So You Think You Can Dance - Season 6 - The Best 15 Routines EVER!

Seriously. Did Season 5 not end about 20 minutes ago?

Tonight is a special edition where we will be looking at The Best 15 Routines Ever from the past 5 seasons - and we start off in an empty theatre... it's just you, me and Nigel. We have a very cosy night ahead of us.

This won't be a critique night at all. This is a night honouring some of the highlights of the past 5 years, and pretty much it's all been said before.

We begin with Season 1. Flashing back to the auditions, it's crazy to see the changes in the judges! The hair cuts, the clothes! Wow!

As I said below, my sad sad VCR is very busy these days, so I won't be able to go back and catch all the songs and dancers, but I will do my very best, and hopefully I should be able to post most of the numbers from youtube as I go along.

Our first recap number is a hip hop piece performed by Destiny and Jamile to Shake by Pitbull. Because it's from waaaay back in Season 1, I haven't seen this before and it's really good!


The second number is Nick (who went on to win the season) and Melody dancing to All That Jazz from Chicago. Fun!



The first season was such a success that they decided to expand their auditions for Season 2... and here are some of the highlights!

The first recap is Benji (Season 2 winner) and Heidi dancing to the Black Mambo by Angel and the Mambokats. Wow. This is just fantastic. Kind of makes the rest of them look like... amateurs!


Season 2 also brought us Ivan and Allison doing a contemporary number to Why by Annie Lennox. This was choreographed by Tyce Diorio and brought the show it's first ever Emmy.




Here's one I'm sure we've all seen before - Travis and Heidi with the Bench Routine. Choreographed by Mia Michaels and another Emmy for the show...




Tee hee. They've composed a little montage of Mary screaming. As annoying as it is, I have to admit, I always laugh. With her or at her... it's really all the same, isn't it?

We're moving into Season 3 now, and I'm taken back... back to a time when it was all new and exciting... my very first season. And oh look! It's Danny! And Neil! And Lacey! And... sigh... loved them all so very much.


Of course one of this seasons highlights is Jaimie and Hok doing the Hummingbird and Flower piece... which got them yet another Emmy... ummm... as much as I love this one... didn't we just see all the Emmy numbers in the last episode of Season 5? About 20 minutes ago?




And this one, this one was fantastic - a definite favourite from Season 3. The table dance with Neil and Sabra performed to Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics.


Oh, and I really did enjoy this one... it's Lacey and Danny dancing to Hip Hip Chin Chin.

I realize as I am watching this episode how much my play lists have been influenced by this show. There are so many songs I have added to my collection that I likely would not have been drawn to - at least 50 of them (I just counted...!).

It also occurs to me that I think I'd like to see a dance off between Danny and Emanuel...





Season 3 had a lot of good stuff! Here's Pasha and Lauren doing their Transformer number to Fuego by Pitbull. This one is excellent! And it brings another Emmy nomination, this time for Shane Sparks...




Into Season 4 we go, another season I was very invested in... Such strong dancers, Katie, Josh, Twitch, Chelsie, Mark, Courtenay - all of them so fantastic!

This is one of my favorite songs that I picked up that Season - The Garden by Mirah... with Mark and Courtenay doing a jazz piece choreographed by Sonia... loved. it. One year, I want one of the quirky people to win, just one time.




I remember this next one as being the first number of Season 4 that was truly fantastic. Mark and Chelsie dancing to Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis, one of the better ones choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon, and nominated for an Emmy as well. I watched this one so many times, I couldn't even count...



Now here's a contemporary one I had forgotten about. Josh and Katie dancing to Hometown Glory by Adele, choreographed by Mia Michaels. This is such a strong dance, it actually gives me goosebumps. Can't believe it had slipped out of my mind!



It honestly seems way to soon to be having recaps of Season 5. But since they're part of the show, I guess we'll take a look at them...

Brandon and Janette with a really fantastic disco...



Now this is one I could watch over and over... so amazing... Kayla and Kupono with Mia Michael's addiction number. Danced to Gravity by Sara Bareilles. Every time I see this one, I am so taken with the intricate movements and gestures...


Oh, I'm glad this one made it in, probably my favourite number of the season. Jason and Jeanine (Season 5 winner) dancing to If It Kills Me by Jason Mraz. Travis Wall is the choreographer, and it was just lovely. One of my new favourite songs as well...



Nigel tells us that after the break we will get to see his favourite number out of all the seasons gone by. I'm intrigued! There's so much to pick from, what's he going to choose?


Ah. Of course. The Breast Cancer dance with Melissa and Ade. Danced to This Woman's Work by Maxwell.

And that makes 15.

Season 6 is just around the corner, says Nigel, with auditions starting in LA on September 9th.

With the recaps behind us, I'm curious to see what talent turns up next week, so keep tuning in to Pop Goes the Word for regular updates and commentary!

Have a great night!

p.s. I think my VCR has exploded. Thanks Kim. :)