Get ready for a rant before you continue. Last night on So You Think You Can Dance, we were treated to the new salsa dance choreographer on the show, Gustavo Vargas (a.k.a Alex Da Silva’s replacement). The performance was a train wreck (see video below). While I think Mollee and Nathan are amazing dancers, I was extremely disappointed with their performance last night. However, I do not think it is all their fault, and some of it lies in the choreography…
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Alex Da Silva, well known Los Angeles Latin dancer and salsa choreographer for the Fox Television show “So You Think You Can Dance”, was arrested Saturday on accusations of sexually assaulting students in his two homes in the San Fernando Valley. Because he was accused of sexual assault in 2003, 2004 and again in 2005, the previous cases were re-opened once a fourth accuser pressed charges on March 28th, 2009. All four accounts were found to be similar, despite the fact that the women did not know one another. He is currently being held on $3.8 million bail for allegedly raping four female students over the past six years. Detectives believe there may have been more victims and hope they come forward with information. He was arrested 20 minutes before the end of a class he was teaching Saturday at the EDGE Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, said Det. John Eum of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Alex Da Silva, now 41 years, started salsa dancing when he was 20. Many dances in the salsa scene credit him for introducing the “LA Style” of salsa dancing. He has won numerous World Salsa Dancing Championships and is well known in the Los Angeles salsa dance scene.
[Update 4-7-09] The court date was today and no charges were filed against Alex Da Silva given that new victims have come forward and the prosecution still has to interview them.
“Los Angeles County prosecutors declined today to file criminal charges against salsa dancer and choreographer Alex Da Silva of the Fox television show “So You Think You Can Dance,” saying further investigation was needed into allegations that he sexually assaulted four of his students… [...] Jane Robison, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors wanted police to conduct more investigation before charges are considered. She also said more alleged victims have come forward, and they still needed to be interviewed. “
Sources:
[Read from Associated Content]
[Read from L.A. Times]
[Read from New York Times]
[Read from NBC LA]
[Updated 8-18-2009]
After a further investigation by police, Alex Da Silva, has been arrested again at his North Hollywood home by Los Angeles police. They have pressed charges which include: four counts of forcible rape, two counts of assault with intent to commit rape and two counts of sexual penetration by foreign object. Bail set to $6.2 million dollars.
[Source: LA Times via BecomingSalsero]
Joshua Allen, the 19-year-old, untrained hip-hop dancer was crowned So You Think You Can Dance winner on Fox’s Thursday evening two-hour finale. He was my favorite dancer as well, and I extremely happy he won. But to tell you the truth, it does not matter because this year had some of the best dancers ever to grace that stage. And each one of the top 4 finalists were just incredible, regardless of the order.
Joshua Allen SYTYCD 2008 (Courtesy of FOX)
This has probably been the most intense season on the show. Not only for the competitors themselves, but for us, the viewer. I have watched this series since the start, but not until this summer, have I ever been so emotionally invested into the outcome of the results. I connected with the dancers and their lives.
But there is more to this season than dance…
Continue reading ‘And the winner of So You Think You Can Dance is…’
If you haven’t yet found out – we are hosting our first contest ever on the website in partnership with FOX and So You Think You Can Dance! You only have a few days left to submit your video. Remember, it just has to be a quick video with a dance pattern that you think people will like! You don’t need a fancy camera and you don’t need to explain the move. It’s that simple! It is something you can do at the end of a salsa dance class! Salsa, Cha Cha, Merengue, Salsaton.. anything goes. [Instructions]
In a salsa galaxy, far, far away… let’s just call it Iowa.
To show you an example of a quick video you could take, I have dug up one of the many videos from the very old ‘Salsa History Archives’ of Salsa Anthony version 1.0. This is a video of when I first started to learn how to dance in Ames, IA in a Salsa dance club I started with a few friends called ‘Descarga Latin Dance‘. While I will let you laugh at my XL-clothing attire and ‘boots for dance shoes’ – I hope it shows everyone that with hard work, you can grow your dancing abilities little by little: ANYONE CAN DANCE SALSA. We all go through the same growing pains. Hopefully this serves as inspiration to a few of you out there.
