I’m gonna pull a Mia and say I miss Alex so hard right now. But I’m saying it before the show even starts. Now that it’s out of my system I will watch the remaining contestants perform without even a thought for Alex. It will be hard. But I can do it.
But first, what is our lovely Cat wearing? I like the multi-colored one-shoulder drapey dress. Very becoming. Her hair is kind of back and off her face and her makeup is perfection.
Right away I notice Ashley isn’t in the opening montage. Uh oh. Cat announces that Ashley was taken to the hospital on Monday with severe rib pains and she has been advised not to dance tonight. As we know, this means Ashley is automatically put into the bottom 3. If she can’t dance two weeks in a row she will have to leave the competition. Cat does have an Alex update. He had surgery to reattach his Achilles tendon. Alex thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and wishes. He hopes to see us soon.
Lauren
All-star partner: Mark
Tiana Liufau / Tahitian Dance
Rehearsal: Before they had a written alphabet the Tahitians would keep their stories and perpetuate myths and legends through dance. The theme is night and day. They flirt and eventually come together to make the first day.
Jungle / Last Voices
Performance: I’m somewhat distracted by the costumes but I’m pretty into it. I love Mark. He is working it hard. Lauren’s totally doing her part too. There’s a lot of hip shaking. I liked it quite a lot. Very entertaining.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel admits that he doesn’t know what to say. He likes that Tiana brings something new to the program. Adam says those hips don’t life. Nigel thinks it was a lot of fun but technically he has no critique. Mia is fascinated. The poise, the posture. Absolutely wonderful. Adam can’t believe Lauren just did that. She had him going. The energy was amazing. He thinks their technique is spectacular.
Further comment: I don’t know how to critique this either. I found the performance highly enjoyable. I will admit to looking at Mark more than Lauren because I think his crazy quirky personality really brought something to this.
Adechike
All-star partner: Anya
Liz Lira & Danny Davalos / Salsa
Rehearsal: They’re doing a traditional competitive Salsa. It’s fast and intricate with death-defying moves. Anya thinks it’s the hardest Salsa to hit the SYTYCD stage.
Oyelo Que Te Conviene / Eddie Palmieri
Performance: A bit of a bobble on the first flipping trick but decent recovery. Adechike is trying his hardest. It’s a bit awkward and it’s not flowing the way it should. Wow, the tricks are nonstop. I’m so nervous for Anya. Nice finish but I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thinks their choreographer is a crazy woman. He thinks the routine worked. There’s so much in the routine that was challenging. It’s a totally alien subject and Adechike pulled it off. Mia says the choreography was excellent and the tricks were awesome. There were little bumps. Some of the fluidity isn’t there. Good attempt. He got through it. Adam says the choreography was hard. He blew though it, never showed weakness and was there for Anya.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that we haven’t seen choreography this hard in a long time, if ever. I do enjoy that the show is giving so many new choreographers a shot but I would have liked to see Liz take this down a couple of notches. I don’t need to see Adechike dance perfectly but I don’t want Anya’s life put in danger. I’m just sayin’.
Jose
All-star partner: Courtney
Joey Dowling / Broadway
Rehearsal: Courtney is a showgirl and Jose is a stagehand who is mesmerized by her. But she never sees him. Courtney thinks it will be hard to ignore Jose.
Mister Cellophane / Chicago (Motion Picture soundtrack)
Performance: Jose is dancing (mostly) in the style which is what I want to see. I’m seeing the emotion but his technique is lacking. Courtney is amazing as usual. I didn’t love it.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel loves the concept of it but he doesn’t think Jose danced it well. This let Jose down tonight. Mia can’t even look at him right now. Mia says Nigel hit it right on the nose. The patheticness is too much; she wants to see a glimmer of hope. The lack of training is evident, no technique to back it up. Adam says Nigel and Mia aren’t wrong. Jose needs finish and lines.
Further comment: I feel bad for Jose but we need to see his weaknesses. He needs to know what he needs to work on. The judges aren’t being mean or vicious; they’re being honest because that’s what Jose needs to hear.
