'So You Think You Can Dance' tour comes to Sarasota

One of the most talked-about shows in Sarasota in recent months was "American Idol Live!," which brought together the finalists from television's most famous talent competition for a national. The show at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall had the highest attendance of any stop on the entire tour (buoyed, no doubt, by the presence of Bradenton's Sam Woolf on the stage).

Now the terpsichorean equivalent is stepping onto the Van Wezel stage, as the national "So You Think You Can Dance" tour comes to town on Friday.

The dance talent show, which has been on the air since 2005, comes from the same team that created "Idol." So the annual tour follows much the same format as the "American Idol Live!" tour that was such a hit, with the season's finalists performing individually and together.

The TV version of the show is open to a wide variety of dance styles and the live show reflects that diversity. Ricky Ubeda, the 18-year-old season winner from Miami, is a contemporary dancer and runner-up Valerie Rocky does tap.

The finalists who will perform in the Sarasota show have specialties ranging from ballet to jazz and ballroom dance.

Details: 8 p.m. Nov. 21, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $65-$85. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "'So You Think You Can Dance' tour comes to Sarasota ."