Top 9 Perform

last week: Cristina was voted off

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TOP 9 Perform

This week, each contestant was to do a dance + a solo.

I'll use a * to indicate a solo performance. In general, their solos don't get me that excited, oh well.

Sidenote: Cat looked great in her strapless mylar/aluminum foil dress. She's so cute.

1- Adechike' + Lauren

choreo-Dave Scott, Hip Hop

Right away, we could see Adechike was stoked to be partnered w/ Miss Lauren, he called the two of them 'Muscles & Cushion' <-in reference to her booty. This brought the chemistry between them. The dance was about 2 nerds, who bust out of their shells & consequently, busted out of their shirts (Lauren revealed a purple glitter bra top underneath). Adechike's character went from nerdy to flirty - I renamed him, Ade-cheeky! He smiled, had swagger and did a very good job. Nigel said he had confidence. Mia called him "Mr. Personality" Adam just hooted "Hooooo." Adechike' claimed that this was the real him.

2- Ashley + Ade'

choreo- new-Dee Caspary, contemp

When is this girl going to draw another style but her own (contemp)? The Travis Wall dance was not really jazz (as discussed last week).

In the vid package, Ashley said that she & Ade had to 'be as one." In the dance, she got intertwined w/ Ade' a lot. Aside from the fact that we're sick of seeing her do contemp, I liked the dance. Of course, there were a lot of lifts & leaps & Ade, my gentle giant, was there to catch her. Ashley was lovely, dramatic, loose, w/ her gorgeous hair flowing & flying . Ade' actually got to do more than just assist the girl, he did some steps & was great. Nigel said she was smooth & had fluidity.

I think Adam said she was the best girl dancer.

* Billy's solo - usual stuff, danced well. blah, blah, blah.

3-Robert + Courtney

choreo-Sonja, Jazz

Robert was reunited w/ Shortney & Sonja. He was happy because he says that Sonja 'pushes him.' The dance itself was done to techno music & went along w/ the techno vibe - herky, jerky, quirky - not my favorite dance of hers. He/they did a lot of great extensions, arches, throws, arches. The most memorable scene was when Robert choked Courtney.

Nigel said that Sonja's style suited Robt. Mia said that Robert should take ballet to ground him.

* Jose's solo - to James Brown's 'Super Bad' - not that impressive.

4- Melinda + Pasha

choreo- Fabian Sanchez (pro on DWTS one season), style-"salsa"

Melinda revealed she's Colombian & I guess was hoping to tap into her roots for help/inspiration & to show a 'new side' to us.

Right when the dance started, her dress got caught on her heel & she quickly unstuck it & carried on like a pro. Pasha was wearing tight white pants - bonus - that ass! At one point Pasha gave Melinda a frontal pelvis to pelvis bump - lucky girl.

There were elements of other Latin styles in this dance like samba. Melinda tried to to the samba hips & have salsa flavor, you can see the girl is a fighter- she shook, she shimmied. She leapt on top of Pasha & flexed back -tricky. But other than that, I thought she didn't have the sabor. She just doesn't have pretty leg lines (even in the sexy outfit). Nigel said had no fluidity. Mia commented on her pigeon toes but said Melinda has 'gumption'. And then - quite the Snap!-Mia said that she thinks they made a mistake last week when they sent Cristina home - ouch!

Adam agreed.

I think it's adios time for her next show.

*Kent's solo- did acrobatic stuff, I liked it.

*Alex's solo - done to a 'Planet of the Apes' soundtrack song, it had a variety of movements styles, and he showed his musicality by staying w/ the beat. He did a no-hand cartwheel. It was very good-my fav solo thus far.

5- Lauren + Neal

choreo-Joey Dowling, Broadway

When Lauren saw she'd drawn Neal's name she was happy because they are both 'pretty'. Hmmph, Blonds on Broadway, eh? The song was "Let Me Entertain You." Her character was a 40s starlet & Neal was a paperboy who was daydreaming about her. Lauren knew she'd have to show lots of personality in this number, especially since Neal was dreaming. She did her best vamp, dancing around & seducing Neal. In fact, she was working it so hard that, near the end, the strap on her dress busted, but the little trooper didn't even blink & kept on. Neal was cute after the dance, he tried & help Lauren's strap reattach.

