Posts Tagged ‘Season 5’
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Tour Interview with Caitlin Kinney and Kupono Aweau
What’s the best thing about being on tour and what will you miss most when the tour is over?
Caitlin Kinney: I’m gonna miss the people. We’ve kind of become each others’ families just because none of us have our families with us. We all have moments where we’re driving each other crazy, but then I feel like there’s that first week home and we’re just going to go into withdrawal or something.
Kupono Aweau: The best part, for me, it’s just been traveling. The traveling is ridiculous. You think you have to go Europe to experience it, but like we have some phenomenal cities here in the U.S. and I am just so honored we got to go to some places like Boston. It’s a beautiful town that I never in a million years would have thought of.
CK: Kupono is our city-to-city guide. He finds the best places–
KA: –the must see restaurants, anything and everything. I’ve definitely had some great adventures.What do you do on the tour bus to pass the time?
Caitlin Kinney: We were coming to LA and the show before we were in Utah and we walk into the dressing room and we all have these beautifully made invitations in our quick change bus. It was an invitation to a party at the G Lounge, which was on our bus, which Kupono single-handedly put together. We walk onto our bus and there’s this big sign that says, “Welcome to the G Lounge. Learn to Love. Love to Live. Live to Give.” We had lights and–
Kupono Aweau: –and I put LED lights in the doorways, white fabric draped throughout the bus–
CK: –a smoke machine, a disco ball! And he put this whole thing together.
KA: I asked the runners if they could get it for me and they did. They got everything. It was amazing!
CK: It was amazing!
KA: It was the best 12 hour bus ride that we’ve ever had.
CK: But on normal days we eat, watch movies, hangout. I love the bus; it’s fun! We’ve all bonded on the bus. I spill a lot. They had to get me a sippy cup for my drinks because I’ve spilled so many things.How is it meeting the fans?
Caitlin Kinney: That’s been one of the best parts of the tour for me, is just meeting the people that you touch on the show which you don’t realize when you’re on the show. That’s the best part about dancing is touching people through our art. That’s kind of what we strive to do. We’ve definitely met some…um…
KA: …some very excited fans.
CK: Kupono definitely has a lot of fans. So many girls. One time Kupono was signing after me, and I was signing and they see Pono and they just rip the poster right out of my hands and screamed, “KUPONO!!” and then asked me, “Do you think I have a chance with him?”
Have you been really sore from all of the dancing and have you managed to stay injury free?
Kupono Aweau: There’s never been any big injuries thank goodness, but we definitely started out pretty rough. The schedule got to us. Thank goodness no one had any massive injuries. Jeanine’s Achilles was pulled and she had tears during one of our run throughs, but we definitely recover well.
Caitlin Kinney: I think our bodies have adjusted to the schedule. They bring us physical therapists–
KA: –and chiropractors, so it’s working out.Do you have a message for your fans?
Caitlin Kinney: Thank you! What else do you say to people who have been so supportive on such a crazy journey?
Kupono Aweau: Thank you times 503! This is ridiculous and it’s honestly because of them. We are just completely and utterly grateful to them for it because without them we would not be here.Check back here soon for an interview with Kayla Radomski and Evan Kasprzak.
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Tour Interview with Brandon Bryant
Throughout the fall of 2009, the Season 5 finalists toured the U.S. and Canada and performed for arenas of fans. We caught up with Season 5’s runner-up, Brandon Bryant, to find out about life on tour and his future.
Brandon said “the best part about being on tour would have to be waking up in a different city every day. It’s great traveling the states in the way that we are because we are having so much fun and we’re doing what we love to do, so to be able to see the world in this way is kind of amazing.”
The dancers travel on buses from city to city. Brandon revealed one of the ways the dancers keep busy. “On the bus we have our laptops. We usually watch a lot of Family Guy. A LOT of Family Guy. We watch So You Think You Can Dance Season 6 when we can, and we just relax and chill because the show takes so much out of you we get on the bus and we’re just numb to everything.”
