Natalie Dancing In Greece

The Greek version of So You Think You Can Dance seems almost like some alternate universe. Season 2's Natalie Fotopoulos crossed over to that universe. She choreographs mostly, but did dance at least twice.


Thanks to Kimberly for pointing out this one, and to dance07gr for uploading both.


I wonder what our Dominic would make of alterna-Cat.

Previous coverage of Natalie in Greece here.

Benji Update

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Benji and Heidi appear at the Laguna Dance Festival October 6th. More info here. The site is worth a visit for clips of 2006 performances, if nothing else.

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Benji dances with the elite of the dance world (including Jason Samuels Smith) Oct. 29th in New York at the Career Transition For Dancers 22nd Jubilee. More Info here.

For those who don't know, Benji is an extremely talented photographer. Check his Myspace for his photos of Travis, Allison, Ivan, Jason Williams, and Ashlee Nino.

Hartford Review

One of our readers, Allen, took the time to share this excellent review of the show in Hartford last night. Thanks Allen!

My wife and I went to the show in Hartford last night. What a treat! I was particularly impressed by the group numbers, but in addition there was a great breaker piece danced by Sara, Dominic and Hok that was new to the show. It was so much better seeing the entire stage instead of one camera angle like you do on TV, and the energy and quality of the dancing was so much more evident when you weren't
watching with a critical eye, trying to decide who to vote for!

The special guests (alternates) dance in several of the group numbers, and Anya dances with Danny, and with Pasha. Jesus does the vagabond thing with Sara; Hok is (of course) the hummingbird, as well as doing the breaker piece. Shauna is there, and dances with Kameron (Ease on Down the Road).

Overall I was impressed with everyone, and they are all stars. I was glad that apart from introducing Sabra for her solo as "America's Favorite Dancer", they didn't focus on the results of the show much at all, just let the "greatest hits" of the season roll.

I was particularly taken with Dominic's dancing last night, and also Lauren's--she comes across as much more powerful live than on TV. And Neil--what an entertainer, and just like the show, just a Neil sighting leads to lots of screaming among the young girls in the audience. Probably the piece I was most impressed with live as opposed to TV was the Two Princes--the energy and precision is amazing, and Danny is...well, Danny. But Sara and Jesus's vagabonds, Sabra and Dom's hip-hop, and Jaimie and Hok's Wade Robson piece were all great, too....would've liked to seen the foxes, and the white dress waltz, the Mia routine with the goggles Nigel didn't get...and probably I'm the only person in America who actually liked the paso doble to "We Will Rock You", but I knew they wouldn't do that one. And they didn't.

The only negative is I wish they had shot more new video to introduce the performers before their solos. (Do we really need to hear Danny being accused of arrogance again?) But at least we got some Cat voice-overs, and blissfully little of Nigel.

Thanks for keeping the blog up during the tour. Sorry I don't have any pictures or videos to add from last night, but folks, if you can get to a show near you, do go, you won't be disappointed!

I found this video of the Two Princes, performed by Neil Haskell and Danny Tidwell in Hartford. Thanks to outofstocklover for uploading.

Tour Coverage

Oh no!. Our buddy Ducky got stuck in traffic and missed the Albany show. Fortunately, his correspondent Kristy was there and filed a report, with photos.

LINK

Danny performs The Solo, in Boston. Thanks to rschach for uploading.

Incidentally, One of those Neil and Danny workout photos is on page 7 of the current Star Magazine. Thanks to Jeff Haskell for the tip.

Mary Murphy Update

A friend of Mary just posted to Mary's Myspace blog. This would further explain why Mary was so emotional after Mia Michaels' piece about her dad.

Immediately following the finale of season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance, she rushed back to Ohio to spend time with her father. If you didn't read it in Us Weekly, her father has been diagnosed with cancer, and she's spending every second she can with him, making him as comfortable as she can, and making the best of these precious moments.

She is very thankful to all the fanmail, and is sorry she hasn't been able to respond as much as she used to.

To all those that wish to send cards or words of encouragement, you can send these to her dance studio:

Champion Ballroom Academy
3580 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92130
Attn: Mary Murphy

Our thoughts go out to Mary and her family.

LINK

Sara Taps

This is NOT from the tour. I'm not exactly sure where it was, but it's Sara tapdancing, battling a beat boxer.


Thanks to dbush92677 for uploading.

Tour Coverage

Sabra & Neil's Paso Doble in Albany, uploaded by iarechigz.


DanceNYY has several videos up from the Albany show. Here's Dominic, Sara, and Hok breaking.


Lauren Beckham Falcone of the Boston Herald attended the show and talked to the cast:

“Opening night (in Albany, N.Y., Friday) was so cool,” said Neil Haskell, who made it to the top four this season. “There’s such a difference performing in front of a small audience then going to an arena filled with fans.”

Haskell admitted that being the object of thousands of people’s affections is a little bizarre.

“It’s weird, but I wouldn’t want to take it away,” he said. “It’s just strange when people are snapping your picture and you’re like, that’s not going to look good.”

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LJ Blogger lostinadream04 has photos from Albany.

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Kim at GirlsTalkinSmack has pics and a list of routines. Those hoping for Pasha & Anya and Danny & Jaimie pairings will be happy.

LINK


Previewing the tour for Pennsylvania's Times-Leader, Lisa Sokolowski talked to Sabra Johnson about what winning means for her:

“Dancers are never put on a pedestal,” Johnson said. “I’m going to use this as best I can to do shows and teach and travel and do basically whatever I can. People know me and like me. When that time is over, and I’m not as cool anymore, I can start training again. For now, I’ll put that on hold for one or two years.”

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