just as hard. It's time right now to walk the red carpet have them shout out Jabbawockeez, Shane Sparks, Dave Scott. It's time for them to yell out those names and interview them and what's going on in their life instead of Tom Cruise. You don't see Tom Cruise everyday. You only see him in movies." states Sparks.

These dancers are everyday people on these shows that are affecting kids who want to dance. "You know, you see these dance crews out there everyday doing stuff for their community. I'm not saying that those famous people don't do anything for charity but what I'm saying is that we're doing a show that is changing a young person's life and affecting them in a positive way. I mean you watch a movie for a quick minute then go home from the movie theater and you don't think about it the next month. I mean, it may change the lives for some people and it's just entertainment, but this show right now for anyone that is seven years old and up, maybe even younger to go out there and dance, it's giving them a goal. Now they are watching this show and it's giving them a reason to do this."

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America's Best Dance Crew- The Tour!

2008-07-22T12:25:00.001-04:00

Randy Jackson is getting the crew together this fall.

The dawggone musician has announced plans for the inaugural America's Best Dance Crew Live, a 20-date tour to showcase the best the hit MTV show, now in its second season, has had to offer so far.

On the lineup so far are the masked men of season-one winner JabbaWockeeZ and the wheel-bound B-boys of BreakSk8. Three remaining spots on the tour will soon be filled by crews from seasons past and present.

"We took dance crews from across the country and put them on TV for the first time, and now we are taking our show on the road," Jackson, who executive produces the Mario Lopez-hosted series, said. "We're looking forward to seeing all of our fans across the U.S. who have helped make this show MTV¹s big hit.

"It’s going to be a party, and it’s going to be blazing hot."

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SYTYCD Top 8 SPOILERS

2008-07-22T12:24:00.001-04:00

SPOILERS

Couples & Dances:

Mark & Comfort - Foxtrot & Hip-Hop (Napoleon/Tabitha)

Joshua & Chelsie - Argentine Tango & Disco

Twitch & Katee - Contemporary (Mia Michaels!) & Broadway (Tyce Diorio)

Will & Courtney - Samba & Hip-Hop (Napoleon/Tabitha)

SYTYCD Eliminations

2008-07-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

So You Think You Can Dance loses two more dancers tonight but not at the hands of the judges, but at the whim of the American public. So far in this contest, America has been fairly accurate in their assessment of who should be in the bottom three and, on several occasions, the solos have changed the judge’s mind on who should stay or go. But we will lose two tonight and it will amaze us how the dancers will start stepping it up as the numbers dwindle down in the coming weeks. Welcome to So You Think You Can Dance.

The group number was a fantastic Bollywood number as the SYTYCD producers must have been overwhelmed by the response of the number that Joshua and Katee did last week. This group certainly had the routine down and the audience went crazy for the number.

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SYTYCD Top 10 Spoilers

2008-07-16T09:17:00.003-04:00

Here are the Spoilers for the Top 10 this week.
Judges are Nigel, Mary, and Lil C

Courtney and Joshua:
1. Hip hop - Dave Scott
2. Rumba - Jean-Marc Generaux

Mark and Kherington:
1. Two Step-Ronnie DeBenedetta & Brandi Tobias
2. Jazz-Tyce Diorio

Twitch and Comfort:
1. Waltz-Hunter Johnson
2. Hip hop- Dave Scott

Will and Katee:
1. Broadway - Tyce DiOrio
2. Pas de Deux - Desmond Richardson

Chelsie and Gev:
1. Contemporary - Sonya Tayeh
2. Jive- Jean-Marc Generaux

Three group routines.
Girls choreod by Mia Michaels
Guys choreod by Chuck Moldonado
Top 10 Bollywood dance

Dance Takes Center Stage in Aston

2008-07-15T08:51:00.001-04:00

The rolling hills and wooded landscapes of Aston, Pa., a low-key suburb of Philadelphia, are pulsing with a bit more rhythm these days after a sudden influx of the world's best ice dancers.

When the husband-and-wife coaching team of Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponossov arrived at the four-surface IceWorks Skating Complex last year, they brought an estimable stable of students, but no bona fide superstars.

That changed this spring, when a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2008 ISU World Figure Skating Championships prompted reigning Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto to leave long-time coach Igor Shpilband to train under the couple, who won the 1980 Olympic title.

"What we have been looking for is a fresh breath, if you will," the 26-year-old Agosto said. "After skating together 10 years this month, we had reached a certain point where we were no longer feeling anything new, no longer enthusiastic and excited about what we were doing."

So far, he added, the move is paying off.

"Coming here to work with Natalia and Gennadi has been an incredible experience so far . . . it's like learning to skate all over again," Agosto enthused. "Every day a new amazing thing is revealed to me."

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Todd Eldredge Spends Summer Coaching

2008-07-15T08:49:00.001-04:00

Three-time Olympian Todd Eldredge is spending his summer coaching, and he is enjoying every minute of it.
"The funny thing is I used to think, 'I don't want to be a coach,'" says six-time U.S. men's champion, world champion and three-time Olympian Todd Eldredge, who is at Incredible Ice in Coral Springs, Florida, working with 2006 world champion, 2007 U.S. champion Kimberly Meissner, as well as a bunch of kids.

"They're fun to work with because most of the younger kids will try anything," says Eldredge, 36. "They have neat personalities. You see their excitement when they work with you and all of a sudden they land their double Axel or double flip or their single toe for the first time. They light up in their faces like, 'Wow, I did it! That's really cool.' It's neat to see."

He's helping coach Richard Callaghan get Meissner's career back on track. "Trying to get her to come out of her shell a little bit," Eldredge says. "Get her consistent on her jumps. Get her spins better. Get her footwork better.

"Right now, I'm trying to get her to use her knees a lot when she's skating. She skates a little bit stiff in her knees. If she were able to get down in her knees a little bit it would look nice and help her posture. I'm working on little nit-picky things. Obviously, she's a world champion, so she's good. But it's the little nit-picky things that you try to pick up and improve on to make her that much better."

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2 Hawaiian Dancers Hit Big on the National Scene

2008-07-15T08:44:00.002-04:00

Now that Cara Horibe and her fellow dancers in Fanny Pack have made it to the Top 6 on MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew," the workload has escalated.
"It's really tough right now because all the crews that are left are really good," Horibe said from Los Angeles, where her life revolves around rehearsals and tapings. For the most part, they remain sequestered in the hotel, and MTV officials confiscate their cell phones before taping each show until after it airs to prevent results from leaking.

Horibe is one of two dancers from Hawaii to burst onto the national scene this summer, and both have proved themselves talented enough to endure brutal elimination rounds with harsh judges and even more demanding fans.

As of this week, Castle High School graduate Mark Kanemura has cracked the Top 10 on Season 4 of Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," and fellow Castle graduate Horibe just needs to survive one more round of the second season of "America's Best Dance Crew" before she gets a shot at a national tour.

