The Number 1 Dance Show on TV

So I am an avid So You Think You Can Dance watcher seeing as I have been a dancer for almost the entirety of my life. It warms my soul to see quality dancing on mainstream television.

I think the best thing about the show is that they highlight both technically trained and not trained dancers, challenging them to try different styles of dance and stretching them out of their comfort zones. I have to agree that talent and versatility do go hand in hand, which is why I don't like American Idol. You are not the best singer if you can only sing pop - I would have to say then you are only the best "pop singer."

I love SYTYCD because it actually applauds and recognizes several styles of dance as being notable (though I do wish we could see some more ballet and tap). The show continues to exceed my expectations though, and after seeing the pas-de-deux tonight I feel like they are continuing to broaden their horizons.

I love to watch the show for the choreography in particular - they have some brilliant and well known talent on the show. Mia Michaels (who I used to see judge and teach at dance competitions back in my dance team days) is one of my favorites as an artist on the show. I also love Wade Robson's work because it is so quirky and unique. (I would love to know where in the hell he is this season).

Tonight set new heights for the show though because Desmond Richardson was the guest choreographer who did the pas-de-deux. He is not a household name, but in the dance community he is BIG! Most people know Baryshnikov however, and Desmond Richardson is a ballet/contemporary dancer of that caliber. I am just so pleased as a technically trained ballet/modern dancer to see them continue to bring in such high quality talent even if most of the audience is not familiar. Yay Nigel Lythgoe!

I must say with our wedding and with my weird work hours this summer, it has made it harder than usual to keep up with the show. Kevin actually watches it with me and enjoys it (one of the thousands of reasons I love him so much.) Actually, last week I was driving home from meeting with Kierstie and Debbie about our show and knew I wasn't going to get to the TV in time to see the dance solos or results. I called Kevin, and was semi-surprised to hear him watching it without me. The best part though was the play-by-play he gave me of the solos.

"She's turning. Now she's rolling on the floor. She jumped. She did a pirouette. He's jumping. He took his shirt off. He did a flip...."

Now I have to admit, the fact that Kevin knew the term "pirouette"and in the correct context makes me a proud woman! Again, what this show is all about - and also why it should be the Number 1 dance show in America.

Dancing with the Stars and Dance Crew can take their geriatric ballroom and gyrating and grinding somewhere else...somewhere with American Idol for that matter...