Great start for the new season of So You Think You Can Dance!

There were moments of greatness, moments of wierdness, and moments of "do they really think they have talent??". I even learned some new words last night - joint-tortionism, mutation dance genre, and schmean.

Coach Roach is all into the colors and emotions and personal stories. . . I just want to see as much dancing as possible!! (I do have to admit that I love hearing about the hardships they've overcome - auntie's death, arthritis, birth defects, etc. etc.) But really - how many auditions have you been at, where the judges want to know anything personal about you?

Last night there were quite a few excellent "street performers" - but as usual, they were unable to do the choreography (I wish we could have seen more of the attempts at choreography)

The producers teased us with a few seconds of dancers that had beautiful turns, extensions, and leaps. . . . and then you'd see them running out with a ticket to Las Vegas. I can't wait to see more of those dancers.

So You Think You Can Dance isn't only about the dancers. . . the judges are a huge part of the show. I LOVE their reactions. . . even though they are sooooo "over the top". I love when Mary screams (she even cried last night) and I can't wait until she puts someone on the "hot tamale train". I love it when Nigel lectures the dancers about taking more classes or telling them that they are insulting all serious dancers. The guest judges (Napoleon, Tabitha, and Sonya) were really good and I can't wait to see their choreography this season.

Ms. Laura

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 – The Emotion of Dance

Right of the bat, I notice that the colors seem to be really popping this year. The intro graphics look especially nice. Even when shooting the audition lines outside the venues, the colors seem to be enhanced. Might be due to advanced technology or could be some post production magic. Either way, I love it and I don’t even have an HD receiver.

Mary looks really good this year. Nigel too. I swear, Mary gets better and better looking with each year. She is sooo crazy! Letting loose with her scream with the first contestant.

Guest judges, Tabatha & Napolean in Brooklyn and Sonya in Denver, were very interesting. Especially Sonya. She was just melting out of her skin during the good auditions. I think she will be one of the more interesting judges and choreographers this year.

I’d have to say that the overriding theme of the show was, “The Emotion of Dance”. Right from the get go, they were pulling at our heart strings with Gabi Rohas’ story of being raised fatherless in the circus, the wonderful lady with the spinal desease fighting for respect, Kellen crying over his deceased aunt and Sonya just writhing with love for all the great dancers.

Looks like So You Think You Can Dance 2009 is gonna be a wild one.

Coach Roach

So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 Premiers Tonight

Well now that Armerican Idol is finished, it's time for the new season of "So You Think You Can Dance". . . hopefully America will pick the right winner (unlike A.I - yes, I was a fan of Adam's from day one!!). Anyway, it's gonna be fun. This blog is for super-fans of dance. We are going to be commenting on everything - costumes, choreography, bad feet, judges comments etc. So watch tonight and blog!!

Dance Auditions - fun for some

Dance auditions are always so much "fun" (to watch. . . not participate in). Dancers train for 10+ years and then have a few minutes to stand out from the crowd and impress the judges. I have to admit that in the previous seasons of So You Think You Can Dance, I have never chosen the winner from the auditions. . . I do think that the producers edit the show so that we don't see too much of the best dancers until a couple of weeks into the show.

Hey dancers - how about sharing some of your audition stories? (I'm off to Costco now - but I have a couple of auditions from my past that I will be sharing soon)

Ms. Laura

So You Think You Can Dance Judge & Choreographer - Mia Micheals

Mia Michaels' choreography for Céline Dion's "A New Day..." under the direction of Franco Dragone at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas received stunning reviews. The show featured a cast of 50 dancers with two hours of pure dance artistry. Currently her work can be seen on Céline Dion's world tour, "Taking Chances" and Cirque du Soleil's first touring show, "Delirium," which premiered March 2006. She has also created works for numerous recording artists including Madonna, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan, Anna Vissi and Prince.

For her work on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, Michaels recently won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for her dance piece "Calling You." Other work in film and television includes "Cool Women" for AMC/DreamWorks Television and award-winning commercials for Mike's Hard Lemonade, Bacardi, Coldwell Banker, Ziploc, the WNBA, Star TV and VISA.

Included in her diverse concert and stage work is the critically acclaimed New York based dance company, RAW, of which she is the founder, artistic director and choreographer. She has created works for the Paper Mill Playhouse's production of "Hello, Dolly!," Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and Oslo Dance Ensemble. Her choreography has been seen off-Broadway with "If These Shoes Could Talk" and "Fort Chaffee." Michaels has also held faculty positions at prestigious institutions of dance around the world including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet and the International Dance Festival of Italy.

