Andy DehnartThis clip, from last night’s So You Think You Can Dance, is just one minute and 36 seconds long, but you may wish it was one hour and 36 minutes long. Hailee Payne and Virgil Gadson’s routine, choreographed by Pharside and Phoenix and set to “Runnin'” by Noahplause, is a reminder of the one thing that remains worth watching: some amazing dancing.
Just watch:
And their performance didn’t end here: they stayed in character throughout their interaction with Cat Deeley and the judges, showing that their talent extends beyond dance.
While the show itself may be fading, the dancing is as strong as always. It’s no secret that I’ve grown tired of So You Think You Can Dance over the last few years, from the bad set design to weak new judges Paula Abdul and Jason Derulo (though they’re better in the live shows than they were during the auditions).
Two seasons ago, I stopped watching regularly. I know the dancers and choreographers are both insanely talented and work under an impossible schedule, but that wasn’t enough to keep me tuned in.
Yet seeing a routine like this, which I’ve now watched at least five time, made me believe in the power of the show. Not just to showcase great dance–because as I’ve written, that isn’t enough–but to really create captivating television through dance.