Superstars of Dance
Encyclopedia
Superstars of Dance was an American reality television
show that debuted on January 4, 2009 on NBC
. The show featured dance routines from eight different countries from six continents. It was hosted by Michael Flatley
, co-creator of Riverdance
and creator of Lord of the Dance
, and was co-hosted by former Miss USA
title holder Susie Castillo
. It was created by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe
and Simon Fuller
, co-producers of So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol
.
On May 19, 2009, it was announced that NBC would not be ordering a second season of the show.
Superstars of Dance differs from similar TV dance competitions in a number of ways. It features professionals instead of amateurs, including several world champions. Additionally, the contestants were chosen by their respective countries, rather than by the show's producers. Flatley has said Superstars is a lot like a sporting competition, even comparing it the Olympic Games
.
The winners are not decided by audience votes, but rather by a panel of eight judges. The producers felt that it would be unfair to decide the winner by phone-in votes, assuming the American public would probably just vote for the American team. Furthermore, unlike most reality-based competition shows, Superstars does not have a live component.
The show was heavily promoted by NBC and widely anticipated, making several "best bets" programming guides. The promotion paid off, as the show debuted with a 6.3 rating share representing an estimated 10.5 million viewers in a difficult time slot against ABC's mega-hit Desperate Housewives
.
, Australia
, China
, India
, Ireland
, Russia
, South Africa
and USA. Most of the contestants perform professionally as dancers full-time and several are world champions, or have otherwise achieved the highest honor available in their respective genres. Many of the contestants took time off their world tours in order to participate.
Several participants have connections to a previous Lythgoe and Fuller dance show, So You Think You Can Dance. Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Giselle Peacock, and Robert Muraine were all contestants on that show, while Jason Gilkison and Nakul Dev Mahajan choreographed for it. Henry Byalikov was a contestant on the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance.
A full list of the contestants and their coaches follows:
*Damien O'Kane was replaced by Bernadette Flynn for the semi-final round of the competition.
Competitors in bold won their respective categories.
*The semi-finals were split over episodes 3 & 4, with an unbalanced number of contestants from each country participating in each episode.
The competition gets underway with a Lord of the Danceesque number from the Irish group entry. The crowd reacts enthusiastically and the judges respond likewise giving 65 points out of a possible 70. Next up is popper
Robert Muraine from the United States. His introduction states that he is not double-jointed and thus has to work for his flexibility. His routine brings a standing ovation and causes the American coach to quip "he rocks my world." The judges, however, aren't quite sure what to think and he ends up with 57 points. Carolina Cerisola follows with a Tango
-influenced Jazz
routine that makes use of a top hat and chair. It starts slow, but picks up speedy toward the end, and earns 58 points for Argentina.
Russian couple Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis take the stage next and do a Latin-inspired ballroom
number. The crowd loves it and the judges agree, awarding 64 points. Russian judge Mikhail Smirnov jokes that all the dancers back home are watching the performance on "streaming KGB television." Next up is Indian duo Nishi Munshi & Sangita Sanyal who perform a Bollywood style dance about two sisters who are in love with the same guy. The judges are unimpressed, giving just 51 points. South African judge Harold Van Buuren is questioned as to why he gave them a 6 and he responds that they aren't up to competition level standards.
Tap dance
r Sean Robinson, representing Australia, and ribbon dancer
Bei Zheng, representing China, follow with unremarkable performances. Robinson earns 57 points, while Zheng gets just 51, despite protests from the crowd.
South African group Umojo then takes the stage to perform a gumboot dance inspired by the country's history - miners used to make up similar dances to pass the time. Wearing miner's costumes, the group turns in an energetic performance complete with trash can drums and chanting/singing. They receive 57 points for their efforts. Australia follows with a group from the Australian Dance Theatre dance company. Coach Garry Stewart describes their style as unique, fast, and flexible. They perform a contemporary
routine which mixes several different styles. They also receive 57 points. Next up, Damien O'Kane returns (after being part of Ireland's group performance) for a solo hardshoe routine with a bit of a contemporary spin. The judges reviews are mixed, but he ends up with 58 points, tying him for first thus far. Next it is Sduduzo Ka-mbili's turn. Representing, South Africa, he does a Zulu warrior dance called the "Power of Juxta." The routine features a lot of athletic kicks and jumps, all while wearing native garb. His own coach says could have done better and the judges agree, awarding 55 points.
American duo Georgia Amabarian & Eric Luna take the stage next to perform a Cabaret
number. The routine features a huge number of difficult lifts, but not as much foot work as some of the other routines. The judges opinions are very mixed ranged from several 7s all the way up to a 10 from Ireland. The duo's total score is 57. Next up is a traditional tango, performed by Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo of Argentina. Their routine features a lot of passion, a lot of power, and several difficult lifts. The audience loves it and so do the judges, awarding two 10s and 65 points overall. Russian soloist Julia Bantner follows with a contemporary dance number that fails to impress, earning just 50 points.
Amrapali Ambegaokar, representing India, is the final soloist of the evening. She does a traditional North India
n dance wearing tradition clothing, including bells on her feet. The number is filled with energy and ends with a long spin sequence. Calling her "Sweet Amy," Flatley tries to interview her after the number done, but she is too out-of-breath to get more than a couple words out at a time. The crowd responds enthusiastically to the dance and the judges agree, awarding her 62 — the highest solo score of the night.
Finally, the Shaolin Monks emerge to perform their much anticipated group effort. They do not disappoint, combining Kung Fu
, acrobatics, weaponry, and music to create a unique dance experience. The routine features jumps, kicks, rolls, and mock fighting. Among the group are two young children, who are just as skilled as the adults. The number ends with one group member being suspended in mid-air on nothing more than four sharp spears. The crowd goes wild and the judges are quite excited as well. Harold Van Buuren calls it "the performance of the evening" and the monks end up with 66 points, the highest score given thus far.
A summary of the night's competition follows:
Much like the first night of competition, the evening starts with a high-energy group number, this time from the Argentinian trio "Los Huincas Gauchos." Their routine mixes weaponry, drum playing, and hand clapping, but is relatively low on dance steps. When host Michael Flatley questions Argentinian judge Maria Pogee about their performance, she replies that they "didn't do everything they were supposed to." The other judges agree that it was light on actual dancing and the trio receives just 48 points, the lowest score of the competition thus far.
