Interview: Ricky Ubeda & Valerie Rockey Chat SYTYCD Tour, Living in Close Quarters, Future Plans
By: Matt Tamanini Nov. 19, 2014
As I've said numerous times in my reviews and recaps, I don't think there is a show on television more important for the future of the arts than SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE. In addition to exposing the public to a much more emotionally honest and raw form of creativity than we are used to seeing in today's overly packaged and focused-grouped world of entertainment, the show also makes stars out of the usually UNSUNG heroes of the artistic community; dancers.
That is why I was ecstatic when FOX announced earlier this week that SYTYCD would be coming back for a 12th season, this time with a new "Street vs. Stage" twist. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Ricky Ubeda and Valerie Rockey, this past season's Top-Two dancers. Though this season returned to a single champion (Ricky), these two were the season's breakout stars.
Contemporary dancer Ricky took the competition by storm early on with his athletic blending of power and technique. Valerie, a tap dancer, instantly became America's sweetheart with her blend grace and charisma. Currently the pair, along with the rest of Season 11's Top-10, are in the midst of a 75-city National Tour that will continue until mid-February. If you love SYTYCD, or just appreciate the work of talented artists, do yourself a favor and get tickets to the closest tour stop.
Have you gotten to the point in the tour where you wake up in a hotel or on the bus and have no idea where you're at?
Ricky: Oh yes.
Valerie: There's been a couple of times where we've woken up, and I've been like, "What city are we even in?"
I know you guys are trying to get out and experience as many of the cities you stop in as possible; what's been your favorite tour outing so far?
V: Yes, my favorite city was definitely New York City, because that was my first time there. And I also really liked exploring Rockford, Illinois, because it was a really cute, little town. I actually enjoyed today too. I went shopping and went to a bunch of cute, little coffee, bakery shops.
R: I actually liked Madison, in Wisconsin, it was really cute; it had a nice main street. It was right next to a college.
V: Oh, yea. That was a good one.
R: It was really cute, and really nice. And obviously, New York City. That's like my favorite city in the whole world, and I actually really enjoyed the Texas cities like Austin and San Antonio.
You guys will be here in Orlando later this week on November 22nd at...
V: Woohoo!
So, I take it you guys are excited to come down to Orlando, then?
R: I love Orlando, it's my favorite.
Well, you guys are performing at Hard Rock Live at Universal City Walk, are you going to be able to make it to the other parks, or even down the road to Disney?
R: We definitely are going to go to Harry Potter Land.
V: I don't think we knew we were performing there.
R: I didn't know we were performing there, that's so amazing.
Yea, Ricky, since you've been to Orlando, it's right there in the middle of City Walk...
R: Oh yea, I know exactly it is.
I know, Ricky, a lot of people have said that you bear a resemblance to Daniel Radcliffe, so Diagon Alley might be a good place for you to hang out.
R: Yea. I've been to Harry Potter Land, and I love it so much, but I haven't gone since they opened Diagon Alley, so I'm so excited.
And, I'm sure it will be much better weather down here than you've had up north.
R: Oh yea.
And, you're from South Florida, Ricky, so how have you dealt with the cold?
R: Um, you know, really big jackets.
V: And an awesome new coat.
R: (laughs) I bought a lot of winter clothes, which I never had to buy before, so I kind of just bought winter clothes everywhere we've been going, and I try not to go outside very much.
One thing that I think everybody loves about SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE is the comradery amongst the contestants, you almost forget it's a competition. Now that you guys have been on the road together 24/7 for two months, is that still ok? Nobody's killed anybody else yet?
R: No, it's awesome. I think it's even better now. We're kind of like brothers and sisters, like a small family; we share a little house; it's a moving house, but that's alright. We're all really close.
That's good to hear. Now, about the show; I have never seen the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE tour, so how does the show work? Is it the favorite numbers from the season? Is there new stuff? Solos? Duets?
R: It's mostly the best dances from the TV show, and then there's a couple of new pieces that we did just for the tour, and then the Top 10 gets to do solos.
Do either of you have a favorite number from the night?
