The show seems to pride itself on their “rags to riches” or “pauper to prince” transformations. They also probably want to broaden their viewership base by adding a younger, more diverse demographic.
Who’s watching this season???
Just watched the Monday 7/21 show. Loved the hip-hop routine with Jim and JaJa. Even though this was completely out of Jim’s ballet genre, he just showed why he is the one to beat. Remember this guy:
Jim Nowakowski
I’m a long time SYTYCD fan , and former ballet dancer and I’m not in love with the new format. I turn off most of the street dancing. And why are guest judges not being rotated in? These 3 judges will get very tiresome very soon.
But what is particularly annoying me this season is the unnecessary time spent showing the dancers being greeted by their “coaches” after each single routine- do they really need to show us the obligatory hugs and back slaps that we know are coming??
I thought that I would hate the new format when it was first announced. I kept thinking “how can they split stage dancers down the middle with street performers”? I’m actually starting to find this new stage versus street thing somewhat interesting. I actually like to see one from each team paired up together. I agree with you about the judges and the coach greeting. It’s almost like they took a page from The Voice with the coach mentoring.
I am enjoying the new format way more than I thought I would. They show those little bits after the routines because Travis Wall and T’witch Boss are BIG NAMES to fans of that show, and they want to give them more screen time, IMO. It does not bother me that much.
As for the judges, people complained about guest judges and how many of them did not know what they were talking about…so it seems you can’t please all the people all the time. Personally, I enjoyed some of the guest judges, but most of them had nothing really valuable to add to the critique. Yes it was fun to have Jesse Tyler Ferguson on, for example, but I don’t think the dancers every really learned anything of value from him…
I have not watched at all this year. I grew tired of the backstories several years ago. It all started with Joshua “avec brisee” and the big lie that he had no formal training - then they show photos of him in the ballet studio wearing ballet attire.
My daughter is in the dance world she has known or known by association many of the dancers who have appeared on the show. And many more who have auditioned. This year there are a couple of “street” dancers who have had lots of studio training in all genres. That does not take away from their talent by any means but the fact that the show is manipulating the audience into thinking these dancers are all self taught is just annoying and an injustice to their dance teachers.
As an aside, I recall a very young (maybe 8-9 years old) Jim Nowakowski just cleaning up at a regional dance competition. We only competed against him that one time but all these years later I remember him and his dancing. It is very rare that a dancer that young can stick in your mind. Even though I am not watching the show I am rooting for him to win (and remain injury free?). And by the way, I recall that his solo in that comp was “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim”. If they end up using that song on the show please let me know!
Re guest judges: Even if most of them didn’t have much in the way of useful critiques for the contestants, at least many of them were entertaining and had genuine enthusiasm for dance. I’d rather see any guest judge than have to listen to Jason DeRulo’s meaningless babble every week. He’s neither knowledgeable nor entertaining.
So far I’m not enjoying this season. Having routines with more than two dancers makes it impossible to adequately focus on any one of them. And the decision to minimize ballroom (and fire Mary) just makes me sad. If this is the show’s last season, it wouldn’t be the worst thing. I’d be just as happy to spend the summer re-watching one of the early seasons.
Enjoying some of the numbers - but agree about missing Mary and the traditional ballroom styles. Jason DeRulo is the worst aspect of the season. And that would include watching him perform.
I was surprised that the judges were fairly critical of some of the choreography last night…at least in that they pointed out that some of the pieces were not all that complicated and the dancers just not “into” it. That is what I gleaned from what they said, any way (admittedly, I was working on a project while watching!). But then that robot number came along and made my night. 
what fun!!
I have only seen bits and pieces this season (during treadmill time)…however, I have been so unimpressed with much of the choreography…I feel like I could have seen it at the dance competitions in which my D participated.
We watched the 10th anniversary special last night…glad it was recorded so we could skip through the myriad promotions for Ryan Secrest’s show. But I loved seeing Outa Your Mind. Also, Fix You was so moving.
I thought the judges were unusually critical this week, which is better, in my opinion, than slathering on the praise. The choreography for many pieces was not impressive. I am disappointed that Jim got hip-hop two weeks in a row. He performed it well enough, but I would like to see him do something else. I am not a fan of the street style in general, but I like JaJa, and although he cannot dance well, I find Asaf very charming. There are still too many dancers for me to keep up with all of their names. Maybe I would remember more if I had watched the audition part of the season.
Musicmom, I was thinking about Asaf’s cha cha and what the comments would have been had it been Legacy a few seasons back…the judges would have smiled and given him an A for effort. I thought Asaf was really trying to sell the parts of the dance he could actually do.
I agree with MommaJ that I hate the 3 person dances. Hard to remember who did what. Don’t like Asaf and his dance was basically him doing less than the girls in front. I know in the past the choreographers have simplified things for dancers out of their zone, but they don’t seem to simplify street dances for stage contestants, just the other way around. Use to like Nigel but he is shamelessly pumping up “this is why we have street dancers” that it seems annoying. Missy, I agree with your statement too, but with new format you can’t give half the cast “A for effort.”
Also ready to see Jim in his own style!
I thought last night’s show was one of the strongest ever…almost every single piece was great. Glad that Asaf left…I think he should have last week. From here on out, it’s gonna get REALLY tough to decide!!
Asaf had no business being in the top 20 in the first place. I’m glad he got voted out but it should have happened last week. And good thing they eliminated those lifts from the routine – I don’t blame his partner for going to Travis to say she was afraid he was going to drop her.
I thought Virgil and the tapper (can’t remember her name!) were especially great last night.
Gabby! She has been one of my very favorites from the start!
I am particularly enjoying the fact that my 7 year old grandson LOVES this show and he starts his own dance classes in a couple of weeks. 
I think Asaf’s future lies in male modeling, and I expect to see him in a Calvin Klein ad before long, where he will, mercifully, be standing still.
Asaf is pretty but a dancer he’s not.
Did they do any 3-person dances this week? I like it much better when there are only two.
Did I understand Jason Derulo say he went to college for musical theatre? I wonder which one. ETA: I googled it. He attended AMDA.
I definitely laughed out loud.
There were not any 3 person dances this week. All paired street/stage and it was really cool to watch things like Jaja being paired with Hailey because you could very clearly see the differences in technique, as Jason pointed out.
Speaking of that, I think Jason is doing a decent job as a judge. He does have somewhat of a dance background, apparently, and knows of which he speaks. I miss having Mary Murphy and I miss Mia Michaels like crazy. People thought she was too critical, but I think she made those dancers into the best they could be.
Gaby is one of my favorites too. And, yes, it was high time for Asaf to go. I don’t understand how he made the top20. I was also relieved to see that they removed most of those lifts from his routine. I didn’t blame his partner for being afraid.