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So You Think You Can Dance 3: Why Hok Isn’t America’s Favorite Dancerby Asher Streets -- 07/26/2007
View Printable version of this article Hok’s exclusion from the top 10 was unsurprising, but let’s review What ‘So You Think You Can Dance 3’ Contestants Need To Know to see why his early popularity didn’t carry him farther into the competition. First let’s assess whether Hok had dancing and performing talent. Yes, all of this year’s dancers were talented in some way, but how does that apply to Hok in comparison? Speaking from experience, Renaissance men have trouble focusing on just one area, and because of that, may not put in all the time and effort needed to come out on top, when competing in one selected discipline. 
Although it’s great that Hok is also interested in art and music, there are only so many hours in a day, and hours spent on these other activities are hours not focused on dancing. Hok did not have as many dance hours logged as the rest of the remaining men, and unfortunately, it showed. Hok did not prove that he was a talented dancer every time he came out to perform. His salsa was especially disappointing. Hok’s lack of partnering experience and technique caused at least two choreographers to simply avoid teaching him certain kinds of material. No matter how many times Nigel calls me a dance snob; there is just no substitute for training, practice, and good technique. Like his buddies before him (Ryan and Musa), Hok’s lack of technique was a large factor in his loss. If you read What ‘So You Think You Can Dance 3’ Contestants Need To Know, there are a few paragraphs devoted to just this topic. Each week, Hok felt lucky to make it through his routine. He really wasn’t able to transform what he was given, because he was barely able to execute it. Hok had lots of charm, but he didn’t have an x-factor when he performed. Wade called him on it… Hok looked nervous. His lack of performance experience was evident. In his own element (especially his solos), he was a good performer, but when dealing with choreography, he was not confident. Hok was not consistent, and did not perform well in different genres, botching rule number two. His hummingbird dance was a great moment for him, and a tremendous accomplishment, but Hok did not do well with any dance style requiring partnering skills. There’s a part of this rule that reads, “No matter what your background is, it just can’t be incorporated into every style of dance. In fact, it may be a hindrance.” Hok’s breaking moves were thrown into too many dances, even when they didn’t really fit. Why did the old man do a handstand in the Broadway routine? Well, because Hok could do a handstand, that’s why. Why did the hummingbird do a handstand? Same reason. Hok’s skills close to the ground were overplayed by the choreographers, likely because he couldn’t expand his dance vocabulary enough for them. Uniqueness should have been a strong point for Hok. However, there was another b-boy in the competition too. It certainly didn’t help Hok that Dominic was around, but it hurt him when Dominic showed that he could adapt well to challenging choreography in many different styles. Did Hok ever lift Jaimie? I can’t remember, but I know Dominic did. (Even if he dropped Sabra a few times, he always came through during his performance.) Hok’s unique moves were pleasing to watch, but his limitations outweighed his strengths. It was helpful that Hok was Japanese and British. There will probably never be another breakdancing Japanest Brit on the show. Hok is very memorable. This is probably his most successful rule. Hok is the only contestant who had two previous seasons of exposure before this one. We know about his hassle with visas, his dance troupe, and his diverse artistic interests. Hok did a good job creating an impression, especially when dancing in his own style. 
In terms of the fifth rule, Hok did pretty well. People got to know Hok over the season and voted for him… the whole package. Hok had a great personality and a good story. It’s a little sad that Hok tried out for three seasons and was so close to making the tour, but didn’t quite cut it. Hok never had trouble arguing with the judges, so let’s skip rule number six. Creating a fan base was something Hok did very well with, initially. His exposure was beneficial, but his personality was a big reason people rallied behind him. Another thing that Hok did very well was to console his fallen comrades. His empathy toward Twitch and Jesús likely gained him fans. His fan base may have drifted toward Dominic though, as Dominic was proving to be more flexible of a dancer. Hok started the season with the positive momentum he had gained from previous years and captivating breaking moves. He was likeable and did well in his own genre. However, Hok failed to prove himself in other styles of dance and relied too heavily on his strengths when he should have been growing as a dancer. Hok’s lack of training put him at a disadvantage he was not able to overcome, and although we’ll remember him for years to come, we will not be seeing him on tour. That may mostly be due to the fact that Hok was not unique this year; another b-boy out-performed him. That is why Hok is not America’s Favorite Dancer. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out these other recent articles on Foxes On Idol:
Asher Streets is a food engineer and musician who lives in Madison, WI. He has a love for all things Italian, most especially gelato, wine, espresso, and cheese. Asher appreciates your opinions too and can be reached via email: asher.streets@gmail.com. Be sure to sign up for the RealityNewsOnline/FoxesOnIdol e-mail update so you can stay informed about new articles on both sites! For all of our articles, check out our sections on American Idol, American Juniors, Nashville Star, and Canadian Idol. Also make sure to check out RealityNewsOnline for recaps and articles covering other reality TV shows. For more news about this show, be sure to check out SirLinksALot: So You Think You Can Dance! View Printable version of this article
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