I can't say that I am shocked to see these guys go, although I did like both of them a lot. I think that the judges made this happen with all the negativity toward their performances. I think that personally, they like Matt less than Chris, but what in the world can they do with Kourtni Lind (who I can tell they still are fascinated with)? I think if those two land in the bottom again this week they will both go home, simply because she is too tall to put with any of the other guys (except maybe Twitch, but those two aren't going to be in the bottom three for a long time!)
It never takes me too long to get emotionally attached to these dancers, and this season is no exception. I have a feeling in another week I will be sad each and every week to see these talented dancers go home.
Did anyone else give a few of the numbers this week a replay? I sure did.This week's group number was really amazing and unique. It reminded me of Cirque and their bizarre clowns. That Mia Michaels will try about anything. Anybody catch the name of that song? We had a map in the bottom corner with severe thunderstorm warnings blocking the name and artist.
Tune in Wednesday my dance friends....
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Top 16 Deliver
Now this was an interesting show! Adam Shenkman was our guest judge for the evening and started by telling Cat Deeley that she looked Catastic. (oh my). I was completely entertained, and enjoyed the diversity in the choreography, as well as the energy and passion each of the dancers brought to the floor. As has been in the last several weeks, I had a couple of moments where I completely disagreed with the judges critique, but more about that later.
I am thrilled that they are starting to bring in new choreographers-although Sonya makes Mia look like Doris Day. My choreographer buddies need to send in some tapes (word to you MEX Girls)and see what happens. This week the contestants were asked to reveal something about their partners that no one else would know. Once again this gave a few dancers the chance to charm their way into our hearts (Kherington's shoe addiction-like what is wrong with that?). It also allowed Matt to divulge the whole Ninja mask thing, which was unfortunate. Dom from Season 3 was in the house and the whole place supercharged waiting for the dancing to begin. Let's talk:
1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Don't Touch Me by Busta Rhymes
The story line on this dance was a Prison Break,which was perfect for these two, who easily infused comedy into the performance. I didn't really care for the jumpsuit, but I understood what they were going for. I was so impressed with Kherington. She is NOT just a beautiful smile, but she brought the funk. There is something about both of these dancers in their interview process, work ethic and performance that makes them unforgettable-even in that deadly first position of the evening. Was this my absolute favorite hip-hop number from this show? No, I think Twitch could have wowed and amazed us with tricks and power. That being said, I LOVED the way they delivered it, their commitment to the story and the sincerity they give to every performance. Plus Kherington can pulls this face that looks so much like my Teeny it cracks me up! These two have that indescribable "IT" factor. Nigel pretended as if he would list the good qualities in the dance and then the bad-but there wasn't anything negative he could say. Mary loved it. Adam gave tips for the future, because he thinks they will be around a long time!
2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)Wishing on a Star by Rose Royce
These two are growing on me and after a slow start (did anyone else think that Courtney was never going to get down Gev's leg to the floor?) the two of them delivered a technically sound and sexy Rumba. Courtney looked amazing in her dress (which pervy Nigel had to point out that half of it was missing)and I am pretty sure Gev was not acting when he was staring Courtney down during this piece. Maybe it is their smallness, but both Courtney and Gev seem so young to me. I really enjoyed everything about this dance. The judges all enjoyed it as well.
3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson
I was really pulling for these two. Despite the fact that technically I haven't seen the kind of performance from them to put them in the same league as a few of the other dancers-I really like them. I thought they came out strong and I thought that Chris gave a great performance. My problem with this piece was completely with the music. I have seen this music danced to at several dance competition, and (surprise) the hair is always a mess, there is always black make-up all over the eyes, and the movement is always animal like. I didn't see anything African about it, besides (apparently, according to Comfort) Comfort's dad? I thought they worked hard together, and that it was clean, but that awful music just took away from it for me. Nigel, Mary and Adam thought they didn't bring enough energy, and basically put the fault on the dancers. I completely disagree. I thought they committed to the piece, but that the choreography wasn't cohesive. It certainly wasn't their fault that they only used the fabric for 15 seconds of the dance. I am a huge Tyce fan, but this one just didn't quite capture whatever it was he was going for.Unfortunately, with the huge amount of negativity from the judges paired with the awful music, I think these guys will be doing solos tomorrow night.
