Top 7, no really 6 Perform
Everyone is still in mourning with the departure of Alex Wong (who btw, went through a successful surgery to re-attach his Achilles tendon).
Right away, we found out that the pretty & sweet dancing princess Ashley, was also hurt in rehearsal with some injured ribs & will have to sit the show out. Waaaa? Another one down? This is a bummer, especially since Ashley is such a good little dancer.
Moving on, tonight's show format will consist of the contestants dancing 1x w/ an All Star & 1x paired up w/ a fellow contestant.
1- Lauren + Mark
choreo-Tiana, style-"Cultural" is what the card said, which turned out to be Tahitian dance. Yaay, a style that reminds me of my home, Hawaii Nei, as it is common for hula dancers back home to also delve into dancing Tahitian. Tahitians are the Hawaiians cousins. In fact, my hot cousin Hoku, does (male) Tahitian dancing (as part of his repertoire of skills) in a show in Waikiki.
Of course, little Miss-18 or 19 Years-Old Lauren had never seen this style in her short life. I was also happy that Mark was her partner, who would have to call up his island roots to learn this dance too. Polynesian dancing was a way for our ancestors to tell the stories of our history & myths & beliefs, as we didn't have written language back then.
Female Tahitian dance costumes usually include some tassles or in this case, feathers, to accentuate the hip action - which is largely what Tahitan dance involves. Lauren wore a feathered headdress and a bustle of feather across her bum. Mark also wore a feathered headdress, was shirtless, wore a loincloth and leaves around his lower legs. He looked Polynesian & HOT!
Our SYTYCD storyline was that Lauren represented "Day" who flirts with "Night" (Mark) - let the hips begin!
I had my doubts if this haole girl could pick up a very foreign (to her) dance style in the 2 or 3 days they get to learn a routine....but she NAILED IT! I got to admit, she did her afafas [hips move in a box shape], her fa'araupus (or amis) [hips stir in fast circles], and some tamaus [hips bump side to side] all while keeping her upper body isolated and still, or doing arm/hand motions. Her feathered booty was shaking and circulating like those machines that mix paint. Mark did the male style of dance - lots of knees going out & together, while bent. The Tahitian males look fierce with their steps. He looked great! And the headdress covered up his ears - making him look even more handsome.
The haole judges really didn't know how to critique a dance style they knew nothing about (well, Adam's good friend teaches that style, so he knew a little). Of course, pervy Uncle Nigel liked what he saw. Success to Lauren - she's a little monster.
My Grade: A-
2- Adechike' + Anya
choreo-Liz Lira, style-super salsa
I wasn't sure how contemp dancer Chike' was going to do w/ Anya - would there be chemistry? Well, he had no time to worry about that because this Liz gal threw a super hard, competition-level salsa at them. Lots of spins, twirls, lifts, arm connections-all done fast. Adechike' had to do a trick where he held Anya cradled in his arms in front of him and then tossed her up so that she did a double twirl in the air, and then catch her in his arms again. Waaahh? Good thing he's strong - cuz throwing that girl and catching her must be hard! But I have to give props to Anya. who showed some athleticism too, because she had to do a horizontal back bend while Chike' held the back of her head, hold it there while he did a move, then slide the back of her head down his legs-and finish the move by lifting her body from back bend to straight up - that took major ab muscles on her part-sheesh.
I thought Adechike' did pretty good considering the level of difficulty. I did see some hip action (although some of the judges said he didn't do enough). But they had some stalls while doing the hand connections and going in & out of some tricks, Anya admitted it too - but the dance was at a pro-level.
Nigel said Adechike' didn't look like a contemp dancer in the routine- a compliment. Adam said it was Hard Ass choreo & Chike' showed no sign of weakness while doing it.
My Grade: B to B-
3-Jose' + Courtney
choreo-Miss "Tall & Scary" Joey Dowling, style-Broadway
from 'Chicago' song-'Mr. Cellophane'
The story was about a stagehand who's enthralled with a showgirl, who figuratively & so, literally, doesn't see him. He's a 'nobody.' Jose was told to think of a dead kitten, etc. (by Miss Scary) to help him portray sadness for his character. Yikes! His character is sad that the showgirl doesn't know he's there. Courtney wore a showgirl costume & paraded herself around the stage, complete with feather fans. Sad, mopey Jose, kind of danced in front & around her, while Courtney was supposed to look through him & not notice. He had very few actual dance steps & he when he did-he didn't do those very well. I thought that his steps didn't project from the stage, like a Broadway dancer is supposed to.
This week, the judges couldn't heap praise on their favorite pet - he was too weak & they let him know it. Mia couldn't even look at his puppy dog face while she criticized, um critiqued, him. Jose looked like he was going to cry. So Adam tried to give constructive comments & told him he needed to work on his lines & stretch. They judges said he needed to take dance lessons.
