I think one could easily write a sociology dissertation on Billy Bell's leaving SYTYCD last night. Androgyny my ass, Nigel, what you meant is that America's not ready to accept an obviously gay male dancer who doesn't try to hide it. Good for Billy for going out on his own terms, in his floppy pink cravat and intellectual, non-commercial music (Venetian Snares). I might be reading a lot into Billy's expression and posture that wasn't there, but I felt his anger and bitterness were pretty palpable while Nigel was speaking. I can only hope that what Nigel said about choreographers and producers around the country hungering to work with Billy now is true (and why wouldn't it be), and that Billy can take a great deal of consolation from that. He's an artist, not a mainstream commodity, and while the rejection might sting now, he should take it as an affirmation of the path that he's on. (and yes, as someone constantly trying to balance the demands of belly dance as art vs the expectations of belly dance as entertainment, I am most definitely projecting a lot of my own feelings onto the situation) (and I voted for him, so I do get to complain about the results!)
I am glad for Lauren that she's staying. It would have been sad for her if she were dropped this week only to have Billy immediately dropped next week, because even though he's the better dancer, America surely would have voted him out, whereas she might stand a chance in the voting. I suppose Kent is going to win, though he doesn't deserve it and doesn't have the humility to know it.
Robert is such a sweet guy. I don't doubt for an instant that he would have changed places with either Lauren or Billy in the bottom three if it were allowed.
Opening number was lovely, and the costuming was excellent. That was the first time I'd heard any of Sting's Symphonicity stuff. Sounds rather like if Aaron Copeland wrote elevator music. The two musical numbers were too annoying to watch, so I didn't. And the Step It Up 3D dancers were a lot of flash but rather too much. I wonder how the 2D or 1D dancers would have been.
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