Brandon loves meeting the fans before and after the shows. “That’s the best part about the tour is meeting the fans,” he said. “To see the people that support you and really believe in the art of dance is so amazing. And to know that they supported me to get all the way to the finale was even more amazing in itself. So I love them so much. One fan actually made us an entire book of all of our dances – every single one of us – and gave us DVDs too.”
The second place finalist performs the most dance numbers throughout the show. “I’m probably the only one on the tour who hasn’t had an injury. Out of all the dances I do, I’m surprised. Doing the dances on the show has really enhanced my stamina. I do everything so full out that I like die at the end. Being on the show has prepared me for where I am right now.”
What’s next for Brandon now that the tour is over? “I am moving out here to LA! I’m so excited! I’m moving into an apartment with Ade and Jonathan from Season 6 so we’re all getting a place together and we’re just going to dance and dance and dance.”
“To all the fans who supported me, I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done and without them I wouldn’t be here,” Brandon said humbly. “It’s amazing to say that because as a dance you wouldn’t think that you’d have a fan club, but to know that there is one supporting all of us, I think we’re grateful for it.”
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Tour Interview with Janette Manrara
Season 5 finalist Janette Manrara has been touring around the country with the Dance finalists for the past couple months. We caught up with Janette at the Los Angeles stop of the So You Think You Can Dance Tour 2009.
When the tour is over, Janette will miss the fans the most. “They are so nice to us. They wait outside for two hours to greet us. It will be tough not to see that anymore. I will also miss being on stage in front of everyone.”
We talked to Janette just days before her 26th birthday. She said she’s big on surprises and mentioned that Jason Glover is going to plan something for all the dancers to do to celebrate Janette on their day off.
Janette had to sit out a show because she has been sick. She has had bronchitis and a bad cough. Since she is sleeping on a tour bus every night and up late at meet and greets, she’s not getting the rest she needs to make a full recovery. Janette dances several numbers with Brandon Bryant throughout the evening, so she is constantly encouraging him to drink orange juice and take vitamins and Echinacea to remain healthy.
One of the dances that Janette performs with Brandon is the fastest disco in So You Think You Can Dance history. Janette said she was scared when she learned that she would have to recreate that dance 40 times on tour. “It’s by far one of the hardest and fastest dances and the lifts are crazy,” Janette said. The disco is one of the first performances of the night and Janette mentioned that her stamina has increased and she is not as tired after completing the routine now.
During Janette’s Season 5 elimination press call she mentioned that she wanted to dance the Argentine Tango on tour, but we noticed it was omitted from the tour. Janette revealed that “the tango was in the very first show but the producers took it out because the intimacy of the dance didn’t translate in an arena setting. Brandon and I are connected the entire dance and it wasn’t reading big enough. We were bummed that it was taken out, but the show was three hours with the tango so that and three other routines had to be taken out. We did get to perform it in our hometown of Miami though.”
While on So You Think You Can Dance, Janette proved to be good at any style thrown at her on the show. As a result, she’s thought about venturing down another genre of dance in addition to Latin ballroom. “I really like jazz and jazzy contemporary work like the stuff that Sonya Tayeh or Brian Friedman choreograph. It’s upbeat and it might be something I’d like to try and get into.”
When the Season 5 finalists were in L.A. for the tour, they had the opportunity to attend the Season 6 Top 16 performance show taping. Janette went to dinner with the dancers and got to know them. She gave them the following advice: “Literally breathe and take it one day at a time. Don’t play the guessing game or mind games. Try to relax.”
What’s next for the Miami firecracker? “I signed a lease to move to L.A. at the end of November. I will also perform in the Dizzy Feet Foundation show. I have plans to teach at many different studios. I’m signing with an agency and I’m really happy. I want to do lots of TV and film. No more sitting behind the desk at the bank for me!”
Stay tuned for our next interview with runner-up Brandon Bryant.
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Notes From the Season 5 Tour at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles
The Top 10 dancers plus Phillip Chbeeb and Caitlin Kinney have been touring across the country for the past couple months. With two weeks left on the tour, the dancers traveled to Los Angeles to perform at the Nokia Theatre. It was like a family reunion to see the dancers that graced our television sets all summer long back on stage and performing together.
