What Are the Past Winners of 'So you think you can dance finale' Doing Now?

We all love "So you think you can dance finale" and the contestants. We especially love the ones we voted to win the show. One question remains on our minds though, what are they doing now that they have won. For some it has been as long as four years, and for others, not even one year. Here is a look at what they are doing now since winning SYTYCD. Nick Lazzarini was winner on the first season of SYTYCD. Not only was he an amazing dancer, but was also a great person and quite good looking :). The reward at the time was $100,000 and a year in a Penthouse in New York City. Nick, living in California, decided to take the cash value of the penthouse instead. Since the show, Nick was on the cover of Dance Spirit twice, being the first person to do so ever for the magazine. He also is a founding member of Evolution Dance Company.

Currently Nick also works with Jump Tours, which puts on classes and performances. Benji Schwimmer was probably the most entertaining contestant to grace the screens on SYTYCD and was also the season 2 winner. His prizes included a car, $100,000 and a year contract as a dancer with Celine Dion in her Vegas show. He took the car and cash but did turn down the gig with Celine, stating it was an honor but he didn't want to live in Vegas but wanted to travel and pursue television. Well, he is certainly traveling. Since the show he has been teaching and performing all over the world pushing his and Heidi Groskreutz's instructional DVD's. Benji is also co-producing a movie about dancers called Love N' Dancing. This movie was originally planned as a TV movie, but as it turns out, it will be released in Theaters in these coming months. Rumor on the street is he is also to be casted in two more movies in the future. Additionally, Benji was in Christina Aguilera's music video "Candyman". More recently, Benji was featured in Dancer Magazine n a ten page spread in addition to his photography, CLK'd by BNJI. Sabra Johnson was the first female winner on the show, taking home the grand prize of $250,000. Not bad for only having danced for four years before the show. She is truly a talented dancer and deserved it.

Since the show she has been on the cover of "Movmnt Magazine", February 2008 edition. She has also been traveling the world teaching dance including Australia and South Africa. Sabra does have future goals of maybe taking her talents to Broadway and dance professionally. Joshua Allen is the most recent winner of SYTYCD on season 4, taking home the grand prize of $250,000. There isn't too much to report on him since his win didn't take place as long as even a year ago, but he has been around. Joshua was one of the least trained dancers on the show but really showed his talents to the world. He never once made it into the bottom and took home the prize. Since the show he has been teaching workshops around the country. I am curious to know what the next several years hold for him, one thing is for sure though. What ever he does, he will be living his dream.

So You Think You Can Lead

"Life is like dancing. If we have a big floor, many people will dance. Some will get angry when the rhythm changes. But life is changing all the time." - Don Miguel Ruiz

The other night I was watching the TV show, "So you think you can dance finale". It's a seasonal summer show where contestants vie to become the winner in what is a weekly "dance-off" type of competition. The contestants dance solo and in pairs depending on the night's agenda. They're very good.

So, on that night, one of the judges was responding to a contestant and his relationship to his partner in a hip-hop routine where an "emotional, contentious dynamic" between the pair was built into the storyline of their dance.

When the couple completed their routine, the male of the pair maintained a scowl, a macho "I have control over you!" non-verbal attitude as he and his partner walked forward to center stage to receive the judges' feedback. Then, the scowl, etc. lifted. He and his partner embraced and one could feel the energy of their connection.

When it was time to respond to the male, one of the judges remarked, and I'm paraphrasing, "You have all the technical skills that make you an excellent dancer in just about any type of dance genre you engage. What you need to do is not lose sight of the emotional connection to your partner. And it's your emotional connection, not your technical expertise, that determines the energy of your relationship, the deeper connection between you and your partner and provides the chemistry that makes the dance "work." And you have that emotional connection in spades; it's very apparent, and that's why you're sensational."

Hmmm, I thought, can't that same description apply to what makes for a successful, even sensational leader?

"The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place." - Barbara De Angelis

In today's face-paced, challenging, often-ambiguous and uncertain economic climate, where stress is rampant and anxiety and fear seem to be the emotions of choice driving many leaders' behaviors, more and more leaders seem to be losing touch with their employees, fostering a climate of poor morale, dis-engagement, stress, overt or silent anger and resentment. One reason is many leaders and managers are severing their emotional ties to their workforce, assuming they had any emotional ties to begin with. They're leading their employees; they may be "dancing" with their employees, but it's all technical and tactical - there's no emotional connectivity.

Competencies, skills, talent, intellect, technical knowledge and expertise and drive define many of today's leaders. But, that's not enough.

What's happening in the face of challenging times is a rush to put into place the technically efficient leader, the "numbers guy," the "turnaround artist," the "visionary," etc., and in the process many organizations are experiencing the fallout from leaders who are technically savvy but who are clueless when it comes to "people" skills, who lack the emotional maturity and competence to truly lead.

These leaders, many of who are young and ambitious, lack a "whole-life" experience and are stunted in their adult, emotional development. These leaders are "leading," perhaps, but they are at risk, as are their organizations, their departments and/or their teams. Technicians, in a sense, these leaders are more focused on their own self in the dance, their part, their personal achievement and recognition. In essence, the dance, for them, is a "solo."

The downside of the emotional disconnection is, unconsciously or consciously, they tend to push their partner away - generating internal conflict and competition when there could be compromise and cooperation. They reject and repel their colleagues, their peers, their direct reports, even those who are as, or more, skilled and whose partnership they need in order to succeed.

With a focus on the technical - the bottom line and strategic planning, for example - they effort and struggle due to a lack of self-awareness and emotional maturity. Eventually, when they come center stage for feedback, they are asked to leave the stage. They thought they could lead; technically they could, but it wasn't enough.