4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)Heaven Must Have Sent You by Bonnie Pointer
Doriana has to get a little firm with Jessica, who apparently can't get serious. Both Will and Jessica launch into trick after trick, which apparently makes them confused, because at one point one or both of them forgot what was next. From there ensued a moment of blank stares as Jessica got off the floor for the 3rd time and not very easily I might add. The last 30 seconds of them struggling to finish the choreography, ended with Will falling out of his pose and Jessica quickly putting her arm down to make it look like they were supposed to fall. From this mess, the judges gave the utmost praise. I don't get it. We had to all watch Will do his Saturday Night Fever pose and hear how authentic and great the pose was, never mind that the couple forgot the choreography and fell out of the final pose. I don't care how great they were as individuals, I would not watch that piece again. I think they will be in the bottom 3 couples. Three weeks running we have heard about Will's superiority to the other dancers in the competition, and three weeks running I have yet to see it on the dance floor. Maybe if they give him a new partner he will work it out?
5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins
What was Heather thinking with this music? The music didn't work with the rhythm of this dance AT ALL. As hard as these two worked, it didn't look like very much fun (despite the big fake smiles). I am not a huge fan of the quickstep, but definitely the last three seasons dancers have made it look a little less arduous. I thought Thayne looked less stressed out than Chelsea, she almost vanished from the piece. When Nigel said to her, "when we lose your personality, we lose you" he was dead on. Mary thought Chelsea let Thayne down. Adam loved the ending pose. It was great, but it takes a lot more than a pose for me. They will be in the bottom three for certain, Chelsie may end up going home on this one.
6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)Wrestlers by Hot Chip
This vision of a comic strip come to life was the complete package. The choreography was quirky, but with such incredibly different movement than we have seen on this show-I totally loved it. Both dancers technically were perfect, but Kourtni stood out for me. Her character was so believable, I saw her in a completely different way. Unfortunately for Matt, I can't get over the Ninja mask. As beautiful of a dancer as he is-and I really do appreciate his technique and lines, he is just getting stranger every week-and not in a good way. As far as the choreography, I am not sure the mainstream could take a steady diet of Sonya Tayeh, but I was thrilled to see something unique that was executed so well. The judges seemed to enjoy it, but Adam was with me, the ninja mask should have stayed a secret.
7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
The story behind this piece was a workaholic leaving his love, who desperately wants him to stay. I am not sure that Chelsie captured all of the nuances of popping, but this dance was fantastic, one of my favorites of the entire night. The emotion from both of them, was so powerful and compelling. Week after week these two keep coming out with strong performances, and the connection between them is complex and rich. You see them joking like brother and sister in their interviews-aggravating each other and having fun, and then they break out this amazingly passionate intensity on stage that takes you by surprise. They will be around for a long time. The judges loved it, and Adam even said they were the couple to beat.
8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)Baila Baila by Angela Via
Joshua comes off so little boy like in his interviews, with his braces and that sweet smile. The minute the music starts, that boy becomes a man, and from the first step down those stairs, he takes control of his partner and it is HOT. The sexual tension in this number was fantastic, and the two of them looked like they had been doing this type of dance for years. This couple is still one of my favorites so far, they work so well together. I loved the music, the lifts, the costumes and I even liked Katee's hair straightened. She looks so much like a dancer I know (Cindy Loo-Hoo)that at times I think I know this girl! Joshua brings so much passion and Katee is amazingly versatile. It makes me want to take up Latin dancing for myself. The judges were blown away, and the night ended on a perfect note!
Top 3 Couples
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie & Mark, & Kherington & Twitch
Bottom 3 Couples
Chelsie & Thayne, Comfort & Chris, Will & Jessica
Going home-????
Can't wait for tonight my friends!!
I am thrilled that they are starting to bring in new choreographers-although Sonya makes Mia look like Doris Day. My choreographer buddies need to send in some tapes (word to you MEX Girls)and see what happens. This week the contestants were asked to reveal something about their partners that no one else would know. Once again this gave a few dancers the chance to charm their way into our hearts (Kherington's shoe addiction-like what is wrong with that?). It also allowed Matt to divulge the whole Ninja mask thing, which was unfortunate. Dom from Season 3 was in the house and the whole place supercharged waiting for the dancing to begin. Let's talk:
1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Don't Touch Me by Busta Rhymes
The story line on this dance was a Prison Break,which was perfect for these two, who easily infused comedy into the performance. I didn't really care for the jumpsuit, but I understood what they were going for. I was so impressed with Kherington. She is NOT just a beautiful smile, but she brought the funk. There is something about both of these dancers in their interview process, work ethic and performance that makes them unforgettable-even in that deadly first position of the evening. Was this my absolute favorite hip-hop number from this show? No, I think Twitch could have wowed and amazed us with tricks and power. That being said, I LOVED the way they delivered it, their commitment to the story and the sincerity they give to every performance. Plus Kherington can pulls this face that looks so much like my Teeny it cracks me up! These two have that indescribable "IT" factor. Nigel pretended as if he would list the good qualities in the dance and then the bad-but there wasn't anything negative he could say. Mary loved it. Adam gave tips for the future, because he thinks they will be around a long time!