Nigel said he enjoyed that, of course, dirty old man. Mia said she had to be more feminine (since she's so athletic), but still was fabulous. Adam gave her advice - imagine you're dancing through water - to help her get a softer edge, but said she looked like a young Sid Cherice.

*Ashley's solo- well done to the music, also did a no-hand cartwheel.

6- Billy + Kathryn
choreo-Stacey Tookey, contemp song-"Jar of Hearts"

Billy's character was supposed to break Kathryn's heart, so the 2 of them had to get a connection in order to portray the emotions. We know that Kathryn is an All Star and can do it. Billy, on the other hand, although he danced technically perfect, was lacking in the emotions department. I didn't feel his connection to Kat.

Nigel said he didn't believe the partnership. Mia said Billy had to bring the connection. Waa Waa, poor Billy.

Sidenote: Turns out Billy's inspiration was ole Legacy from Season 5(?) Yep, Legacy the break dancer. Billy had seen him perform when he was 12 & subsequently took a little boys hip hop class. Legacy was in the audience & looked proud.

*Robert's solo - some quirk factor, great lines, the guy is just a good dancer.

7-Jose' + Anya

choreo-Dimitry Chaplin (hottie), style-samba

Of course, Jose had never done a samba before & he had to partner w/ mucho machacha Anya. Buena suerte, Jose. heehee. The dance started off w/ Anya dancing in a table, which was the prop throughout the dance. Jose had to catch her in a lift with her massive lags wrapped around him. Ugh, he looks too small boned-it must've been hard. But I have to say, Jose looked guapo (handsome) in those ballroom boy threads. He wore a black lace shirt that was unbuttoned (of course, especially since it was a Dimitry number), and tight black pants. His Latin, Miami heritage helped him pull it off, as he looked down his nose, commanding Anya. He did a couple samba-ish steps & tried his best. Nigel said Jose' is not the best dancer-but he has charisma. Mia also loves to watch him, his humbleness & openness. Adam said he made the dance work for him - not the opposite.

*Melinda's solo-tap is a tube top dress. Awkward as usual.

8-Kent + Allison

choreo-Mandy Moore, style-jazz song-'Heartburn' by Alicia Keys

Mandy said the dance was about strong lines. She tried to school Farm Boy in walking like a man. Kent had to work on being a man-not acting like a man. Poor thing-he's only 18. And he was paired w/ Allison, who, in her costume, looked like a woman who's been around the block before, very worldly. In her costume, which included white satin, tux-styled shorts, her thighs were twice as big as Kent's. Kent was dancing w/ his mouth making the "Oh face." He struggled (I thought so) to do his lifts w/ big Allison. He did a nice no-hand chartwheel. But the two were so mismatched in their size that I couldn't visually accept the partnership. Nigel said Kent needed to have honesty in his performance & Kent looked a little fake & that he was playing to the audience & not his partner. Mia said no more 'deer in the headlights' looks from Kent. Adam called it the 'hungry jazz face' - Adam is so funny. Poor lil Kent.

*Adechike' solo- he looked studly & athletic, as he dance w/out a shirt. Very strong.

*Lauren's solo-good musicality.

9- Adam + Twitch

choreo-NappyTabs, style-hip hop, song-"get Outta Your Mind"

When Adam drew hip hop & Twich -he boo hoo'ed to the camera. Nappy Tabs also were a little worried about Alex doing their style. This was SYTYCD's first time having a boy-boy dance (except for the finals). The theme of the dance was that Twitch was a shrink & Alex the patient (on the couch, even). Twitch looked very paternal in his role, it was cute. He was counseling his patient Alex to get outta his mind (like the song). Dude is such a smooth dancer. But here's the kicker - ALEX TORE IT UP! He did pelvic thrusts, he did fast hip hop footwork side-by-side w/ Twitch. NappyTabs threw in some ballet poses in for Alex-which he showed how strong & limber he is. His last step was a ballet twirl down to one knee. This prompted Twitch to go and do the same move-just to show he could do it too (shades of the Russian dance number in the season 4 finale w/ Jason in which they tried to out-do each other-cute). The two guys were spot on & entertaining. The audience went WILD! Cat, later, said, that was the biggest roar from the audience she'd ever heard. End of the show- Elvis has left the building. Best dance this season & beyond!