Danny Tidwell

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Template:Infobox actor televisionDanny Tidwell (born August 1, 1984 in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American contemporary and ballet dancer and choreographer, best known for being the runner-up on Fox's third season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2007.

Tidwell began dancing as a child, at first focusing on jazz before changing to ballet while attending Kirov Academy of Ballet at the age of fifteen. He has worked in elite companies, including the American Ballet Theater. He has also performed the works of renowned choreographers, including Debbie Allen, William Forsythe and Mia Michaels. He is Travis Wall's brother, also a runner-up, of the second season of So You Think You Can Dance.

Early life

Danny Tidwell was born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in nearby Virginia Beach. His early childhood was turbulent, and he sometimes got into trouble.[1] Tidwell started dancing at the age of eight in an after-school program for at-risk youth. Local dance instructor, Vicky Cooke, took notice of the "little bit of a kid in a straddle, trying to reach his fingers to his toes",[2] and after the program closed, Cooke mentioned the boy to Denise Wall. The two women decided to accept him to their studio, Denise Wall’s Dance Energy, for free. Over the next couple years, Wall took a personal interest in Tidwell, and by the time he was ten, he was calling Wall, "Mom", and her other sons (Scotty, Travis, Tyler and Shannon) his brothers. She found out that the boy would often walk the ten miles home after dance class, had little adult supervision outside of the studio, and, at one point, hadn't been registered in school for months.[2] He lived with his natural mother and two sisters until he was ten, before moving in with Wall;[3] she officially took custody of Tidwell at the age of twelve.[4]

Early career and training

Commenting on his early days in training, he said, "I hated ballet and would skip every chance I got."[5] More interested in jazz as a child, the flips, turns, and chance for expression appealed to him. However, his real motivation was competition, which would prepare him for his future endeavors more than he could have known at the time.[3] "I was a competition kid. We used to do competitions every other weekend," he told Dance Magazine.[6]

In his early teens, Tidwell met several outstanding young dancers, including his favorite - Rasta Thomas,[7] and it motivated him to take his dance to a new height. He set the goal to attend the Kirov Academy of Ballet (also known as Universal Ballet Academy) in Washington, DC[5] and, at the age of fifteen, he was invited to study at Kirov on scholarship.[8] It turned out to be up to that time, what he calls, "the best and the worst experience" of his life.[3] He began receiving high-level classical ballet training with Vladimir Djouloukhadze and Anatoli Kucheruk, at first to improve his jazz dance. However, he soon found that the difficulty of ballet was the perfect outlet for his need of a constant challenge, and switched concentrations - a late start by ballet standards.[5][6] While excelling in dance, he found the environment at Kirov demanding and isolating. As summer approached, he prepared for and participated in the Shanghai International Ballet Competition and took home a silver medal (no gold was awarded that year). However, the stress of Kirov had been too much, and he quit the school after the competition.[3]

After leaving, Tidwell got the opportunity to perform principal roles in two original shows created by Debbie Allen, including Dreams and Pearl, which he performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, in front of President George W. Bush. He also had a two-month stint at the School of American Ballet, where he found both the teachers and students unaccepting and remote.[3] In 2002, Tidwell submitted his audition tape to participate in the prestigious, quadrennial USA International Ballet Competition (USA IBC). He was invited to compete, and went on to receive the silver medal. Unbeknownst to Tidwell, the win would launch his career.[6]

Career

Mistress of Ceremonies of the USA IBC, Anna-Marie Holmes, passed Tidwell's application videotape to Kevin McKenzie, artistic director of the elite American Ballet Theater (ABT).[6] Upon viewing it, McKenzie suggested to John Meehan (the ABT Education Director) that he offer Tidwell a place in the ABT Studio Company (its apprentice wing). Just two months later, Tidwell joined the Studio Company - without an audition - and soon after, in May 2003, he was promoted into their corps de ballet just before the ABT's 2003 season began at the Metropolitan Opera House. He performed many works in the classical ballet repertory, and although only a corps member, he was given soloists roles in Le Spectre de la Rose and the peasant pas de deux from Giselle. Despite his success, he was beginning to find the unremitting rigors of being in a company confining. Tidwell left the ABT in 2004, shocking critics and those who knew him.[2]

Over the next two years, Tidwell dabbled in various pursuits. He performed contemporary works by choreographers Nacho Duato,[9] Jiri Killian, William Forsythe, Kirk Peterson and Robert Hill.[8] In 2005, Tidwell was featured as one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch (appearing on the cover)[8] and Pointe Magazine's Top 10 VIP.[9] He was a guest principal dancer in Ballet Lubbock's Nutcracker in December 2005.That August, Tidwell taught in the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda's International Summer Intensive program, run in partnership with American Ballet Theatre. Continuing to work in dance education, Tidwell is now on the faculty of JUMP and has been invited to guest teach at many schools and studios across the country.[10]

