We Have A Winner!

Well, folks - it's official!  Last night produced a winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 8, and I couldn't have been happier about America's selection!

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Season 8 Winner Melanie Moore - she was deemed the original "beast" of this season, and she showcased insane talent in pretty much every number she danced in.  She not only is a brilliant technician, but she also brings a high level of performance and character awareness to her dancing, and that is a difficult skill to master - especially when you're only nineteen years old.

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This post is a tribute to her greatness, so I figured it would only be right to bring some of the numbers of hers that I loved best to all of you.  Dance fans, enjoy!

Melanie & partner Marko - "I Got You" - hiphop routine by Tabitha & Napoleon


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Melanie & partner Sasha - "Girl Power" - lyrical jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh


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Melanie & partner Neil - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - contemporary routine by Mandy Moore


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And what would my blog be if I didn't give a tip of my hat to choreographer (and SYTYCD Season Two Runner Up) Travis Wall for this absolutely breathtaking concept piece?

Melanie & partner Marko - "Turn To Stone" - contemporary (WEEK ONE!!!) routine by Travis Wall


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Congratulations again to Melanie Moore on the big win - but also to all of the other Season 8 contestants - this is not the end of the road for you.  All of you possess something so magical and so special and it's now your time to share your light with the world!

And as a closing note, I must express my deepest thanks to Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, and his team of dance soldiers for continuing this amazing program for eight seasons now. As someone who was enrolled in dance classes for fifteen years of her life, I know exactly what dance can do - the joy it can bring, the focus it cultivates, the athleticism and exercise that come as part of the process - dance NEEDS to be a constant in the world today. Kids and adults alike need to be able to get up and DANCE and make the world a better place, and I am so happy to see dance get the credit and attention it deserves.

From showcasing the world's most talented choreographers, to having judges on the panel who actually know how to properly critique a dancer (and consequently prepare them for the real world - professional dance is nothing if not cutthroat), and also creating a national holiday centered around dance (National Dance Day = July 31st, y'all!),  So You Think You Can Dance is a trailblazer in the industry! The show has proven results - contestants on this program book jobs, and as a dancer - that is always the goal.

Hats off to all of you!

Until next time,

Today Is A Great Day

Well, Peeps!  Today is a great day.  Why, you ask?  Well, today is great for two reasons.  The first is that TODAY IS LITTLE SISTER CHICKEN WING'S TWENTY-FOURTH BIRTHDAY!  WOO HOO!!!!

Who doesn't love a good birthday now and then?  So, to celebrate via the blog, I thought I would create a picture montage of the most ridiculous variety in honor of my sister!  Here goes nothing, and a big THANK YOU to FaceInHole.com for being more than a little awesome.

One of our favorite childhood activities? Playing BARBIES!

We have danced in multiple recitals together!

Even though Little Sister CW usually goes for lean men,

and I usually go for men of the stronger variety,

neither of us can deny our love of the Beebs. Just sayin.

We love watching crap TV - Bring on the Wingashians!

We will be each others' maid of honor someday if we don't kill each other first!

And if we do kill each other, hopefully someone won't turn us into Chicken Nuggets!

I hope you enjoyed this ridiculous picture journey, Little Sister Chicken Wing!  I love you and hope you have the best twenty-fourth birthday ever!  I hope this year will be epic and that it will bring only good things your way!

The other reason that today is a good day is because my favorite show, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, is well underway!  Last night was the very first competitive performance show and holy bologna, if that episode was indicative of how this season is going to go - we have our work cut out for us!  Season Eight's bench is STACKED with talent - probably the most talent in one season that has ever been in the history of the show!  Don't believe me?  Check out this AHH-MAZING statue routine, choreographed by Travis Wall (of Season 2), set to a song by Ingrid Michaelson, and danced by Melanie Moore and Marko Germar:


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Like I said - AHH-MAZING! Love doesn't even begin to describe it! I can't wait to see how the season progresses and how the dancers develop even further! And that is why today is a great day!

Until next time,

A True Honor...

As my faithful followers know, I am a HUGE supporter of the FOX hit show So You Think You Can Dance and last night was their 99th episode (I cannot wait for tonight's show - 100 episodes is a big deal).

