SYTYCD Season 11: Mandy Moore

This might be my favorite show all season. It was such an honor to have the Emmy-nominated Mandy Moore in our studios. She gave us a candid look at the contestants and what goes on in those rehearsal rooms. For my DWTS fans, we will try and have her on in the fall since she brings so much to the table. 

A couple of fun things we learned:

--They are not asking the choreographers' opinions on the contestants this year.

--Music clearance is challenging. Sometimes contestants find out the night before that their solo music cannot be used. Stressful!

--Mandy choreographs DWTS much differently than SYTYCD because she isn't ballroom trained. She said she relies upon Sasha, Emma, Jenna and Val to help her out in the studio.

--She also gives her thoughts on Shania Twain possibly joining the show…remember, Mandy choreographed her Vegas show!

Next week's guests are Nick Lazzarini, Season 1, and Jaimie Goodwin, Season 3.

VIDEO: Kristin McQuaid & Revolution Dance Company Red Carpet Interviews

I hit the red carpet on Saturday night to interview Kristin McQuaid with the Revolution Dance Company at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Audrey Case and Will Thomas not only shared their experience working with McQuaid, but they also answered a few fan questions. I also caught up with Sophia Lucia and Asia Monet Ray who prove that the next generation of dancers are going to be forces to be reckoned with.

See the red carpet interviews:



Scroll down to see Will and Audrey answer a few fan questions!

DWTS Season 17: Week 2 Preview

I hope you all like the photo.

Yes, Henry Byalikov is our guest on Tuesday. Many of you saw the announcement on Twitter earlier this week and you've been eagerly awaiting this post. It's been a busy week, but I finally had a free minute to get this up.

The wonderful thing about having Henry on the show is that it is great timing. He and Sharna Burgess are choreographing the opening number this week, so we will get the inside scoop on how it all came together.

The whole team is expected to be in studio this week: Anna, me, Jake and Suri.

Time to get those questions in! Fire away in the comments section below. We will see you all on Tuesday at 8pm PT on AfterBuzz TV.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Top 4 Preview

What else can I say? It's tWitch and Allison Holker week! Emmys, Step Up 5, All-stars on SYTYCD ...where do we begin? Get those questions in now, it's going to be an epic week of SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV.

If you missed my first episode of Dance Chat, click here.

Photo credit:  Joe Toreno

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Top 6 Preview

I think the cat is out of the bag and most of you know who are guest is this week. Yep, Courtney Galiano! She's returning to our show for the second time after making a visit last season. Courtney's story is amazing and she's an inspiration to us all. If you missed her All-Star appearance with Tucker on SYTYCD last week, make sure to watch it before our show on Wednesday.

Courtney recently has been a principal dancer on VH1's Hit the Floor and helped organize the upcoming 1st Annual The Beat MS Dance Walk on September 22. There's a lot to talk about! So get those questions in for Courtney at the comments below.

Watch us on Wednesday on AfterBuzz TV at 9pm PT right here.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 8 Preview

I cannot believe we are down to the last four weeks on SYTYCD. This season flew by for me because I have really enjoyed the competition and the talent this year. As you know, I've talked a lot about our guests this season and how much they've added to our shows this year. So, I'm so excited to announce that this week's guest is Audrey Case.

She was a Top 10 contestant on Season 9 and you may have remember her for her routine with tWitch by Dave Scott or one of my favorites with her partner Matthew Kazmierczak by Travis Wall.  The "Unchained Melody" piece was picked for the finale and for the tour.

UPDATE: So I received a text from Audrey last night asking if she could bring a friend with her on the show.  This is who she is bringing...

Yep, Matthew Kazmierczak! Get those questions in for Matthew, too! It's going to be a great night on AfterBuzz TV.

So, get those questions in for Audrey and I will see you all on Wednesday on AfterBuzz TV at 9 p.m. PT. Watch here.

AfterBuzz TV SYTYCD: Lindsay Nelko

What a night! So much to talk about and so little time. I am thrilled that this season of SYTYCD has brought such incredible talent. These kids are going to work a lot once they are off the show and done with the tour.

Lindsay Nelko was a great addition to the show. I wish we could have done an after, after show where we talked about her mentors Brian Friedman and Desmond Richardson. It was actually Richardson who recommended her for the show, but it's Friedman's The Pulse tour that got her noticed. We also had a personal discussion about being a young artist in the business and honoring commitments including making sure you understand the business part as much as the creative part. It was fascinating.

I want to thank Shannon Mather for talking to me on the phone about how she felt about her piece and what she on the show this week. It really does seem that "Medicine" is a popular piece for choreographers this year. She and Travis Wall are fine, so it's not a controversy. I know she really wants to choreograph for the show, so let's support Shannon and Travis. I think we cleared everything up on her end for the viewers.

Shannon Mather's Piece
Kristin McQuaid Piece
Travis Wall Piece

Finally, we have some great guests for the rest of the season. I hope you join us through our last show on Sept. 11. I know Jake and I will be rolling right into Season 17 of DWTS which will begin on Sept. 17 at 8pm PT.

You can download the podcast here.

SYTYCD on AfterBuzz TV: Top 14 Preview

What a great weekend for dance! If you missed some of my Dizzy Feet Foundation Gala photos, be sure to check them out here. I've been working hard on booking some good guests, so be sure to check out the updated list here. There are two dancers in particular who I sweating over to get into our studios. If it happens, I am going to make sure Chloe, AJ and Jake buy me a cocktail after the show.

Our guest this week is one of my favorites from last season, Spencer Liff. He's so talented as a choreographer and just an incredibly nice guy. I hope you are all following his career because he star is on the rise in the Broadway world. He also just choreographed a number honoring Chita Rivera at the Dizzy Feet Gala.

Get those questions for Spencer...you know what to do, questions go in the comments section below.

I will see you all on Wednesday at 9pm PT on AfterBuzz TV. Watch here.

VIDEO: 2013 Emmy Nominees: Outstanding Choreography

Here are your 2013 Emmy nominees for Outstanding Choreography. I think this is Derek Hough's year. His work has been so outstanding over the last year.  Mark my words: He's going to define this generation of choreographers.  Who are you rooting for? Let me know in the comments below:


Outstanding Choreography

Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Heart Cry / Stars • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer

Allison Holker, Choreographer





Dancing With The Stars • Routines: Hey Pachuco / Para Los Rumberos / Walking On Air • ABC • BBC Worldwide Productions

Derek Hough, Choreographer









Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (Live From Lincoln Center) • PBS • A Lincoln Center Media production

Warren Carlyle, Choreographer



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Possibly Maybe / Turning Page / Sail • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc  19 Entertainment

 Sonya Tayeh, Choreographer

 





So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: The Power Of Love / Wild Horses • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Mandy Jo Moore, Choreographer

   

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Call Of The Wild (Circle Of Life) / Love Cats / Beautiful People • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. & 19 Entertainment

Napoleon Dumo, Choreographer
Tabitha Dumo, Choreographer

 



So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Where The Light Gets In / Without You / Unchained Melody • FOX • Dick Clark Productions, Inc. 19 Entertainment

 Travis Wall, Choreographer