India's second soloist, Mythili Prakash, is up next, performing a traditional South India
n routine, said to have come from the gods themselves. Her routine is fun to watch as she is clearly enjoying herself, and the judges give her a respectable 58 points. Indian coach Nakul Dev Mahajan is baffled by the score, saying Prakash "sets the standard" for this kind of dance and could have gotten "at least all 9's." South African judge Harold Van Buuren replies that "there is always room for improvement." Next up is Irish step-dancer Kelly Hendry. In her intro, it is revealed that her father recently had a heart attack but wanted her to stay in the competition rather than flying back home. She does an Irish step-dance number with a bit of a contemporary twist. The judges are lukewarm about her performance, awarding 56 points.
Taking the stage next are the Australia duo, Henry Byalikov and Giselle Peacock. They perform a Latin-inspired ballroom number that scores 56 points. Following them is another ballroom duo — Victor Da Silva and Claudia Savvides of South Africa. The couple has won several championships, but decide to bring out a "show piece" rather than a typical ballroom routine. Their lift heavy Rumba
-esque dance scores them 59 points. Following the ballroom acts, it's time for something completely different: Yang Yanan takes the stage to perform with single & double whips, the latter of which is considered to be the most difficult weapon practiced at the Shaolin temple. He wields his weapons with great skill and energy, running about the stage as he goes. The crowd is enthused, but the judges feel the act lacks in actual dancing. A tiff breaks out between Harold Van Buuren and the Chinese coach over whether a particular move was borrowed from dance or if danced borrowed the move from Kung Fu. It the end, Yang gets only 51 points and the audience boos loudly.
Next up is American tap dancer, Dormesia Sumbry-Edwards. She does a classic number to typewriter sounds that were originally from a Jerry Lewis
movie. The crowd likes it, but is again disappointed as the judging panel awards just 55 points. Following her is a group of Russians who perform a traditional Cossack
dance. Their act is acrobatic and full of energy, but lacking in technical precision. When asked about his country's culture, Russian judge Mikhail Smirnov comments that people ask him if it's true that "Russians drink vodka
for breakfast." He says the "it isn't true... some prefer Cognac
." The Russian group ends up with 51 points.
The show continues with the India group entry which their coach describes as "a big celebration" that makes the audience want to get up and join in. Their number is filled with lots of energy, but perhaps there is a little too much going on as the cameras struggle to find focal points. The judges are unimpressed, but the group manages to score enough to advance: 54 points. Following the "big celebration" is the most emotional act of the night. Representing South Africa, Mamela Nyamza brings a tribal piece filled with raw emotion: a woman frustrated with her marriage and life. Her very interpretive routine features a lot of screaming and writhing around on the floor. The studio audience is stunned and doesn't know how to react — little applause is heard, and a close up a clearly perplexed lady is shown. The judges, however, love the number showering Nyamza with praise and 58 points.
Miriam Larici then returns for a solo performance (she had a duet last night) in which she attempts to create a one-person tango. Her performance is supposed to represent a woman dreaming of a man, but mostly just illustrates that it does indeed take two to tango. She brings in 57 points for Argentina, 8 less than she and partner Leonardo Barrionuevo received the night prior. Ireland's duo is up next, as married couple Damien O'Kane and Bernadette Flynn bring a romantic twist to traditional Irish step-dancing. Flynn moves about the stage beautifully, but O'Kane's role is rather limited. For the most part, the judges like what they see and give the couple 58 points in total.
The final duo to perform will be Zhen Zhu Zheng and An Nan of China. The two are part of a world famous acrobatic troupe and it shows as they bring some really incredible acrobatics to the stage. Among other moves, An does a full turn en pointe
atop Zhen's shoulders. The crowd goes wild, but the judges aren't ready to give a big score. A few judges give high marks for the incredible difficulty of the routine, but most say they feel it wasn't actually a dance routine. The duo ends up with 53 points. After Zhen & An receive their scores, it is revealed that the two lowest scoring duo of the quarter finals are the teams from China and India. The other six duos are advanced to the semi-finals.
Russian ballerina Maria Kochetkova
is the next contestant to take the stage. She does a beautiful and technically precise number that ends with a long spin sequence. The performance is shorter than most of the other solos, but the judges don't mind much, awarding 9s across the board, for a total of 63. It is the highest scoring solo of the competition thus far. Reed Luplau follows with the final solo of the quarterfinals. He is billed as the best contemporary dancer in Australia and doesn't disappoint. He turns in a high-flying and well executed performance that earns him 65 points, best among all soloists. At this point the eight highest soloists are to be advanced into the semi-finals. Lauplau and Kochetkova are both in, as well as dancers from Argentina, South Africa, Ireland, and both soloists from India. However, there is a three way tie for the eighth and final spot. Thus a tie breaking vote is called for, and Robert Muraine ends up winning 4 of the 5 tie-break votes and advances. The rest of the soloists, including both of China's entrants, are eliminated.
The final act of the quarterfinals is the United State's group entry, The Groovaloos. The group consists of one girl and nine guys, including one member, Steven, who was recently hit by a stray bullet and told he'd never walk again. Their street dance
number begins with Steven being rolled out on a stretcher. The other nine start running, leaping, and dancing about the stage with incredible energy and pretty soon Steven gets up and joins in the action. Their routine is well choreographed and the group is a sheer joy to watch. The studio audience goes nuts and the judges respond with high marks, including four 10s, for a total of 67 points. The 67 points is the highest score given to any act in the entire competition thus far. The night ends with two lowest scoring groups, Argentina and Russia, being eliminated.
A summary of the night's competition as well as the complete standings at the end of the quarterfinals follow:
1Miriam Larici, Robert Muraine, and Sean Robinson were tied for 8th with 57 points going into the first elimination. Since only 8 could advance, a tie-breaking vote was called for from the five countries not involved. Muraine won four votes from South Africa, Ireland, Russia, and China, which put him through to the semifinal round. Robinson received one vote from India, while Larici received no votes.
Leading off the show is the group entry from Australia. They bring a high-energy athletic number filled with countless spins, jumps, and rolls. The crowd enjoys it, as do the judges, awarding 62 points including a 10 from Russia. It's a marked improvement over the group's first round score of 57. Next up is the Irish duo Damien O'Kane & Bernadette Flynn. They choose a sassier number which involves more movement from O'Kane than the duo's earlier performance. The judges' opinions are split with some enjoying it and others saying it "lacked fire," and the duo has to settle for 58 points.
