by Gina Scarpa

 

Season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance may be just getting started but meanwhile, the Top 10 dancers from season 5 (along with special guests Caitlin Kinney and Phillip Chbeeb) are out on tour.  Things kicked off in September in Manchester, NH and these dancers will be performing straight through the end of November.  Along the way, they’ll stop everywhere from Miami to Omaha.  At a recent stop in my home state, I headed back stage to talk to six of the dancers: Janette Manrara, Kupono Aweau, Caitlin Kinney, Kayla Radomski, Randi Evans, and Brandon Bryant.  Read on to hear what life is like on tour for the

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Janette, the tour is just getting going so tell me what it’s been like since you kicked things off in New Hampshire earlier this month.
A. Janette: The difference between being on the show and being on tour is, on the show, we only get to see 150 people who enjoy watching us dance.  Now, on tour, we have thousands and thousands of people watching us so it’s definitely a change of pace.  We don’t have that pressure of being sent home or judged.  It’s different pressures.  We still have to put on a good show.  We want to hit our dances just as hard as we did on the show.  We get to meet everyone, though.  We have meet and greets and we do signings.  Being able to meet everyone and they know who you are and they know your name, it’s just nice.  It’s a great experience so far.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Kayla, what has it been like to go from an average girl to one that people recognize?
A. Kayla: It’s amazing.  I’m gonna admit that I absolutely love the attention so it’s really cool to be walking down the street and you hear your name being called.  I’m so grateful for it, that people appreciate the talent that we have to share and our gift that we’re giving to these people every day of our lives.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Randi, do you guys have any say in the dances that make it on the tour?
A. Randi: We can put in suggestions of what we want to do but, ultimately, it’s the choice of our producers and directors.  I’m happy with everything that got put in.  It’s a good show.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Caitlin, how do you go from doing a 90 second routine on the show to a tour that runs 2 ½ hours?  How do you keep your stamina up?
A. Caitlin: We have been doing the show over and over again.  It’s still hard but that would be a great question for Brandon because he does the most.
A. Brandon: Ha ha!  I think you have to really focus on breathing and drinking water.  When we first started on the tour, I didn’t drink water and that killed me.  I think you just really need to focus on your breathing and take in a lot of liquids so that your body doesn’t cramp up.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Kupono, a year ago, could you have imagined that you would’ve been on the show and now, on tour?
A. Kupono: It’s freakin’ crazy!  It’s absolutely ridiculous.  These dancers are like untouchable beings.  It’s just crazy to think that I went from side jobs with my dad last year to here with all of this.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you guys have any input on Adam Shankman being the new judge?
A. Kayla: I think Adam’s amazing!  I think he’s going to be a great judge.
A. Caitlin: He always has good critique and he’s positive and uplifting.  He’s hilarious!  He’s so funny and I think he really cares about all the dancers.  He’s going to be a great addition to the show.
A. Kupono: He gets it!  He gets that we only have 5 hours to get our dances.  He gets everything that’s involved with the show, not just what he sees.  I appreciate that.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Brandon, you are a person who tried out, was cut, then came back again and made it, not only to Top 20, but to the finals.  What is your advice for dancers out there who want to try out but may doubt themselves?
A. Brandon: I think we all feel the same about that.  I think we’ve been through rejection before and it wasn’t our year.  There’s a purpose for everything and I’m so excited now that I didn’t make it last year because this year is family.  It’s just so amazing and I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Keep going and do what you love to do because if you love dance that much, then you’ll put in the work for it.

 

Check out the tour dates for So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 at fox.com/dance

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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