the non SYTCD / DwtS Dance on TV thread

[murgatroyd]

Right now I'm watching Bill Moyer's Journal (http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/12252009/profile2.html) on PBS.

December 25, 2009
At the close of Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial year, BILL MOYERS JOURNAL takes a unique look at our nation's 16th President — through the eyes of the critically acclaimed dance artist Bill T. Jones. In a groundbreaking work of choreography called FONDLY DO WE HOPE...FERVENTLY DO WE PRAY, Jones reimagines a young Lincoln in his formative years through modern dance. Bill Moyers speaks with Jones about his creative process, his insights into Lincoln, and how dance can give us fresh perspective on America's most-studied president.

Good TiVo!

Jan

[Mikkel_Knight]

http://www.russellgotscrewed.com/

[murgatroyd]

So I start a thread to alert people to cool dance stuff which shows up on TV, a specialized 'Season Pass Alerts' kind of thing. And your post fits in -- how?

I don't mean to dis Survivor, but couldn't this have been in a Survivor thread instead? Or have they added dance routines to Survivor while I wasn't looking? ;)

Jan

[murgatroyd]

Repeats of America's Ballroom Challenge are showing up on my TiVo.

One of the episodes was the most recent (fourth) season, which had all of the segments squashed into one episode.

In the International Standard division, there's Iveta Lukosuite and her partner Gherman Mustuc:


http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/images/programfeature/season4/1235.jpg (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/images/programfeature/season4/1235_lg.jpg) Gherman Mustuc and Iveta Lukosiute
© Jeffrey Dunn

Gherman Mustuc and Iveta Lukosiute
New York

Gherman and Iveta are extraordinarily versatile dancers, competing in both the Latin and Standard divisions. Partners for five years, they are the reigning 10-dance champions. Born in Lithuania, Iveta began studying dance at age 5 and discovered ballroom at age 6. Gherman began dancing as a preteen in Ukraine. In addition to competing professionally, the couple dance in tours and teach. Iveta does not have a favorite dance and believes that ballroom's many dances offer an opportunity to express the different emotions we feel from day to day.
In the American Smooth division, there's a fun "Kill Bill" showdance from DwtS's Jonathan Roberts and his partner Valentina:



http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/images/programfeature/season4/1678.jpg (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/ballroomchallenge/images/programfeature/season4/1678_lg.jpg) Jonathan Roberts and Valentina
© Jeffrey Dunn

Jonathan Roberts and Valentina
California

Jonathan and Valentina began dancing together in May 2008, but both had years of experience with other partners. Valentina immigrated to the U.S. in her teens, bringing a strong ballet background from her native Ukraine. Jonathan, a California native, began dancing at age 20 after watching the inspiring tango scene in the film Scent of a Woman. Both dancers are seasoned professionals who have also competed in the International Latin Division (and in Valentina's case the International Standard as well). With this pedigree, it's not surprising this new couple has soared to the top ranks in American Smooth. They attribute their chemistry to their strong friendship, which began long before they became dance partners.
My TiVo also caught the American Smooth broadcast from Season Two, which had exquisite performances from Ben Ermis and Shalene Archer-Ermis, great showdances from

Mazen Hamza and Irina Sarukhanyan, Tomasz Mielnicki and J.T. Damalas (Tomasz and JT have choreographed for SYTYCD), and David Weise and Valentina Weise, plus fabulous exhibitions from the youth division, including Kiki Nyemchek and Nesya Serebro, and Winson Tam and Anna Kus. Lots of "keepers" in that episode!

Jan

[Guindalf]

We're watching season one of SYTYCD UK. Still has Cat presenting and Nigel on the panel.