The first soloist of the evening, Maria Kochetkova
, is the next to take the stage. The Russian ballerina turns in a classic ballet number with clean, crisp lines, and countless pirouettes. Asked how she can do so much spinning without getting dizzy, she simply replies "practice makes perfect." The judges again love her performance and award 63 points — identical to her first round number. Next up is American popper Robert Muraine, the last soloist to make it into the semi-finals. His intro claims he never choreographs his numbers because he feels popping is a freestyle
art. Muraine's semi-final performance involves noticeably more variation and movement then his previous set. The studio audience again enjoys his performance and this time the judges agree, awarding him with 61 points.
The South African group entry, Umojo, is the next act to return. They hit the floor with a powerful dance based on Zulu tribal war dances. Several members play drums, while others chant and sing. After the number concludes, a member is asked to explain the significance of the dance. He then demonstrates some traditional hunting and pre-war dance moves that they've incorporated into their performance. The judging panel awards 58 points. Next up are Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo of Argentina. They turn in a scorching hot tango, that brings praise and high scores from six of the seven judges. South African judge Harold Van Buuren is the lone dissenter, saying that Barrionuevo is not at the same level as Larici. The couple is questioned about the remark, and Barrionuevo essentially agrees with the critique saying he appreciates the advice. The couple ends up with 63 points.
Amrapali Ambegaokar is the first of India's two soloists to return to the stage. Her spins, bells, and smile again light up the stage as she performs another traditional North Indian piece. The judges give her 59 points for her efforts. Following her is the final soloist of the evening — Reed Luplau of Australia. He opts for a more powerful, rock-and-roll flavored number this time around. When he is done flipping and spinning about the stage, Ambegaokar is called back out - with four soloists performing this evening and only three spots available in the finals, one of them will have to go home. Amegaokar has the lowest score thus far, so it'll be either her or Luplau who departs. The judges are unimpressed by Luplau's performance and he ends up 1 point short of Amegaokar, with 58 points. Everyone is shocked to see the first round standout going home so soon and Luplau is not quite sure what to say in his final interview.
As the shock starts to wear off, its time for the final duet of the evening. The honor belongs to Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides of South Africa. The couple decides to put it all on the line, bringing a brand new trick-laden piece to the floor. Savvides barely touches the floor, as Da Silva is constantly lifting her high in the air, often with only one arm. The number ends with Da Salva spinning his partner around several times above his head, much like a helicopter, then throwing her above his head; she lands completely wrapped around his body and slides down his body to the floor, holding the same position the whole way down. The judges appreciate the difficultly demonstrated but feel the tricks took away form the natural flow of the dance. The couple has to settle for 59 points and second place among duos thus far.
The night concludes with the return of the Groovaloos. Their introduction shows the American group getting a ballet lesson from the Russian coach. "About the only similarity [between the styles]," a group member quips, "is that both take years to get good at." The theme of tonight's performance is going to work. First they ride the subway, then the elevator; they clock in and begin work. The routine features several innovative movements including the girl of the group standing in for a robot that is being fine-tuned by the workers. Soon it's "break time" and the action really starts to pick up. Group members fly about the stage, rolling and jumping over each other at a break-neck pace. The group goes through several different dance steps before the performance concludes with one member doing six consecutive back-flips in place. The Groovaloos receive a standing ovation and 66 points from the judging panel.
During the Groovaloos post performance interview, co-host Susie Susie Castillo brings up the idea of a skills battle between the Groovaloos and the Shaolin Monks. The American team is very enthusiastic about idea and a showdown with the Shaolin Monks is set for next week's show.
A summary of the night's performances follows:
A summary of the night's performances follows:
1The Australian Dance Theatre and The Irish team were tied in 3rd place with 62 points going into the first elimination. Since only 3 could advance, a tiebraking vote was called for from the six countries not involved. The Australian Dance Theater won five votes from Argentina, India, South Africa, USA, and Russia. The Irish won one vote from China.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show that debuted on January 4, 2009 on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The show featured dance routines from eight different countries from six continents. It was hosted by Michael Flatley
Michael Flatley
Michael Ryan Flatley is an American Irish dancer, choreographer, actor, musician and occasional television presenter. He became internationally known for Irish dance shows Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, and Celtic Tiger...
, co-creator of Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
and creator of Lord of the Dance
Lord of the Dance (musical)
Lord of the Dance is an Irish musical and dance production that was created, choreographed, and produced by Irish-American dancer Michael Flatley, who also took a starring role...
, and was co-hosted by former Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
title holder Susie Castillo
Susie Castillo
Susie Castillo is a former beauty queen who held the Miss USA title and competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants...
. It was created by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe
Nigel Lythgoe is an English television and film director and producer, and former dancer in the Young Generation and choreographer. He is noted for being the producer of the shows Pop Idol and American Idol as well as being a creator, executive producer and a regular judge for So You Think You Can...
and Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is a British artist manager, television producer and creator of the Idol franchise, first seen as Pop Idol in the UK. Fuller is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show So You Think You Can Dance and other U.S...
, co-producers of So You Think You Can Dance and American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.
On May 19, 2009, it was announced that NBC would not be ordering a second season of the show.
Background
On November 17, 2008 NBC announced it had ordered a new reality program titled Superstar Dancers of the World, which would feature competitors from eight international teams and would be produced by Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe of American Idol fame. NBC billed the show as "equal parts sporting event, rock concert, and artistic exhibition" and Lythgoe called it "the most challenging and exhilarating project I've ever done." By mid-December, the show was renamed Superstars of Dance and the debut was set for January 4, 2009. Michael Flatley was chosen to host, and Susie Castillo was given a co-hosting position.Superstars of Dance differs from similar TV dance competitions in a number of ways. It features professionals instead of amateurs, including several world champions. Additionally, the contestants were chosen by their respective countries, rather than by the show's producers. Flatley has said Superstars is a lot like a sporting competition, even comparing it the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
The winners are not decided by audience votes, but rather by a panel of eight judges. The producers felt that it would be unfair to decide the winner by phone-in votes, assuming the American public would probably just vote for the American team. Furthermore, unlike most reality-based competition shows, Superstars does not have a live component.
The show was heavily promoted by NBC and widely anticipated, making several "best bets" programming guides. The promotion paid off, as the show debuted with a 6.3 rating share representing an estimated 10.5 million viewers in a difficult time slot against ABC's mega-hit Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
.
