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First Review: So You Think You Can Dance Australia

TEN’s local version of the US reality contest So You Think You Can Dance Australia certainly burst to life last night as one of the big new shows of the 2008 season.

Dancing has done extraordinarily well for the Seven Network, but finally we have a show shifting focus from celebrities to emerging talent, a first since the ABC’s Strictly Dancing. And with all the leaps and tumbles, pirouettes and flourishes it is indeed better visual fare than aspiring singers.

Having seen the US series, there were few surprises structurally. We also know the basic Idol assembly line of seeing cattle call auditionees. But it didn’t matter. There is so much untapped talent that the night was filled with plenty of stunning dancers, and of course sad wannabes. The first season will sail through on its fresh, new blood alone. Hmmm, is this the real reason Daryl Somers decided to quit Dancing with the Stars?

There were some terrific dancers in Perth and Brisbane. Dancers by the name of Stephanie, Camilla, Anthony and indigenous dancer Sermsah had the judges in awe. The emotional story of 29yo Bessy who had escaped civil war in El Salvador was powerful stuff. Three hat-wearing hip hop dancers found themselves divided as only one was awarded an automatic pass to the Sydney dance-off.

And then there were the car-crash telly wannabes. Reality TV thrives on manipulation -but surely entrants know this by now. Can’t the friends and families of these people spare them the humiliation? It was bye bye to ‘model/dancer’ Angel after an awkward routine. Two over-the-top boys Ben and Liam seemed determined to get through on flamboyance, but only one got a second shot.

15yo Caleb, who was disallowed entry only on grounds of age, was a generous inclusion. Dancing to “Mad World” it wasn’t hard to see why. Hopefully he finds a career before a three year wait for a show that might damage true talent.

For a first episode, the show was surprisingly thin on bad auditions. Idol has about three times as many as Dance.

Natalie Bassingthwaighte did her best Andrew G / Cat Deeley impression, wandering the audition line to chat to the excited and impatient. The real test for her will come when the show takes to live broadcasts. Last night there was lots of seriousness, and a few too many cliches from the writing team.

The judges did well on their first night. Matt Lee is there to appeal to younger viewers (was that a Justin Timberlake hat?). Jason Coleman could become the resident “nasty” judge. He also seemed to be the team captain, building up the drama and hosting proceedings. I still haven’t worked out Bonnie Lythgoe’s strengths yet. If we needed to import a judge (and indeed one whose former husband co-created the show) then I was a little surprised she wasn’t providing more stark moments. Judges like Simon Cowell and Dicko were more succinct and passionate than Lythgoe, becoming watchable talent in themselves.

It was a little disappointing the show ran overtime, which is unacceptable for a show that is pre-recorded.

Nonetheless, there is much more to come. Like all of TEN’s reality juggernauts, we should expect some brilliance, tragedies, scandals, denials, secrets, fury, and very possibly, a star.

So You Think You Can Dance screens on Network TEN Sundays and Mondays at 7:30pm.

13 Responses

  1. Host was remarkably boring and lack lustre. Bonnie was completely useless as a judge. Jason came across self absorbed.

    Dancers: they were all good, except Vanessa who made me want to kill myself. Please girl, drop that cutesy act.

  2. how come some dancers got cut after missing one beat, but Whitney stood there and bummed out totally and got another chance? Was even followed into the toilets by Jason Coleman and given another chance? Is that favouritism or what? Tell me she doesn’t get into the top 20 please!

  3. I think Bonnie’s strength lies in her many years of experience as a dancer/choreographer in the industry, her enthusiasm, warmth, empathy. Her comments have been really honest, to the point, and quite constructive unlike some female judges i can think of… (sorry Marcia, Hines, love you to death but you are a terrible judge!)

  4. I too was re-living the trauma of the Sia-filled Six Feet Under Finale…when I wasn’t thoroughly enjoying the awesome dancing.

    Bring on the Top 20!

  5. I really liked the show but it was pretty clear they were playing the emotive card at every turn – in the 90 minute episode they played just about every song that could create an emotive response to have hit our airwaves in the last few years.

    I too found myself tearing up at times and then thinking ‘wait on, am I crying because of the show’s content or because this is Sia’s Breathe Me and I still can’t get over the final episode of Six Feet Under?’

    Regardless, they’ve suckered me in and I’ll be watching again tonight.

  6. A great night’s television – especially with The Biggest Loser as a lead in to SYTYCD. I, too, found it very emotional at times and am glad they resisited the temptation to show too many of the less talented auditionees. In this regard it is a huge step ahead of Idol.

    Looking forward to seeing how the show develops. ….and yes, Caleb was a major highlight! I think he has been discovered.

  7. Well, I DID watch it … and it was a very good show … except for the lame plastic talentless host! Some of the dancers were astounding … Caleb in particular was magnificent and should be a star before he needs to audition again for this show … i was even in teas at times …
    Also good that they put so many good looking prople through to Sydney! Wise move! Even the judges are very appealing!
    Jack!

  8. I think comparing Dance to Idol is a bit unfair. I liked the fact that there weren’t endless no-hopers auditioning. Natalie did a great job hosting. Fun, yet not demanding/dominating airtime. This will only get better as the American series did.

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