A devoted and long time Ducky reader MelliMel sent in a quick recap of the Los Angeles stop on the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Tour. Yes, it’s still going on… those kids have got to be hurting by now. Take it away MelliMel.

LOS ANGELES — The SYTYCD tour finally hits Los Angeles, this time appearing at the new Downtown venue called the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live near the Staples Center. The night before Thanksgiving, too. So I’m all sorts of thankful to see my beloved dancers doin’ what they do. I brought along with me one of my best buds, along with her 6-year-old daughter. This concert would be her first real concert ever. Unless you count the Wiggles. But I won’t.

Sadly, my digital camera was useless. I failed to look at the expiration date on the two sets of Energizer batteries that were in my stash, and much to my chagrin they were BOTH EXPIRED as of 1/07. ARRGH! Also, I didn’t write notes, so everything written here is to the best of my memory.

The Nokia Theatre L.A. Live (awkward name, much?) is brand spanking new, and claims to be mid-size, holding 7100 fans. It boasts that no seat is further than 210 feet from the stage. I was in row N, all the way stage left, but I was just glad to be there among the likes of Nigel Lithgoe and Mary Murphy (who were in the audience — the dancers gave them a shout out after the Kat Deeley-roll call-intro).

My Thoughts:
*I was glad that all the dancers were present, including the “subs” Anya, Shauna, Hok and Jesus. Having more dancers allowed for the group numbers to be a great spectacle, especially the Lion King number by Tyce.

*LA has a lot of love for Danny. He probably got the most applause from the crowd.

*Neil got the most screams, however. Hmm, maybe I had something to do with that. I heart him so!

*Interesting substitutions: Sara did Lauren’s part in the Matrix number. Kam danced with Shauna to Ease on Down the Road. Anya danced in the Chicago number instead of Lacey. Jamie danced the jive with Danny.

*Dominic is a natural comedian. But…please don’t sing, my brutha.

*Neil, opening up his shirt a la Dmitry, and Dmirty showing up, with HIS shirt open. Neil looked genuinely flustered.

*The Mia Michaels contemporary dance (dedicated to her father) was even more poignant as all the dancers, dressed in white, started off the dance carrying the flowers and showered the stage with them.

*The dances which still looked fresh and amazing: Neil/Sabra (Sweet Dreams/table); Lacey/Kam (Mia’s contemporary); Sabra/Dom (Shane’s hip hop with the chairs); Jamie/Hok (Hummingbird); Danny/Neil (Two Princes); Lauren/Pasha (Transformers)

*During the Two Princes dance, Danny jokingly smacked Neil on the head. Funny!

*Who picked warmups as the finale costume? It totally didn’t fit the finale song from Hairspray (”You Can’t Stop the Beat.”)

*Anya/Pasha’s latin number (from auditions) was fantastic. They are perfect partners.

*Don’t buy souvenirs at the intermission…I missed the group number that Mia choreographed (Imogene Heap), as well as Sara & Jesus’ Wade Robson number. DRAT! Speaking of souvenirs, I thought it was interesting how the dancers were “walking advertisements,” as they wore the various merchandise (sweatshirts, pants, tees) during their emcee bits. Way to go, corporate cash cows! My wallet, however, hates you.

*Note to self. Don’t expect a 6-year old to last through a concert if she doesn’t nap first. Poor thing was sleeping through the second half…which IMHO was the best part. Also, her tiredness precluded us from waiting an hour after the concert for the meet-and-greet.

*I think Fox should try selling a soundtrack each season. I kept hearing how people in the audience liked this song or that.

Well, that’s it, folks. Even with the lack of pictures or meet & greet, it was definitely worth it. Now what am I gonna do to meet my SYTYCD fix until Season Four?

–melliemel

This entry was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 7:16 pm and is filed under Ducky Does TV, So You Think You Can Dance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.