LOVE Supple's choreography. Fabulous.

Still undecided about Jason's comment about the choreography. Unless there's some sort of brief that tells choreographers "you must have at least x bars of unison", they're within their rights to do whatever they like, and if that means to do a whole lot of non-unison work that looks good, then so be it.

Jason is a tosser. I don't have any time for him now. He can go stick his "technique" where the sun don't shine.

Helen

is there something going on with him and nat?!!

nah, he's gay...they were in the cast of Chicago together a while back and I guess they're friends.

And on a different note, who thinks Nacho Pop is as useful as boobs on a bull? He sounds like a breakfast cereal, not a choreographer. And his routine for the girls the other night was awful...just awful. 15 and under eisteddfod stuff, and my kids woulda beat them!

xxxK

^Adam Williams was in Chicago with Natalie too.

And I agree - Nacho Pop's choreography is worse than mine, from the examples I've seen. And I'm a pretty ordinary choreographer.

Helen

Supple, however, is FANTASTIC. I think he's my favourite choreographer on the show.

Why does Natalie always refer to the dancers as 'human beings'? Like, 'wow, she is the most beautiful human being'. I've seen her do it at least 3 times. It makes me giggle.

Political Correctness

What's wrong with the word "person"?

Did anyone get the feeling that the boys and girls should have had their routines around the other way tonight? Like Matt, I wanted to see the girls being girls together.

I loved Rhys and Demi's contemporary routine.

Helen

Jack: Beginning to lean towards as slightly standout winner. VERY versatile, very commercial. Turns to die for, excellent line, extension and presentation.

Rhys: Still very good. Have noticed the kind of "throw-y" jazz style leaking into other dance forms - visibly tense in the upper body as opposed to a more 'extended' line like Jack. Great personality. Discussing the Chicago number with Helen as we speak and I think it's largely a stylistic issue. Both did well, both have stylistic differences that obviously came out through the dance. There's no real better for me (unless we're breaking the routine down into elements) - it's just a Fred Astaire/Gene Kelly type debate.

Kate: Was flagging this week. Fatigue? Defeat? Stress? Injury? Whatever it is, hope she's ok. Beautiful beautiful line, always has. Regardless of outcome in competition will definitely continue to dance professionally, may want to consider the ballroom field as she seems to dance very well there!

Demi: Love her. Super-dedicated, versatile, with so much natural talent. With some training (little things like transition, jumping technique, fixing up her line) the world is her oyster. I admire her so much for all she has done to get this far. It'll be a tough call for me to decide between her and Jack.

If Demi wins, it will be at the detriment of the future of dance in Australia. What reason will kids have to train? They will look at her, and say, “Why bother with classes every week for the next 10 years?, I’ll just go on SYTYCD when I’m 18 and I’ll be right”. It’s craziness. I cannot believe we are even discussing her as a finalist.

What are you afraid of? That there are people out there without years of training that CAN in fact do well? Your post screams 'elitism' to me.

Fact remains that there are and always will be a handful of incredibly talented individuals who can do almost anything they chose to do. Should we hold them back from success simply because they haven't "seemed" to have gone about it the right way?

Most people will not be stupid enough to think "just because she can, I can". And if they do, so what? Let them try. Many will fail. Many will realise that they simply don't belong in the category of 'brilliantly talented', and will take up dance classes.

Well said, Glitters.

I know I'm not stupid enough to think I could be that awesome without training. Demi was born with natural aptitude (curse her), and I wasn't.

Kids who are serious about their dance will recognise that and work hard at their craft.

Kids who aren't serious about dance will get knocked back from SYTYCD in the first audition.

I don't believe that will be a detriment to Australian dance. Everything will balance out in the end.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Not elitism. Realism. Anyone that knows anything about dancing should be able to watch Demi and see that she falls (way) short in many areas. The choreographers all lower the difficulty of components in their pieces because she is untrained, which leaves the more versatile dancers with simple routines but more work, to ensure that Demi “get’s it”, so that they come off well in the end. Then the judges give her extensive props for “learning and growing” and the GOOD dancers get a brush away comment like “as always, you nailed it”. The show is called “So you think you can dance’ not “so you think you can learn how to dance”. I believe, that if she did not have a great-for-tv-back-story she would not have even made it through the top 100. The producers wanted her in, and so it was. Let’s see how she would go in a dance competition where there is no back story given. The public would not have warmed to her, she would not have had the opportunity to “learn and grow” and we would not be having this conversation.

I know that many children in fact ARE thinking they don’t need to train as a result of Demi’s success, which is why I made the statement in the first place.

