So You Think You Can Dance/Fox/Wednesdays

by Veronica Wilks

To me, nothing says summer like the arrival of So You Think You Can Dance. There’s nothing I love more than walking on a warm night to get frozen yogurt and rushing home to watch the hilarious auditions, and, eventually, the incredibly inspiring competition.

SYTYCD is like an American Idol for dancing but it’s so much better. First, who doesn’t love to watch good dancers shake it? I can do without bad cover songs—sorry, I’ll go to my local karaoke bar for that—but it’s not every day you get to see raw talent like this show. The dancers come from all over and have different styles, from tap to hip hop to contemporary. The top 20 compete in partner duos with a different style of choreography each week. The changing choreography is what keeps this show so exciting. They work with some of the best, and the routines are done full-out, with costumes and lighting.

The judges and the host are also amazing. Cat Deely, the host, is British, and is the antithesis of every bobble-head Seacrest wannabe we have in the states. Her accent, her outfits, her hair…this is a woman we should all aspire to be. Then there’s British judge Nigel, who looks like one of the BeeGees and Mary, the loud one, who you wish was your aunt, because every family get-together should have someone who hoots and hollers like she does. The third judge rotates weekly, but they are always talented, kind, and brilliant dancers.

The other thing that’s great about this show is that it’s a feel good hour of TV. Starting with auditions, they rarely show the rejects (except the people obviously there for a laugh). The backgrounds of some of the dancers are really inspiring too—I cried twice in the auditions, when I realized how much an expression of emotion dancing is. There’s no backstabbing or drama (probably because they aren’t drunk 99% of the time like other reality shows)—just maybe a crush between a couple dancers.

The best thing about the show is the music! My ipod always fills up in the summer with amazing beats I had never heard until then.

The only downside is that it makes you think you can dance. That’s not a good thing in my case. It never fails to make me take a hip hop class at the gym. This is not where I belong!!!! Watch it, but leave the dancing to the dancers.