Robert
All-star partner: Allison
Travis Wall / Contemporary
Rehearsal: The piece is about Travis’s mother who just had massive surgery. Robert can really relate to this character. Every step is a storytelling moment. Travis’s mom is everything to him.
Fix You / Coldplay
Performance: Great emotion. Nice connection. I liked the slow start and the much more energetic parts following. Wow. Robert is amazing and so is Allison. This is really Robert’s style. That was great. Really beautiful. Nice ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Robert gets a standing ovation from the judges. Cat is all choked up. I’m misty too. Nigel says that just transcended the competition. Nigel sends love and support to Travis. The audience should come together for Robert this week. Mia is touched. This is her cry of the season. It brings Mia back to the week before her mom passed. What was danced on that stage is so much bigger. Our moms are everything. It’s the best Mia’s seen him dance this season. The negative space and partner work were genius. Adam says if Travis doesn’t get an Emmy nomination for that there is no God. This is going to be the performances of the season. Congratulations. Robert is brilliant.
Further comment: I watched it again. It was just beautifully danced. The technique and emotion were there. It was beautiful.
Billy
All-star partner: Anya
Louis Van Amstel / Jive
Rehearsal: This is a traditional, competitive Jive. It requires a lot of speed and personality.
Paradise by the Dashboard Light / Meat Loaf
Performance: Billy’s technique looks spot on. This is such a fun and FAST piece. I think his connection with Anya is great. Totally believable. And it looks like they’re having fun. Great ending.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that’s the hardest he’s seen Billy work on chemistry and it was really good to see. It’s a bit up in the air and he’d like to see him get down more. Nigel is happy with what he’s seen. Mia thinks it was absolutely stellar. She likes that Bill is regal and pulled up. There’s no awkwardness. The connection is so there. Adam says it’s one of his favorite performances from Billy. He’s connected and committed. Billy is in it to win it.
Further comment: I agree with the judges completely. I’m so happy to see Billy have some fun and have great chemistry with a partner.
Kent
All-star partner: Neil
Tyce Diorio / Broadway
Rehearsal: It’s about baseball players. It’s about the team, the movement that implies they’re on the field. You have to be a character in this and really portray it. Really with all the baseball references?
Shoeless Joe From Hannibal, Mo / Damn Yankees (1994 original Broadway cast)
Performance: It’s a fun piece. Very, very Broadway. The technique and character look spot on. Nice use of the stage. Impressive acrobatics. They seem to be almost perfectly in synch.
Judges critiques:
Nigel says Tyce is throwing every trick in the book. Kent is the MVP tonight. Kent outdances Neil tonight. Mia loves boys so much. To have that kind of choreography for two male characters. It was great entertainment. Their characters are there. Partnering was awesome. Adam tells Tyce that was so awesome. That was the other side of Fosse. Kent nailed it. He has a huge future in Broadway if he wants it. What was so special is that they made it look effortless.
Further comment: I fully acknowledge that the piece was great. It looked like it had all the necessary bells and whistles. I just didn’t love it which happens more often that not when Tyce choreographs a Broadway piece. Maybe I didn’t connect with the subject matter. Who know?
Lauren and Billy
Mandy Moore / Jazz
Rehearsal: Two shoes meet up and want to boogie. The shoes take over the dancer’s bodies. Lauren is struggling. Mandy hopes the shoes are full of magic instead of possessed.
Boogie Shoes / KC & The Sunshine Band
Performance: I think it’s a cute concept. Billy looks like he’s having fun again. I like the footwork (and everything else). I watched a lot more than I typed. Extremely enjoyable.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel calls is absolutely adorable. The style makes you smile. Billy is really connecting with his partners this week and this style suits him. Lauren connected with her partner. She shouldn’t go clicking her heels together because she’s not going home yet. Mia says the choreography and performance is completely in the pocket, quirky and groovy. Adam calls it happy-making. Billy finally gets lost in the dance. That will make people pick up the phone for him. He tells Lauren the boys have something to be afraid of. She could get way up there; she’s killing him lately.
Further comment: I did smile a lot throughout the piece. They were so cute and comfortable together and made it funky and fun. I feel like Lauren is finally connecting fully with her partners as well.