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SYTYCD's Mamma Mia

2008-07-15T08:40:00.000-04:00

So You Think You Can Dance choreographer/Judge Mia Michaels has been on a bit of a tear this season. During rehearsel for the first week's performances she said that she didn't think dancer Mark Kanemura was turning out as well as she thought he would. Then, last week she took Jessica King to task for being "carried" through the competition so far by her much stronger partner Will Wingfield.

But according to Michaels herself, she's just misunderstood and is merely practicing her own brand of tough love.

"What America doesn't know is the relationship," she explains at the TCA Summer Press Tour, saying that what she brings to the judging table is a choreographer's perspective. "There's a beautiful, beautiful collaboration and very nurturing [atmosphere]. For me especially, I nurture them. I'm Mamma Mia and they look to me for that tough love actually.

"So, when I say it, American might go, 'Oh my God, that's so harsh.'

"[The dancers] are cool with it. They know. They know I only want them to be brilliant."

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Jessica is Out, Comfort back in on SYTYCD

2008-07-15T08:35:00.003-04:00

Taken from EW's Live Press Tour Diary.

So You Think You Can Dance panel

9:16 am: Big news! It's announced that contestant Jessica King has suffered an injury and has been replaced by the recently eliminated Comfort Fedoke. EW's Alynda Wheat informs me that this is "big news." Oh, wait, make that "really huge deal." (Sorry, still not watching SYTYCD.)

9:29 am: Exec producer Nigel Lythgoe refuses to elaborate on the specifics of King's injury, saying only that her recovery will take "four to five weeks."

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Buddy TV Interviews Thayne Jasperson

2008-07-14T21:24:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody, this is Gina from BuddyTV and today I’m talking to Thayne from So You Think You Can Dance. Can you tell me a little bit about your dance background and how long you’ve been dancing?

I’ve been dancing for six years now, I started late. I got into a dancing group and they made me take dance classes because I sucked at it, and then I saw a company dance with guys on it that was really strong. I was like, “Wow, that’s what I want to do, I want to dance like them.” So I started taking ballet, jazz, modern, tap, and I took some hip-hop. Just kind of all day long, like I would take two ballet classes a day because I wanted to become good in a matter of two months. [laughs] After that it was just working like crazy, like I would go into the studio by myself and I would work on the warmup and the different things that they would do in the jazz class. I would clean at the studio so I could take classes for cheaper, because I couldn’t really afford all the classes. And then I got into the company, I’ve been dancing with them, I went on tour to Europe, I did both of the High School Musicals as a featured dancer. I got to be in the movie American Mall, it’s coming out very soon.

Oh yes, American Mall, that’s the one that Neal Haskell’s in?

Yeah.

Oh that’s great. So is this your first year trying out for So You Think You Can Dance?

Yes, this is my first year.

What made you decide to try out for the show and what was the goal?

The goal, well, I really wanted to get on the show. I watched the show since the beginning and I loved it, I thought it was so cool, and so I wanted to get on it. I didn’t know how far I’d go really, like when I first made it to Vegas we were going on the European tour so I was like, Crap, I’m not going to be able to even go to Vegas. But then the chance came and I was able to go, and then when I was in Vegas it was kind of like each day I was like, okay, I just want to make it to tomorrow, I just want to make it Mia, I just want to make it to the last day. Then after I made it to the last thing, I was like, Okay, I really want to make it to the top 20. I think the goal the changed as I progressed through

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SYTYCD Top 12 Group Dance

2008-07-14T21:20:00.001-04:00

SYTYCD Top 12 Video Picks

2008-07-14T21:05:00.002-04:00

Joshua and Katee

Courtney and Gev

Chelsie and Mark

SYTYCD Tour Dates

2008-07-14T20:48:00.000-04:00

SEPTEMBER
DAY MONTH DATE CITY VENUE
SAT SEPT 20 Tacoma, WA Tacoma, WA - Tacoma Dome
SUN SEPT 21 Portland, OR Rose Garden
TUE SEPT 23 West Valley City, UT "E" Center
THU SEPT 25 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion
SAT SEPT 27 Anaheim, CA Honda Center
SUN SEPT 28 San Diego, CA Sports Arena
TUE SEPT 30 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena

OCTOBER
WED OCT 1 Los Angeles, CA Nokia Theatre
THU OCT 2 Sacramento, CA ARCO Arena
SAT OCT 4 Reno, NV Reno Events Center
SUN OCT 5 Fresno, CA SaveMart Center
TUE OCT 7 Glendale, AZ jobing.com Arena
FRI OCT 10 Grand Prairie, TX Nokia Theatre
SAT OCT 11 Houston, TX Reliant Arena
SUN OCT 12 Austin, TX Frank Erwin Center
TUE OCT 14 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
WED OCT 15 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
FRI OCT 17 Chicago, IL United Center
SAT OCT 18 Green Bay, WI Resch Center
SUN OCT 19 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
TUE OCT 21 Milwaukee, WI Bradley Center
WED OCT 22 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
FRI OCT 24 Highland Heights, KY Bank of KY Ctr
SAT OCT 25 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
SUN OCT 26 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre
TUE OCT 28 Trenton, NJ Sovereign Bank Arena
WED OCT 29 Boston, MA Agganis Arena

NOVEMBER
SAT NOV 1 Mashantucket, CT MGM Grand Theater
SUN NOV 2 Manchester, NH Verizon Wireless Center
MON NOV 3 Providence, RI Dunkin' Donuts Center
WED NOV 5 Long Island, NY Nassau Coliseum
THU NOV 6 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
SAT NOV 8 Pittsburgh, PA Petersen Events Center
SUN NOV 9 Norfolk, VA Constant Convocation Center
MON NOV 10 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
WED NOV 12 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena
THU NOV 13 Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett
FRI NOV 14 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Civic Center
SUN NOV 16 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
MON NOV 17 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum

So You Think You Can Dance's Jessica King Injured

2008-07-14T20:36:00.002-04:00

Interesting news coming from the first FOX press conference of the day here in Beverly Hills: top 10 finalist Jessica King has had to bow out of So You Think You Can Dance due to an unspecified injury. Comfort Fedoke, who was recently eliminated, will replace her.

Creator Nigel Lythgoe told the gathered writers and critics that, for legal reasons, he can't specify what Jessica's injury was, how she got hurt, or when. He told reporters, though, that Jessica will discuss the injury on this week's show.

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America's Best Dance Crew 2 Top 7 Crews

2008-07-14T20:34:00.001-04:00

Thus far the eliminations on America's Best Dance Crew have been well-rounded: one crew from the East, Midwest and South divisions have been sent home. Will that equity continue, sending one of the West Coast crews home?

This week on America's Best Dance Crew it's all about speed. The songs are sped up and crews must show off their lightning fast moves. The hard part is they must do a transition from slow to fast.