Sure, they featured special guest judge Ellen Degeneres, who was hilarious, as usual. But something happened last night that left me honored to have been watching the show.

One of the world's best choreographers, Tyce DiOrio, created a piece that moved absolutely everyone in the audience. He used the power of dance to bring awareness to breast cancer, which has affected so many people. It's hard to imagine knowing someone who hasn't had to deal with cancer of some form, and breast cancer is one of the types that is seemingly unbiased in who it victimizes.

Tyce's number, featuring Top 8 contestants Melissa and Ade, was probably the most touching number I've ever seen, and I think that was evident by the fact that there was NOT a dry eye in the entire audience or judge's panel. I've never seen Head Judge Nigel Lythgoe cry before, but this number took him to a different place than normal, and it seemed that no one could remain composed while critiquing this work of dance excellence and genius. I'd like to share it with you, and if you know anyone who has faced or is facing this disease, please share it with them. I can't say that I've seen a more powerful exhibit of hope, and I want anyone who needs some hope to view this.

I pray that FOX will not take it down, as it raises awareness and creates positivity through adversity. I would never claim to own any rights to something this powerful and moving.

Please enjoy, and to those who are fighting - keep fighting. To those who have fought and won - congratulations. To those who have fought and lost - this piece will insure that everyone knows how hard you tried!

Melissa and Ade - "This Woman's Work" - song by Maxwell
Choreography by Tyce DiOrio

'SYTYCD' Top 8: Melissa & Ade's Contemporary Performance @ Y! TV

Keep fighting, and keep hoping.
Miss Inspired Chicken Wing

The Simple Truth: Further Evidence of Dancing Genius

With the genius of the choreographers to come up with the stories that they do, and the emotion that they do, it is then the responsibility of the dancers themselves to convey that vision to the audience. I support this show because I believe in the chance that these dancers can gather from being discovered on this program.

Please see the following videos. I do not own any rights to these clips, the dance numbers, the dancers, etc. All content belongs to FOX and Dick Clark Productions, Inc.

Lacey and Kameron - Contemporary - Probably my all-time favorite


Special Video - This viewer's 3 Fave Dances
1. Hip Hop - Pasha and Lacey (who is now a pro on Dancing with the Stars)
2. Hip Hop - Twitch and Katie
3. Hip Hop - Mark and Chelsea (who is now a pro on Dancing with the Stars)


Twitch and Kherington - Viennese Waltz - GORGEOUS!


Stay tuned for more updates throughout this season!
In-love-with-this-show Chicken Wing

Time to Share Something I Love!

One of my favorite shows on television is So You Think You Can Dance on FOX. I seriously believe that it might just be the best thing that's ever happened to the world as far as reality TV goes.

Now, don't get me wrong...I love Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, and pretty much any DIY or design show on HGTV - all of which are reality shows. But, for some reason, I always get the MOST excited when SYTYCD comes on.

I think the reason why I get so much more obsessive about the show (as in a I-have-to-watch-it-or-I-might-just-die kind of thing) is because I used to be a dancer. No, not that kind of dancer - I trained in ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, clogging, and toe (on pointe) for 15 years of my life. That's a huge part of my upbringing and I know how hard it is to make it in the world of professional dance. This show is so ground-breaking (much like Idol), because the people who compete on the show actually get jobs because of people discovering their particular talent, using this show as their vehicle.

For example, several have made it to Broadway, there have been a few that have major roles in major motion pictures....not to mention the endless music video and backup dancer opportunities that come their way. I adore that about the show, because these people could have continued to struggle for years, but they got their shot because this show served as a platform.

The judges actually know what they are talking about, as every single one has been a professional dancer (in their own genres) and they are all choreographers. When they critique a number, it has validity and value. That is something that impresses me.

Not to mention, the Top 10 dancers get to go on tour all around the country. Yes, I have been to multiple tours with Familia de Chicken Wing and yes, I do own a t-shirt. HAHA! I told you, it's serious! But look at the following photos and you will see the extraordinary talent that gets discovered via this program. (And yes, I am that girl who memorizes the choreography as to capture the perfect shot!)

Off to watch my fave reality show,

Miss "Got-the-dance-fever" Chicken Wing