V: I have a couple favorites. I really like the all girls' piece, and then my tap duet on the stairs. I don't know, I like a lot of them.
R: I have a couple also; I love the Top-7 guys dance, that Travis did, and I love the Top 4 group dance about equality that Travis also did. And then, as far as my duets go, I love my duet with Jessica from the first week, and I love my duet with Zack, the hip hop one.
Now, Valerie and Ricky, are any of your numbers together from the season in the show?
R: We can tell him, right?
If you can't tell me, that's fine...
R: Yea, we have, "The World on a String," our Broadway one with the swing
V: And Bollywood (The Bollywood video is at the end of the article!).
Oh, cool, that one was fun. Well, one of the things that was cool about this season is that you two were paired together pretty early on, then got split up when the All-Stars got involved, but then you made it all the way to the end together. What did it mean to you guys to be able to stand there at the end of the season knowing that you were America's two favorite dancers?
V: It was cool (laughs).
R: It's still kind of surreal, we still kind of look at each other like, "Oh yea, that happened."
V: Yea, it still doesn't feel like it happened, but it was really cool starting and ending together.
R: Of course, we didn't real know how being partners together was going to work, but we ended up just being best friends, kind of like brother and sister, and we just work together really well, and I think that shows on stage. And I think that's what was most important for us getting to the end.
Obviously before the show you both planned on pursuing careers as professional dancers, but I wonder how being on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE might have changed or impacted what direction you wanted to go in your career? I would assume it's opened up quite a few doors for you, but has it exposed you to other avenues that you didn't think you would be interested in?
V: Yea, I don't exactly know what I want to do after, but because of the show, I want to get more into the acting side of the dance world. I kind of just want to do whatever I can and see what doors open up after the tour is over.
R: For me, I've always been really heavy on contemporary, that's just always been my focus, but now after winning the show, I've been offered a part in ON THE TOWN, and I'm gonna take it, and (Broadway's) always been a dream, but I never really pictured myself going in that direction. So, who knows, maybe I'll love it and stick with it, and maybe I won't.
I just think it will be really fun to learn all of those skills and to have that credit on my resume as a 19 year old.
I believe that SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE has been one of the most important influences on network television over the past decade, for all artists and creative people, not just dancers. But, being dancers, when you were younger, did you watch the show, and how did it impact your desire to begin on this path?
R: For me, I actually started dancing because of the show when I was eight years old. So, it's kind of the reason I am dancing right now. So, I think it's pretty important (laughs)! I mean, it's why I started dancing, how much more important could it be to me?
V: I always watched the show growing up, but I never... I always thought it would be really really cool to be on it, but I didn't think I would ever actually be on it. So, I guess I wasn't like, "My goal in life is to be on the show," but then, once the opportunity came, it obviously worked out nicely.
For Ricky, there's been a long line of contemporary dancers that have done well on the show, but never much success for tappers. Then in the last few years with Aaron (Turner), and now you and Zack, there's been quite an influx of tappers that have not only made it to the Top 20 or Top 10, but have been finalists. Did you feel a little extra nerves or pride in carrying the banner for your style of dance?
V: I would definitely say more pride, because in the past the tappers never really made it that far, and then this year and last year with Aaron, it's been cool to see a different genre get portrayed on the show. Then this year, with Zack and I both being in the finale, I just think it says a lot about tappers, and kind of exposes that genre more than it was before. So, I am very proud to help the genre get seen on TV and for people to get to know it more.
I will let you guys go on one last question. If you could describe what coming and seeing the SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE tour is like in a sentence or two, how would you do that?
R: I would say that it's an experience of its own just seeing dance live. You'll see some of your favorite numbers live; you're going to feel things that you never would have experienced watching through a TV screen.
V: Yea, it's such a different feeling when you can actually see the dancers in person, and feel what they're feeling.
The SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE tour still has dozens of stops left before it wraps in February, so check out the schedule and get your tickets for what is sure to be a magical evening of artistic entertainment.
If you make it out to see the show, let me know what you think in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt. Also, don't forget to follow @BWWTVWorld on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for all of the latest TV news, reviews, and recaps.
Photo Credit: Adam Rose | Fox
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