Louis Van Amstel Choreographs Samba for So You Think You Can Dance
Last minute “set your DVR’s!” alert – Louis is appearing on tonight’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance. He tweeted earlier today that the samba he choreographed for ballet dancer Chehon and ballroom dancer Witney will be opening the show tonight:
[blackbirdpie url=”https://twitter.com/LouisVanAmstel/status/223095232122728448″]
So for those Louis fans looking for their fix, stop whatever you’re doing, and go set your DVR to record the show at 8 pm EST on FOX. Louis has choreographed some pretty awesome stuff for SYTYCD, so this should be a great routine. Remember that awesome tango he choreographed for Melanie & Marko last season?
And I think Heidi & I are both pretty thrilled that they have not one, not two, but THREE ballroom dancers on SYTYCD this season! Let’s hope they have some staying power. I think John is probably already smitten with Witney in particular…anyone else think she could be the second coming of Chelsie? 😉
Be sure to check out our sister site, Pure So You Think You Can Dance, and follow them on Twitter @puresytycd for more updates! 😀
UPDATED: Here are videos of Chehon & Witney’s rehearsal with Louis, as well as the performance itself, for those who missed it 🙂
Loved the samba Louis did for Kayla and Max. Amazing and loved his paso for Brandon and Jeanine.
I was not impressed with Whitney. I did see Lindsey, the other ballroom girl’s partner at her audition was Brandon. He won that dwts kids ballroom competition. Brandon was impressive!
Just saw the routine. I thought it was a good routine and Witney was excellent. Although Chehon was out of his element in ballroom, he is an exquisite dancer, so hopefully, if he gets another ballroom opportunity on the show, he will have improved a bit. Having said all that, I think Louis is a good choreographer but if they want the best, they should try and get Derek. I would love to see what routine he would choreograph for SYTYCD.
I remember Chelsie saying on Twitter that Witney and Lindsey are her students or come from the same studio as her or something along those lines.
I wonder if Louis will be in the All-Star cast this season?
I liked all three of the ballroom routines with my favorite being Jason Gilickson’s paso doble for Lindsay and Cole.
Some of Chelsie’s twitter followers are comparing Witney to her, so it may be advantageous for Witney to make public contact with Chelsie to encourage the connection and possibly get votes from Chelsie’s followers.
@DW Louis is one of the best (ballroom) Samba dancers and choreographers in the entire world. He and Karina are so good at Samba together that they can do Samba rolls and running promenades in cha-cha timing, which is almost impossible.
Derek is a great choreographer but give credit where it’s due, even if Louis can be really, really irritating.
Lindsay is way better she awesome. Look at her paso!! Dwts would be lucky to have her as well as Witney!
Lindsay Arnold & Cole Horibe – Passodoble – SYTYCD S9 (Top 20) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcBlEp81jJ8&sns=tw via @youtube
I agree Louis did a great job. So did Jason G. I thought the waltz was lovely too. I also like Lindsay more. I thought she brought more maturity and I prefer her dancing. I do not see the Chelsie comparison with Whitney but who knows. But so nice to see ballroom showcases on the show last night! I know some were wondering why ballroom, specialists all got ballroom. Um, contemporary gets their genre all the time.
Cole is my favorite. I want him to dance on a dwts results show!
IN YOUR OPINION, Grant.
I liked it but i wasn’t blown away by it. Whitney was great but he was kinda just there and didn’t seem to be enjoying himself. I can see Nick and Whitney as troupe members on the show one day though.
I think the male winner is going to be Nick and the female winner is going to be Audrey Case (she really made me go “Wow” with that dance (she overshadowed her partner in my opinion)
Some things never change. Steve seems unhappy that I think Derek is the best choreographer. I did write that Louis was good, which I think he is, so that is giving credit where credit is due. He choreographed a wonderful routine. But to me, Derek is the best of the best. It is just my opinion, Menough Said.
People are allowed to think Louis isn’t the greatest, Steve, just like you’re allowed to not agree.
Do you think you’re ever going to lose the superior and condescending tone? Let me know now, before the season starts so I can limber up my “block” finger
Steve, just so you know, I find nearly ALL of your posts condescending and superior for remarks like this one “Derek is a great choreographer but give credit where it’s due, even if Louis can be really, really irritating.” You’re essentially telling DW to do something she already did when she said these two things: “ I thought it was a good routine and Witney was excellent.” And “Having said all that, I think Louis is a good choreographer”. She DID give Louie credit that you ignored, mainly because you seem to object to anyone being favored over Louis. Tough. Don’t tell other people what to do or how to think.
As for your comments whining about how you didn’t bash Derek and you weren’t combative so you don’t see the problem?? That’s a red herring…and a projection. Typical “oh you’re a Derek fan and I didn’t bash him so what’s the problem.” Yes, yes, make it all about ME. That will get you far. Try reading DW’s post a bit better next time.
Ah. Well, Heidi, I can assure you that my intentions had nothing to do with telling Ms. (Mr.?) DW what to do or how to think.
I was under the impression that the phrase “give credit where credit is due” was sufficiently in the vernacular to be understood as coming from opinion and not from combativeness, but I now understand that you believe otherwise.
As a relevant point, I actually dislike Louis as a person. I find him histrionic and carry most of the time.
However, as an experienced dancer, I try hard to separate the dancers’ abilities from their images and personalities. I watch DWTS to see the pros dance. I’ve never voted a single time for anybody on the show. I understand that that makes me very different from the typical viewer, which often leads me to underestimate the personal ties that some of the commenters here feel that they have with some of the pros and celebrities.
I admire Louis for his samba. I find Cheryl increasingly objectionable personally but I’ve NEVER seen someone do stepback bachicatas as well as she does. Lacey can really get on my nerves but her WCS and Jive technique is absolutely unreal. Anna is my favorite pro on the entire show but I’ve never enjoyed her Foxtrot or Quickstep technique.
I understand your position that my comment would likely be more useful as a sui generis opinion rather than as a response to DW.
Also, I think a Samba would be a bad use of Derek for SYTYCD. It doesn’t seem to be the dance style that he connects with the most. In my opinion, Derek’s biggest strengths in the traditional ballroom and latin dances (in terms of choreography) are his Pasos and Foxtrots.
Thank you Heidi.