#kenya sutton

[sytycdrankings]

Here's my point of view on Kenya's elimination: I knew from the second she auditioned that she wasn't going to make it into the top 20, no matter how well she did, simply because of her weight. It sucks because she's amazing, but partnering and lifts are basically integral to 95% of the routines on this show. That would have been difficult to do with her. Theoretically, they could just be more creative with choreography, but let's face it, that's not going to happen. (I hope this isn't rude.)

It’s not rude, you’re just telling the truth. The same thing happened with Natalia in season 8. Both she and Sasha could have made the show, but instead, they left it down to the two of them and then surprise! picked Sasha. I WONDER WHY. 

But it’s particularly irritating with this season because we were told that it wasn’t going to be the conventional SYTYCD that we were used to, which is why we have so many different types of dancers that auditioned and made the show. Nigel said that we weren’t going to see duets every single week and we still have no idea how the show is going to play out, so I don’t understand why they couldn’t at least let her try. It’s not like it hasn’t worked in the past. Donyelle wasn’t stick thin and she made the season 2 finale. I can’t remember her name, but there was a hip-hop girl on season 3 (I think) of Canada that had a similar build to Kenya and she did fine in contemporary. If they wanted to make it happen, they could have. It’s just an excuse. 

Like, this was finally their chance to show that there are dancers that come in all types of packages and that it’s completely okay, and they squandered it. Kenya didn’t deserve that. 

[sytycdrankings]

They didn't even give the Queen of Detroit a legitimate reason for sending her home.

The red head krump girl who was the last street dancer to make it through was in the last Step Up. I think that's unfair, honestly.

Nope, they didn’t, because they didn’t have a real reason to let her go. I will be forever bitter.

They’ve had contestants that were in Step Up before, and it never really made a difference. Pretty sure Emilio was in one (right?), Brandon from season 9 was, etc etc. 

[sytycdrankings]

Kill them, kill them with fire.... The Queen of Detroit deserved that spot

I thought so, too. I wouldn’t not have minded one of the street boys not making it in favor of her. 

[sytycdrankings]

not gonna lie...i cheered every time the queen of detroit made it through a round and really enjoyed just how much the ladies killed it on the street side. #allgirlstreetteam

I immediately connected with Kenya this episode because I know EXACTLY how a panic attack like that feels, and then she went down there and KILLED her solo. It would mean everything to me if she made the show. 

[becominglemonade]

I wasn’t too keen on this season of So You Think You Can Dance. Firing Mary Murphy was not a smart move and her replacements are not up to her standards of charm, coherence and knowledge. Plus the new “Stage vs. Street” motif is a little concerning in how it will really work. The show is a frankenstein version of its hey day, the producers perpetually changing it to resurrect ratings and these changes keep causing a loss in viewers. I only reluctantly was tuning in this year.

Until the opening of the second auditions episode which took place in Detroit. The “first audition of the day” was a fantastic and truly unique “jazz” (really contemporary) dancer named Christine Shepherd. She woke me up to the reality that no matter what state this show is in, it needs to be on the air to showcase incredible artists like her.

Kenya Sutton aka the “Queen of Detroit” aka “Standing Ovation” is one of the most inspiring performers they have had on the show, and she herself admits that she is auditioning this year because she feels with the new “Stage vs. Street” format, she might actually stand a chance as an “untrained” dancer. She’s inspiring because she is further evidence of the fact that it doesn’t matter what you look like, you can do anything, including being an incredibly skilled animation dancer as she is. In fact, she uses her body in her artistry. Animation, popping and locking is, to me, the most exciting dance form simply because it wasn’t something in my dance world when I was a child dancing in my small town. Yet it takes just as much skill as any other dance form out there. It’s as precise and controlled as ballet and even more mesmerizing. Sutton is the best female animator I have seen. Stunning. Okay I will keep on with this show for the dancers (and Cat Deeley of course).