The teams
Superstars of Dance features a group, a duet, and two soloists from each of eight countries - ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and USA. Most of the contestants perform professionally as dancers full-time and several are world champions, or have otherwise achieved the highest honor available in their respective genres. Many of the contestants took time off their world tours in order to participate.
Several participants have connections to a previous Lythgoe and Fuller dance show, So You Think You Can Dance. Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Giselle Peacock, and Robert Muraine were all contestants on that show, while Jason Gilkison and Nakul Dev Mahajan choreographed for it. Henry Byalikov was a contestant on the Australian version of So You Think You Can Dance.
A full list of the contestants and their coaches follows:
| Team/Country | Soloists | Duet | Group | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
Carolina Cerisola, Miriam Larici |
Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo | Los Huincas Gauchos | Sandar |
 India |
Amrapali Ambegaokar, Mythili Prakash |
Nishi Munshi & Sangita Sanyal | Bollywood Dancers | Nakul Dev Mahajan |
 Australia |
Sean Robinson, Reed Luplau |
Henry Byalikov & Giselle Peacock | Australian Dance Theatre Australian Dance Theatre The Australian Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company based in Adelaide, South Australia established in 1965 by Elizabeth Cameron Dalman,... |
Jason Gilkison, Garry Stewart |
 South Africa |
Sduduzo Ka-Mbili, Mamela Nyanza |
Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides | Umojo | Tandinkosi "Tandi" Bhengu |
 United States |
Robert Muraine Robert Muraine Robert "Mr. Fantastic" Muraine is a dancer in the popping style.Muraine gained national attention when he gave a lengthy audition to the obscure tune of "It's Me Bitches" by Swizz Beats for Season 4 of the television program So You Think You Can Dance, during which executive producer and judge... , Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards |
Georgia Ambarian & Eric Luna | Groovaloos | Marguerite Derricks Marguerite Derricks Marguerite Pomerhn-Derricks, professionally known as Marguerite Derricks, is a multi award-winning choreographer, ballerina and actress born in Buffalo, New York in 1961.... |
 Republic of Ireland |
Damien O'Kane*, Kelly Hendry |
Damien O'Kane & Bernadette Flynn Bernadette Flynn Bernadette Mary Flynn is an Irish dancer best known for her work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.... |
Irish Stepdancing Team (from Lord of the Dance) | Marie Duffy Pask |
 Russia |
Julia Bantner, Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... |
Anya Garnis & Pasha Kovalev Pasha Kovalev Pavel Kovalev is a professional Latin and ballroom dancer. Born and raised in Siberia, Pasha Kovalev started dancing at age eight... ** |
The Cossaks | Stanislav Issaev |
 Mainland China |
Bei Zheng, Yang Yanan |
Zhen Zhu Zheng & An Na | Shaolin: Wheel of Life | Matthew Ahmet Matthew Ahmet Matthew Ahmet is a London born practitioner of Shaolin Kung Fu who is best known for appearing in the acclaimed Shaolin Temple show Wheel of Life Superstars of Dance Matthew Ahmet is the only non-Chinese Shaolin Disciple of the Shaolin Temple to perform alongside the famous Shaolin Wheel of life... |
*Damien O'Kane was replaced by Bernadette Flynn for the semi-final round of the competition.
-
- Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis was replaced by Pasha & Aliona Riazantsev for the semi-final round of the competition
Competitors in bold won their respective categories.
The judges
The panel of eight judges rank each contestant on a 1-10 scale. Each participating country has one judge on the panel, but judges are forbidden from voting for their own country's contestants. The panel is made up of highly respected choreographers and retired dancers.| Team/Country | Judge |
|---|---|
| Argentina |
Maria Pogee Maria Pogee Maria Pogee is an Argentine-American dancer, actress, choreographer, and director, who has had an expansive career in almost every part of the entertainment industry including theatre, film, Broadway, and television. Pogee has taught dance classes and workshops for many years... |
| India |
Shirish Dayal |
| Australia |
Kelley Abbey Kelley Abbey Kelley Abbey is an Australian actress, choreographer, singer and dancer. She has been a leading performer and choreographer in TV, film and musical theatre for more than 20 years.... |
| South Africa |
Harold Van Buuren |
| United States |
Tony Selznick |
| Republic of Ireland |
Daire Nolan Daire Nolan Daire Nolan is an Irish dancer and choreographer best known for his work in Lord of the Dance and Feet of Flames.... |
| Russia |
Mikhail Smirnov |
| Mainland China |
Master Wang Haiyang |
Standings after the finale
Every performance is counted toward a country's overall standing, thus countries with multiple contestants advancing through the competition have a substantial advantage over countries with just one or two. The country with the most points at the end of the competition will be declared the winner and awarded with the Superstars of Dance trophy.| Place | Team | Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3* | Ep. 4* | Ep. 5 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States |
114 | 122 | 127 | 50 | 117 | 530 |
| 2 | Australia |
114 | 121 | 120 | 59 | 111 | 525 |
| 3 | South Africa |
112 | 117 | 117 | 55 | 59 | 460 |
| 4 | India |
113 | 112 | 59 | 107 | 56 | 447 |
| 5 | Argentina |
123 | 105 | 63 | 53 | 66 | 410 |
| 6 | Republic of Ireland |
123 | 114 | 56 | 116 | 0 | 409 |
| 7 | Russia |
114 | 114 | 63 | 51 | 65 | 407 |
| 8 | Mainland China |
117 | 104 | 0 | 65 | 57 | 343 |
*The semi-finals were split over episodes 3 & 4, with an unbalanced number of contestants from each country participating in each episode.
- Bold font indicates the highest scoring team on a performance show.
- Italic font indicates the lowest scoring team on a performance show.
| Medal | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... |
Ballet | 65 |
| Silver | Amrapali Ambegaokar |
Kathak | 56 |
| Bronze | Robert Muraine |
Popping | 51 |
| Medal | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo |
Tango | 66 |
| Silver | Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides |
Ballroom | 59 |
| Bronze | Henry Byalikov & Giselle Peacock |
Ballroom | 58 |
| Medal | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | The Groovaloos |
Street | 66 |
| Silver | Shaolin Monks |
Kung-Fu | 57 |
| Bronze | Australian Dance Theatre |
Contemporary | 53 |
Episode 1
The first episode of Superstars of Dance, which aired on Sunday, January 4, 2009, begins by introducing host Michael Flatley as "the most popular dancer on the planet." Flatley then describes the show's format and introduces co-host, Susie Castillo, who then introduces the judges and explains the show's scoring system.The competition gets underway with a Lord of the Danceesque number from the Irish group entry. The crowd reacts enthusiastically and the judges respond likewise giving 65 points out of a possible 70. Next up is popper
Popping
Popping is a street dance and one of the original funk styles that came from California during the 1960s-70s. It is based on the technique of quickly contracting and relaxing muscles to cause a jerk in the dancer's body, referred to as a pop or a hit...