I expect a few funny commentaries or captions below. 
We are happy to announce our first online dance contest! Submit the best video, and you could win a $150 VISA gift card & merchandise from SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: 2 Hour Premiere Thursday May 22 – 8/7c on FOX!
In celebration of the fourth season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and Addicted2Salsa is giving you the chance to win a VISA Gift Card & merchandise from the show!
The summer hit SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, keeps viewers moving to a different beat as dancers skilled in everything from the “street” styles of Hip-Hop, Krumping and Popping to Ballroom’s Salsa, Quickstep and Jive compete to be named the nation’s favorite. Now, Addicted2Salsa in association with SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE are hosting a contest for the best salsa combination.
How to enter:
1. Make a video of yourself doing a salsa dance pattern- be CREATIVE! (other dance styles may be incorporated)
2. Upload the video to YouTube and submit the YouTube URL on our contest page or by clicking ‘Enter Contest‘ below.: as many video entries as you wish between May 5th and May 19th.
3. Addicted2Salsa staff will choose the top 10 videos, which will be posted on our website. Then it’s your turn to choose the #1 video by casting your vote online!
4. PRIZES:
This contest will be a fun way for members of the salsa community to share their passion with one another, get excited for the upcoming season of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and the winner will take home a $150 VISA gift card plus merchandise from the show. We are excited to see all of your entries!
If you are ready, you can submit your video right now! Click the link below.
[The Contest Ended]
Contest Rules : Terms and Conditions
I just can’t believe it! My two favorite dancers out of the bunch got voted off. I was thinking I would at least have one of my favorites in the finals (well, maybe Sabra) but man – Pasha and Lauren! Feels like a nightmare and a bad “Laguna Beach” episode. I’m assuming you’ve been keeping up with the show, otherwise this will be over your head.
Now, “So You Think You Can Dance” is not really about America’s best dancer – its America’s favorite dancer. While Lauren was amazing and beautiful, I’m assuming what happened was that technically she wasn’t as masterful as Lacey or Sabra. Now Lacey is highly technically skilled, but come on! Her cousin Benji won last year’s competition! Fine. Sabra.. she hasn’t really connected with the audience yet. So Lauren had it tough – that’ s understandable – however, I think she brought a mix of both technical and flavorful dancing – especially in her personality. Even on complicated turns and patterns during some performances – she always smiled as she was having fun. Man, I’m happy to have that picture on that blog – Lauren, if you’re ever in San Diego… (whisper) call me!
Now, for the biggest disappointment in my opinion. Pasha I thought was the BEST dancer hands down. I just kept yelling ‘What? What!!? You have got to be kidding me!!!’ to my TV screen. It reminded of the time when the results came in on how President Bush got re-elected.
Now, to be truthful, Danny is technically more skilled and his jumps are amazing. However, he has no personality! He’s too serious. Not fun to watch. Reminds me of reasons why I never joined ballroom clubs – people took themselves sometimes a little too seriously, to the point the fun part of dancing was removed. And Neil….. Neil, Neil, Neil – come on people! He does not come close – I think he just got lucky. I mean, he’s great at flips and tricks, but personality. He only started shining at the very end. Pasha was on top of his game from the very first dance.
Pasha brought an excitement back to performances. He made every dance his own, always acting, making faces – amazingly entertaining to watch. Whether it was jazz, hip hop, Broadway, salsa, or that freakishly weird 80’s routine… it was just so entertaining that made you want to dance. That type of effect is not found in many dancers. Sad to see him go, but I guess America has decided.
So, I guess my biggest bias is that I base dancers on how they make me feel. (Warm and fuzzy?). Personality. I think 50% of any performance is personality. Showing the audience how much more fun it is to dance it than watch it. So, I lost my bets this season (again).
But I wonder for those who do watch the show, who do you think should win this year?
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