My Grade: C-
4- Robert + Allison
choreo-Travis Wall, style-contemp, song by Coldplay, 'Fix You'
The story behind this dance was that it was about Travis's own life; it was about his mother's (dance teacher Denise Wall) serious health struggles & his own life around that. Allison played the sick mother & Robert was to be Travis.
I know that Robert is a Mama's Boy so that should be an easy role to play - it came out that Robert's mother must've also had a health problem too, because he said he could relate to the number. The dance started off with Allison moving like she was ill, Robert at her side helping her walk, then the tempo picked up and they did typical contemp dance steps. The dance ended with Allison walking slowly towards stage right and Robert sort of tucked his feet under hers, helping to move her feet & walk with his. That was the best part. Robert did well, although I would've liked to see more masculine strength in his arms & leg lines.
The judges all loved it. Nigel was touting the dance as Emmy-nomination-worthy. Mia cried, as she recently lost her own mother. Dancer Robert was teary-eyed at one point afterwards too. Even our gal Cat was choked up & made some eloquent comments.
[To me, although I usually really like Travis's routine, this dance wasn't as awe-inspiring & tear-jerking as Tyce's 'Breast Cancer' dance, which was perfection].
My Grade: B or so...
5-Billy + Anya (2 dances from her this week)
choreo-Louis Van Amstel (of DWTS fame), style-jive, song by Meatloaf, that "Dashboard Light" song
Billy's objective this week was to connect w/ his partner but, as we heard from his awkward laugh in the vid package, was having a somewhat hard time of it (hmm, methinks it was because Anya is a female?). And Anya is a full-sized, mature female - all the harder for Billy, probably. Billy would also need to a strong enough male to lead his partner. What I figured he'd do well at- was the jive. I was right, that boy can flick like crazy. His flicks were sharp & snappy & his jive kicks were high & he could move his feet fast. The surprise was, he did show some male spirit & actually looked liked he enjoyed dancing w/ Anya. He made eye contact with her, he smiled, and got into the cheeky, retro-rock persona the music called for.
Nigel commented that this was the hardest he'd see Billy dance yet, he noticed that Billy had worked on his chemistry, as was asked of him - but Nigel also said Billy's kicks were almost too high. whatever Uncle Nigel. Mia said it was a stellar performance & loved that his training was evident in his jive. Cat made a comment about Anya being a 'sex bomb' but her accent made it sound like 'sex bum' <-which confused poor Billy..huh? sex bum? Awkward.... Adam said Billy connected & was in charge.
My Grade: B+
6- Kent + Neil
choreo-Tyce, style-Broadway
song from 'Damn Yankees' which is apparently about baseball.
Cuties Neil & Kent were dressed like baseball players, I mean, could any two lads look more All American than those two? Nope. OK, I don't love the sport of baseball, but Tyce choreographed an all-male style number complete with tons of acrobatics (which they both can do). They did flips & roundovers (?) simultaneously - awesomely. They danced w/ baseball bats & looked adorable. Due to the super-sized stage & this year's not-s0-good camera work, I thought Kent was a little dwarfed next to Neil. Neil is bigger & caught my eye a little more. Kent did end the number on a real high note w/ multiple hopping pirouettes right into a front over 'suicide jump' -he was incredible.
Nigel said he thought Kent outdanced Neil a bit (not-they were both evenly matched). Mia said that she 'loves boys' (hmmm, right...) & was happy to see strong male dancers (me too!). Adam said Kent nailed it & had a future on Broadway, a very nice compliment.
My Grade: A- (even though it was a baseball dance, the boys get cute points)
now to the contestant-contestant part of the show
7- Lauren & Billy
choreo-Mandy Moore, style-funky jazz
song- "Boogie Shoes" by KC & the Sunshine Band
For this dance, Mandy Moore imagined 2 pairs of magical shoes that meet up & dance with a life of their own. The kids wore sparkly Converse shoes: blue for Billy and pink for Lauren. I have never seen this style of jazz dance on SYTYCD - it was part super-duper-cutesy and part groovy-funky. Their moves were old school and funky. Good for Mandy to choreograph a subtler, different kind of routine than we usually have on SYTYCD. What I will say about that girl Lauren, is that she always, always commits! Even with this easy-going, but cute, semi-laid back style of dance, she grooved it to the max & really showed her musicality & a mature confidence. Billy was smiling (again) and was loose like a funky chicken.
Nigel again praised Billy for connecting w/ a partner & said jazz dance suited him. Mia said the number was the cutest thing ever. Adam said BB got lost in the dance, which is what he had asked Billy to do + mentioned that the boys (of SYTYCD) have something to be afraid of in Lauren (I told you she's a monster).
