My previous blog posts should have referred to the Marriott dance event held on October 16th more appropriately as the You Can Dance Gala rather than the show's finale!
As I found out from my friend, Dr. Chris Bui, the pressure wasn't off yet after his performance at the Marriott Suites where he vied for the People's Choice Award with two other contestants (Gillian Nguyen & Samantha Nguyen). Dr. Bui still had to continue his preparation for the show's season-ending episode that would be filmed in the studio the next day – the final segment that ultimately showed Mai Tran triumphing as the first season's winner.
I've been so occupied the past few weeks with Audrey's 19th birthday celebration and other family activities that I didn't have a chance to check back the You Can Dance website until the news were already stale!
A few Saturdays back, I happened to talk on the phone with my aunt in Vancouver, Washington, who had complained that she didn't get to see my girls, Audrey and Lauren, on TV as she'd expected. My aunt is an avid SBTN viewer who faithfully watched every YCD episode and had mistakenly thought that every participant would be featured on the show, including the sponsor performers.
That conversation reminded me I've yet to view the SBTN broadcasts of the contestants' performances in the finals. So after rushing through my weekend errands, I finally sat down in front of the computer to catch up on what I've missed. You can watch along with me as well.
You Can Dance Finale, Part I, featuring:
- The Dancesation team performing a group routine to one of the most recognizable Vietnamese dance tunes, "Ghen", sung by Doan Phi.
Doan Phi surrounded by Dancesation girls
Photo Credits: Ðỗ Dzũng/Người Việt
Photo Credits: Ðỗ Dzũng/Người Việt
- An announcement by the emcee that the total tally of phone-in votes nearly topped the 10,000 mark (the final official vote count was 9,945). This might seem a puny number by American reality show standards, but it struck me as pretty impressive for a Vietnamese experimental pilot still gaining momentum in viewership. Even my elderly and technically-challeged aunt became a fan and learned to cast her votes by phone – all four of them as allowed by contest rules!
As announced previously, the determination of who would be among the six finalists rested on a combination of judges' scores, which comprised one-third of the total points, and viewers' votes, which accounted for the remaining two-thirds.
You Can Dance Finale, Part II:
The contestants were called out in pairs, beginning with Wendy Ho & Diem Vo and ending with Vuong Tran & Rao Nguyen. A short recap of the judges' past critiques was narrated by the emcees – none as brutal as what you'd hear on Dancing with the Stars, but not that timid either, by Vietnamese standards. I definitely felt for the contestants!
– First pair: Wendy Ho & Diem Vo, with the latter eliminated from the finals.
– First pair: Wendy Ho & Diem Vo, with the latter eliminated from the finals.
– Second pair: Gillian (Hang-Ny) Nguyen & Vu Khanh, with Vu Khanh losing out. This was pretty much a given. Hang-Ny was hard to beat and Vu Khanh probably knew so.
– Third pair: Mai Tran, the season's top scorer so far, and Dr. Christopher Bui, Mr. Popular Vote Getter. Both earned their spots on the finalists' berth. Whew!!
– Fourth pair: Vickie To & Samantha Nguyen. Samantha edged out Vickie as expected.
– Fifth pair: Phuong Tong & Tony Ngo, both of whom were eliminated!
This constituted a real surprise for me. Everyone in my family was at a loss as to why the amiable hairdresser who could dance didn't place among the final six. Unfortunately, it seemed his impassioned performance from the semi-finals could not overcome tough judging from the panel and uneven viewers' voting. This was definitely one of those times when it helped to be a pretty female in a competition! Tony was neither, effectively sealing his fate.
– Sixth pair: Rao Nguyen & Vuong Tran. "Uncle Rao" got in and "Auntie Vuong" was disqualified by not showing up for the finals.
Dr. Bui's supporters, most of whom medical professionals,
formed the most enthusiastic section in the audience
Photo Credits: Ðỗ Dzũng/Người Việt
http://www.youcandance.tv/you-can-dance/you-can-dance-finale-part-ii/
You Can Dance Finale, Part III, featuring:
A match of young vs. old, with contestants Gillian Nguyen and Rao Nguyen repeating their dance numbers from the semi-finals. Both improved their performances technique-wise, but not necessarily in feeling and intensity. Nerves were probably a factor, since the stakes were much higher this time around and Hang-Ny again had the pressure of being first in the line-up. Nevertheless, she remained consistent enough to earn high praise from Judge Bryan Nguyen for her Paso Doble routine.
As for Uncle Rao, I grew to like him more and more for the engaging chemistry he exhibited with his professional partner, Melissa Cyr. On a side note, if there were a Commitment Award reserved for the dance instructors instead of their students, Melissa would certainly be a deserving recipient. Four months along by then and visibly showing, she gamely and gracefully glided across the stage with a serene expression on her face and a beautiful pregnancy glow that invoked admiration and respect from me. I couldn't help remembering and wincing at the memory of how I looked through each of my four pregnancies (pretty much like a beached whale), and moved (struggling just to walk up the stairs, let alone dance). Bravo, Melissa! I absolutely loved her dreamy, story-telling choreography for Rao's routine and Judge Bryan Nguyen apparently did as well, describing it as possessing old-time cinematic appeal.
"Uncle Rao" planting a kiss on Melissa's cheek at the close of his romantic routine
You Can Dance Finale, Part IV, featuring:
– Presentation of the Dancesation team – the show's organizers, and the announcement of Dancesation girl Jennifer Nguyen's upcoming nuptials with Judge Bryan. Awww...! I also learned via the grapevine that the beautiful Hang-Ny and Dancesation team member Thai Le, a talented photographer in his own right, were officially an item. Another beau couple brought together by their love of dancing!
– Wendy Ho and Mai Tran, both looking sinewy and toned, in power-charged performances that earned critical praise from all the judges. Mai Tran especially benefited from beautiful choreography that illuminated a well-chosen, beguiling piece of music. "Satisfy my soul, let the day begin. Make the evening roll, let the big sky in..." Poor deprived me! Never heard this song before, but I loved it at first sound!
Wendy Ho in good form with her instructor, Yiri Kosydar
You Can Dance Finale, Part V, featuring:
– Bs. Bui Xuan Duong playing Sugar Daddy to his beautiful blond "golddigger", Petra Chovancova. Dr. Bui shook up his Cha Cha routine with comic relief by attaching an irreverent Rhumba piece at its tail end. His supporters in the medical community rallied in full force, hoisting good-natured banners proclaiming the gregarious GI doc way too sexy! Judge Thuy-Van made Dr. Bui promise not to abandon his career if he happened to win the competition.
– Samantha Nguyen turning in a noticeably shakier performance than at the semi-finals. If looks could win this competition, Samantha definitely would be in the running. Unfortunately, despite clever choreography, her footwork still left a lot to be desired.
You Can Dance Finale, Part VI:
I shouldn't spoil the surprise for any late viewers of the show by mentioning anything but the obvious – that the You Can Dance championship belonged to Mai Tran and her instructor, Erik Cyr. But I felt justified, and thought it was about time, Tony Ngo got recognized for his dancing on the show. He, along with Dr. Bui and Mrs. Phuong Tong, each won an award. Find out who won what here:
Dr. Bui enjoying his moment with award presenter Loanne Nguyen
The winners embracing with cheers all around
And the YCD trophy goes to... Mai Tran & Erik Cyr!
Photo Credits: Top two lifted from friends' facebook albums (ha ha!) Last one: Ðỗ Dzũng/Người Việt
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