THE TOP 4

Boogie Bots
The boys with the sentimental story are the first safe team. Shane Sparks is a bit down on their sloppiness, while the other judges are more forgiving.

Super Cr3w
The b-boys are dressed like those silver guys who stand outside, motionless. They're statues, and one of the crew members is a graffiti artist who gets chased by them. Their routine is unbelievable in that I don't think they're human with the speed and originality they bring. JC Chasez once again points out the emphasis on storytelling and the lack of dancing. Shane wasn't blown away for the first time by Super Cr3w because they've stepped up their own game so much over the course of the show.

A.S.I.I.D.
The speed-up challenge is especially difficult for deaf Joey. The fast part isn't too impressive, but it involves the men tossing the women around like rag dolls. JC compliments the slow part and Shane loves the fact that they fused ballet and hip hop. Lil' Mama respects that they go hard and don't look for sympathy or excuses just because of Joey's hearing impairment.

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So You Think You Can Dance: Eliminations

2008-07-14T20:28:00.001-04:00

The ubiquitous Ne-Yo provides the music for the opening number, featuring the gang in red satin jackets with glow in the dark piping on the sleeves, which is used to squiggly effect when the lights go out. The lights come back on for some synchronized hip-hopping. Loosely synchronized anyway, and a little bit of breaking from Gev. Lights out, and the piping actually blinks on and off. Choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, and it didn't bore me to death!

Cat comes out to tell us that the dancers left after tonight get to go on tour, so this might possibly be the hardest cut at all for our little movers. Nigel lets us know that the Philip Chebeeb/Robert Muraine battle is going to happen on the finale, as if we needed any more reason to tune in. If they want to seal the deal, they should promise not to have any more lame fakeouts like last year's threatened Nigel/Cat dance.

The first two couples come out on stage: Katee and Joshua, and Comfort and Thayne. Comfort and Thayne did hip-hop and contemporary, and Nigel predicted they'd be in the bottom three. Mia was harsh on Comfort and nice to Thayne. Meanwhile, Katee and Joshua did a Viennese waltz (to a piece by noted composers Goo Goo Dolls) and the show's first Bollywood routine. The judges loved them, and apparently no one else is sick of the hot tamale train yet. And -- as predicted, Comfort and Thayne are in the bottom three while Katee and Joshua are safe. Mia calls it inevitable, and America got it right, and America's trying to tell them something that they're not hearing. "I don't feel that either one of you has reached their highest potential," she says, adding that she hopes that next step because she wants them to stay.

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SYTYCD Top 12 Spoilers

2008-07-08T19:42:00.002-04:00

Here are the Dance Styles and Choreographers for this weeks episode.

Judges for this week are Nigel, Mary, and Mia Michaels

Chelsie and Mark
- Salsa by Alex de Silva
- Broadway by Tyce Di Orio

Comfort and Thayne
- Hip Hop by Napoleon and Tabitha
- Contemporary by Mandy Moore

Jessica and Will
- Contemporary by Tyce Di Orio
- Quickstep by Jean Marc Generaux

Courtney and Gev
- Cha Cha by Anya and Pasha
- Jazz by Mandy Moore

Kherington and Twitch
- Krump by Lil C
- Smooth Tango by Tony Meredith and Melanie

Katee and Joshua
- Viennese Waltz by Jean Marc Generaux
- Bollywood

Interview with Xtreme Dance Force from ABDC

2008-07-08T19:38:00.002-04:00

It's not easy being a white, upper-class male. That may sound absurd, but on America's Best Dance Crew, it seemed to be true as Xtreme Dance Force was routinely dismissed by the judges as just a “boy band.” The guys kept dancing, switching up styles and facing a wide range of challenges from week-to-week, dancing to styles they weren't familiar with and songs they'd never heard. Yet despite proving themselves as a serious dance crew, it was hard to wipe off that label they willingly accepted: the boy band.

BuddyTV spoke to JC Renzetti and Nick Neri, to of the members of Xtreme Dance Force, about their time on the show. Among the things they discussed were the possibly unwise decision to accept the boy band moniker, the origins of Xtreme Dance Force, and their future plans. Continue reading for the highlights and to listen to the full audio version of the interview.

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SYTYCD Top 14 Group Dance

2008-07-05T23:00:00.002-04:00

Top 14 Group Dance by Tyce Diorio

Shimmy's SYTYCD Pick's

2008-07-05T22:48:00.003-04:00

Twitch & Kherington

Courtney & Gev

Katee & Joshua

Chelsie & Mark

Happy Days Ends at Goodspeed, but Tour is Starting

2008-07-05T22:38:00.000-04:00

Goodspeed Musicals' popular, extended run of Happy Days: A New Musical, based on the TV series about a family and their friends in 1950s Milwaukee, ends July 4 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT.

Happy Days got an added week at Goodspeed due to ticket demand. The show is based on the hit Paramount Pictures television series created by Garry Marshall, who also wrote the libretto, with music and lyrics by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe-winning songwriter Paul Williams ("We've Only Just Begun," "Rainy Days and Mondays" and "An Old Fashioned Love Song").

A separate national tour of the show will launch this fall. PS Classics released a cast album of the Paper Mill production earlier this year.

According to Goodspeed, "Richie, Fonzie, Ralph, Potsie, and all your favorites from the smash-hit TV series are rockin' and rollin' all week long. The laughs never end in a celebration of poodle skirts, jukeboxes, motorcycles and malt shops. 1959 is cool again as the gang tries to save Arnold's in a sock hoppin', engines revvin' new musical for the entire family. These days are yours and mine…"

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The American Mall

2008-07-05T22:33:00.002-04:00

Here is the full length trailer for The American Mall. It will be premiering on MTV on August 11th at 9:00 PM!

So You Think You can Dance Top 12

2008-07-05T22:28:00.003-04:00

The top fourteen dancers performed a Broadway routine to "Money Money" from Cabaret (Original Cast Recording) choreographed by Tyce DiOrio. The performance started off slow for me, but at the part of the song where the company starts whispering "money, money, money, money," I thought the dance picked up as well. I think that's testament to Tyce's ability to pace a number.
Tyce's take on the song was a little watered-down and very "appropriate" for network TV. Those of you who have seen the Broadway show know that the choreography is grittier and much raunchier than that. But, what could he do?

Another slight issue was that there are a lot of people who find Will annoying. If you're one of them, you may have not liked this routine right from the beginning. After all, it starts with his mug for the first ten seconds. I like Will; I thought he was strong. But, I think Mark should have been the lead male in this dance. He's just so quirky and he's a little effeminate. The part of the Emcee would have fit nicely.

When all the dancers started dancing in unison and the camera pulled away for that double pirouette, it was awesome. The editing worked very nicely there, really complimenting the action on stage.