Michaels is constantly striving for new inspirations for her work. Her students and peers around the world have noted her as a memorable influence. She has a way of touching people's lives with passion, emotional expression and style of dance.

Born and raised in Coconut Grove, FL, Michaels currently lives in New York City but continues to teach master classes around the world.

So You Think You Can Dance Judge - Mary Murphy

Canal Fulton, OH, native Mary Murphy is an in-demand film and television star. In addition to her crowd-pleasing work as a judge on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Mary has traveled for special guest appearances in Australia, Canada and Norway.

Murphy's also appeared in a featured role in the thriller "Killer Movie," starring Kaley Cuoco, Jason London and J.C. Chasez. The long list of stars she has coached includes Julia Roberts, Mary Steenburgen, Donnie Wahlberg and Dennis Quaid.

Beyond her work in Hollywood, Murphy continues to be one of the hardest-working women in dance; serving as a judge at major ballroom dance competitions across the U.S., including The Holiday Dance Classic in Las Vegas.

Murphy is also a world-class technical dance instructor and is based at her Champion Ballroom Academy in San Diego, CA.

Murphy lives in San Diego, CA.

How So You Think You Can Dance differs from other dance shows on television?

"It's fired a lot of people across the country as far as, you know, enjoying the other dance styles because now we're seeing in dance studios across the country not only in ballet or jazz they're offering ballroom and hip-hop in that very same dance studio. It never used to be like that. It all used to be separate. Now it's all coming together and I just think it's great."

Why do audiences relate with So You Think You Can Dance?

"People love dancing, so when they're sitting there at home watching it, a lot of them are just living through the people that can dance, they always wished they could be a dancer, some had dreams when they were a kid of being a dancer, and then they live through these kids, because these are kids that don't have necessarily great opportunities, people that live in the back of the bayou that come out you know and had no opportunity, had no training and all of a sudden, bam, you see them under some other choreographer's work being able to pick it up and it's so inspiring for a lot of people to, to be able to see something like that."

How difficult it is for dancers to appear on So You Think You Can Dance?

"To make it on to this show is not easy. You know, first of all you don't necessarily have to have a background but you have to have great personality if you don't have the technical ability. If you've had years of technical ability that's going help you so far. It's going to get you probably to Las Vegas. But if you get to Las Vegas on technical ability only, and not the personality, you're not going to make it into that top 20. You have to have the whole package. We have to see something special inside of you. We have to see this twinkle in your eye, as well. Some people just have that and some people don't. We don't even know what to tell people to do to go get that."

Does she enjoy teaching dance?

"I love teaching dance. I've been a teacher for, let's just say a whole lot of years and most of my clients, you know, they just make me laugh. I enjoy it so much, sometimes I'm just wondering, I'm the luckiest person in the whole world to be able to make money at something that I just love to do."

So You Think You Can Dance Judge - Nigel Lythgoe

Nigel Lythgoe, currently the President of 19 Television, joined 19 Television as Chief Executive in 2001 from London Weekend Television, where he was controller of entertainment and comedy. Lythgoe is one of the U.K.'s most respected TV talents and has a host of major credits, including the U.K. series "Pop Idol," "Gladiators" and six Royal Variety Shows. He co-created and executive-produces the Emmy winning series SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. His other executive-producer credits include all seven seasons of AMERICAN IDOL as well as "Next Great American Band," "American Juniors," "All American Girl" and the specials "An American Idol Christmas" and "World Idol." AMERICAN IDOL has been nominated for 30 Emmy Awards and in 2007 received the prestigious Governors Award, the Television Academy's highest honor, for IDOL GIVES BACK. Lythgoe became a household name in the U.K. as "Nasty Nigel," the judge on "Popstars."

Lythgoe lives in Los Angeles.


How So You Think You Can Dance differs from other dance shows on television?

"I think So You Think You Can Dance offers a real insight into the world of dance, into the creativity of a routine. You're seeing world-class choreographers put together a routine there and then in front of the camera with dances that are just out to win a competition. Get a quarter of a million dollars. I mean - when I was a dancer, a quarter of a million dollars was the end of a rainbow. You never saw that. Now, there's the opportunity to get your hands on a quarter of a million dollars, at the same time doing something you love with a passion; that you've got every sort of fiber of their body that wants to dance."

How difficult it is for dancers to appear on So You Think You Can Dance?