Robert Muraine from the United States. His introduction states that he is not double-jointed and thus has to work for his flexibility. His routine brings a standing ovation and causes the American coach to quip "he rocks my world." The judges, however, aren't quite sure what to think and he ends up with 57 points. Carolina Cerisola follows with a Tango
Tango (ballroom)
Ballroom Tango is a ballroom dance that branched away from its original Argentine roots by allowing European, American, Hollywood, and competitive influences into the style and execution of the dance....
-influenced Jazz
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
routine that makes use of a top hat and chair. It starts slow, but picks up speedy toward the end, and earns 58 points for Argentina.
Russian couple Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis take the stage next and do a Latin-inspired ballroom
Ballroom dance
Ballroom dance refers to a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television....
number. The crowd loves it and the judges agree, awarding 64 points. Russian judge Mikhail Smirnov jokes that all the dancers back home are watching the performance on "streaming KGB television." Next up is Indian duo Nishi Munshi & Sangita Sanyal who perform a Bollywood style dance about two sisters who are in love with the same guy. The judges are unimpressed, giving just 51 points. South African judge Harold Van Buuren is questioned as to why he gave them a 6 and he responds that they aren't up to competition level standards.
Tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
r Sean Robinson, representing Australia, and ribbon dancer
Ribbon (rhythmic gymnastics)
Ribbon is a component of rhythmic gymnastics.-The stick:This can be of any colour and made of wood, bamboo, plastic or fibreglass with a maximum diameter of 1cm at its widest, a cylindrical or conical shape and should have a length of 50–60cm...
Bei Zheng, representing China, follow with unremarkable performances. Robinson earns 57 points, while Zheng gets just 51, despite protests from the crowd.
South African group Umojo then takes the stage to perform a gumboot dance inspired by the country's history - miners used to make up similar dances to pass the time. Wearing miner's costumes, the group turns in an energetic performance complete with trash can drums and chanting/singing. They receive 57 points for their efforts. Australia follows with a group from the Australian Dance Theatre dance company. Coach Garry Stewart describes their style as unique, fast, and flexible. They perform a contemporary
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
routine which mixes several different styles. They also receive 57 points. Next up, Damien O'Kane returns (after being part of Ireland's group performance) for a solo hardshoe routine with a bit of a contemporary spin. The judges reviews are mixed, but he ends up with 58 points, tying him for first thus far. Next it is Sduduzo Ka-mbili's turn. Representing, South Africa, he does a Zulu warrior dance called the "Power of Juxta." The routine features a lot of athletic kicks and jumps, all while wearing native garb. His own coach says could have done better and the judges agree, awarding 55 points.
American duo Georgia Amabarian & Eric Luna take the stage next to perform a Cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
number. The routine features a huge number of difficult lifts, but not as much foot work as some of the other routines. The judges opinions are very mixed ranged from several 7s all the way up to a 10 from Ireland. The duo's total score is 57. Next up is a traditional tango, performed by Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo of Argentina. Their routine features a lot of passion, a lot of power, and several difficult lifts. The audience loves it and so do the judges, awarding two 10s and 65 points overall. Russian soloist Julia Bantner follows with a contemporary dance number that fails to impress, earning just 50 points.
Amrapali Ambegaokar, representing India, is the final soloist of the evening. She does a traditional North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
n dance wearing tradition clothing, including bells on her feet. The number is filled with energy and ends with a long spin sequence. Calling her "Sweet Amy," Flatley tries to interview her after the number done, but she is too out-of-breath to get more than a couple words out at a time. The crowd responds enthusiastically to the dance and the judges agree, awarding her 62 — the highest solo score of the night.
Finally, the Shaolin Monks emerge to perform their much anticipated group effort. They do not disappoint, combining Kung Fu
Shaolin kung fu
Shaolin Kung Fu refers to a collection of Chinese martial arts that claim affiliation with the Shaolin Monastery.Of the multitude styles of kung fu and wushu, only some are actually related to Shaolin...
, acrobatics, weaponry, and music to create a unique dance experience. The routine features jumps, kicks, rolls, and mock fighting. Among the group are two young children, who are just as skilled as the adults. The number ends with one group member being suspended in mid-air on nothing more than four sharp spears. The crowd goes wild and the judges are quite excited as well. Harold Van Buuren calls it "the performance of the evening" and the monks end up with 66 points, the highest score given thus far.
A summary of the night's competition follows:
| Country | Dancers/Style | Judges' Scores | Totals | Grand Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo | Duet | Group | |||
| Argentina |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58 | 65 | N/A | 123 |
| India |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
62 | 51 | N/A | 113 |
| Australia |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
57 | N/A | 57 | 114 |
| South Africa |
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
55 | N/A | 57 | 112 |
| USA |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
57 | 57 | N/A | 114 |
| Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
58 | N/A | 65 | 123 |
| Russia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
50 | 64 | N/A | 114 |
| China |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A | 51 | N/A | 66 | 117 |
Episode 2
The second episode of Superstars of Dance aired on January 5, 2009. The show marked the end of the quarterfinals and thus the first eliminations. At the end of the evening, eight soloists, two duos, and two groups were scheduled to be eliminated.Much like the first night of competition, the evening starts with a high-energy group number, this time from the Argentinian trio "Los Huincas Gauchos." Their routine mixes weaponry, drum playing, and hand clapping, but is relatively low on dance steps. When host Michael Flatley questions Argentinian judge Maria Pogee about their performance, she replies that they "didn't do everything they were supposed to." The other judges agree that it was light on actual dancing and the trio receives just 48 points, the lowest score of the competition thus far.
India's second soloist, Mythili Prakash, is up next, performing a traditional South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
n routine, said to have come from the gods themselves. Her routine is fun to watch as she is clearly enjoying herself, and the judges give her a respectable 58 points. Indian coach Nakul Dev Mahajan is baffled by the score, saying Prakash "sets the standard" for this kind of dance and could have gotten "at least all 9's." South African judge Harold Van Buuren replies that "there is always room for improvement." Next up is Irish step-dancer Kelly Hendry. In her intro, it is revealed that her father recently had a heart attack but wanted her to stay in the competition rather than flying back home. She does an Irish step-dance number with a bit of a contemporary twist. The judges are lukewarm about her performance, awarding 56 points.