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In the Heights Choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance

2008-07-02T14:36:00.002-04:00

Andy Blankenbuehler, the dance choreographer who won a Tony award for his saucy Latin and contemporary routines for Broadway's In the Heights, will be a guest on the best (in our humble opinion!) reality show on network TV this summer: Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. He'll be creating a new routine for one of the seven remaining couples in the competition. They dance a new routine in pairs each week in different styles, including Broadway, hip-hop, ballroom, contemporary and jazz. If the competitors make their moves on stage and don't get on judge Mary Murphy's "hot tamale train," they'll have to dance solos and risk being eliminated.

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SYTYCD Top 14 Dance Styles and Choreographers

2008-07-01T16:36:00.001-04:00

***SPOILERS***

Week 4 Judges: Nigel, Mary, Napoleon and Tabitha

Mark Kanemura and Chelsie Hightower

Jazz by Mandy Moore
Foxtrot

Katee Shean and Joshua Allen

Contemporary by Mia Michaels
West Coast Swing by Benji Schwimmer

Kherington Payne and Twitch

Contemporary by Mia Michaels
Paso Doble

Jessica King and Will Wingfield

Jive
Lyrical Jazz by Mandy Moore

Comfort Fedoke and Thayne Jasperson

Broadway by Andy Blankenbuehler
Smooth Waltz

Courtney Galiano and Gev Manoukian

Hip-Hip by Cecily and Olisa
Broadway by Andy Blankenbuehler

Kourtni Lind and Matt Dorame

Hip-Hop by Cecily and Olisa
Mambo by Alex da Silva

Dirty Dancing Makes it's Way to Chicago Stage

2008-07-01T16:31:00.001-04:00

The movie Dirty Dancing is a legendary entertainment phenomenon. The soundtrack continues to sell millions of copies. And now live audiences can experience it as never before. Re-imagined for the stage by the original screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein, Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage, combines all the intensity and excitement of live theater with new songs, new scenes, and thrilling new dances. Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage is an unprecedented live experience for lifelong fans of the film and new audiences alike that explodes with heart-pounding music, breathtaking emotion and sensationally sexy dancing.

Step inside the classic story of Baby and Johnny – two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Including a cast of 37, the record-breaking show features 35 hit songs, including "Hungry Eyes,” "Hey Baby,” "Do You Love Me?" and the heart-stopping Academy Award-winning "(I've Had) The Time of My Life.”

The acclaimed creative team responsible for the record-breaking London and Toronto productions of Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage will bring the show to the United States. Directed by James Powell, with choreography by Kate Champion, the team also includes: Stephen Brimson Lewis (set design), Conrad Helfrich (music supervisor), Tim Mitchell (lighting design), Bobby Aitken (sound design), Jon Driscoll (video and projection design), Jennifer Irwin (costume design) and Craig Wilson (Latin and Ballroom dance choreographer)

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Chelsea Traille Talks with Reality TV Magazine

2008-07-01T16:28:00.002-04:00

When asked to explain stealing flowers, Chelsea Traille said, “Well, I’m Jamaican and I just love beautiful flowers and it kind of just started. Basically it was kind of a joke. But I love having fresh flowers and like being away from home, the apartment just was kind of dull. So, one day we all went on a walk to the grocery store and we passed all these beautiful flowers and I said, let’s take some flowers.

Chelsea continued, “So we picked some flowers and we had some pretty flowers in the living room and then it just became like this thing; you know, once you start seeing flowers along the sidewalk or something you just kind of want to pick them. And I was just the one that always wanted to have flowers and so I loved color and I always wanted to have flowers at the apartment.”

When asked what she learned from her experience on the show, Chelsea said, “I think the overall experience was how to go about working with people. It wasn’t all about dance. It was working with different types of people and it was a humbling experience being around so much talent and so many different genres. I think those were the two main things that I’m going to take away from this, work ethic and working with different personalities.”

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Reality TV Magazine Talks With Chris Jarosz

2008-07-01T16:26:00.001-04:00

When asked if any aspects of the So You Think You Can Dance competition caught him off guard, Chris Jarosz said, “I don’t think I was ever ready for all the cameras, like all the interviewing and stuff like that. There wasn’t too much of a surprise. I think some of the judging might have been a little bit of a surprise.”

Chris continued, “Just because I was expecting to eventually get some better comments from the judges and kind of like these past three weeks there’s never been, I’ve never gotten a, ‘oh my gosh, awesome job.’ Like a scream, and not that I ever thought I would, but I was hoping to have some kind of Mary going crazy at one point. It was kind of a little bit of a bummer, but I’ve no regrets or anything.”

Even though judge Mary Murphy didn’t go crazy as Chris had hoped, judge Nigel Lythgoe did go crazy after Chris’ krumping performance. Unfortunately, Nigel said his granny was more gangster than Chris and then went crazy and turned into the Hulk (as a promotion for the Hulk movie).

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The Color Purple

2008-07-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

THE COLOR PURPLE
ANNOUNCES ALL SEATS FOR $49.50 AT SELECT PERFORMANCES THROUGH JULY 13
AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY MUSICAL NOW PLAYING AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC

TICKETS FOR PERFORMANCES OF THE COLOR PURPLE ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR $49.50. Currently playing the Academy of Music through July 13, tickets at $49.50 are available for all seats at select performances including: Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; and Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm.

Produced and presented by Oprah Winfrey, THE COLOR PURPLE, “The Musical About Love,” is based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the moving film by Steven Spielberg. An epic tale of hope and the healing power of love, THE COLOR PURPLE is the unforgettable and inspiring story of a woman named Celie, who finds the strength to triumph over adversity, and discover her unique voice in the world.

Nominated for 11 Tony Awards, the joyous Grammy-nominated musical score features gospel, jazz, pop and the blues.

Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $28 to $87.50 are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Streets (during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturdays at 2:00 pm, Sundays at 1:00 pm, and a matinee Wednesday July 2 at 2:00 pm. No performances are scheduled for Friday, July 4.

THE COLOR PURPLE continues at the Academy of Music through July 13.

So You Think You Can Dance: Eliminations

2008-06-28T12:59:00.002-04:00

The group number started out to the music of “The Dance” by Charlotte Martin and choreographed by Mia Michaels. The group, dressed all in black and white, was tremendous and any of this group could probably be dancing on The Great White Way tomorrow. Cat Deeley gave a quick intro to the judges and immediately got to the results by calling the first three couples out to center stage.

The three couples were Chelsea and Thayne, Katee and Joshua and Chelsea and Mark. Cat started with Chelsea Traille and Thayne and we quickly saw how they did last night with the Quick Step. The judges were not pleased and America agreed as they were quickly sent to ready themselves for their solos. Cat next turned her attention to Katee and Joshua, showed us their “Stuff,” as excellent as it was, and we knew they were safe…and they were. Finally, we saw the cool routine from Chelsea and Mark and America loved them as well.

