Tulsa World: Dancer delighted to be on U.S. tour

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Dancer delighted to be on U.S. tour

The top 10 dancers from Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance" will hit the BOK Center on Friday.Courtesy

By KIM BROWN World Scene Writer
Published: 10/28/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 10/29/2009 8:39 AM

It was hard to miss Brandon Bryant on Season 5 of Fox's hit competition show "So You Think You Can Dance."

Not only did he make it to the show's finals — he was bested only by Season 5 winner Jeanine Mason — but controversy seemed to follow the 20-year-old Miami dancer more so than the other contestants.

First, he and his dancing were harshly criticized during the Las Vegas auditions week by choreographer Mia Michaels, who just surprised audiences last week by announcing her departure from the show. Then, just as Bryant and partner Janette Manrara were turning into the couple to beat, Manrara was eliminated.

Bryant and his fellow top 10 dancers will cruise their way to the BOK Center Friday for a stop along their national tour.

Here's what Bryant had to say about his experience on the show in a telephone interview from a tour stop in Milwaukee:

So how has the tour been going?

It's amazing. To be on a tour about dancers is just amazing in itself and I'm just loving every minute of it. The tour is about becoming a family and just having fun, not about the stress of competition and knowing you have to learn a different style every week.

Looking back, how did you make it through the demands of the show — both physically and emotionally?

I think this season they really tested us and I think we really proved ourselves. We just went out there with all we had and gave everything we had.

Were you shocked when

your dance partner and fellow Miami native Janette Manrara was eliminated?

I almost thought I was going to go home that night, that the season was over. We came into this knowing each other and being friends and our goal was to make it as far as we could together. Our goals on the show were making it to Vegas week, then the top 20, then the top 10. Then once you get to the top 10, you think maybe you could win. Although we all love each other, we understood there was only one winner.

How did you deal with the Mia Michaels criticism at Vegas week and the ensuing controversy? (Note: Michaels said she felt there was something inauthentic about Bryant's personality that came through in his dancing. She also used a choice expletive to describe him, but she backed down as the show progressed and admitted she was wrong).

At first it really did hurt, it really did I'm a quiet person. I don't like confrontation. Hearing that coming from her, she comes from a background like mine, that really broke me down. But it really pushed me hard, so I had to prove myself that I could do it and make her eat her words.

How did you start dancing?

I was watching MTV at home, and the Britney Spears video "Crazy" came on. I was looking at it and noticed one of the guys in the back and said, "He is full out. I want to do that." I went up to my mom the next day and said I wanted to start dance classes.

What do you hope to come from the show's success?

I just hope that it gets as much exposure as it can. I do really just hope that the world starts to respect the art of dance and all the arts as a whole. It's something for kids to do to stay off the streets, something to keep them active.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday (doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Where: BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave.

Tickets: $38.50, $48.50 and $56 plus fees; BOK Center box office, tulsaworld.com/BOK, (866) 7-BOK-CTR

Kim Brown 581-8474
kim.brown@tulsaworld.com By KIM BROWN World Scene Writer

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