Lights and music brought the Saenger Theatre stage to live on Monday night. The top dancers from “So You Think You Can Dance” hit the stage with full force.
They performed 15 routines consisting of popular dances on the show and some new numbers the audience has never seen before. The fast-paced and high-energy show was a crowd pleaser judging by the thunder of applause. Along with the routines, each dancer got the chance to perform their solo to showcase their own special talents.
With back-to-back numbers, the dancers had to do some pretty quick wardrobe changes. Nevertheless, they executed the night’s performance.
Before the show, Yorelis Apolinario and Derek Piquette revealed how tour life was treating them.
The Daily Reveille: So how is the audience on the tour different than on the show?
Yorelis Apolinario: I feel like the audiences in the tour cities are just way more live. They’re so hype for us. These are the fans that we talk to on Twitter and on Instagram. It’s amazing to like see them and for them to see us, so they go crazy. In the last meet and greet they were yelling and screaming, and they were saying “1-2-3 squad”. It’s just really cool. It’s a lot better than the show.
Derek Piquette: Yeah, the live audience helps us get through the show a lot easier, and having them screaming is just insane. Because in the studio we didn’t have nearly as many people as this. The studio audience is probably 100 people.
TDR: What has meeting the fans been like?
YA: It’s crazy because I expected that with the top four and the winner, but people go crazy to see me and Moises, who didn’t really get so far on the show, so it’s really crazy.
DP: Yeah, it’s really nice to be able to meet everyone and see people live, like the people who supported us along the way. We wouldn’t be here without them. It’s like our way of giving back in a sense.
TDR: So you’re riding around on a tour bus, do you have a tour bus snack that you have to have?
YA: A tour bus snack…I just like pita chips. Just plain pita chips.
DP: We have PB&Js like every day.
TDR: Is there anyone on the bus that you cannot sit by because they snore or something?
YA: I think I’m the one snoring. I talk in my sleep. So I’m probably the other end of that question!
DP: Me too! I talk in my sleep so much. People the next day will be “Were you on the phone? What was going on?” and I’m just like “No. sorry I just sleep talk.” They think it’s the weirdest thing ever.
TDR: So what stop are you guys most excited about?
YA: Clearwater. It’s like 30 minutes away from my hometown.
DP: I think probably Toronto and Massachusetts because they are both kind of my hometown. So I’m really excited for both of those to be able to see everybody.
TDR: What are your plans after the tour?
YA: After the tour, I’m settling in L.A. because I moved but I still live with a friend and I didn’t get a chance to settle because of everything with the show. So just settling and working as a dancer and teacher.
DP: I plan on opening my company, hopefully in June, and just teaching and traveling. I [want to] be more on the director/producer/choreographer side of it than dancing. I think right now I just [want to] do just tours.

Gallery • 16 Photos

Javier Fernández

Performers take the stage during the live tour of So You Think You Can Dance Season 12 on Monday, Oct. 19, 2015 at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.