Taking the stage next are the Australia duo, Henry Byalikov and Giselle Peacock. They perform a Latin-inspired ballroom number that scores 56 points. Following them is another ballroom duo — Victor Da Silva and Claudia Savvides of South Africa. The couple has won several championships, but decide to bring out a "show piece" rather than a typical ballroom routine. Their lift heavy Rumba
Rumba
Rumba is a family of percussive rhythms, song and dance that originated in Cuba as a combination of the musical traditions of Africans brought to Cuba as slaves and Spanish colonizers. The name derives from the Cuban Spanish word rumbo which means "party" or "spree". It is secular, with no...
-esque dance scores them 59 points. Following the ballroom acts, it's time for something completely different: Yang Yanan takes the stage to perform with single & double whips, the latter of which is considered to be the most difficult weapon practiced at the Shaolin temple. He wields his weapons with great skill and energy, running about the stage as he goes. The crowd is enthused, but the judges feel the act lacks in actual dancing. A tiff breaks out between Harold Van Buuren and the Chinese coach over whether a particular move was borrowed from dance or if danced borrowed the move from Kung Fu. It the end, Yang gets only 51 points and the audience boos loudly.
Next up is American tap dancer, Dormesia Sumbry-Edwards. She does a classic number to typewriter sounds that were originally from a Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
movie. The crowd likes it, but is again disappointed as the judging panel awards just 55 points. Following her is a group of Russians who perform a traditional Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
dance. Their act is acrobatic and full of energy, but lacking in technical precision. When asked about his country's culture, Russian judge Mikhail Smirnov comments that people ask him if it's true that "Russians drink vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
for breakfast." He says the "it isn't true... some prefer Cognac
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
." The Russian group ends up with 51 points.
The show continues with the India group entry which their coach describes as "a big celebration" that makes the audience want to get up and join in. Their number is filled with lots of energy, but perhaps there is a little too much going on as the cameras struggle to find focal points. The judges are unimpressed, but the group manages to score enough to advance: 54 points. Following the "big celebration" is the most emotional act of the night. Representing South Africa, Mamela Nyamza brings a tribal piece filled with raw emotion: a woman frustrated with her marriage and life. Her very interpretive routine features a lot of screaming and writhing around on the floor. The studio audience is stunned and doesn't know how to react — little applause is heard, and a close up a clearly perplexed lady is shown. The judges, however, love the number showering Nyamza with praise and 58 points.
Miriam Larici then returns for a solo performance (she had a duet last night) in which she attempts to create a one-person tango. Her performance is supposed to represent a woman dreaming of a man, but mostly just illustrates that it does indeed take two to tango. She brings in 57 points for Argentina, 8 less than she and partner Leonardo Barrionuevo received the night prior. Ireland's duo is up next, as married couple Damien O'Kane and Bernadette Flynn bring a romantic twist to traditional Irish step-dancing. Flynn moves about the stage beautifully, but O'Kane's role is rather limited. For the most part, the judges like what they see and give the couple 58 points in total.
The final duo to perform will be Zhen Zhu Zheng and An Nan of China. The two are part of a world famous acrobatic troupe and it shows as they bring some really incredible acrobatics to the stage. Among other moves, An does a full turn en pointe
En pointe
En pointe means "on the tip" and is a part of classical ballet technique, usually practised using specially reinforced shoes called pointe shoes or toe shoes. The technique developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-like and has evolved to enable dancers to dance on the...
atop Zhen's shoulders. The crowd goes wild, but the judges aren't ready to give a big score. A few judges give high marks for the incredible difficulty of the routine, but most say they feel it wasn't actually a dance routine. The duo ends up with 53 points. After Zhen & An receive their scores, it is revealed that the two lowest scoring duo of the quarter finals are the teams from China and India. The other six duos are advanced to the semi-finals.
Russian ballerina Maria Kochetkova
Maria Kochetkova
Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for...
is the next contestant to take the stage. She does a beautiful and technically precise number that ends with a long spin sequence. The performance is shorter than most of the other solos, but the judges don't mind much, awarding 9s across the board, for a total of 63. It is the highest scoring solo of the competition thus far. Reed Luplau follows with the final solo of the quarterfinals. He is billed as the best contemporary dancer in Australia and doesn't disappoint. He turns in a high-flying and well executed performance that earns him 65 points, best among all soloists. At this point the eight highest soloists are to be advanced into the semi-finals. Lauplau and Kochetkova are both in, as well as dancers from Argentina, South Africa, Ireland, and both soloists from India. However, there is a three way tie for the eighth and final spot. Thus a tie breaking vote is called for, and Robert Muraine ends up winning 4 of the 5 tie-break votes and advances. The rest of the soloists, including both of China's entrants, are eliminated.
The final act of the quarterfinals is the United State's group entry, The Groovaloos. The group consists of one girl and nine guys, including one member, Steven, who was recently hit by a stray bullet and told he'd never walk again. Their street dance
Street dance
Street dance, more formally known as vernacular dance, is an umbrella term used to describe dance styles that evolved outside of dance studios in any available open space such as streets, dance parties, block parties, parks, school yards, raves, and nightclubs, etc...
number begins with Steven being rolled out on a stretcher. The other nine start running, leaping, and dancing about the stage with incredible energy and pretty soon Steven gets up and joins in the action. Their routine is well choreographed and the group is a sheer joy to watch. The studio audience goes nuts and the judges respond with high marks, including four 10s, for a total of 67 points. The 67 points is the highest score given to any act in the entire competition thus far. The night ends with two lowest scoring groups, Argentina and Russia, being eliminated.