"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses­behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." - Muhammad Ali

So, for those leaders who are in the spotlight, or wish to be, here are some suggestions that will enhance your dance and have your judges asking for an encore:

Take the time to learn to lead "people." Technical skills are not enough. Use the support of a qualified coach or mentor who can support you to understand the task as well as the personal aspects of workplace relationships.

Learn to take risks, and experience failure as an opportunity through which the self-reflection that ensues is the stepping stone to emotional learning and development.

Consciously and self-responsibly explore any tenuous relationships you have with others and search for root-cause issues that foster such relationships. Ask for a qualified coach to support you in your exploration.

Check your ego at the door and work to eliminate behavior that is characterized as arrogant, bullying, aloof, or emotionally or verbally abusive. Again, seek the support of a coach or trusted friend or colleague who can help you in this endeavor.

Learn how to connect emotionally, as a human being, not just "officially" in a business context. To be professional and effective in these changing times requires a "greater humanity" - that is the capacity to conduct business with an open, compassionate and intelligent heart.

So, our $10 food for thought questions are:

When it comes to "dancing" at work, do you always need to lead? What would it be like to follow?
Do you always need to be center stage, in the limelight? If so, why?
Would you describe yourself as emotionally mature? How do you know? What would your colleagues, friends, or family say? Would you ask them?
Do you tend to be "officious", "all-business" or aloof in your relationships at work? What about at home?
Do you have a need to be "right?" Would you generally prefer to be right than be happy? Do you ever gang up on or bully others? If so, why?
Would you consider yourself "well-rounded?" Would others agree with you?
Do you consider your boss(es) to be emotionally mature? Why, or why not?
Did you learn about emotional maturity as you were growing up? How so? Was it a pleasant or painful experience?
Can you envision a world where emotional maturity is a common attribute for most people?

"Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust - we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper." - Albert Einstein

So you think you can dance finale

So you think you can dance finale to burn away your excess fat? Well, you sure can. Look at all those moves, lifts, wiggles, shakes the dancers do. If those routines don't burn up calories, I don't know what can. So don't just watch "So you think you can dance finale" or "Dancing with the stars" on the television. Get up and dance! It's a lot of fun and a great way to trim away those extra pounds. Millions of people tune in to watch these 2 programs each week. It's no denying that more and more people are taking up dancing as their past-times and to keep fit.

It doesn't matter if you don't have experience in dancing. Everyone has to start from somewhere. Just do your your moves, your own style or simply your own creation. The ultimate goal here is to lose weight, to burn away fat. However, if you want to do the proper style, go take up some dance lessons. There are so many dance schools mushrooming everywhere, you won't have problem finding one close to your residence. So get started, don't make excuses, okay? You will enjoy it. It's a lot better than going to the gym.

It's even more fun if you can get your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife to come along to be your dance partner. The body expressions, the touching, the body contact with your partner is sure to enhance your relationship while improving your weight management at the same time. It's an activity that will give you great satisfaction in terms of health, fitness and social integration.

Keeping the Integrity in 'So you think you can dance finale'

Well, It is about that time again, So you think you can dance finale will soon be gracing our TV's and thoughts. While I look forward to the show every season, I can't help but to be skeptical of the integrity for this next season. I clearly remember last season at the end of Hollywood week, Nigel telling one of the contestants she is amazing but doesn't have the personality and to come back next year when she has developed more of one. Once he said that the judges and the “want” to watch the show immediately discouraged me.

I do realize having a personality is a bonus, but last time I checked my reasons for watching the show, it was to watch the amazing art and talent of the dancers. Not to listen to them tell jokes or be a ham. In all reality, professional dancers aren't up on stage talking and telling jokes, they dance and then disappear. For example, Celine Dion's show. Do you think Benji would be on stage talking to the audience after Celine sang "My Heart Will Go On"? Um, no, he would be a back up dancer and just dance, not needing his personality one bit. So tell me, why is it that they need to be stellar "popular kids" to qualify for a dance show when they have crazy amazing talent? Watching the show for the last four seasons now, it does seem that personality takes precedence over dance ability and technique, but leave that decision to the viewers so we can be upset with ourselves opposed to the producers and judges.

For shows like this it is so important the viewers have confidence in the show and feel good about watching and supporting it. If I can see the judging is skewed or not true to the point of the show, I feel guilty in supporting it and am discouraged to watch. The people in charge should put the most amazing and versatile dancers on the show and let the viewers weed them out if they don't like their personalities. That is the best way to keep the integrity of the show "So you think you can dance finale", otherwise they should change the name "So You Think You Can Schmooze", or something like that.

Behind the Scenes of 'So you think you can dance finale'

When I sit down to watch So you think you can dance finale the last thing that goes through my mind is what the dancers had to go through to learn the dances for that evening. I simply sit there and watch a great or sometimes not so great performance and then critique it as if I know what I am talking about. What I don't think about is the hours spent training, the lack of sleep and injuries the dancers went through that week. Several times it has been aired that dancers on the show had to go to the hospital for dehydration, sprained ankles or broken toes.

When these contestants go onto the show they are putting their health on the line for their dream and our entertainment. Additionally, these dancers are learning dances that they have never done before in a matter of hours and with a partner who most likely has a completely different dance background as well. When we start to pick apart these dancers, I think it is important to remember what they have gone through to get there and that they are most likely operating on just three hours sleep...for the week. Not only are they constantly working on their dances, they are hanging out with all the same people the entire time. I imagine that could get quite annoying and frustrating, especially when you tie the stress factor into it.

Once the show has it's finale the show isn't over yet. The top ten go on a several month tour all over the country traveling with the same people, and in confined spaces. When I think of all the behind the scenes that is involved for the contestants, I really am more appreciative of what they do and how they get by every day. And to think when they get kicked off the show they say, "This has been the best part of my life". That is someone who really loves their job and what they do!