2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)Wishing on a Star by Rose Royce
These two are growing on me and after a slow start (did anyone else think that Courtney was never going to get down Gev's leg to the floor?) the two of them delivered a technically sound and sexy Rumba. Courtney looked amazing in her dress (which pervy Nigel had to point out that half of it was missing)and I am pretty sure Gev was not acting when he was staring Courtney down during this piece. Maybe it is their smallness, but both Courtney and Gev seem so young to me. I really enjoyed everything about this dance. The judges all enjoyed it as well.
3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson
I was really pulling for these two. Despite the fact that technically I haven't seen the kind of performance from them to put them in the same league as a few of the other dancers-I really like them. I thought they came out strong and I thought that Chris gave a great performance. My problem with this piece was completely with the music. I have seen this music danced to at several dance competition, and (surprise) the hair is always a mess, there is always black make-up all over the eyes, and the movement is always animal like. I didn't see anything African about it, besides (apparently, according to Comfort) Comfort's dad? I thought they worked hard together, and that it was clean, but that awful music just took away from it for me. Nigel, Mary and Adam thought they didn't bring enough energy, and basically put the fault on the dancers. I completely disagree. I thought they committed to the piece, but that the choreography wasn't cohesive. It certainly wasn't their fault that they only used the fabric for 15 seconds of the dance. I am a huge Tyce fan, but this one just didn't quite capture whatever it was he was going for.Unfortunately, with the huge amount of negativity from the judges paired with the awful music, I think these guys will be doing solos tomorrow night.
4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)Heaven Must Have Sent You by Bonnie Pointer
Doriana has to get a little firm with Jessica, who apparently can't get serious. Both Will and Jessica launch into trick after trick, which apparently makes them confused, because at one point one or both of them forgot what was next. From there ensued a moment of blank stares as Jessica got off the floor for the 3rd time and not very easily I might add. The last 30 seconds of them struggling to finish the choreography, ended with Will falling out of his pose and Jessica quickly putting her arm down to make it look like they were supposed to fall. From this mess, the judges gave the utmost praise. I don't get it. We had to all watch Will do his Saturday Night Fever pose and hear how authentic and great the pose was, never mind that the couple forgot the choreography and fell out of the final pose. I don't care how great they were as individuals, I would not watch that piece again. I think they will be in the bottom 3 couples. Three weeks running we have heard about Will's superiority to the other dancers in the competition, and three weeks running I have yet to see it on the dance floor. Maybe if they give him a new partner he will work it out?
5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins
What was Heather thinking with this music? The music didn't work with the rhythm of this dance AT ALL. As hard as these two worked, it didn't look like very much fun (despite the big fake smiles). I am not a huge fan of the quickstep, but definitely the last three seasons dancers have made it look a little less arduous. I thought Thayne looked less stressed out than Chelsea, she almost vanished from the piece. When Nigel said to her, "when we lose your personality, we lose you" he was dead on. Mary thought Chelsea let Thayne down. Adam loved the ending pose. It was great, but it takes a lot more than a pose for me. They will be in the bottom three for certain, Chelsie may end up going home on this one.
6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)Wrestlers by Hot Chip
This vision of a comic strip come to life was the complete package. The choreography was quirky, but with such incredibly different movement than we have seen on this show-I totally loved it. Both dancers technically were perfect, but Kourtni stood out for me. Her character was so believable, I saw her in a completely different way. Unfortunately for Matt, I can't get over the Ninja mask. As beautiful of a dancer as he is-and I really do appreciate his technique and lines, he is just getting stranger every week-and not in a good way. As far as the choreography, I am not sure the mainstream could take a steady diet of Sonya Tayeh, but I was thrilled to see something unique that was executed so well. The judges seemed to enjoy it, but Adam was with me, the ninja mask should have stayed a secret.
