Incredible Feet

For Brian Friedman, a choreographer and judge for So You Think You Can Dance — the hit Fox reality show whose live version arrives tonight — one of the best things about the program is the chance to see dancers in the spotlight instead of just being background for other entertainers. "There are no distractions," he says. "And to think of an artist singing as a distraction is a dancer's mentality. It's like, 'Move that artist over to the side and let me watch the dancers!'"

The top ten Dance contestants, including winner Benji Schwimmer and finalists Heidi Groskreutz, Donyelle Jones and Travis Wall, will participate in the stage presentation, and Friedman promises a mix of new and familiar material. The results will be athletic in the extreme. In his view, "This is not an easy sport. And it is a sport; it's not just an art. Dancers brutalize their bodies just as much as football players."

So You Think You Can Dance kicks off in Denver at 8 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street. Tickets, $28.50 to $48.50, can be purchased at 303-830-8497 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Tue., Sept. 19, 8 p.m.