A summary of the night's competition as well as the complete standings at the end of the quarterfinals follow:
| Country | Dancers/Style | Judges' Scores | Totals | Grand Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo | Duet | Group | |||
| Argentina |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
57 | N/A | 48 | 105 |
| India |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
58 | N/A | 54 | 112 |
| Australia |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
65 | 56 | N/A | 121 |
| South Africa |
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
58 | 59 | N/A | 117 |
| USA |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
55 | N/A | 67 | 122 |
| Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
56 | 58 | N/A | 114 |
| Russia |
Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... (Ballet solo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
63 | N/A | 51 | 114 |
| China |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A | 51 | 53 | N/A | 104 |
Standings after the quarter-finals
| Place | Team | Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Total | Teams Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Republic of Ireland |
123 | 114 | 237 | 3 (solo, duet, group) |
| 2 | United States |
114 | 122 | 236 | 3 (solo, duet, group) |
| 3 | Australia |
114 | 121 | 235 | 3 (solo, duet, group) |
| 4 | South Africa |
112 | 117 | 229 | 3 (solo, duet, group) |
| 5 (tie) | Argentina |
123 | 105 | 228 | 2 (solo, duet) |
| 5 (tie) | Russia |
114 | 114 | 228 | 2 (solo, duet) |
| 7 | India |
113 | 112 | 225 | 3 (solo, solo, group) |
| 8 | Mainland China |
117 | 104 | 221 | 1 (group) |
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reed Luplau |
Contemporary | 65 | |
| 2 | Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... |
Ballet | 63 | |
| 3 | Amarpali Ambegaokar |
Kathak | 62 | |
| 4 (tie) | Carolina Cerisola |
Jazz | 58 | |
| 4 (tie) | Mythili Prakash |
Bharata Natyam | 58 | |
| 4 (tie) | Mamela Nyanza |
Afro-Fusion | 58 | |
| 4 (tie) | Damien O'Kane |
Irish Step | 58 | |
| 8 (tie) | Robert Muraine |
Popping | 57 | 1 |
| 8 (tie) | Sean Robinson |
Tap | 57 | Eliminated 1 |
| 8 (tie) | Miriam Larici |
Tango | 57 | Eliminated 1 |
| 11 | Kelly Hendry |
Irish Step | 56 | Eliminated |
| 12 (tie) | Dormesha Sumbry-Edwards |
Tap | 55 | Eliminated |
| 12 (tie) | Sduduzo Ka-Mbili |
Zulu Warrior Dance | 55 | Eliminated |
| 14 (tie) | Bei Zheng |
Ribbon Dance | 51 | Eliminated |
| 14 (tie) | Yang Yanan |
Shaolin Weapon | 51 | Eliminated |
| 16 | Julia Bantner |
Contemporary | 50 | Eliminated |
1Miriam Larici, Robert Muraine, and Sean Robinson were tied for 8th with 57 points going into the first elimination. Since only 8 could advance, a tie-breaking vote was called for from the five countries not involved. Muraine won four votes from South Africa, Ireland, Russia, and China, which put him through to the semifinal round. Robinson received one vote from India, while Larici received no votes.
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miriam Larci & Leonardo Barrionuevo |
Tango | 65 | |
| 2 | Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis |
Ballroom | 64 | |
| 3 | Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides |
Ballroom | 59 | |
| 4 | Damien O'Kane & Bernadette Flynn |
Irish Step | 58 | |
| 5 | Georgia Ambarian & Eric Luna |
Cabaret | 57 | |
| 6 | Henry Byalikov & Giselle Peacock |
Ballroom | 56 | |
| 7 | Zhen Zhu Zheng & An Nan |
Acrobatics | 53 | Eliminated |
| 8 | Nishi Munshi & Sangita Sayal |
Bollywood | 51 | Eliminated |
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Groovaloos |
Street | 67 | |
| 2 | Shaolin Monks |
Kung-fu | 66 | |
| 3 | The Irish |
Irish Step | 65 | |
| 4 (tie) | Australian Dance Theater |
Contemporary | 57 | |
| 4 (tie) | Umoja |
Traditional Gumboot Dance | 57 | |
| 6 | Bollywood Dancers |
Bollywood | 54 | |
| 7 | The Cossaks |
Cossak Dance | 51 | Eliminated |
| 8 | Los Huincas Gauchos |
Argentine Weapon | 48 | Eliminated |
Episode 3
The third episode of Superstars of Dance aired on January 12, 2009. Three groups, three duos, and four soloists took the stage to compete in the first half of the semi-finals. Scores from the first round don't carry over, except for the master score board, so everyone started with a clean slate.Leading off the show is the group entry from Australia. They bring a high-energy athletic number filled with countless spins, jumps, and rolls. The crowd enjoys it, as do the judges, awarding 62 points including a 10 from Russia. It's a marked improvement over the group's first round score of 57. Next up is the Irish duo Damien O'Kane & Bernadette Flynn. They choose a sassier number which involves more movement from O'Kane than the duo's earlier performance. The judges' opinions are split with some enjoying it and others saying it "lacked fire," and the duo has to settle for 58 points.
The first soloist of the evening, Maria Kochetkova
Maria Kochetkova
Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for...
, is the next to take the stage. The Russian ballerina turns in a classic ballet number with clean, crisp lines, and countless pirouettes. Asked how she can do so much spinning without getting dizzy, she simply replies "practice makes perfect." The judges again love her performance and award 63 points — identical to her first round number. Next up is American popper Robert Muraine, the last soloist to make it into the semi-finals. His intro claims he never choreographs his numbers because he feels popping is a freestyle
Dance improvisation
Dance improvisation is the process of spontaneously creating movement. Development of improvised movement material is facilitated through a variety of creative explorations including body mapping through body mind centering, levels, shape and dynamics , sensory experiences through touch or contact...
art. Muraine's semi-final performance involves noticeably more variation and movement then his previous set. The studio audience again enjoys his performance and this time the judges agree, awarding him with 61 points.
The South African group entry, Umojo, is the next act to return. They hit the floor with a powerful dance based on Zulu tribal war dances. Several members play drums, while others chant and sing. After the number concludes, a member is asked to explain the significance of the dance. He then demonstrates some traditional hunting and pre-war dance moves that they've incorporated into their performance. The judging panel awards 58 points. Next up are Miriam Larici & Leonardo Barrionuevo of Argentina. They turn in a scorching hot tango, that brings praise and high scores from six of the seven judges. South African judge Harold Van Buuren is the lone dissenter, saying that Barrionuevo is not at the same level as Larici. The couple is questioned about the remark, and Barrionuevo essentially agrees with the critique saying he appreciates the advice. The couple ends up with 63 points.
Amrapali Ambegaokar is the first of India's two soloists to return to the stage. Her spins, bells, and smile again light up the stage as she performs another traditional North Indian piece. The judges give her 59 points for her efforts. Following her is the final soloist of the evening — Reed Luplau of Australia. He opts for a more powerful, rock-and-roll flavored number this time around. When he is done flipping and spinning about the stage, Ambegaokar is called back out - with four soloists performing this evening and only three spots available in the finals, one of them will have to go home. Amegaokar has the lowest score thus far, so it'll be either her or Luplau who departs. The judges are unimpressed by Luplau's performance and he ends up 1 point short of Amegaokar, with 58 points. Everyone is shocked to see the first round standout going home so soon and Luplau is not quite sure what to say in his final interview.
