So, You Think You Can Blog

I can't think of a better way to start my first blog entry than by mentioning last night’s episode of So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYDC). Not only did last nights audition episode for Season 6 in Phoenix, AZ strike me as a dancer, but one of the more 'touching' stories, is one in which I have a personal connection. I have been scouring the web today, not only as an artist interested in what others had to say critically, but as a sister out to protect her sister from nasty bloggers.

One of the featured performers on the episode was Allison Becker, 21 year old from Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, who was...DEAF. Ok, so, she's my sister. I have on my proud big sister cap and I'm not afraid to show it! As a family member, I thought that it was a great tribute to her hard work and dedication to dance that they focused so heavily on her story. But, I will be the first to say...WE'RE NOT STUPID! Those who know Allison well have been telling her for years to audition for that show! Not only because we find her to be a beautiful dancer and performer, but because when you watch enough reality TV, you know what sells! As a performer I can empathize with the struggle to get your big break, to be discovered, to have someone want you. Allison is no different. What was able to fling Allison into the spotlight was the fact that NOT ONLY was she talented, but she had a story. Trust me...we would all KILL for a story. Especially one that directly relates to her courageousness and strength within the art form. Now, of course television is going to play Allison off as a sob story, but she is the first one to vouch for the fact that she didn't want anyone to know.

When Allison was 16 months old, she was diagnosed with spinal meningitis. The severity of this was going to leave her either blind, deaf, both or would lead to death. If there can be a fortunate side of it, she came out of the illness profoundly deaf. My parents toyed with the idea of sign language, but ultimately decided to integrate Allison into the public school systems and to enroll her in a number of speech classes. Being only two years older than Allison, I was too young at the time of her illness to remember specifics, but one thing I'll never forget was her stubbornness. She was constantly pouting and fighting, and throwing temper tantrums. She would throw the balloons that were used to help communicate through vibrations right at your head. It would not be a surprise to find Allison's hearing aids in her dance bag. And when asking her 'Why?’ her simple response 'I didn't feel like listening today!'

Those in my family feel like it was a 'group' effort to get her to where she is today, but the truth of the matter is...as much as she fought and screamed and pouted, Allison did it because she knew she was deserving of nothing but greatness. Now, Allison is a graduate from Point Park University, with a B.A. in dance, with a concentration in jazz, and is to her friends and family not 'the deaf girl' but 'the crazy girl'! There are some that are able to distinguish that Allison is deaf based solely on her speech, but more often than not, her 'accent' is thought to be of a foreign origin! Her friends often play and pawn her off as the girl from Belgium or Sweden, and Allison, loving a laugh, will play along.

Some of my favorite memories of Allison are inadvertently related to her deafness, because if you know her, even for just a minute, you learn that being deaf is a fact, but not a defining characteristic. She's deaf, not dumb...though sometimes the latter will sneak out! Once, on a routine trip to Starbucks after a dance event, 8 of us girls went inside, ordered our coffees and went back outside. Allison accepted her coffee from the barista who happened to be deaf and then came to the car with a quizzical look on her face. No one said anything, but the look on Allison's face was one of a quizzical nature. Finally, silence broke with this: "Hey guys. That guy in there, behind the counter, he was deaf." "Yes Allison." "Well I mean, he had a job." "Yes Allison, deaf people have jobs too!" Ok, so you might not find that as funny as the moment truly was, it's not meant to be discriminatory, or mean, it just shows that Allison isn't out to be the charity case, or the main story for a reality show. What she is, is a beautiful person, a great friend, a good laugh and a damn good dancer.

On last nights show, Nigel commented that her technique was "not where he would like it to be." Ok, this is a valid point. The facts though, nerves will get to you, especially when dancing on national television for the first time. Allison openly admits to improving half of the dance which I'm sure led to repetition and inconsistency in turns and jumps. Do I think that her solo on the show was her best? No. I may be her sister, but I'm not going to lie! Do I think what she showed on that show was better than what we have seen from people in the Top 20 from seasons past? You better believe it. One thing that I think people tend to forget is that the show is about potential and growth. A contestant definitely needs solid technique to even remotely stand a chance, but aside from contestants like Nick, Travis and Danny, who else exuded perfection? So give the girl a break on the technique shown in her solo and maybe take a second to recognize the beautiful performance that was given. Now THAT'S a rarity. I've seen jumps and turns and kicks and throws to the floor contestant after contestant, season after season. But what is most often missing? It's the heart and soul of the performer glowing out of every crevice of their body.

So, I will continue to watch this season, not only to find the best dancer, but to find one that can come within half of the performance quality that I saw in Allison last night.


Allison Becker, SYTYCD, via YouTube
Keller Dancer's Story Inspires, via FOX Local News