7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon and Tabitha)Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
The story behind this piece was a workaholic leaving his love, who desperately wants him to stay. I am not sure that Chelsie captured all of the nuances of popping, but this dance was fantastic, one of my favorites of the entire night. The emotion from both of them, was so powerful and compelling. Week after week these two keep coming out with strong performances, and the connection between them is complex and rich. You see them joking like brother and sister in their interviews-aggravating each other and having fun, and then they break out this amazingly passionate intensity on stage that takes you by surprise. They will be around for a long time. The judges loved it, and Adam even said they were the couple to beat.
8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)Baila Baila by Angela Via
Joshua comes off so little boy like in his interviews, with his braces and that sweet smile. The minute the music starts, that boy becomes a man, and from the first step down those stairs, he takes control of his partner and it is HOT. The sexual tension in this number was fantastic, and the two of them looked like they had been doing this type of dance for years. This couple is still one of my favorites so far, they work so well together. I loved the music, the lifts, the costumes and I even liked Katee's hair straightened. She looks so much like a dancer I know (Cindy Loo-Hoo)that at times I think I know this girl! Joshua brings so much passion and Katee is amazingly versatile. It makes me want to take up Latin dancing for myself. The judges were blown away, and the night ended on a perfect note!
Top 3 Couples
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie & Mark, & Kherington & Twitch
Bottom 3 Couples
Chelsie & Thayne, Comfort & Chris, Will & Jessica
Going home-????
Can't wait for tonight my friends!!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tune in Tonight
I thought I would share this link, which is an interesting appeal to the editors of SYTYCD.
http://levyonteevee.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-calling-you-out-editors-and-lighting.html
I too have been perplexed at times at the way they have cut some of the dances. I also have been perplexed at the shoving of Will down our throats. This show is more than a show about professional dancers. Otherwise Marquis would still be here after his solo last week and Chris would have gone home.
I am pumped for this evening's show, and be advised my blog may be incoherent tomorrow-as I am playing dice this evening and will not be viewing until at least 10pm my time!
Tune in tonight...
http://levyonteevee.blogspot.com/2008/06/im-calling-you-out-editors-and-lighting.html
I too have been perplexed at times at the way they have cut some of the dances. I also have been perplexed at the shoving of Will down our throats. This show is more than a show about professional dancers. Otherwise Marquis would still be here after his solo last week and Chris would have gone home.
I am pumped for this evening's show, and be advised my blog may be incoherent tomorrow-as I am playing dice this evening and will not be viewing until at least 10pm my time!
Tune in tonight...
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Top 16 Spoiler Alert
Don't read any further if you aren't interested in the upcoming show line-up and who picked which dance out of the hat. As always, I have not included any subjective material about how these were actually executed-I won't even read that!
Third judge tomorrow night is Adam Shankman!
1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)
2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)
3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)
4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)
5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)
6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)
7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)
8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)
For anyone interested in Mary Murphy's take on the controversial elimination last week, here is a link to an interview:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/06/destination-s-3.html
I also have included a link about Jean-Marc Genereaux and family:
http://www.studio665.com/newsletters/03.25.04.html/
Third judge tomorrow night is Adam Shankman!
1.Kherington and Twitch - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)
2.Courtney and Gev - Rumba (Tony Meredith)
3.Comfort and Chris - Jazz (Tyce Diorio)
4.Jessica and Will - Disco (Doriana Sanchez)
5.Chelsea and Thayne - Quickstep (Heather Smith)
6.Kourtni and Matt - Contemporary (Sonya Tayeh)
7.Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop (Napoleon & Tabitha)
8.Katee and Joshua - Samba (Tony Meredith)
For anyone interested in Mary Murphy's take on the controversial elimination last week, here is a link to an interview:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/06/destination-s-3.html
I also have included a link about Jean-Marc Genereaux and family:
http://www.studio665.com/newsletters/03.25.04.html/
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Top 18
THE TOP 18 PERFORM
Dan Karaty got the night off, and Mia joined the judges’ panel. She started by telling Cat that this year’s show was going to be “Banoodles” the talent was so unique. Cat reminded us that we lost Rayven and Jamie last week. On that note, I would like to say a word about the elimination show. I thought Kourtni; Matt & Will’s solos were amazing. The remaining soloists were not memorable. I thought the group number was funny, and strange, and I loved the music. I thought the costuming took away from its overall effectiveness, as I found myself trying to figure out hairdos and not really watching the overall dance.