The next three couples strutted to center stage and Cat got right into the good news and maybe the bad. Kherington and Twitch were first in the hot seat and we saw how they did with their Hip-Hop routine…and Mary screaming in approval. They were safe according to the vote and sent to the safe zone. Next we saw Courtney and Gev do a beautiful Rumba routine and America seemed to agree with the judges as Cat announced they were safe. Comfort and Chris, who were savaged by the judges for a loud and disjointed routine last evening, were the second couple sent to the solo zone to get ready to dance for their lives.

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America's Best Dance Crew 2

2008-06-28T12:56:00.002-04:00

How Sass x7 failed to get the boot from "America's Best Dance Crew 2" and hang in through the first two episodes can only be explained as some kind of New Jersey juju.

They hung on despite audience outrage after their victory over Shhh! on the live casting special. Then the cheerleaders escaped last week's distorted bottom two battle between Distorted X and Fanny Pak. Last night the axe finally fell and the spirit team's spell was broken. New Jersey's finest didn't go into this week's competition thinking this was the end, though.

Here's a breakdown:

Super Cr3w: The video: Chris Brown - "Run It." The challenge: Krumping. The Result: A standing ovation. They can do no wrong (right now). The b-boys took on a tough one, but they 'ran it,' surprising judge Shane Sparks who thought it'd be tougher for them because they're breakers. Pfft.

Fanny Pak: The video: Gwen Stefani - "Wind It Up." The challenge: Tricks (windmill). The results: Cuteness. Doing knee floats in knee pads, the crew struggled with some of the trick elements, but standout member Glenda's athleticism with a backflip and 'assisted' head spin helped pull them out.

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SYTYCD Top 16 - Dance Styles & Choreographers

2008-06-25T00:23:00.002-04:00

**SPOILERS**

Here are the dance styles and choreographers for the So You Think You Can Dance Top 16:

Kherington & Twitch: Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)

Courtney & Gev: Rumba (Tony Meredith)

Comfort & Chris: Jazz (Tyce Diorio)

Jessica & Will: Disco (Doriana Sanchez)

Chelsea & Thayne: Quickstep (Heather Smith)

Kourtni & Matt: Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)

Chelsie & Mark: Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)

Katee & Joshua: Samba (Tony Meredith)

So You Think You Can Dance Top 18

2008-06-23T20:43:00.003-04:00

Opening Performance
"Elevator" by Flo Rida featuring Timbaland (choreographer: Shane Sparks)

What a great hip-hop performance! And I'm so glad that Shane Sparks is lending his expertise to the show again. I was worried he'd be totally wrapped up in America's Best Dance Crew this summer. The girls part on the floor was great but a few of them messed up the arm movements. The best part of the piece was Comfort with the three guys. It was near perfect. My eyes never left Comfort. I wasn't impressed with her krumping on Wednesday but this opener proved to me why she's there.
Also, what did you think of the girls' costumes? I liked the guys' costumes. The suits were a little predictable but a nice blend of colors. But the with the girls, I was undecided. I'm not sure about those corsets. I wonder if they were restricting, which can be especially limiting considering the amount of chest isolations hip-hop dance usually requires.

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Twyla Tharp at American Ballet Theatre

2008-06-23T20:36:00.001-04:00

For the past two decades or so, Twyla Tharp has tended, in her new dances, to recycle features of her earlier successes, but in “Rabbit and Rogue,” which just had its première at American Ballet Theatre, she seems to repeat every single thing that has worked for her before. It’s as if she had made a list and then checked off each strategy as she reused it. Tharp’s last two projects have been failures. Her Bob Dylan musical, “The Times They Are A-Changin’ ” (2006), closed after just a few weeks on Broadway. Then, earlier this year, she made a piece for Miami City Ballet—“Nightspot,” about Miami club life—that, while it was warmly applauded by the Florida audience I saw it with (it had an Elvis Costello score and lots of red costumes), was actually a desperate-looking mess: a fact that she was probably aware of. In both pieces, Tharp explored a territory relatively new to her—dream, hallucination. It is therefore no surprise that, having had so little luck there, she chose, in her next ballet, to do nothing new to her.

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America's Best Dance Crew 2 Premieres Tonight on MTV

2008-06-19T00:37:00.011-04:00

Meet the 10 new crews (one crew is eliminated in Thursday night's premiere episode):

A.S.I.I.D. (Detroit, MI) - They grew up in tough neighborhoods and lean on each other for support. Their inspiration comes from crew member Joey who is deaf.

Boogie Bots (Washington, DC) - They think of themselves as robots that have come to life. Each performance is dedicated to crew member Joesar's father, who has been in a coma for the past six months.

Distorted X (Houston, TX) - All are studio dancers who have dubbed themselves "Houston Socialites -- without the money."

Fanny Pak (Los Angeles, CA) - This zany bunch is looking to bring back the bold and wacky energy of the 80s with a unique dance style and fashion sense.

Presh Select (Philadelphia, PA) - This crew wants other teens out there to know that there is more to streets than hate and that hip hop dance can be a positive force.

Sass x7 (Piscataway, NJ) - The only all-girl crew, these dancers once competed on the Rutgers Dance Team.

SoReal Cru (Houston, TX) - Students at the University of Houston, this crew looks to their family for encouragement and support - especially when they are forced to practice in a restaurant parking lot.

Super Cr3w (Las Vegas, NV) - After failing to make the show last season, three crews mergered together to show the world how b-boys do it.

Supreme Soul (San Francisco, CA) - Full of confidence, this crew has traveled the world competing in hip hop competitions yet they always feel like the underdog.

Xtreme Dance Force (Naperville, IL) - Disciplined studio dancers, this all-guy crew feels that they are pre-judged for their "pretty boy" looks and are looking to show what fierce dancers they really are.

Cry-Baby to Close on Broadway June 22

2008-06-18T17:56:00.001-04:00

Cry-Baby, the second Broadway musical based on a John Waters film, will play its final performance at the Marquis Theatre June 22. When it closes the musical will have played 45 previews and 68 regular performances.

Directed by Mark Brokaw, Cry-Baby arrived on Broadway following an out-of-town engagement at the La Jolla Playhouse this past fall. A 2008 Tony nominee for Best Musical, Cry-Baby began Broadway previews March 15 and officially opened April 24.

A national tour is expected to begin in fall 2009.

The new musical that boasted Broadway's first rockabilly score, earned four 2008 Tony nominations: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical for Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, Best Original Score for David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger, and Best Choreography for Rob Ashford.

Alli Mauzey, who portrays Cry-Baby's deranged stalker Lenora, earned a Theatre World Award for her performance. Mauzey's rendition of "Screw Loose" won the actress favorable mentions in numerous reviews. Ashford also picked up a Drama Desk Award for his athletic choreography that punctuates Cry-Baby's dueling worlds of the Drapes and the Squares

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American Idol vs. So You Think You Can Dance Judges

2008-06-18T17:51:00.001-04:00

THE BRITS
Simon Cowell vs. Nigel Lythgoe

Similarities: Snarky Simon is known as tough but fair, and contestants respect him because of his experience in the music industry. Likewise, Nasty Nigel has tremendous experience in dance, having studied jazz, tap and European folk at a young age. They never try to sugarcoat their comments, but aren't afraid to give props to contestants who deserve them.

