Get ready for some goddamned spam. Also, Dance Concert!

[jlh]

I haven't been posting that much lately—October is a crazy month for me work-wise with some assignment due every week for one class or another, not to mention that I STILL DON'T HAVE A NEW BATTERY so my computer unplugs and there goes some entry I was working on in the client I use. But there's tons of stuff I haven't posted about. Yeah, most of it is television, but just be prepared for the spam. Given that I've posted all of six times in the last month, hopefully even Rach won't complain about a bunch of posts in one night. I'm feeling energetic.

Other than work and meals/television with friends, I haven't been up to much lately. I went home for the county fair back at the beginning of the month, and watching my mother interact with bhanesidhe was just as awesome as I thought it would be. idlerat and bowdlerized had a nice time petting as many animals as possible including llamas. And I got to have an Italian sandwich from Amato's and a chocolate buttercrunch donut from Dunkin Donuts. (Why don't they sell the chocolate buttercrunch or chocolate coconut donuts at the NY Dunkins? What is up with that?)

The other fun thing was going to the So You Think You Can Dance concert with sistermagpie. It was at Madison Square Garden, a horrid place to find dinner, so in honor of our dear mistful we headed to TGIFriday's and had huge margaritas and chicken fingers. And then it was time for the show! It was really fun to sit in an audience full of families and listen to a bunch of teenage girls scream for their favorite dancers. Magpie did a great recap of the concert to which I have very little to add except that it was really fun to see how they expanded some of the group numbers—they combined some things into an overall Fosse tribute, they incorporated the other six dancers into the top four Sexyback, and they ended with an expanded "You Can't Stop the Beat"—and to see new numbers choreographed by Travis, Benji and Dmitry. I think the only dance I loved that I didn't see was the Benjelle cha-cha but you can't have everything. So:

Biggest personality: Come on, of course it's Benji. He was not so much the star dancer as the MC of the show, doing the most introductions of other dancers.
Most surprising (girl): Donyelle and her charming manner as the co-host of sorts. She was adorable and funny and I think reminded everyone of why she was such a great partner for Benji. And her solo, to Beyonce, was awesome in its use of props and narrative.
Most improved (boy): Ivan, absolutely. His solo was mesmerizing, while they had always been at best adequate on the show. And the girls LOVE HIM.
Most improved (girl): Natalie, who finally dropped her sex kitten schtick. Her solo to "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs was tough and rocking, and I found it intriguing that Travis chose her as the partner for the contemporary number he choreographed. She also was a close second as the girl fan favorite.
Fan favorite (boy): Travis, no contest. You should have heard the screams. Seriously, what teenage girl wouldn't adore a young gay contemporary dancer who looks like a hobbit?
Fan favorite (girl): Totally Allison, who was adorable, particularly in the Fosse numbers.
Most surprising (boy): Dmitry. Who knew he could choreograph, and such a fun, hot number that was far from being as OTT as his solos often were. Speaking of solos, his displayed extensive cape work, which Benji pointed out in his intro takes a lot of skill.
Most I'm still not feeling you in spite of your mad skilz and hot body (girl): Martha, though to be honest she didn't have a ton of dancing time, nor did Dmitry or Ryan. They simply weren't a part of as many of the favorite dances as the others. Still, in the group numbers she was not one of the people I was watching.
Most I'm still not feeling you in spite of your mad skilz and hot body (boy): Ryan, though my god he has a hot body. I felt him more in person than I had on the show, but as with Martha, he still didn't stand out in the group numbers.
Having the best time: Heidi, absolutely. She was beaming the entire show, and then was so into the "bench" contemporary with Travis that he had to intro it for her. One reason I'm pleased, looking back, that she made the finals is that it confirmed for her that she's a great all-around dancer—something she needed to hear more than Allison, I think.

Anyway, it was a really fun concert and I was so glad that I had a little Xmas money left in the kitty to cover the tickets. I don't think I'd ever go to an American Idol concert, but I'd see another SYTYCD show in a heartbeat!

Comments

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

OMG, that concert was so fun and I second all your calls, especially the young gay contemporary dancer who looks like a hobbit--what a great description. Martha I never got during the show either. She was likable as a person, but not as a dancer. Donyelle was so fabulous she needs a TV show.