Back to last night. Cat’s dress and shoes made her seem even more gigantic, if that is possible. Sometimes I am not sure about the person in charge of dressing her. Before each segment begins, the dancers were asked to say what thing they like most about their partner and least. This process helped a few of the dancer’s, whose personalities haven’t been showcased yet. Let’s talk about the dancing.
THE PERFORMANCES
1.Thayne & Chelsea T (Jazz w/ Mandy Moore - "Untouched," The Veronicas)
Sometimes an idea just doesn’t translate onto the stage. From the first moment of this piece, I didn’t get it. Last week, I thought Thayne was extremely manly in the way he looked at Chelsea and moved her across the stage, and they were extremely sexy together. This week I thought the music was awful, the chemistry was completely off, and the costumes made Thayne look effeminate and Chelsea look ridiculous. I think maybe Mandy saw the success that Mia had with the “Two Kings” piece and wanted a go at that concept. I was bored to tears. Thayne couldn’t touch Neil and Danny’s commitment to the throne. Mia thought they were kicked off the train. Mary said it didn’t work. Nigel said it wasn’t believable, which was probably the biggest problem.
2. Mark & Chelsie H (Argentine Tango w/ Alex Da Silva - "Mi Confesión," Gotan Project)
As weird as Mark looks offstage, and as much playing around as the two of them did during rehearsal this week, when it came time to dance, Mark led her around that Tango like a hungry man. The footwork was really complicated and amazing, and his intensity was incredible. At one point it looked like he was going to kiss her throat and it was so sexy. I had already really liked these two after last week’s performance, and I think they solidified their popularity after their interviews and performance tonight. Mia loved them. Mary loved everything about it. Nigel needed a little more sex from Chelsea H. we can’t get people too worked up during these dances!
3. Will & Jessica (Hip-Hop w/ Cecily & Olisa - "Whatever U Like," Nicole Scherzinger)
Okay, I know that the judges have seen much more of the individual talents during Vegas and at rehearsals, but I am not getting the crazed Will feedback. This number was okay, but I was not blown away by either of them. I was more blown away by how the judges found so much brilliance in Will’s performance. I thought it looked too studio hip-hop minus any Urban rawness -maybe it was the use of the chairs. I certainly saw nothing remarkable in either dancer either week to warrant the praise that has been given. Is this Debbie Allen’s influence? Mia thought Will was so good that Jessica didn’t get herself noticed. Mary thought Jessica was too powder puffy. Nigel thought she did a great job and that Will be in the top 4. I just don’t get it after that performance. The judges better be careful. William could be gone faster than Allison was in Season 2, if the viewing public feels that he is getting preferential treatment. He also needs to become a real person to the audience, because you have Joshua out there with all of that humbleness and personality waiting to take all of Will’s votes.
4. Matt & Kourtni L (Foxtrot w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A Foggy Day (In London Town, Michael Bouble),"
The interview process didn’t exactly help Matt out. Everyone else remarked on personality traits that they liked about their partners. Matt said his favorite feature was Kourtni’s eyes and that he gets lost in them. It was really creepy and awkward. I was actually really proud of these two when they started dancing. I thought they had clean technique and Matt seemed much more comfortable than last week. I thought they made the lifts look easier, and that they brought a class and elegance to the dance, and I was entertained. Mia thought Matt brought it, but that Kourtni needed to own her size. Mary, who actually knows about this style of dancing, was disappointed because of the footwork not being close. Nigel said that they needed to work on not being fake. Oh well, I liked it, and I hope these two can avoid the bottom this week.
5. Gev & Courtney G (Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore - "Lost," Anouk)
I am partial to contemporary dancing, and I enjoyed the intricate partnering that took place in this piece. I can’t say that I was blown away by it. I thought that Courtney’s hair kept distracting me from getting a read on the emotion in her face. Although I was impressed that Gev was able to bring as much to the dance as he did, I was not left with that desire to rewind and replay (as I did with the Mia piece and the hip-hop piece from last week). Technically I think it worked, but I am not sure that these two have developed chemistry together. It was lacking that little bit of magic that you have to have in a love story. Mia thought that Courntey brought too much jazz to it (?) but was really proud of Gev. Mary loved it. Nigel thought it was danced well but was lacking in emotion.
6.Joshua & Katee (Broadway w/ Tice DiOrio - "All for the Best," Godspell)
Can I just say that these two are quickly becoming my favorite couple? I LOVED it! The energy was manic and crazy, and they both kept up with it and performed at the same time. About halfway through the piece when the music started to quicken, you could feel the crowd starting to come alive, which just took the dancers to an even higher performance level. As far as the interview process goes, these two have that nailed as well. They present themselves well, and their connection to each other is just as powerful offstage as on. Nigel gave it a standing ovation. Mary said something about Satisfaction Guaranteed. Mia said it was Amazing.