Differences: Sometimes Cowell appears to delight in squashing the dreams of pop hopefuls. Lythgoe, on the other hand, adds encouragement or helpful advice on the back end of every negative comment. The high volume of returning auditioners indicates that Lythgoe and Co. actually want contestants to improve and try out again.

THE TWITS
Paula Abdul vs. Mary Murphy

Similarities: The loopy brunettes both devote a lot of their critiques to the contestants' appearance.

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SYTYCD's Gev Manoukian Has Strong Skating Ties

2008-06-17T22:04:00.003-04:00

The competition for season four of the hit FOX show So You Think You Can Dance is and among the top 18 is a young hip-hop/break dancer with a very tight bond to the skating world. During the audition shows Gev Manoukian, 21, from Centerville, Utah, was shown doing a bit of break dancing on ice. But skating is more than a casual hobby.

To many skating fans, his last name is quite familiar. Gev is the son of acrobatic show skater Akop Manoukian, who has performed all over the world, first with Ari Zakarian and for the past few years with Armen Saakian. Manoukian and Saakian appeared in the movie Blades of Glory. He showed a tape of Gev's on ice moves to Blades choreographer Sarah Kawahara, who said he wasn't right for the movie but she'd keep him in mind for future projects.

"Sometimes we go to the rink and I teach him a little bit. Everybody stands around watching and clapping," said Manoukian. "I'm a better skater, but he does cooler tricks."

Gev Manoukian grew up in Kazakhstan with his mother (Manoukian's ex-wife), but visited his father in the U.S. every summer. After graduating high school at 16, he moved permanently to the U.S., where he attended 11th and 12th grades in Utah, and graduated from high school again. He enrolled in the University of Utah and decided to stay there with his aunt and grandparents when Manoukian moved to Jackson, Wyoming.

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Ari and Akop- on ice

Cyd Charisse dies in L.A. at 86

2008-06-17T21:51:00.004-04:00

Cyd Charisse, the long-legged Texas beauty who danced with the Ballet Russe as a teenager and starred in MGM musicals with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, died Tuesday. She was 86.

Charisse was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Monday after suffering an apparent heart attack, said her publicist, Gene Schwam.

She appeared in dramatic films, but her fame came from the Technicolor musicals of the 1940s and 1950s.

Classically trained, she could dance anything, from a pas de deux in 1946's "Ziegfeld Follies" to the lowdown Mickey Spillane satire of 1956's "The Band Wagon" (with Astaire).

She also forged a popular song-and-dance partnership on television and in nightclub appearances with her husband, singer Tony Martin.

Her height was 5 feet, 6 inches, but in high heels and full-length stockings, she seemed serenely tall, and she moved with extraordinary grace. Her flawless beauty and jet-black hair contributed to an aura of perfection that Astaire described in his 1959 memoir, "Steps in Time," as "beautiful dynamite."

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Cyd Charise Tribute

Source: johnxxx20000

Fred Astaire & Cyd Charise

Source: saltybroad

American Mall Trailer

2008-06-17T07:59:00.001-04:00

The MTV film features SYTYCD alum Neil Haskell.

The Best of The 2008 Tony Awards

2008-06-17T07:56:00.002-04:00

Every year I look forward to the Tony Awards, and every year I'm just a bit disappointed. Sure, there were some deserving winners (In the Heights, August Osage County, South Pacific, Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, Paulo Szot, Deanna Dunagan and Rondi Reed), but there were also some ho-hum performances, a no-show from Stephen Sondheim and a disappointing Rent reunion.

Well, you win some, you lose some.

Here's my take on the Best and Worst of the 2008 Tony Awards:

The Best
1. In the Heights performs "$96,000" and wins best musical
Easily the most spirited and well-produced number of the evening, In the Heights likely sold a lot of tickets with this performance, not to mention Lyn Manuel Miranda's charming acceptance speech for Best Score. Oh yeah -- that top musical prize won't hurt the Box Office either.

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The Heights' Tony Award Performance

Source: CarlitoPucl

SYTYCD Spolier- Styles and Choreographers for the Top 18

2008-06-17T07:52:00.001-04:00

Read at your own discretion.

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!

Thayne & Chelsea T. -- Jazz (Mandy Moore)

William & Jessica -- Hip Hop (Cicily & Olisa)

Mark & Chelsie -- Argentine Tango (Alex de Silva)

Matt & Kourtni -- Fox Trot (Jean Marc Generaux)

Gev & Courtney -- Contemporary (Mandy Moore)

Joshua & Katee -- Broadway (Tyce Diorio)

Marquis & Susie -- Salsa (Alex de Silva)

Twitch & Kherington -- Viennese Waltz (Jean Marc Generaux)

Chris & Comfort -- Crump (Lil C)

Compulsory Dance and Original Dance May Merge

2008-06-17T07:50:00.000-04:00

The 2008 International Skating Union Congress will consider a proposal that concerns the format of ice dancing events. In the proposal, the compulsory dance and original dance portions of ice dance events will be replaced by a "combination" dance. The combination dance will be up to 2 minutes 50 seconds long, with a specified rhythm. The first part of the combination ice dance will consist of a set pattern dance for about one minute and then choreography of the skaters' choice for the rest of the time. Three required moves will be done during the creative part of the dance.
If this proposal passes, it looks like compulsory ice dancing may eventually fade away. This new idea may be a good one, but I will miss seeing ice dancers do traditional compulsory ice dances.

ABT Principal Dancer to Leave

2008-06-17T07:49:00.000-04:00

Gather your Giselles while you may: American Ballet Theater announced Monday that Nina Ananiashvili would retire from the company after its 2009 summer season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Ms. Ananiashvili, right, who has been a principal dancer with the company since 1993, has appeared in “Swan Lake” and “Don Quixote” during its current season and is scheduled to dance in “Giselle” on July 7. Ms. Ananiashvili, who was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, was appointed artistic director of the State Ballet of Georgia in 2004, and in recent years she has led it on international tours, including a visit to the Brooklyn Academy of Music this spring. Her husband, Gregory Vashadze, said in an e-mail message to a Ballet Theater publicist that it had become more difficult for Ms. Ananiashvili to travel overseas with their young daughter for the several months required for her to appear with the American company. The theater’s statement said that she planned to continue performing with the State Ballet of Georgia and to make guest appearances with other companies.