Also in 2005, Tidwell, along with publisher David Benaym, photographer Roger Moenks, and choreographer Lauren Adams, co-created Moving Still, a "life performance" in the format of a combination of a live show and a photography art/fashion book.[11] Moving Still lead to the creation of movmnt magazine in June 2006, a quarterly with a focus on fashion, dance, emerging music artists, and social issues that Tidwell co-founded with partner David Benaym.[12] Tidwell is the Creative Advisor of movmnt. [13]

In 2006, Tidwell joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet for a season under the direction of company founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. That summer he was invited back to the USA IBC to perform in the opening ceremonies.[14] He left Complexions after a year.

During this period, Tidwell lived in downtown Manhattan, where he still resides, but would often return home to Virginia Beach, to be "rejuvenated" and teach at the studio with his mother.[2] While still active in dance, Tidwell's career was losing focus, and his mother feared that he was losing his love for dance.[15] That changed in late 2006 when the two went to go see Tidwell's brother, Travis, perform in the So You Think You Can Dance tour in Madison Square Gardens. Travis had come in second place during the previous season, and was heavily featured in the touring show. His mother recalled, "At Madison Square Garden, Danny looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, 'I want to do that. My brother's up there on that stage, dancing and living, and I want to do that.'" The following season he attended the show's open auditions in New York City.[2]

So You Think You Can Dance

In June 2007, America discovered Tidwell on the hit show, So You Think You Can Dance. His talent was quickly recognized at his New York audition, and he got a ticket to go directly to Las Vegas callbacks without a second audition.[16] Quickly, however, judges such as contemporary dance choreographer Mia Michaels and hip hop choreographer Shane Sparks, found Tidwell to be arrogant, with the latter saying Tidwell acted as if he were "God's gift to the world."[17] The allegation was a recurring issue throughout the show, and Tidwell found his reputation as a gifted dancer at odds with his aloof demeanor. Nigel Lythgoe (head judge and executive producer) for his part found the accusations tiresome, responding to choreographer Adam Shankman's comment on Tidwell's arrogance with, "I think you're talking crap."[18] The New York Times, in an article titled "So He Knows He Can Dance: A Prince Among Paupers", praised the technically talented Tidwell, and noted that "his unflinching poise and his chiseled, determined jaw" can be misread on television. The article continued, "If Mr. Tidwell is different from the other dancers on the show, the distinction has as much to do with his dignity as with his impeccable line and his ability to infuse slight choreography with authority...He never mugs for the camera. It's sad, yet hardly a surprise, that such behavior could be taken as superciliousness."[19] The aforementioned Sparks later retracted his previous statement and said Tidwell could "be one of the greats."[20]

File:Danny Tidwell (2007-08-08).jpg
Tidwell, with Lauren Gottlieb, receiving feedback from the judges after their contemporary performance on August 8

Selected as one of the top twenty, he was paired up with ballroom dancer, Anya Garnis. They were a judge favorite early on, with guest-judge Debbie Allen remarking "I can't imagine you all not being at the very end of the competition".[21] The couple first found themselves in the bottom three couples after they danced a hip-hop choreographed by Dan Karaty on the third show.[21] The following night, Tidwell 'danced for his life' in a contemporary solo that allowed him stay in the competition.[18] On the following broadcast, the couple danced a contemporary routine by Tyce DiOrio but again the found themselves in the bottom three. However, Tidwell had yet another successful solo, and consequently moved on.[18] Once in the top twelve, Tidwell and Garnis performed a Foxtrot routine choreographed by Jean-Marc Genereux. After being in the bottom three for the third time in a row, Garnis was asked to leave the competition, while Tidwell made it into the top ten, earning him a spot in the planned 2007 "So You Think You Can Dance" Tour.[22] He then was partnered with (in chronological order) Lacey Schwimmer, Sara Von Gillern, and Lauren Gottlieb without ever being "in danger" again. He eventually made it to the final four contestants, placing him in the finale. During the finale, Danny performed a solo to "We are the Champions", as sung by Gavin DeGraw, that received effusive praise and the only standing ovation from the judges, with Lythgoe saying, that "every young man watching this show should aspire to be as good as you".[23] The following night, he finished the competition as runner-up behind winner Sabra Johnson.[24]

Reflecting on the season, Tidwell said, "I have all kinds of dance styles now, connections to choreographers and music options." He also concluded, "I found that I love to dance again."[2]

