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So You Think You Can Dance Season 9: Exclusive Interview with Mary Murphy

Posted on 07/27/2012 by Gina in So You Think You Can Dance and Cast Interviews

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 Mary Murphy from So You Think You Can Dance Season 9

 

by Gina Scarpa

 

This weekend, Dizzy Feet Foundation will also hold its annual gala which coincides, quite perfectly and appropriately, with National Dance Day. Dizzy Feet founders Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman, along with So You Think You Can Dance judge Mary Murphy and many of the show's choreographers will be at the event this Saturday night. Dancing With The Stars alums Maria Menounos, Derek Hough, and Ricki Lake, Glee Stars Harry Shum and Chord Overstreet, and SYTYCD's own tWitch and Kathryn McCormack will also be in attendance. On top of performances from some of those previously mentioned, The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers, Alvin Ailey and American Ballet Theatre will take the stage as well. We had the pleasure of speaking to Mary Murphy today about this amazing event, which will pay special tribute to Shirley MacLaine this year, as well as her thoughts on season 9 of So You Think You Can Dance.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Why was it so important that Dizzy Feet Foundation was formed?
A. Mary: I think once we started So You Think You Can Dance, and with the evolution of celebrating dancers, we all wanted to be in a position where we could give back. I think So You Think You Can Dance has proven that there's so much talent out there in the country and we're finding them when they're already 18. What's important is to find these little diamonds in the rough and let them blossom. That's basically why it was formed. I think it's so important for our country, in the world of dance, to nurture these people.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Have you seen participation in National Dance Day has grown over the last few years?
A. Mary: Yeah absolutely! I just think it's great that so many people are jumping on the bandwagon. You don't have to know how to dance. We can see by the videos, people just doing it in their living room, garage, school, at the gym... it's been great to see all the different kinds of people. I don't think we realized it was going on all over the world! I think that's great that they're celebrating our national Dance Day. It's turning into a World Dance Day!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What is the goal of the gala this weekend? Where are you hoping the money raised will go towards?
A. Mary: Definitely the money raised will be going towards helping and giving scholarships to dancers across the board in every age category. We're definitely trying to get the young but people into their 20s too... we want to give somebody that chance to grow in their art. Certainly, there's a transition phrase as well. Getting dancers into other areas of the arts whether it's singing and acting, getting involved with directing. Things that you can transition to because the life of a dancer is not usually... mine certainly was but... past the age of 29. That's the general age, when you start doing statistics, that's the end of a dancer's career. That's a very short lifetime. You want to try to educate the dancer that it's always good to have a backup and help them out in the transition phase, and prepare them for that day.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Shirley MacLaine is being honored at the gala and she is so amazing. Can you talk a little about her contribution to dance?
A. Mary: I tried to get her last year. I wanted to put her in our hall of fame at our dance competition. I'm so fired up to meet her anyway. She's had an amazing career, she was an amazing dancer, and it's only fitting that Dizzy Feet Foundation pays tribute to her. She's well versatile and the big triple threat that we hear about. Not too many people get that accolade. She is the rarity.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Will you be performing?
A. Mary: I'm not performing. Let's just say I'll be involved in the opening act. I cannot say right now! I'm also going to be a presenter. Fortunately and unfortunately, I will have to run out of the gala and go to the Television Critics Association ceremony that is held at the Beverly Hills Hilton, then get in a car and rush back for the rest of the gala!

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: So many So You Think You Can Dance people are on the board. It really seems like you have a really close community on that show of dancers and choreographers.
A. Mary: Yeah, that's accurate! We all come from a position that we were dancers and we handle dancers with respect. We know what they went through. We all know what it took to get where we're at. I think a lot of us lived in a time, especially me and Nigel and some of the older choreographers, where dance wasn't as celebrated. We lived in the shadows of everything. We had to explain why we dance and that's totally changed because of the show. People are so excited to find out if you're a dancer and about the show. People talk about the different dance styles and genres. We didn't live through that celebration. Dancers do it because we love to do it. It's celebrated around the world and it's fantastic! I'm certainly proud that I'm part of that journey, that I lived long enough to witness people that are so engaged in this type of art form. It couldn't make me happier! What's so great is that people have welcomed that into their living rooms. I can't tell you how many people tell me their whole family watchers. Back when I started dancing, my own father wouldn't talk to me for two years. Of course, he came on board and was very happy. I wasn't backing down or changing my mind. I didn't care, I just wanted to dance! They recognized that there was no turning back for me. I was intending on being a school teacher. He could see that I was making a difference in other people's lives as a teacher, as an educator.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What are your feelings about season 9 so far?
A. Mary: I think season 9, for sure, is icing on the cake. I think that this season, by far, has been truly amazing. I don't think there's a single person that will not be able to say that if they've been watching the show. It's just the most fun part of my week is performance day. It's never easy to let people go. It's such a celebration though that the people who made that Top 20 need to be celebrated. They beat out thousands of dancers. I'm just always so happy when I sit there and have a front row seat. For me, it's the best show on earth!

 

To learn more about Dizzy Feet Foundation, visit their website or follow them on Twitter!

 


So You Think You Can Dance airs Wednesdays at 8/7c on FOX.

 

(Image courtesy of FOX)

 


Follow Gina @ginascarpa


  


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