So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 10 Perform by Kara Howland

So…remember last week when I said I would try to make this week’s blog a little shorter? I lied. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stop typing! Enough about me, let’s talk about the fabulous Cat Deeley. I love the white number with the feathers at the neckline and at the hem. Hot!

The luck of the draw will keep Neil and Twitch from the dance floor this week. A new twist, which I’m sure you all picked up on, is that the when the competitors pick an all-star from the box that determines the style of dance they’ll be performing that week. I like it.

Cristina was shy as a kid. She was a dancing flower in a recital and her outfit ripped and her undies were showing.
All-star partner: Pasha
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux & France / Paso Doble
Rehearsal: Requires a very strong man and a strong lady. She’s a gypsy and he’s a tyrant. Crazy lifts and turns. It’s scary. Cristina doesn’t like to ride roller coasters but she’s going for it.
Ira Deorum/Sanctus / James Dooley
Performance: Strong start. Great faces, passion. Cristina is totally meeting his focus and commitment. Great dancing in sync. Sexy. I expected her to be more of a cape, but I didn’t mind this more active role at all. Really fun to watch.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: Have to remember the elements: passion, power, fire, and then control. Did Cristina bring that? Yes she did. There’s no question. Great start to the show. Pasha excellent. Great choreography.
Mia: It was everything. Has every element. It’s the whole package and a perfect partnership. Fabulous. Thanks them for that performance.
Adam: Pasha Doble. Mucho caliente! Cristina’s confidence and commitment to her character is extraordinary.

Adechike’s dad was a dancer. He’s the coolest guy he knows. Adechike was always fresh. In 2004, there was a fire and they lost everything.
All-star partner: Allison
Choreographer: Mandy Moore / Contemporary
Rehearsal: This week they’re not doing a dance with a story; it’s just about emotions. Adechike wants to connect with his partner. He knows he needs to take more of a light-hearted approach. Connect strength in his body to the passion and power in his heart.
Listen to Your Heart / (Edmee’s Unplugged Vocal Edit) D.H.T. Feat. Edmee
Performance: Adechike is amazing in contemporary. He has moments of connection with his partner – yay! This is a nice partnership. Great partner work and lifts. Wow. I’m kinda being blown away by the technique right now. I’m watching, not typing which is always a great sign. I really liked it. Adechike really listened to what the judges said last week but he can go further.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: He sees a major improvement. Watch that he doesn’t interrupt the flow of his emotional side with the steps. Control that. Get so used to the movements that it’s muscle memory. He wants to see Adechike smile more.
Mia: Adechike needs to tap into that joy on a much more consistent level. Performance did get better. Small movement is gorgeous. Dance is an art form and a heartform. That’s what is lacking.
Adam: Technically, he’s so good. He’s dancing from his head. Get out of his head and deliver and let go and be there for his partner. Tremendous routine. Danced it beautifully.

Alex started out as a tapper at age 7. He had a lot of energy as a kid. His teachers told him to take ballet but he found it boring.
All-star partner: Lauren
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio / Broadway
Rehearsal: Inspired by the Fosse style, but this is Tyce’s take on it. Alex wants to do some homework so he won’t look like a fool. It’s quiet fire. Cool, sexy feeling. Not too much partnering. We know he can fly, but we want to see the style of it.
Summertime / Sylvester
Performance: Great Fosse influence. Great side-by-side dancing. Alex is selling it to me. And I love Lauren. Again, I’m watching and not typing. Alex is a real competitor in this competition. Nice job. I really love him.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: Would have liked Alex to look at “Kiss Me Kate.” Alex needs to bring a little more power to his performance. Technically it’s there. Looks like he danced with his shoulders up. Alex needs to work hard in changing genre. Good job.
Mia: Fosse is so internal. Physically, technically perfection. She wants it to be inside and sinewy. Mia wants to see the style that was lacking.
Adam: Alex’s talent is so expansive. It’s not about ability, it’s about versatility and growth. It’s a little bit of the antithesis of Fosse. There weren’t a lot of levels. A lot of flash and no smolder but Alex is an extraordinary dancer.
Further comment: I get where the judge’s are coming from but I still liked it. I think Alex showed great power and when I actually like a Broadway number I say it. And I liked it.