7. Marquis & Susie (Salsa w/ Alex Da Silva - "Agualine," Willie Colón & Hectgor Lavoe)
Susie shouldn’t have shared that Marquis has bad breath from all the chips he eats before they rehearse. Her obvious disgust not only caused my lips to curl, but it made me think a little less of her as well. This dance should have been her cup of tea, but just as with the waltz last week, things appear to be a struggle for the pair. When Susie went down into her split, I didn’t think Marquis was going to get her back up again. They did one stunt where the audience gasped, I think it was because they both had a look on their face like “I sure hope we pull this off”, and there was nothing sexy about it. These two could go home and I would not miss them at all. All three judges were disappointed.
8. Twitch & Kherington (Viennese Waltz w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A New Day Has Come," Celine Dion)
I have done a lot of kidding about Jean-Marc being Joe Pesci over the years that I have been blogging this show, but I have a new appreciation for him after tonight. It is hard for me to critique something that is so personal. I thought that Kherington floated through the piece. I thought the costumes and the choreography made them both look weightless and gorgeous, and they made me fall in love with the Waltz (which I have not really liked in four seasons). I don’t know how fair it is when a couple gets a handed a piece of choreography like this, (when others are getting the prince and the forbidden love) but I do believe that this piece worked because of the joy that the two of them brought to it. You could tell they both felt a huge responsibility to make this special for Jean-Marc. Mia went on and on about how she thought Kherington smiled too much which sparked an argument with Nigel, who completely disagreed. The love put into this waltz from its idea to execution had a huge impact. I have nothing but awe and respect for this man who would create something so beautiful, for the smile he would see in his disabled daughter’s eyes.
9. Chris & Comfort (Krump w/ Lil'C - "Come and Get Me," Timbaland f/ 50 Cent & Tony Yayo)
I really like these two dancers. The interview with Chris cracked me up. It is unfortunate that they got stuck with the only form of dance that I dislike more than the Waltz. Their performance of it was just as awful as I expected it to be from watching the rehearsal. I think Lil’C was trying to make the movement slow enough for Chris to catch on. He needn’t have bothered, because fast or slow-Chris is not a krumper. The only thing he succeeded in doing was taking away from Comfort’s performance as she tried to dial back to Chris. I thought they handled the criticism from the judges well (especially when Nigel said Chris danced like a toddler who had to go pee) and hopefully their likeability factor will keep them in it another week.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
What was up with Jessica pushing her boobs around?
Was Chelsie H’s pinky out of her shoe the entire performance?
Was anyone else amazed at how little Gev and Courntey were? Next to them, Cat was frightening.
Was anyone else a little disappointed in Mandy Moore’s choreography this evening?
Would anyone miss Krump if they took it out of the line-up?
BEST OF THE NIGHT
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie H & Mark, and Twitch & Kherington
WORST OF THE NIGHT
Susie & Marquis
Dan Karaty got the night off, and Mia joined the judges’ panel. She started by telling Cat that this year’s show was going to be “Banoodles” the talent was so unique. Cat reminded us that we lost Rayven and Jamie last week. On that note, I would like to say a word about the elimination show. I thought Kourtni; Matt & Will’s solos were amazing. The remaining soloists were not memorable. I thought the group number was funny, and strange, and I loved the music. I thought the costuming took away from its overall effectiveness, as I found myself trying to figure out hairdos and not really watching the overall dance.
Back to last night. Cat’s dress and shoes made her seem even more gigantic, if that is possible. Sometimes I am not sure about the person in charge of dressing her. Before each segment begins, the dancers were asked to say what thing they like most about their partner and least. This process helped a few of the dancer’s, whose personalities haven’t been showcased yet. Let’s talk about the dancing.
THE PERFORMANCES
1.Thayne & Chelsea T (Jazz w/ Mandy Moore - "Untouched," The Veronicas)
Sometimes an idea just doesn’t translate onto the stage. From the first moment of this piece, I didn’t get it. Last week, I thought Thayne was extremely manly in the way he looked at Chelsea and moved her across the stage, and they were extremely sexy together. This week I thought the music was awful, the chemistry was completely off, and the costumes made Thayne look effeminate and Chelsea look ridiculous. I think maybe Mandy saw the success that Mia had with the “Two Kings” piece and wanted a go at that concept. I was bored to tears. Thayne couldn’t touch Neil and Danny’s commitment to the throne. Mia thought they were kicked off the train. Mary said it didn’t work. Nigel said it wasn’t believable, which was probably the biggest problem.