Source

Choreographer Donald McKayle

2008-06-17T07:37:00.000-04:00

"I have been doing this since the 1940s, and I have been out of work one week in my whole life," says Donald McKayle, the African-American choreographer named by the Dance Heritage Coalition as one of the first 100 of America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures. "And that one week that I was out of work, I couldn't even collect unemployment, because in California you need to wait 10 days before it becomes activated." McKayle has choreographed more than 90 works for the concert stage, numerous Broadway musicals -- including Golden Boy, Sophisticated Ladies, and Raisin, which he also directed -- the Hollywood films The Great White Hope, The Jazz Singer, and Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and the television special Free To Be...You and Me.

"Work in as many areas as you can," says McKayle, when asked what advice he would give to someone looking to establish a successful career as a professional dancer today. "The more colors you have on your palette, the more you have to work with and the more you can aspire to." In addition to his work as a choreographer and director, for the past 20 years McKayle has been a professor of dance and choreography at the University of California, Irvine. In 1995 he set up a student performance company there called the UCI Etude Ensemble. "It was in response to -- well, let me explain," says McKayle. "I'm on the board of trustees of the National Foundation for Advancement of the Arts, which gives awards to young artists, 17- and 18-year-olds. And I observed that the dance recipients didn't always have very good material to show, particularly in the modern-dance field. The ballet people, of course, had variations from the great classical ballets to perform. So I decided to choreograph something that the modern dancers could study -- like ballet dancers study classical variations -- and that they could perform at the auditions. I called the piece 'Rainbow Etude,' because it was based on 'Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder.' Then [former Paul Taylor principal dancer] Carolyn Adams and her sister -- they operate an organization called the American Dance Legacy Institute, out of Brown University -- they decided to publish my 'Rainbow Etude' in a video/DVD format to be circulated to students and teachers all around the country. I originally set the work on six students from UCI. Well, that group of six performers grew to 18, and that's basically how the student company was formed."

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Buddy TV Talks with SYTYCD's Jamie Bayard

2008-06-15T21:16:00.002-04:00

Hey this is Gina from BuddyTV and today I’m talking to Jamie from So You Think You Can Dance. Hey Jamie, how are you?

Doing good, how are you?

I’m okay, thanks. Well I was so sorry to see you go out first last night.

I know, thank you.

What the heck happened? Do you think that it was an issue where they were just trying to eliminate a couple? Rayven went first and so you went too?

Basically, my thoughts are that someone had to go. That’s the reality of the competition. As far as eliminating a couple in general, I don’t know what the judges were thinking on that, whether it was intentional or not. Their choice is their choice and that’s all you can really go with. I’m not upset about it, I guess.

Did the judges say anything to you after the episode, especially Mary?

They just congratulated me. One of the things that they said was this is a top 20 spot and no one can ever take that away from us, and it’s not that we are bad dancers or anything it’s just that someone had to go.

When you got a hip hop routine with a ballet dancer for a partner, were you a little bit nervous?

Absolutely, yes, because ballet and hip hop are opposite ends of the spectrum. But when we got to work on it, it turns out that Rayven was like the hardest worker there. I was so happy that I got her because we worked really, really hard into the night with it, and she didn’t stop and I didn’t stop. We had the same kind of pushing personality that way. So we went out there and we did our best and she did her best, and I’m really proud of her.

Did you go into last night’s episode worried at all that you two would land in the bottom?

Absolutely, yeah, I totally was worried that I would land in the bottom. I think everyone’s a little fearful of landing in the bottom. No one really felt too safe and it’s always a shocker, you never know what America’s going to do.

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Rayven Armijo Talks with Reality TV Magazine

2008-06-15T18:16:00.003-04:00

When asked how she felt when she found out she was going to be the first female dancer going home, Rayven Armijo said, “I was definitely, first, I was proud of myself and everything. I thank myself for actually pushing forward to keep moving and doing this, but after that thought went through, you’re disappointed because I wanted to work with all the choreographers. I wanted to keep the experience going. I wanted to show America my potential, and I know they would have fallen in love with me.”

When asked if she was nervous performing in front of an audience, Rayven said, “No, I felt completely at home. It was amazing that I felt so comfortable. I was just completely excited. I didn’t mix the feeling of excitement with the feeling of fear, you know? I was completely happy, and I know that I practice and I know that I did well, and so the audience was really feeding off of me. I mean, they made me feel good, screaming out my name the whole time and yelling for me. I felt the connection with their eyes, so I knew that I had it, so that’s no problem for me.”

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So You Think You Can Dance: Top 18

2008-06-15T18:08:00.003-04:00

Top 20 Group Number - Wade Robson, Choreographer ("Cobrastyle," Robyn)
The show opened with an incredibly fun number. I loved how Robson incorporated elements from the show itself, and specifically judge and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe into the choreography, even if he was only trussed up on a rolling chair throughout. As for the dancing, it was tight and fierce. I honestly expected a twenty dancer routine to be a bit of a nightmare, but if there were any weak points, the whole thing was just too much fun to even notice it. That said, it seemed more designed for the television, as there was also some tricky camera work as an integral part of the storytelling, than for a live theater, but what the hell. This is a television program, after all.

Guest Performances
Popping Pete and something incomprehensible that might be 'Shonee' followed by Cat biting her tongue came out and did a popping routine to "I Can Make You Dance" by Zapp. I thought there were some really dry spots during it, and would have liked the choreography to incorporate the pair together better. But I'll give them props for being part of the group that originated the style. And as they were the innovators, as with many things, others have come along and done more dynamic things with their creation.

Later, The Pussycat Dolls performed "When I Grow Up." Let's face it, this group is about how hot Nicole Scherzinger is and about the rest of the girls being half naked but still not quite as hot. For a group founded by a choreographer (Robin Antin) that started as a dance troupe performing on a dance show, I would have liked to see much better choreography out of them. Or if not that, some good singing, maybe? But I'll give credit to Scherzinger for finding a black acrylic paint to plaster on her body where most people wear pants.

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So you think you can dance: Week 1

2008-06-12T09:36:00.003-04:00

Here are a few of our favorite dances from last night. Let us know what you thought of last nights show!!

Chelsie & Mark

Kourtney & Matt

Courtney & Gev

Kooza Leaving Philadelphia

2008-06-11T08:49:00.000-04:00

MERCI PHILADELPHIA!
KOOZA run must end on Sunday, June 15

Cirque du Soleil wishes to thank Philadelphia for the incredible hospitality it has shown in welcoming KOOZA to the city. More than 112,000 people have experienced the excitement and energy of KOOZA in Philadelphia. With less than a week until the Philadelphia run of KOOZA ends, this is your last chance to see this celebrated show before it travels to Chicago.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says “KOOZA is the power of making you gasp in wonder and joy”.

KOOZA performs through Sunday, June 15, under the blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (big top) On the Avenue of the Arts (entrance on Broad at Washington). Tickets are available online at www.cirquedusoleil.com or by calling 1 800-678-5440.

Performance Schedule through June 15:
Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Cirque du Soleil wishes to thank our media partners, sponsors and especially everyone in the Philadelphia area for their enthusiasm and support in making this a successful and memorable engagement.