Throughout the night, the dancers each performed a solo, recreated some of the most memorable partner dances of the season, and participated in skits. The night started with a lot of energy – a new group number, dancer introductions, the fastest disco in SYTYCD history by Janette Manrara and Brandon Bryant, “Mad” hip hop from Jeanine Mason and Phillip, the infamous “butt” dance with Randi Evans and Evan Kasprzak, a solo from Janette, and Broadway from Jason Glover and Kayla Radomski. Next came the first classical pas de deux on SYTYCD recreated by Melissa Sandvig and Ade Obayomi. After Kupono Aweau showed off his quirky style in his solo, we saw a dance from the first episode of the season – Bollywood with Caitlin and Jason. Evan channeled old Broadway dancing in his solo, and then three “Supergirls” took the stage: Jeanine, Kayla, and Melissa. Edgy vampires in the form of Kayla and Kupono performed together, and then Caitlin danced a solo. Ade’s afro pick hypnotized businesswoman Janette into a hip hop trance, Kayla reprised her “Blackbird” solo from auditions, and Evan and Melissa had a Broadway wedding. Jason danced a solo and then Jeanine and Brandon battled it out to “Battlefield.”
Since the show was in L.A., the Top 16 dancers on Season 6 were in town and in the audience. They were invited up on stage and the audience cheered them on. It was amazing to think that in just a few months, ten of these dancers would be treating us to their best dances from the fall season. After the Season 6 dancers left the stage, the Top 12 performed the “Calle Ocho” group dance complete with table dancing and splashing water. It was such a hot number, everyone needed an intermission break after that piece.
Back from intermission, the dancers performed a Broadway group routine with mirrors, Janette and Brandon robbed a bank, and zombie Jason attacked Kayla with his hip hop moves of horror. Randi performed a solo, Kayla and Brandon performed their Broadway number from the finale episode, and Phillip’s solo had the majority of the audience leap to their feet for a standing ovation. Then, the Top 3 boys danced their oompa loompa jazz routine. Next, Melissa performed a ballet solo and her 200 friends and family members in her hometown audience held up signs for her.
Throughout the night, there was a hilarious skit involving Jeanine, Phillip, and Russian Folk dance. It all came to fruition when the Top 12 danced a Russian Folk group number that proved that Russian Folk is a serious style of dance.
Brandon’s powerful solo called for another standing ovation from his many fans. The night took an emotional turn with “Addiction” performed brilliantly and hauntingly by Kayla and Kupono and “The Necklace” danced with so much chemistry by Jeanine and Jason. Season 5 partners Brandon and Janette performed the Cha Cha and then America’s Favorite Dancer performed her amazing solo from the Season 5 finale. The room got quiet and emotional for Ade and Melissa’s moving tribute to breast cancer. During Jeanine and Brandon’s Matrix paso doble, Jeanine’s dress got caught on her heel and her skirt slipped down below her behind. Despite flashing the audience, Jeanine recovered and moved on like the pro that she is.
The night ended with a final Broadway group number, and thousands of fans left with smiles on their face. If you haven’t seen the Season 5 Top 10 on tour yet, you have until November 21, 2009 to check it out. View the remaining shows and buy tickets here.
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Cat, Nigel and Mary Reflect on Season 5
Hot off of Season 5, Cat Deeley, Nigel Lythgoe, and Mary Murphy reflected on some memorable moments from the season.
How was it hearing 3500 people at the finale welcome your “judges?”
Cat Deeley: It was great! It was so cool. I was literally like “Oh my God,” because to be perfectly honest, I knew we were going to be at the Kodak, but I didn’t know that it was going to be packed to the rafters. So when I first walked out I was like oh my god they’re even right at the back tippity top of the theatre. They’re cheering and clapping, and I kind of felt a little bit like a rock star which was great.
Which performances from Season 5 deserve Emmy nominations for choreography?
Nigel Lythgoe: I would definitely say Travis Wall’s piece with Jeanine and Jason, Mia Michaels’ addiction piece with Kupono and Kayla was quite fabulous, and there was a disco routine with Brandon and Janette that I thought was fantastic, and of course you must never rule out Tyce Diorio’s breast cancer inspired routine with Melissa and Ade. It was very strange – I never had so many emails, letters, and telephone calls with such positive thoughts behind them. And then we found out the lady that inspired Tyce is now cancer free. So it’s very strange how it all works. And it was another highlight to have Ellen DeGeneres on the show.