I know that many people ARE thinking they should pick up dance lessons as a result of watching SYTYCD, therefore I proclaim your argument invalid. Who's in the right now? ie, until you can present me with a report based on a survey of substantial sample size, all you've got are theories to work on.

Sorry, what?

I thought this forum was a place for us to share our points of view. I didn't realise that I had to give evidence.

I am afraid i don't have the resources to run a survey and present a report, so I guess I have no case.

Bummer.

I'm gonna steer away from the debate above me...

Does anyone else love Jack?

I want him to win, I adore watching him dance.

JACK ! WOW !!!
This guy is totally amazing, everything he does is brilliant.
Through out this whole season , I don't think I have seen him do a bad routine. It does'nt matter who his partner is he makes them look great as well.
Jack IS a STAR and I really believe he is going to take out he title of Australia's Favourite ( BEST ) Dancer.
I also think Demi has been a great contender in this series, even though she has had no " technical training " she has done an incredible job.
But I would like to see Jack and Kate in the final 2.
Kate has also shown an amazing ability to adapt to all dance Genre's, she is just so beautiful to watch and to watch Kate and Jack together is well, I cant find a word to describe it, it's just the most stunning thing to watch.
GO KATE!, GO JACK !
I am looking forward to the grand final

Jack is one cool cat. He's an amazing dancer. I love his facial expressions.
I can't decide whether I want him or Rhys to win...

DanceAthlete wrote:

Sorry, what?

I thought this forum was a place for us to share our points of view. I didn't realise that I had to give evidence.

I am afraid i don't have the resources to run a survey and present a report, so I guess I have no case.

Bummer.

Sarcasm aside, my point was that it's stupid to make categorical statements like

DanceAthlete wrote:

If Demi wins, it will be at the detriment of the future of dance in Australia.

when you've only got opinions of a few to base it on. It's one thing to say "I'm concerned that there will be a number of people who will be disillusioned about the reality of dance training by viewing Demi as a norm as opposed to a rarity", and another to associate her with something like 'the detriment of the future of dance in Australia'.

You're welcome to share your opinion. But I'm just as welcome to give mine.

I don't want to get caught in the middle of this somewhat heated discussion...but I do want to agree with the comments made by Dance Athlete. Whilst Demi has shown a HUGE improvement in her dance abilities over the last few months (which I don't think Dance Athlete was denying)- she still is not worthy of taking out the title. If she wins, it is because the judges repeat the same boring compliments each week and because her story is so publicised. We know she is untrained- it doesn't need to be repeated- nor should it be reason to 'water down' the criticism that should be given to her performances. Her technique is awful- her feet flop off the end of her feet. She is great at her style, no doubt about it, but the competition is not Australia's favourite BGirl is it? Nor is it 'Australia's most improved dancer'. I think the point DanceAthlete was making is valid because she stresses the message that will be portayed by Demi taking out the title. Students need a well rounded training to ensure they can be the best dancer they can be- including technique, a range of styles, strengthening/stretching. These qualities are held by Kate, Rhys and Jack- and hence the reason they deserve to win. They have clearly worked their butts over throughout the childhood and careers to build this foundation which makes them the great dancers they are.
Again- Demi has done a great job in the comp of improving in a number of ways- however she does not deserve to win the title of Australia's Favourite Dancer, because we all know that is a nice way of putting the real title, Australia's Best Dancer!

thanks tamara. totally agree. Now it's time to get voting. No point in wishing alone....... unfortunately it's all about the votes. let's vote for someone who has talent, skill and personality.

^Well, since you put it that way....I vote for all of them.

Yes, Demi DOES have all of those. Have you actually SEEN her dance? I have years of experience and I look like a toddler throwing cookies on a stage compared to her.

Come down off your high horse and accept that while she does not have formal training, she truely is a magnificent dancer.

Students need a well rounded training to ensure they can be the best dancer they can be- including technique, a range of styles, strengthening/stretching. These qualities are held by Kate, Rhys and Jack- and hence the reason they deserve to win. They have clearly worked their butts over throughout the childhood and careers to build this foundation which makes them the great dancers they are.

See...now it just sounds like you're saying that what Demi does isn't considered dance.

She's had no FORMAL training. That doesn't make her NOT a dancer at all.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

She is absolutely a dancer- I never said she had no talent. I simply said that I don't believe she is more worthy of the title than Jack, Rhys and Kate. This is purely because they have talent in all areas of dance- whether it be hip hop, contemp, jazz, musical theatre or ballroom- they nail it each and everytime.
Demi has potential, she is a fabulous BGirl- In my opinion though, I think the others are much more worthy of the title.
If she wins, good on her- she probably will- but I would be MUCH happier for one of the others to take it out...

Funny thing is that I really don't like Demi as a b-girl. I prefer watching her Salsa.

Helen