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• An interview with So You Think You Can Dance’s Melissa Sandvig

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So You Think You Can Dance has brought dance into mainstream media like never before. Competitors perform solos, duets and group choreography in an array of styles in an effort to win the title of America’s Favorite Dancer. Season five’s top 10 are currently on tour and buzz was lucky enough to catch dancer Melissa Sandvig on the brink of the CU performance. Sandvig, 29, was the SYTYCD’s oldest dancer and was the first classically trained ballerina to make it into any season’s Top 10.

buzz: Describe a typical week of filming the show.

Melissa Sandvig: Every day was a little different. On Fridays, we would have an hour and a half with our choreographer to start to learn the routine. That was with the camera. Saturday was another three hours with the choreographer with no camera — just work, work, work. Before or after that we would have costume fittings or press. We were always running back and forth. We were the first season to get a day off (on Sunday), but we would still rehearse ourselves because we needed every extra bit of time to rehearse. We were rehearsing in the hallways, in the parking structure, anywhere we could find space. Monday and Tuesday were in the studio onstage doing lighting and camera work, just trying to get it right for the show. Then we would film on Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Thursdays someone went home so that was emotionally really hard on us. It is such a fast process. You have to have your head on straight and be focused because you’re on national television and it had better be good. The rollercoaster never stops.

buzz: You performed in a piece that helped raise breast cancer awareness. Can you talk about what that experience was like?

MS: Tyce Diorio was the choreographer and I had done a couple other pieces with him already in the season. I knew right away what the piece was about. Tyce sat Ade and I down at the beginning of the rehearsal and told us that the piece was about his friend who was struggling with breast cancer. We knew it was a very serious topic and one that is very sensitive, very intense. I had never personally known anyone with breast cancer but my mom’s best friend passed away from it. After talking to my mom about it I tried to draw from what that experience would be like. The choreography involved a lot of trust — running and jumping into Ade’s arms and doing some of the lifts — but Ade was the perfect partner for me. The piece came out really naturally in the rehearsal process. I think because I am a little older than the rest of the dancers I was able to dig deep. The piece was number one in Nigel’s eyes. We were really excited about how it came across, and I’m sure we will be performing it for a long time.

buzz: What was your favorite thing about being involved with SYTYCD?

MS: It is hard to pick, but for me it was my personal growth and confidence. I and many other people pigeon-holed me as a ballerina and I’ve been that for 25 years. The show showed me that I can do so many other things, and it really gave me more confidence as a dancer. I feel that I grew a lot as an artist as well through my work on some of the more challenging pieces.

buzz: What is the hardest thing about being on tour?

MS: I would have to say fatigue because we don’t get a lot of sleep as we are going from one venue to the next. Energy management is a good way to put it ... there are some times when your body is tired and hurting and you just have to push though.

buzz: What are your plans for after the tour?

MS: I’m open to anything. I‘ve had the ballet company experience before so I’m not necessarily looking to go back to that, but that’s who I am and I’m going to do ballet as long as I can. I’m hoping that because of the show more opportunities will open up in commercial dance and otherwise. I don’t have any definite plans, so I’m just waiting to see what happens. I’m definitely going to go home and see my husband — that’s number one.

buzz: Any advice for aspiring dancers?

MS: I would tell other dancers not to be afraid to try something new. For me, the show was a huge growing experience. I never thought I could do these other styles of dance because I was strictly a classical dancer. You just have to try. You have to put your heart and soul into it.