Jose and Dominic
Tabitha & Napoleon / B-Boy Routine (1st time ever on SYTYCD)
Rehearsal: Having Legacy and Mike Murda assisting NappyTabs was fresh. It’s East meets West; bringing the styles together.
Battle for the Beat / District 78
Performance: It’s so cool. The way they get their bodies to move is totally amazing. Nice levels. Great tricks. I really enjoyed it. Jose and Dom were truly great. Jose needed that.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel tells Jose he redeemed himself. None of the other dancers could do what he just did there. Nigel is really enjoying see the guys dance together this season. Mia loves boys. The beginning part, the traveling section was amazing. All she wants now from Jose is training and strength, strength, strength. Loved it. Adam tells Jose that’s the way to compete. For Jose to come out and school us like that is hot.
Further comment: Can we talk for a moment how much I love Dom? He was a bit inappropriate with the sword at the end but the things he said about Jose were so touching.
Adechike and Kent
Dee Caspary / Contemporary
Rehearsal: Kent is in a poisonous relationship and Adechike is trying to get him out of it. They’re using the chairs in a way Adechike has never seen before.
You Only Disappear / Tom McRae
Performance: Great quality of movement. Nice emotion. Amazing airtime. I liked their connection. Two technicians really going after it. It was a pleasure to watch.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel thanks Dee for contributing another brilliant piece to a diverse show. Calls it tremendous. Great height on Adechike’s jump. He thanks Kent for underplaying that. He has such a beautiful style. Kent stands a remarkable chance of being this year’s champion. Mia calls Kent an unbelievable dancer. The organic quality and strength in this is breathtaking. Mia says there’s a God for sure. She was praying this would be a great week for Adechike and it is. Adam tells them that they just taught America that a super athlete can also be a super artist. They just taught him so much about dance and performance. They were both brilliant.
Further comment: They were both subtle and powerful throughout the piece. I completely and totally agree with the judges. That piece was a pleasure to watch.
Robert and Kathryn
Doriana Sanchez / Disco
Rehearsal: They’re going for fun and big party time. Robert says it feels like a pretzel.
Instant Replay / Dan Hartman
Performance: I’m not always in love with Doriana’s pieces but this looks pretty fun. The lifts are interesting. I feel like we’re not seeing the same old thing. And Robert looks like he’s really attacking it and having fun. The energy ‘s great. A few transitions are a bit rough but they kind of make up for it in performance for me.
Judge’s critiques:
Nigel says that people don’t always appreciate how tough Disco is. You have to be strong and energetic. You can’t stop and take a breath. Robert gave us lines, strength. Doriana gave them a beautiful routine. Mia feels like it was too thin; she wants the texture of the movement needed to be more masculine. Nigel disagrees. Robert is selling fun and Adam bought it.
Further comment: I see what Mia is saying but I really enjoyed it. Anytime any dancer can perform a Doriana Sanchez piece and NOT bore me is a victory. I liked it. Kathryn was a great partner for Robert to have on this.
So who will join Ashley in the bottom three tomorrow? I really don’t know. At this point, I think all the dancers are incredibly strong. Even if someone didn’t have two amazing performances – like Jose – at least one of the performances was remarkable. Kent is untouchable right now. I agree with Nigel; there’s a real chance he’ll win this whole thing especially if the teen and pre-teen girls keep voting for him. Robert’s contemporary might keep him out of the bottom and Jose’s B-Boy routine should also keep him safe. I really don’t want Billy to be in the bottom again because I thought both of his pieces were strong. But if he does end up there again we’ll know that America still can’t connect with him. Lauren was great so she’d better not be there. So I guess that leaves Adechike? His salsa might put him in the bottom. Tomorrow’s results show will be a doozy.
Even though I love that we’re seeing new choreographers and old favorites return, where the heck is my Mary Murphy? Wasn’t it made clear during Vegas week that Mary Murphy would be back during the season? Hello, it’s half over. When will the hot tamale train arrive with my hot tamale Mary? And we also met Hi Hat during rehearsals but haven’t seen her return to the show. If neither one is going to come back just tell us. We can take it.
Who do you want to see in the bottom and why?
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