Spamalot Returns to Philadelphia

2008-06-08T21:14:00.000-04:00

Monty Python’s SPAMALOT Returns to Taunt Philadelphia
at the Academy of Music, August 14-31
Tony Award Winner, Best Musical 2005
Tickets On Sale Now!
June 3, 2008
The Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python's Spamalot, will return to the Academy of Music for a three-week engagement on August 14-31, 2008.
Part of the Cadillac Broadway Series, tickets ranging in price from $30 to $138 are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10am to 6pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad and Locust Streets (open during performances only). Groups of 20 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.
Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30pm; matinees Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 1pm.

America's Best Dance Crew Season 2

2008-06-07T20:42:00.001-04:00

Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew is returning for a second season on MTV. Mario Lopez will be hosting the series, Layla Kayleigh will serve as a backstage correspondent, and JC Chasez, Lil Mama, and Shane Sparks will judge the competition.

The new season of America’s Best Dance Crew is set to premiere on Thursday, June 19 at 10 PM ET/PT. Dance crews consisting of five to seven members will compete in performance themed episodes. Each week the two dance crews with the lowest viewer vote will perform in an elimination round in front of the judges, and one crew will be eliminated. The last standing dance crew will win a $100,000 cash prize.

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So You Think You Can Dance: The Top Twenty

2008-06-07T20:26:00.001-04:00

Finally, the auditions and the Las Vegas callbacks are finished for this year’s season of So You Think You Can Dance. I think the bar has been raised even higher than ever as far as talent goes and the final 20 dancers have proven themselves to truly be the cream of the crop.

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New Shane Sparks Movie in the Works

2008-06-07T20:13:00.002-04:00

An excited Sparks told us his next big-screen project "is a movie called 'The Jump-Off,' and it's like a 'High School Musical' meets 'You Got Served.' " (This is probably the movie Brown's reps call "Traded.")

Unlike T.I.'s project, Brown would be tapping feet rather than squeezing triggers in this flick. "Chris Brown is up for the lead guy on it," Sparks added. "Hopefully, that works out. The movie is a smash, and this'll be the icing on the cake. So, be on the lookout for it — it should be out at the beginning of next year. We start filming next month; we're rehearsing right now."

With a grin, the man who choreographed "Served" said that he'll be plotting out this movie's dance moves too. "We've got singing, we've got dancing, we've got ballet, we've got lyrical, we've got salsa. It's going to be the first movie to introduce every style, and have a musical sense to it, where you can hear people actually singing and doing spoken word and rap.

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America's Best Dance Crew: Season 2 Auditions

2008-06-02T19:14:00.002-04:00

FOX Reality Channel’s Albert Lawrence checked out the talent that made it to the season 2 auditions for America’s Best Dance Crew. And just as we’ve come to expect, he gives us the scoop, with some wonderful humor added for good measure. First, check out his introduction to several of the auditioning crews:

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Jabbawockeez Perform with Pussycat Dolls

2008-06-02T19:06:00.002-04:00

Here is a clip from the MTV Movie Awards of the Pussycat Dolls with the Jabbawockeez.

Billy Elliot to dance its way south

2008-06-02T18:40:00.002-04:00

THE smash-hit show Billy Elliot the Musical will open at Melbourne's Her Majesty's Theatre at the end of the year, following a successful debut Australian season at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

Based on the 2000 film Billy Elliot — about a young Geordie boy who chooses ballet over boxing and set against the British miners' strike of the 1980s — it has been seen by more than 2 million people since premiering on London's West End in May 2005, where it broke British box-office records.

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Alvin Ailey takes a step back in time

2008-06-02T18:35:00.001-04:00

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater leaps from its Manhattan home to a guest run at BAM, starting Tuesday. It's a transition that feels like a homecoming, but with new family members.

The special engagement, presented by the Joyce Theater, marks the return of Ailey to the Brooklyn Academy of Music after 35 years.

Early in its history, the company enjoyed a brief residence at BAM alongside Paul Taylor and Merce Cunningham. It was there that pieces such as "Masekela Langage" had their first New York performances with the promising new dancer Judith Jamison, now the company's artistic director.

"'Masekela' was the major part of the performance because it is not an easy ballet in terms of subject matter," says Jamison. "Alvin was very interested in the human condition, and at that time, of course, the human condition in South Africa was apartheid, and deeply so."

The rarely seen piece appears in "Classic Ailey," one of two programs put together for the BAM run, which also includes the signature "Revelations."

Ailey's depiction of a stifling summer evening in a South African bar, "Masekela" simmers with quiet rage and an impending sense of violence that is finally carried out.

"You know Mr. Ailey didn't do a step without a reason, and he really was propelled to do this work," says Jamison.

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Back in Ballet, Bending all the rules

2008-06-02T18:32:00.002-04:00

Ms. Tharp, who had been discussing her new work for American Ballet Theater, “Rabbit and Rogue,” was quite sincere. A good part of the interview had consisted of her deftly sidestepping a discussion of personal motivation. Instead she concentrated on more abstract issues about the ballet, which will have its premiere on Tuesday night at the Metropolitan Opera House, with a score by the film composer Danny Elfman and costumes by her longtime collaborator Norma Kamali.

But any new work by Ms. Tharp is a big deal, and to avoid talking about the choreographer herself would be to ignore the singular place she occupies in the dance world. An innovator and a headline maker who has both rolled with the critical punches and occasionally been felled by them, Ms. Tharp, at 66, is in the curious position of being consistently identified as both a modern dance revolutionary and one of ballet’s few great living choreographers — certainly its only female one.

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So You Think You Can Dance is on A Mission

2008-05-28T16:51:00.001-04:00

ON AN UNSEASONABLY hot day recently, the sidewalk outside the Orpheum Theatre is filled with an unusual sight for this stretch of unreclaimed downtown -- several scores of young dancers clad in tights, sweats, tutus and belly dancing outfits sprawl across the shaded ground under the marquee. But being dancers, they don't sprawl quietly; instead the mass of them constantly undulates and seethes like some many-tentacled sea creature.

The theater's front door flies open and a young man races out to the sidewalk, where he does a series of cartwheels, back flips and winged summersaults, all the while clutching in his hand a magical sheet of paper -- a ticket past the auditions to the next round of TV's freewheeling dance competition, "So You Think You Can Dance," which kicked off its fourth season on Fox last week (8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays).

Dance is enjoying something of a mini-renaissance, with the success of both "So You Think You Can Dance" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," along with the cable shows "America's Best Dance Crew" (MTV) and "Step It Up and Dance" (Bravo), as well as the "High School Musical" franchise. But we are also living in a culture that has not created a household-name dance superstar in two decades, so their shot on stage here today may be these young dancers' best (or only) shot at making their dreams of a dancing career with monetary rewards come true. (The winner will receive $250,000.)

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