'So You Think You Can Dance' quietly premiered in the summer on Fox television in 2005. Since then, we have really enjoyed watching unknown dancers try out at open auditions across the country and rise up in the ranks to become winners on the show. Often, the grand prize has been $250,000; but more importantly, a place for a future in show business is obtained.
The sweat, guts and heart it takes to make it is awe-inspiring. Dancers are awarded airline tickets to Las Vegas to comepete with each other in challenging choreography rounds. The best of the best make it into the country's top 20 and compete in Los Angeles on the televised show.
We love how different forms of dance are showcased. It's great to not only see ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary, but also Bollywood, hip-hop, animation and crump all on one show. The untrained street dancers are very exciting - they bring the future, creative side of performing alongside seasoned ballroom and technically-perfect ballet dancers.
The top ten winners of season 10 recently came to Fort Wayne for a live performance at the Embassy Theatre. We were thrilled to see the male and female first-place finishers - Fik-Shun and Amy Yakima. Fik-Shun is a crowd favorite with his hip-hop animation, street dance and charming 'face' performance. We were also delighted to see lanky, sexy Jasmine and tapper Aaron, who has the size and skill to be a gifted partner.
The dancers performed many of the crowd's favorite numbers from the season, including a bell hop number with rolling luggage cart, a gangsta bicycle crump routine, and a male duet channeling survivors of a horrible car crash. A ghostly group number reminiscent of haunted toys in the attic, and a cool pool table saloon dance were also audience favorites.
The show was terrific. The crowd loved it, and on the whole the audience was screaming, off and on their feet much of the time. It was great to see how popular dance is, and how well-received by audiences in Fort Wayne. Who knew?
Great national choreographers contribute to the show, including Napoleon & Tabitha D'Umo, Sonya Tayeh, Mia Michaels and Mandy Moore. Nigel Lythgoe produces and helps judge the show, and tall Cat Deeley is the supermodel-lookalike host. One mustn't forget ballroom dancer turned pro Mary Murphy, who loudly proclaims hot dancers are ready to board her 'Hot Tamale Train.'
The gorgeous Embassy Theatre is a perfect venue for this type of show, with its plush gilded interior and red velvet main curtain. Originally the Emboyd built in 1928, it hosted organ shows, traveling performers and vaudeville acts until becoming very run down. It was almost demolished just days before a group of volunteers took it over in 1972, raising money to save and renovate it.
In 1975, it reopened and was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Now it's one of Fort Wayne's most prized landmarks, and features broadway shows, concerts and other events. The 2400-seat theatre will be the location for a Fright Night Saturday, Oct. 19. The 1925 black & white film 'The Phantom of the Opera' starring Lon Chaney will be screened as Dennis James plays the historic Grande Page Organ. There will be tours in the narrow tunnels under the theatre as hosts describe tales of ghost hauntings and other historic legends about the place.
The Embassy is well worth seeing, even if there is no show happening. Art Deco and sumptuous, it's a jewel in Fort Wayne and one of my favorite places. Don't forget to also tune in to Fox TV next summer - an eleventh season of 'So You Think You Can Dance' has been commissioned.
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