2. Mark & Chelsie H (Argentine Tango w/ Alex Da Silva - "Mi Confesión," Gotan Project)
As weird as Mark looks offstage, and as much playing around as the two of them did during rehearsal this week, when it came time to dance, Mark led her around that Tango like a hungry man. The footwork was really complicated and amazing, and his intensity was incredible. At one point it looked like he was going to kiss her throat and it was so sexy. I had already really liked these two after last week’s performance, and I think they solidified their popularity after their interviews and performance tonight. Mia loved them. Mary loved everything about it. Nigel needed a little more sex from Chelsea H. we can’t get people too worked up during these dances!
3. Will & Jessica (Hip-Hop w/ Cecily & Olisa - "Whatever U Like," Nicole Scherzinger)
Okay, I know that the judges have seen much more of the individual talents during Vegas and at rehearsals, but I am not getting the crazed Will feedback. This number was okay, but I was not blown away by either of them. I was more blown away by how the judges found so much brilliance in Will’s performance. I thought it looked too studio hip-hop minus any Urban rawness -maybe it was the use of the chairs. I certainly saw nothing remarkable in either dancer either week to warrant the praise that has been given. Is this Debbie Allen’s influence? Mia thought Will was so good that Jessica didn’t get herself noticed. Mary thought Jessica was too powder puffy. Nigel thought she did a great job and that Will be in the top 4. I just don’t get it after that performance. The judges better be careful. William could be gone faster than Allison was in Season 2, if the viewing public feels that he is getting preferential treatment. He also needs to become a real person to the audience, because you have Joshua out there with all of that humbleness and personality waiting to take all of Will’s votes.
4. Matt & Kourtni L (Foxtrot w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A Foggy Day (In London Town, Michael Bouble),"
The interview process didn’t exactly help Matt out. Everyone else remarked on personality traits that they liked about their partners. Matt said his favorite feature was Kourtni’s eyes and that he gets lost in them. It was really creepy and awkward. I was actually really proud of these two when they started dancing. I thought they had clean technique and Matt seemed much more comfortable than last week. I thought they made the lifts look easier, and that they brought a class and elegance to the dance, and I was entertained. Mia thought Matt brought it, but that Kourtni needed to own her size. Mary, who actually knows about this style of dancing, was disappointed because of the footwork not being close. Nigel said that they needed to work on not being fake. Oh well, I liked it, and I hope these two can avoid the bottom this week.
5. Gev & Courtney G (Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore - "Lost," Anouk)
I am partial to contemporary dancing, and I enjoyed the intricate partnering that took place in this piece. I can’t say that I was blown away by it. I thought that Courtney’s hair kept distracting me from getting a read on the emotion in her face. Although I was impressed that Gev was able to bring as much to the dance as he did, I was not left with that desire to rewind and replay (as I did with the Mia piece and the hip-hop piece from last week). Technically I think it worked, but I am not sure that these two have developed chemistry together. It was lacking that little bit of magic that you have to have in a love story. Mia thought that Courntey brought too much jazz to it (?) but was really proud of Gev. Mary loved it. Nigel thought it was danced well but was lacking in emotion.
6.Joshua & Katee (Broadway w/ Tice DiOrio - "All for the Best," Godspell)
Can I just say that these two are quickly becoming my favorite couple? I LOVED it! The energy was manic and crazy, and they both kept up with it and performed at the same time. About halfway through the piece when the music started to quicken, you could feel the crowd starting to come alive, which just took the dancers to an even higher performance level. As far as the interview process goes, these two have that nailed as well. They present themselves well, and their connection to each other is just as powerful offstage as on. Nigel gave it a standing ovation. Mary said something about Satisfaction Guaranteed. Mia said it was Amazing.
7. Marquis & Susie (Salsa w/ Alex Da Silva - "Agualine," Willie Colón & Hectgor Lavoe)
Susie shouldn’t have shared that Marquis has bad breath from all the chips he eats before they rehearse. Her obvious disgust not only caused my lips to curl, but it made me think a little less of her as well. This dance should have been her cup of tea, but just as with the waltz last week, things appear to be a struggle for the pair. When Susie went down into her split, I didn’t think Marquis was going to get her back up again. They did one stunt where the audience gasped, I think it was because they both had a look on their face like “I sure hope we pull this off”, and there was nothing sexy about it. These two could go home and I would not miss them at all. All three judges were disappointed.