As the shock starts to wear off, its time for the final duet of the evening. The honor belongs to Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides of South Africa. The couple decides to put it all on the line, bringing a brand new trick-laden piece to the floor. Savvides barely touches the floor, as Da Silva is constantly lifting her high in the air, often with only one arm. The number ends with Da Salva spinning his partner around several times above his head, much like a helicopter, then throwing her above his head; she lands completely wrapped around his body and slides down his body to the floor, holding the same position the whole way down. The judges appreciate the difficultly demonstrated but feel the tricks took away form the natural flow of the dance. The couple has to settle for 59 points and second place among duos thus far.
The night concludes with the return of the Groovaloos. Their introduction shows the American group getting a ballet lesson from the Russian coach. "About the only similarity [between the styles]," a group member quips, "is that both take years to get good at." The theme of tonight's performance is going to work. First they ride the subway, then the elevator; they clock in and begin work. The routine features several innovative movements including the girl of the group standing in for a robot that is being fine-tuned by the workers. Soon it's "break time" and the action really starts to pick up. Group members fly about the stage, rolling and jumping over each other at a break-neck pace. The group goes through several different dance steps before the performance concludes with one member doing six consecutive back-flips in place. The Groovaloos receive a standing ovation and 66 points from the judging panel.
During the Groovaloos post performance interview, co-host Susie Susie Castillo brings up the idea of a skills battle between the Groovaloos and the Shaolin Monks. The American team is very enthusiastic about idea and a showdown with the Shaolin Monks is set for next week's show.
A summary of the night's performances follows:
| Country | Dancers/Style | Judges' Scores | Totals | Grand Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo | Duet | Group | |||
| Argentina |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A | 63 | N/A | 63 |
| India |
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
59 | N/A | N/A | 59 |
| Australia |
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
58 | N/A | 62 | 120 |
| South Africa |
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
N/A | 59 | 58 | 117 |
| USA |
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
|
61 | N/A | 66 | 127 |
| Ireland |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
|
N/A | 56 | N/A | 56 |
| Russia |
Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... (Ballet solo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A |
|
63 | N/A | N/A | 63 |
| China |
No competitors participating |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | |||||||
Episode 4
The fourth episode of Superstars of Dance aired on January 19, 2009. The other three groups, the other three duets, and the other four soloistsA summary of the night's performances follows:
| Country | Dancers/Style | Judges' Scores | Totals | Grand Total | |||||||||
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Solo | Duet | Group | |||
| Argentina |
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N/A |
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53 | N/A | N/A | 53 |
| India |
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N/A |
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54 | N/A | 53 | 107 |
| Australia |
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N/A |
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N/A | 59 | N/A | 59 |
| South Africa |
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N/A |
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55 | N/A | N/A | 55 |
| USA |
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N/A |
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N/A | 50 | N/A | 50 |
| Ireland |
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N/A |
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54 | N/A | 62 | 116 |
| Russia |
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N/A |
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N/A | 51 | N/A | 51 |
| China |
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N/A | N/A | N/A | 65 | 65 |
Standings after the semi-finals
| Place | Team | Ep. 1 | Ep. 2 | Ep. 3 | Ep. 4 | Total | Teams remaining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia |
114 | 121 | 120 | 59 | 414 | 2 (duet, group) |
| 2 | United States |
114 | 122 | 127 | 50 | 413 | 2 (solo, group) |
| 3 | Republic of Ireland |
123 | 114 | 56 | 116 | 409 | 0 |
| 4 | South Africa |
112 | 117 | 117 | 55 | 401 | 1 (duet) |
| 5 | India |
113 | 112 | 59 | 107 | 391 | 1 (solo) |
| 6 | Argentina |
123 | 105 | 63 | 53 | 344 | 1 (duet) |
| 7 | Russia |
114 | 114 | 63 | 51 | 342 | 1 (solo) |
| 8 | Mainland China |
117 | 104 | 0 | 65 | 286 | 1 (group) |
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova Maria Kochetkova , is a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She is a bronze medal Laureate of the 9th International Competition of ballet artists and choreographers in Moscow , Winner of the Young Artists Competition "Prix de Lausanne" , silver medal in Varna, golden medals holder for... |
Ballet | 63 | |
| 2 | Robert Muraine |
Popping | 61 | |
| 3 | Amarpali Ambegaokar |
Kathak | 59 | |
| 4 | Reed Luplau |
Contemporary | 58 | Elimnated |
| 5 | Mamela Nyamza |
Afro-Fusion | 55 | Elimnated |
| 6 (tie) | Mythili Prakash |
Bharata Natyam | 54 | Elimnated |
| 6 (tie) | Bernadette Flynn |
Irish Step | 54 | Elimnated |
| 8 | Carolina Cerisola |
Latin | 53 | Elimnated |
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miriam Larici & Leonard Barrionuevo |
Tango | 63 | |
| 2 (tie) | Henry Byalikov & Giselle Peacock |
Ballroom | 59 | |
| 2 (tie) | Victor Da Silva & Claudia Savvides |
Ballroom | 59 | |
| 4 | Damien O'Kane & Bernadette Flynn |
Irish Step | 56 | Elimnated |
| 5 | Pasha & Aliona Riazantsev |
Magical Dance | 51 | Elimnated |
| 6 | Georgia Ambarian & Eric Luna |
Cabaret | 50 | Elimnated |
| Place | Contestant(s) | Style of Dance | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Groovaloos |
Street | 66 | |
| 2 | Shaolin Monks |
Kung-Fu | 65 | |
| 3 (tie) | Australian Dance Theatre |
Contemporary | 62 | 1 |
| 3 (tie) | The Irish |
Irish Step | 62 | Elimnated 1 |
| 5 | Umojo |
Traditional Gumboot Dance | 58 | Elimnated |
| 6 | Bollywood Dancers |
Bollywood | 53 | Elimnated |
1The Australian Dance Theatre and The Irish team were tied in 3rd place with 62 points going into the first elimination. Since only 3 could advance, a tiebraking vote was called for from the six countries not involved. The Australian Dance Theater won five votes from Argentina, India, South Africa, USA, and Russia. The Irish won one vote from China.