Mary Murphy: For me, there are several that stand out. For sure the Argentine Tango. It was one of the few that got a standing ovation from the judges and the audience. It was a simultaneous standing ovation. No one had to think about it; everybody was on their feet and it was truly something to see. And of course Tyce Diorio’s breast cancer number I think should be nominated, as well as Travis Wall with his contemporary piece. Those are the three that stand out in my mind right now.
Check back soon to find out how Cat, Nigel, and Mary juggled Season 5 with Season 6 auditions.
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Jeanine Mason Talks About Winning!
With her mom, dad, three siblings, and best friend in the audience of the Kodak Theater, Jeanine Mason took home the coveted title of “America’s Favorite Dancer,” edging out Brandon Bryant, Evan Kasprzak, and Kayla Radomski. After her win and only three hours of sleep, Jeanine was as energetic as ever on a press call to discuss her journey and the big win!
Jeanine Mason Greets the Press.
Immediately after winning the fifth season of So You Think You Can Dance, Jeanine was met with press and photographers. “I felt like I had just been bust out of my normal life and thrown onto some Hollywood red carpet.” This dancer from Pinecrest, Florida isn’t jaded by all of the attention. “I am so happy to be here, I am so blessed to be here, and loving every second of it. I’m trying to take it all in.”
Even when it came down to just Jeanine and Brandon, Jeanine never expected that she was going to win. The Top 2 were excited because no matter the result, it was a win for Miami, Florida. Every week she prepared herself for the bottom three. Her goal was to make it to the Top 10 so she could go on the tour, and everything after that was icing on the cake. “It’s the greatest feeling ever to hear that people actually picked up the phone and voted for you.”
Jeanine was accepted to UCLA and will be a student there after the tour. Surprising to some people, she won’t be majoring in Dance. Instead, Jeanine is pursuing her degree in Communication Studies. “I’m definitely going to pursue a career in dancing and in acting. So I plan on taking probably three classes a semester so I have more time for auditions and hopefully jobs.” If the dance and acting career doesn’t work out for her, Jeanine hopes to use her future degree to open up doors in the field of broadcast journalism. Performing in movie musicals would be a dream for Jeanine since they incorporate both dancing and acting.
When Jeanine first started dancing, she wasn’t very into it because she was “horrible.” With help from two patient dance teachers and a mom who had a gut feeling that Jeanine was destined to become a dancer, she continued to stick with it and blossomed into an amazing dancer. All of the help and convincing paid off – “I’m so grateful for her,” Jeanine said about her mother. From all of this, Jeanine has learned “never to give up. I need to stop doubting myself, and it took this for me to realize that, but I will never doubt myself again and I just hope people realize that it’s so worth taking a chance.”
Jeanine considers her solo that she performed during the performance finale show to be the turning point for her. “I just wanted to go out there and put on a performance that was something that would be memorable and that would touch someone and hopefully inspire just one person…So that solo was the best moment for me and finishing that turn, and having everyone standing and the judges standing – I honestly was jolted as soon as I finished it.”
During the last week of the competition, on top of general soreness, Jeanine was nursing a gash on her leg that occured during the previous week’s group number. All four dancers were battling injuries and aches, and the Top 4 dancers turned to each other for comfort.
For the new group of dancers who are getting ready to take the stage for Season 6, Jeanine offers the following advice, “Pack extra band-aids if they’re as clumsy as I am.” She also restated her mentality that got her to where she is today, “Never give up. Even in that moment when they think they’re so out of their comfort zone…they can do it and that it is so worth it in the end. Just go out there and give it your best shot.”
The next thing on Jeanine’s list is to enjoy the tour with her fellow So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 finalists. “We really have no idea what’s coming, so we’re so ready for that tour just to meet all the fans and to just see how much love we have, it’s going to be amazing.”
Congratulations, Jeanine Mason and everyone from Season 5 for a wonderful season!
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