Yesterday I had the pleasure of chatting with Katee Shean from Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance and star/instructor for the new So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit DVDs.

Katee and I talked about how she became involved in the DVDs, the difference between teaching dancing to a DVD audience rather than dancers, and the surprising work out that left her so sore she was barely moving the next day. She also took the time to tell me about her thoughts on Season Five, returning to So You Think You Can Dance for the 100th episode, and that little thing called an Emmy nomination. 

On How The So You Think You Can Dance: Get Fit DVDs Came to Be:

I think So You Think You Can Dance was just thinking of ways that they could kind of branch out and do something new. (As for how she got involved) I know that they wanted there to be different styles, so they just kind of called me one day saying that they had this idea. And of course everyone was really excited about it and definitely wanted to be a part of it. So I think it was really fun. They thought about not just including people from Season 4 or what not, or most recent. It's all the way back from the beginning, multiple seasons and multiple seasons together, so it was a fun little project to do.

On What It Was Like Working with Former So You Think You Can Dance Alums on the DVD:

It was. It was the first job, that you know, we all, it wasn't doing dances from the show any more, it was actually on working something new. It was fun, because even Dmitry and Lauren and Travis, they're not from our season, but everybody has similar stories and experiences they've gone through. Everybody has that initial bond because everybody's gone through the same process and has different stories to tell.

On What Dance/Routine Is the Best Work Out:

My workout. Actually they're all pretty fun. We were all making fun, not making fun, we were all giving Dmitry such a hard time. You know, he's supposed to be teaching ballroom, but we all walked away from his little combo so sore. He was teaching ballroom and he was like, it's going to give you an ab work out and everybody was like, "Come on Dmitry, you know you're just going to be shaking your hips around. That's not going to give us an ab work out. Whatever." But the next day all of us turned up on set and we were so sore, like couldn't move.

So I think it was so fun doing the different styles. Travis has contemporary. Twitch's is like crazy cardio, because it's hip hop. And mine is definitely more for like your legs and toning up. So there's a little bit of everything, which is cool.

On Whether Teaching Dance Moves for Fitness is Different than teaching Dance Moves to Dancers:

Yeah, it was definitely different. When you go into a dance studio, everyone knows the moves and the names and what you're referring to. Like sometimes you don't even have to show the moves you just have to say, "I want this, this, and this" and they know exactly what that means. We were making mistakes, like even bending our legs, we would say that's a plie and what not. And the directors and producers would always correct us and say, the people at home may not know exactly what you're talking about. And we'd count everyone in like "5,6,7,8" and to a dancer that's normal. You know, after 8, that's when you start. So we had like fitness trainers and people who had done DVDs before come in and help coach us on how to instruct and how to break it down without slowing it down to the point where you'd stop the cardio pace or change your heart rate. To the point you'd still be dancing, and still learning.

On if She's Been Watching Season Five of So You Think You Can Dance:

Yes I have. I've been traveling a lot so sometimes I catch it on YouTube,but I'm definitely trying to watch.  And you know, last week was the 100th episode so I got to go back and be there for that, which was really cool to see. It's fun to be on the opposite side, in the audience cheering people on, because you know what they're going through.

On Her Favorite Routines of Season Five So Far:

I really liked Mia Michaels with Kayla and Kupono. I also really like Travis Wall's number and  this past week, Tyce's number with Ade and Melissa was just beautiful. Lots of good ones.

On The Routines From Season Five She Wishes She'd Danced:

It's weird that now every time I watch the show I think, "Oh my goodness, I wonder what it would've been like to be in those rehearsals?" And I think you think that with every dance as a dance. "I wonder what it would've been like to perform that?" Or "what would it be like to work with that choreographer." Especially since they are bringing in a bunch of new choreographers this season.

On Her Emmy Nominated Routine, "The Door" with Twitch:

We were so excited. I mean, I know that they nominate people every year and what not. But just to be in that category is really great. We actually got to go back and perform it or we get to go back and perform it, so that will be great to be able to dance it again with Twitch one more time.

On Returning to So You Think You Can Dance for the 100th Episode:

It was great. They had people from Season 1 through 5 and we all came back to watch.And they had Katie Holmes perform, which was incredible to see. And she had Mark and Joshua in the background doing dance work for her, and everyone was just so proud. Everyone was screaming and yelling all day, because you are seeing familiar faces and seeing the whole family back together again is really great.

 

--Abbey Simmons, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)