Ashley’s mom liked to dress her up like a girly-girl. Her hair was curled every day by her mom. She did her first competition at the age of 4.
All-star partner: Mark
Choreographer: Travis Wall / Jazz
Rehearsal: This story is about her breaking up with Mark and then realizing she wants him back. Some hard partnering because it’s so fast. It’s going to be hard for Ashley because she’s never lost anyone she’s loved. She promises that by the end of the dance Mark will be her boyfriend.
Wonderful / Annie Lennox
Performance: Mark is such an amazing partner. Really nice partner work. Great form. I’m watching and not typing again. Really nice. Great emotion. I totally loved it.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: He’s got a note to Travis: make sure to separate Jazz from Contemporary. Nigel doesn’t feel like he’s learned anything new about Ashley. He wants to see her pushed in other areas. Good luck to her. Loved the dive lift.
Mia: Loved the walk in the beginning. Ashley is one of her favorite girls. She needs to be aware of her transitions. Keep the story alive through the lifts. She delivers.
Adam: It’s about the stuff the choreographer didn’t give you. Some beautiful invention in there. Would have liked to see more moments when Ashley just breathes. Pretty fab.
Further comment: I can see how the judge’s wanted to actually see a Jazz piece instead of a Contemporary piece but don’t gang up on my Travis. Whatever we did see tonight was beautiful.

Billy was a fat baby. His parents kept putting him in awkward outfits. His first performance was as part of a hip hop group.
All-star partner: Comfort
Choreographer: Lil C / Krump
Rehearsal: Krump originated in South Central LA. Billy’s biggest challenge will be being tough. Lil C needs to transform him into Billy be Buck. Billy thinks he can fake it.
So U Think U Can Krump / Tha J-Squad
Performance: I am so glad Krumping has made a return to this program. I’m smiling and enjoying it so far. It’s not as ugly and hard as it usually is which I think is a good choice. Comfort is a great partner for Billy. It’s kind of a slowed down version of Krumping and I liked it. I’m impressed with Billy’s attempt with this genre. It is such a hard style.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: He hated that music. This is the toughest more alien style on the program for him. Krump is a warriors dance. Billy hasn’t found the warrior in himself yet. Nigel celebrates that Billy put himself through it and gave it everything he had.
Mia: He’s knocking on the warrior’s door but is afraid to open it. Billy was trying to be a badass. It was Billy be Whack. She still loves him.
Adam: Billy was trying so hard out there. He got no buck. That was a bad experiment, a failed experiment but Billy’s one of the best dancers on the show. He didn’t have enough hit or rebound.

Robert was crazy as a little kid. He was jumping off the walls and always on the dance floor.
All-star partner: Anya
Choreographer: Jean-Marc Genereux & France / Argentine Tango
Rehearsal: He is now Roberto Rodano. The only way Robert can transform his passion for Anya is through dance. There’s a lot of footwork and direction changes. Robert is completely out of is comfort zone. It’s gonna be really hot, hopefully.
Libertango / Bond Quartet
Performance: Sexy for sure. Nice lifts. Anya’s amazing. I heart her. Robert’s doing pretty well from what I can tell. Nice smolder between them. I think Robert may be concentrating a bit too hard. A little awkward. Decent footwork, I think but nothing to write home about. Not a bad effort. I fear the judge’s will tear him apart.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: Roberto took on the character and controlled his partner. Robert’s carriage was tremendous. Had some great choreography to work with. One of the best routines of the night.
Mia: It didn’t give her chills at all. She expected Robert to be flawless. She feels like Anya devoured him. Needed more commitment.
Adam: He was one foot on each side. Beautiful footwork for someone who’s never done this before. He looks fabulous but really stressed out. Robert’s amazing but he needs to breathe in and stretch his steps.

Melinda was a quirky child. Her parents wanted them to be involved in the arts so it made her kind of a strange kid. But that quirkiness helped shape her.
All-star partner: Ade
Choreographer: Stacey Tookey / Contemporary
Rehearsal: Exploring the relationship between mother Earth and mankind. It’s on everyone’s mind. The piece requires a lot of trust. Ade is strong. Melinda knows he’s got her back. It’s like they’re in a war.
Squander / Skunk Anansie
Performance: Hmmm. I don’t know what to write. I’m not loving it although I think it’s being danced well. Ok, I don’t get it but Ade is absolutely there for her. I feel like Ade’s being showcased here instead of Melinda, which is not good. Huh.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: Lovely idea. He understands what Stacey’s saying. For a tapper, Melinda’s got some fantastic lines. She’s got to be on it and hit those lines. Absolutely tremendous.
Mia: Loves the concept, the story, the approach. The dress is a little something – not good – for her. Lines are gorgeous. It was yay.
Adam: Great. Very little to add. She is fantastic.
Further comment: I don’t know why the judges are so in love with Melinda but I definitely did not see what they saw. I didn’t get it and I kinda didn’t like it. I thought she was forgettable and Ade was great.