The tour begins September 21 in Albany, New York, and concludes November 30 in Reno, Nevada, for a total of fifty dates. The tour will stop in Tidwell's home of Hampton Roads on October 16.[25]


Performance review

Week Partner Dance Song Result
1 Anya Garnis Jive "Girlfriend"—Avril Lavigne Safe
2 Viennese Waltz "You and Me"—Lifehouse Safe
3 Hip-hop "Oh Timbaland"—Timbaland Safe
4 Contemporary "Apologize"—One Republic Safe
5 Fox trot "It Had to Be You"—Brian Evans Safe
6 Lacey Schwimmer Samba "Hip Hip Chin Chin" — Club Des Belugas Safe
7 Sara Von Gillern Argentine Tango "Whatever Lola Wants"—Sarah Vaughan and Gotan Project Safe
Hip hop "Push It"—Salt-N-Pepa
8 Lauren Gottlieb Contemporary "Then You Look At Me"—Celine Dion Safe
Disco "Don't Leave Me This Way"—The Communards
9 Lacey Schwimmer Viennese Waltz "Keep Holding On" — Avril Lavigne 2nd place
Neil Haskell Contemporary "Are You The One"—The Presets
Sabra Johnson Cha cha "Gotta Get Down (La Negra Tiene Tumbao) [Spanglish Remix]"—Celia Cruz

Note: Pink results indicate that he was in the bottom three.

Awards


Footnotes

  1. ^ Kourlas, Gia (July 11, 2007). "So He Knows He Can Dance: A Prince Among Paupers" The New York Times Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rutherford, Laine M. (August 18, 2007). "Virginia Beach man proves he can dance" HamptonRoads.com. Retrieved August 21, 2007
  3. ^ a b c d e Tobias, Tobi for Arts Journal (October 2003). "Star Trek" DannyTidwell.com. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  4. ^ Marshall, Lea (January 2007), "Winning Attitude", Dance Magazine 81 (1):212-214
  5. ^ a b c Teusink, Laura (January 2003) "No More Excuses" Dance Spirit 7 (1):60
  6. ^ a b c d Smith, Amanda (October 2004), "Where Stars are Born", Dance Magazine, 78 (10):53-56
  7. ^ Weeks, Janet (October 2002) "High Stakes and Highlights" Dance Magazine 76 (10):42
  8. ^ a b c Rubin, Hanna (January 2005), "On the verge in 2005, DM's 25 to Watch", Dance Magazine 79 (1):40-69
  9. ^ a b Arnett, Lisa & Anderson, Jocelyn (December 2004/January 2005) "Call Board SPECIAL" Pointe 5 (6):18
  10. ^ No byline (March 2007). "About Danny" DannyTidwell.com. Retrieved August 21, 2007
  11. ^ "The Book" MovingStill.net. Retrieved August 22, 2007
  12. ^ "Media kit" movmnt.com. Retrieved August 22, 2007
  13. ^ "About movmnt" movmnt.com. Retrieved August 30, 2007
  14. ^ Anderson, Jocelyn (June/July 2006), "Exciting Opener", Pointe 7 (3):20
  15. ^ Rutherford, Laine M. (August 17, 2007). "Beach's Tidwell is voted America's second-favorite dancer" HamptonRoads.com. Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  16. ^ "New York Auditions". So You Think You Can Dance. May 24, 2007. No. 1, season 3.
  17. ^ "Vegas Callbacks". So You Think You Can Dance. June 6, 2007. No. 4, season 3.
  18. ^ a b c "Episode #3.12". So You Think You Can Dance. July 11, 2007. No. 12, season 3. Cite error: The named reference "NO11" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  19. ^ Kourlas, Gia (July 11, 2007). "So He Knows He Can Dance: A Prince Among Paupers" The New York Times Retrieved August 17, 2007.
  20. ^ "Episode #3.18". So You Think You Can Dance. August 1, 2007. No. 18, season 3.
  21. ^ a b "Episode #3.10". So You Think You Can Dance. June 27, 2007. No. 10, season 3.
  22. ^ "Episode #3.14". So You Think You Can Dance. July 18, 2007. No. 14, season 3.
  23. ^ "Episode #3.20". So You Think You Can Dance. August 15, 2007. No. 20, season 3.
  24. ^ "Episode #3.21". So You Think You Can Dance. August 16, 2007. No. 21, season 3.
  25. ^ "2007 Tour" Fox.com. Retrieved August 21, 2007

References

  • Weeks, Janet (October 2002) "High Stakes and Highlights" Dance Magazine 76 (10):42
  • Benaym, David; Moenks, Roger; Alfieri, Laurent (2005). Moving Still. e-maprod Inc., ISBN 0976866102

External links

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