So last night I watched the new Bravo show “Step it up and Dance”. The show just started a week back which brings together 12 dances from around the world and puts them into a dance off. Here is the promo for “Step it Up and Dance” from Bravo TV.
At first, I really did think the show would suck, from the previews it looked a bit silly. Male ballet dancers doing hip-hop? But after watching for about 15 minutes, I gotta say, I really got into it. It did not take long for all the reality TV drama to get started. Before the competition even begins, one of the women tears a muscle and goes home. Now there are only 11 contestants before they even begin eliminations.
Unlike any other reality show I watch, this one did elimination a bit differently. They had a short freestyle dance off and Jamie King split the dancers into 2 groups, the stronger freestyle dancers and the weaker ones. The dancers in the “strong” group were now dancing for the win, while the weak group dancers were dancing to stay alive and not get eliminated. So basically, no one in the “weak” group could win and no dancer in the “strong” group could be eliminated. So it really sucked when Cody, who was in the “weak” dance group did so well and was told had he been in the “strong” group, he most likely would have won. Remember… they picked the groups from a short little freestyle dance off to begin with.
The winner was Janelle, who did a good job, but I do not think it was great. Her facial expressions during her solo dance routine looked horrible to me. She looked angry and ugly. Being passionate is one thing, but this was way over the top. I wish I had a video, as soon as I do, I will post it.
Another show fave is James and poor Adrianna got sent home. She too got the short end of the deal by being in the “weak” dance group since one of the girls in the “strong” group, Jessica, really screwed up badly and even left the stage DURING the dance sequence. Yep, everyone is dancing, Jessica gets lost and runs away. Jessica would have been eliminated had she not been in the top group.
I really love this opening sequence for the movie step up. Not a new movie at all(2006), but available on DVD now and Step Up is a great dance flick that showcases many different styles with a great cast of dancers and choreographers. And yes, a good amount of Dirty Dancing. Directed by Anne Fletcher, the movie has a simple plot and maybe overdone plot about following your dreams, and of course, being from the wrong side of the tracks while trying to go from criminal loser to top dance “”winner”, but who cares, this flick is all about the moves and the dance and this cast dances their butts off.
This is the cast below…
Channing Tatum … Tyler Gage
Heavy D … Omar
Jenna Dewan … Nora Clark
Damaine Radcliff … Mac Carter
De’Shawn Washington … Skinny Carter
Mario … Miles Darby
Drew Sidora … Lucy Avila
Rachel Griffiths … Director Gordon
Josh Henderson … Brett Dolan
Tim Lacatena … Andrew
Alyson Stoner … Camille
In 2007 the film won a Teen Choice award.
From IMDB, the plot goes like this…
In Baltimore, the troublemaker and street dancer Tyler Gage lives with his foster parents in an Afro-American lower class neighborhood. His best friends are Mac Carter and his little brother Skinny Carter and they use to hang around together, going to parties and stealing cars. After being expelled of a party, the trio breaks in the Maryland School of Arts and commits vandalism, destroying the stage. Tyler is arrested and sentenced to 200 hours of community service in the school and Director Gordon assigns him to help the janitor cleaning the place. One afternoon, the ballet dancer Nora Clark sees Tyler dancing in the parking area and when her partner Andrew has a strain and Tyler offers to help her in the choreography, she accepts the offer; they rehearsal and become close to each other while Tyler becomes friend of the students Miles Darby and Lucy Avila. When Andrew returns, Tyler that is known for quitting everything he starts gives up dancing and leaves Nora alone. After an incident, Tyler has to decide to follow his dream or return to his life of rebel loser.
dance off and Jamie King split the dancers into 2 groups, the stronger freestyle dancers and the weaker ones. The dancers in the “strong” group were now dancing for the win, while the weak group dancers were dancing to stay alive and not get eliminated. So basically, no one in the “weak” group could win and no dancer in the “strong” group could be eliminated. So it really sucked when Cody, who was in the “weak” dance group did so well and was told had he been in the “strong” group, he most likely would have won. 
Remember… they picked the groups from a short little freestyle dance off to begin with.
