One benefit to TV shows and movies is that we get to thoroughly enjoy the finished product without suffering through the task of putting it together, this includes So You Think You Can Dance. As an audience, we get the opportunity to sit back, relax and watch the performance that others have worked so hard to make happen, then we get to critique it. The last thing that crosses my mind is the amount of hours, sweat and tears that go into making a masterpiece for our enjoyment, not to mention the lack of sleep and demanding expectations.
In just about every season, a contestant has had to make trips to the ER or have medical attention on the show, even during the auditioning phase of Hollywood week. Whether it be for dehydration, sprained ankles or even broken toes, they are beating themselves up. These committed dancers are willingly subjecting themselves to injury for not only their careers, but also for the love of performing and entertainment. Not only are they getting injured in the process, but they are being paired up with another dancer, usually with a completely different background and have to learn SYTYCD routines they have never done, nonetheless ever heard of before. When we start to pick apart these dancers, I think it is important to remember what they have gone through to get there and that they are most likely operating on just three hours sleep…for the week.
Not only are they constantly working on their dances, they are hanging out with all the same people the entire time. I imagine that could get quite annoying and frustrating, especially when you tie the stress factor into it.
Once the show has it’s finale the show isn’t over yet. For several months, the top 10 dancers from the show are chauffeured around the country for a tour. Hmm, hotel rooms, cramped cars, constantly eating take-out and training and learning new dances to fill in for absentees, that’s a lot of work. When I think of all the behind the scenes that is involved for the contestants, I really am more appreciative of what they do and how they get by every day. What is even more incredible is that when a contestant gets the boot the claim that. “This was the best time of my life!”. I’m so glad to hear that after a lot of hell they have been through, they still loved every minute of it and would do it all again.
Tags: benji schwimmer, lacey schwimmer, so you think you can dance, so you think you can dance routines, so you think you can dance video, sytycd, sytycd routines