"I think it's very tough to come here and get onto the show. So many people don't realize what we're looking for in dance. We don't just need technique; we need charisma, we need all of those things that sort of falls under the label of "the X factor". No one really knows what it is. It's something that some people have and other people don't. Now, add to that a dance technique and well and it's tough."

Who is Cat Deeley??

Birmingham, England, native Cat Deeley is also one of the foremost television presenters in the UK and has recently become one of the hottest new faces on American TV following her hugely successful seasons hosting SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. Deeley was Jay Leno's first regular entertainment correspondent on "The Tonight Show" and recently performed the same duty for "Good Morning America." Deeley is a double BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award winner and has won many other awards for her work on some of the UK's hottest primetime shows, including "Stars in Their Eyes," "CD:UK Live" (on which she appeared weekly for six years), "SMTV: Live" (which she hosted for three years), "Comic Relief Does Fame Academy," the "V Festival" (2004, 2005), "The Brits," "Record of the Year," "Elton John Live from New York," "The Latin Grammy Awards" and a one-hour special with U2, "When Cat Met U2," for ITV.

Deeley often lends her time to the Great Ormond Street Hospital, a children's hospital in London, and divides her time between her homes in London and Beverly Hills.

Cat Deeley Talks about So You Think You Can Dance:

How So You Think You Can Dance differs from other dance shows on television?
"I think it showcases the most talent on TV. It literally is. It's not celebrities. It's not anybody else. We're not putting them through the wringer. These are actually trained professional dancers and we take them on a journey. And the audience watches it."

Why do audiences relate with So You Think You Can Dance?
"It's the human element that people identify with. It shows trials and tribulations, successes and failures, that's what makes our show a success and just their immense talent."

How are the auditions this year?
"So far, the auditions have been going fabulously. We seem to have lots of personalities. Lots of great stories. Amazing dancers. 'Cause that's the whole thing. We're not looking for necessarily the best dancer in America. What we're actually looking for is the person who is America's favorite dancer, which is a little bit different. Obviously, technically, they've got to be brilliant at what they do 'cause we're asking them to cope with all different genres and styles, which is something that professionally they would never get asked to do. But we also want them to have that little something special; that star quality. A little bit of fairy dust that's almost indefinable."

What does she do to help put the contestants at ease?
"Before we did the very first one I said, okay, what do you need, what do you want? And do whatever you fancy. So I've now developed this thing that I call the Monkey Girl that comes out on audition days and it's basically I go down the line and I learn the moves and I eat their breakfasts and I get in their sleeping bags and wrap myself in the blanket and all that kind of stuff, and I need a bucket of coffee to get me going at that time in the morning but once I'm going I'm just, that's it, I'm, I'm going, going, going. And then it's, it feels as though there's, there's a definite relationship then that develops and it's a very natural relationship that develops because I have known them right from the start. So then when we bring them to the studio and we put them in this extraordinary situation where, you know, you have to hit a mark and we're live on TV to millions of people and there's ten cameras and you have to remember your spots and your lights and all that kind of stuff, I'm the one person that's a regular throughout the whole thing. Even when the judges perhaps some weeks turn around and go, that was atrocious, terrible, you don't deserve to be here, I'm still the person that helps them pick up the pieces and kind of squeezes their hand and carries them on, you know."

So You Think You Can Dance 2009 – Introduction

Hey everybody! I am Coach Roach and this is the So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 super fan blog. I will be assisted with this blog by my wife, Ms. Laura, and of course, all of YOU.

Who are we??

Well I am just your basic Southern California guy that has always had a love for Dance and been a long time fan of So You Think You Can Dance.

Ms. Laura has been a Dancer all her life. She has been the owner and only Dance Teacher at Laura’s Dance Academy for 25 years.

We are creating this blog to provide a forum for expression for ALL the fans of the So You Think You Can Dance 2009 Season. There will be plenty of opportunity for you to comment and opinionate as well as regular polls where you will be able to vote for your favorite personalities. Be sure to check back regularly and to interact as often as you wish. This is Your site.

We are very excited as the season premier draws near. In order to fuel that excitement, FOX has launched several previews of what's to be expected for the fifth installment of the show. The bar has been raised and the dancers are ready to take on the challenge, especially now that the judges are expecting even more from every contestant. Below, you can preview video clips for this year's dynamic return of So You Think You Can Dance. The show that provides such great opportunities to so many, as well as feeding the energy of those who can't wait to experience every moment of the series.