Jose was very athletic as a kid. He started training as a b-boy at 13 when his best friend introduced him to it and started battling at 14.
All-star partner: Kathryn
Choreographer: Nakul Dev Mahajan / Bollywood
Rehearsal: Jose doesn’t even know how to spell the name of this genre. It’s a genie in a bottle theme. Really intricate and fast. Jose doesn’t know what he’s doing but he’s got positive energy.
Marjaani Marjaani Kasame / Billu Barder (Soundtrack)
Performance: Cute opening. Wow, Jose is surprising and impressing me. Nice technique. I love that they’re spinning so fast that things are flying off them. It looks like Jose is having a blast. Very cute ending. I really enjoyed it.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: We’re really taking people out of their element this week. Jose didn’t quite get there but Nigel liked his persistence. Wants to see consistency and see Jose really go for it. His performance was tremendous. Not sure Jose’s finger positioning is right but it didn’t matter to Nigel.
Mia: She loves him so much right now. Jose was so wrong but so right. Was it really Bollywood? She doesn’t know but it was fun. He’s tackling everything with a smile on his face.
Adam: If there were a prize for the brightest light on this show Jose would have won it already. He is an absolute joy. It was totally wrong but sign, sealed, delivered, Adam is his.
Further comment: I completely agree with the judges but I think Jose made a great effort and I’m voting for him. I want to see him continue to grow and try new genres.

Lauren was really talkative and hyper as a kid. She was all over the place in her first dance performance.
All-star partner: Dominic
Choreographer: Tessandra Chavez / Lyrical Hip Hop
Rehearsal: Hip Hop is usually upbeat and about having fun but this piece is sending a serious message. It’s about women who get themselves in abusive relationships. It’s about the emotional connection. Lauren thinks this is a gift. Her challenge will be an emotional one. Tessandra wants to see them go to a place they’ve never been in their lives.
If I Were A Boy / Beyonce
Performance: Lauren’s killing it. Once again, I’m watching instead of typing. Great steps, great technique. I’m seeing some great emotion from Lauren. Nice assisted lift. Really great partnership but I wanted a little more from Lauren. It was danced well.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: He believed the performance. Welcomes Tessandra to the SYTYCD family. Wants Lauren to give herself a more solid base. Looks like she has a bit of a swayed back. Mia says she’s just got a good butt. Really fine performance from both of them.
Mia: It worked so much. Outstanding performance. The only moments she wanted to feel more is the abuse part. Mia both of them to get out of the dance and show more of the abuser and abused relationship. She wanted to be disturbed. One of the best performances of the night.
Adam: Lauren is so technically adept. Wants to talk to her as a director. She took his notes. He can’t tell her how much he appreciates it. He can see her in an emotionally raw space right now and he wants her to celebrate that. Extraordinary performance.

Kent’s head was huge when he was younger. His first performance was at 8 and it was kind of all over the place.
All-star partner: Courtney
Choreographer: Tyce Diorio / Jazz
Rehearsal: The story is about this couple that’s together and not together. You want what you can’t have. Kent isn’t used to touching his partner so much. Kent admits it’s a stretch for him.
Amy Amy Amy / Amy Winehouse
Performance: Wow, it’s pretty sexy. I love Courtney. She’s a really great partner for Kent. Great chemistry. I do want Kent to be going for it a bit more with Courtney. That could have been stronger. But I did really like it. That Courtney is hot, hot, hot.

Judge’s critiques
Nigel: Kent’s journey is moving very fast. What is he wearing? Enjoyed it. Nigel classes that performance as Jazz. Nigel doesn’t think Kent was having as much fun as he did last week. He thinks Courtney would eat him alive.
Mia: Doesn’t know how she feels out it. There were moments of great technique and physicality. Kent needs to transform himself to the piece he’s doing. He needs to step into a more mature role now.
Adam: It’s not about an external character. Kent needs to find it within himself. He’s a fantastic performer and great dancer and it was great to see Kent dance.

Going on the judges critiques, I think quite a few people are in danger of being in the bottom. But some of those dancers have so much charisma and charm that I don’t think they should be worried. I’d say Melinda is in the bottom. I didn’t enjoy her performance even though the judges liked it. In terms of performance, I’d say Robert, Billy, and Kent might want to step it up next week. But I never really know how people are going to vote, I just not how I’m going to.

What did you think about the performances? Personally I don’t want to see everyone dance perfectly. I want them to attack it and dance with exuberance. I want them to try to get as much technique and emotional resonance out of it as possible. For people like Jose, Kent, and Alex I want them to remain in this competition and be exposed to new genres. It will be interesting to see if any of the guys are in the bottom three. I think the judges will probably want to send a guy home to keep things somewhat even. We’ll see.

Did you vote?