My Grade: A Funky A- (incl. points for originality for Mandy)
8- Jose' & .... well, he drew a "Gold Star" Card (which is like a Wildcard) - and his partner was not another competitor, but Dominic
choreo-NappyTabs, style- the 1st All-B-Boy dance number
Former contestant & B-Boy 'legend' Legacy was assisting the guys in the studio, which was cool. The dance was to be a representation of East vs. West, 2 B-Boy warriors duking it out. This was Jose's chance to make up for sucking earlier in the show & he knew it. He & Dom did good: they did a section with side-by-side windmills; a part where Dom was on the ground, on his back, w/ his legs up & had Jose balancing on his feet to a push off/throw; and a part where they did a leg lock/hook thingy which looked like they were grappling (like warriors). The routine ended w/ Jose' climbing up a faux stone & pulling a sword out of it -AKA the King. I still thought Jose' didn't look quite as strong as Dom, even though I could see the boy brought his fierceness.
Nigel said Jose' had redeemed himself. Mia said awesome. Adam gave Jose' props for coming back after the 1st dance slaughter (paraphrasing) & schooling them.
My Grade: B+
What was funny, though what happened was mostly off-camera, was when Dominic was given Jose's sword during the critique & told to take it & go off stage - I think I saw that Dom held the sword out from the front of his crotch, in an erect-like manner. Cat quickly put the kibosh on Adam or anyone making comments on what I think I saw happen, and put the lid on it by scolding him & the judges, slightly out of mic-range, so no one would bring Dom's naughty act to light. Why hasn't this woman been nominated for Best Host yet? She's nice and she's pro.
9- Kent & Adechike'
choreo-Dee (a dude) Casbury, style-contemp
When Kent & Adechike saw that they drew each other, Kent was mugging into the camera, saying, "White Choclate" and Adechike was "Dark Chocolate." too funny, these two. Adechike supposedly let the cat out of the bag when he told the camera that a secret about Kent was that the kiss he laid on Lauren at the end of the Travis Wall after-prom contemp number he did w/ Lauren, was not choreo'ed. Kent did it on his own, supposedly. Hmmmm, I wonder...?
The choreographer, Dee Casbury, not someone I know that well, opened the vid package with the fact that he'd never choreo'ed an all-male dance before. The guys pitched in & said that they thought they'd be given masculine, strong movements (trying to subliminally reinforce to the audience that they are both straight).
This dance was about two friends; one of them (Kent) was in a bad relationship (represented by a chair) and the friend (Chike') was trying to talk him into leaving the chair (yet there was also another chair as a prop too). So both guys had to do standard contemporary-style emoting, but they also had to look strong, like guys - a fine line to walk. They danced around the chairs, did leaps, and develope's as only two guys can do (huh?). Adechike did one beautifully high stag leap over Kent's legs. Kent kept the emotions real, showing some anguish over his chair-um,gf, then Chike' would grab him & fling him away from it. Dee utilized the fact that Kent is not a big guy and had he & Chike' do a couple boy-boy lifts/tosses.
I like the dance, both of them did great, and thought Kent looked beautiful (in a masculine way, of course). He has the cutest, unusual nose. Yes, I'm a nose person. Yes, I'm also a Kent person, hey I discovered him during the auditions, before the teenie girls.
Nigel complimented Kent on under-playing the emtions (again this week). He talked about Adechike's high leap. Mia again was happy about having an all-male dance, as these dancers showed vulnerability - yet strength.
They told Adechike that his dance idol, Desmond Richardson, would probably be proud of him tonight (they are trying hard to be such a-holes like they've been to Chike'). Adam told both guys that they were super athletes & artists-brilliant. They taught him something.
My Grade: A/A-
10-Robert & his perfect dance mate-Ashley - NOT! She got injured. Kathryn stepped in last minute for this Dorianna the Murderess (my nickname for her) Sanchez disco number. The reason I call her that, is she choreos disco dances that are so fast, with non-stop tricks & lifts, she's a slayer.
I think the last minute partner switch threw Robert off. I could see sight hesitations in the hand connections and tricks. But both Robert & Kathryn are extremely talented, so they discoed their way through the high-speed routine.
Robert was wearing tight, white disco pants, a purple open necked shirt & white vest. Not the most masculine costume. At one point when he was pas dueux buerre'ing across the stage, in my mind, I flashed on the Village People, so I think he must've looked a little non-hetero in his movements. But I love Robert anyway.
He had no problem with the cheesy 70s smile.
Uncle Nigel had flashbacks to back-in-the-day when he discoed. Mia said she never wanted to see Robert do that again. She said that if Robert to wear a costume like that -he better be more masculine & heavier in his steps. Nigel pipped in & said he thought Robert looked masculine in that (of course he did, he's British-not know for their ruggedness). Adam thought Robert sold the fun factor of disco - he was 'buying it."
My Grade: B (points off for the 'flame-up' I sensed in his movements)