8. Twitch & Kherington (Viennese Waltz w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "A New Day Has Come," Celine Dion)
I have done a lot of kidding about Jean-Marc being Joe Pesci over the years that I have been blogging this show, but I have a new appreciation for him after tonight. It is hard for me to critique something that is so personal. I thought that Kherington floated through the piece. I thought the costumes and the choreography made them both look weightless and gorgeous, and they made me fall in love with the Waltz (which I have not really liked in four seasons). I don’t know how fair it is when a couple gets a handed a piece of choreography like this, (when others are getting the prince and the forbidden love) but I do believe that this piece worked because of the joy that the two of them brought to it. You could tell they both felt a huge responsibility to make this special for Jean-Marc. Mia went on and on about how she thought Kherington smiled too much which sparked an argument with Nigel, who completely disagreed. The love put into this waltz from its idea to execution had a huge impact. I have nothing but awe and respect for this man who would create something so beautiful, for the smile he would see in his disabled daughter’s eyes.
9. Chris & Comfort (Krump w/ Lil'C - "Come and Get Me," Timbaland f/ 50 Cent & Tony Yayo)
I really like these two dancers. The interview with Chris cracked me up. It is unfortunate that they got stuck with the only form of dance that I dislike more than the Waltz. Their performance of it was just as awful as I expected it to be from watching the rehearsal. I think Lil’C was trying to make the movement slow enough for Chris to catch on. He needn’t have bothered, because fast or slow-Chris is not a krumper. The only thing he succeeded in doing was taking away from Comfort’s performance as she tried to dial back to Chris. I thought they handled the criticism from the judges well (especially when Nigel said Chris danced like a toddler who had to go pee) and hopefully their likeability factor will keep them in it another week.
RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
What was up with Jessica pushing her boobs around?
Was Chelsie H’s pinky out of her shoe the entire performance?
Was anyone else amazed at how little Gev and Courntey were? Next to them, Cat was frightening.
Was anyone else a little disappointed in Mandy Moore’s choreography this evening?
Would anyone miss Krump if they took it out of the line-up?
BEST OF THE NIGHT
Katee & Joshua, Chelsie H & Mark, and Twitch & Kherington
WORST OF THE NIGHT
Susie & Marquis
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Top 20 Deliver
Did everyone enjoy that as much as I did? As the evening began, Dan Karaty said this was the first season where the top 20 talent was so high that it was any one's game. There are so many really interesting dancers and I am completely invested after last night. Nigel was a little creepy in his assessment of Cat's beauty and long legs, actually he has been kind of a lech this entire season. Mary needs some new material, but Dan seemed to give the most helpful advice after each dancer's performance.
1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop
Napoleon and Tabitha choreographed a humorous dance that only slightly resembled hip-hop to me, to "American Boy". Rayven had a few annoying moments with her facials, but I loved when she pantsed Jamie, and thought he was quite cute. I have a feeling they will be in the bottom, only because this dance wasn't enough to survive the killer first slot. There were too many memorable numbers as the night went on to go back and remember the special moments in this one. I hope they both do enough when dancing for their lives, as I did enjoy their performance and we certainly haven't seen either of them perform in their particular dance style.
Nigel thought it was pretty good, but worried if people would pick up the phone at the end of the show. Mary likened it to cotton candy and said she loved it. Dan said it was not quite there, there was no funk, and the dance stayed at the same level throughout the piece, when it needed to change.
2. Susie Garcia & Marquis Cunningham-Waltz
Hunter Johnson choreographed this difficult number to "Dark Waltz"
I tried to keep my distaste for the waltz out of my assessment of these dancers. It wasn't easy. I think Susie had some nice lines and I do think the choreography was challenging, but the lifts were awkward and they didn't have chemistry. For me it was a bottom three performance.
Nigel thought it was well done. Mary thought they pulled it off. Dan thought it was almost perfect, smooth and sexy. What the heck do I know?
3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz
Mandy Moore choreographed an interesting number to Tainted Love for these two tall dancers. Kourtni was fully committed to the piece and really stood out. Matt was very ballet like, and his smile didn't feel like it was what the dance called for. Perhaps it was nerves? Nigel said he was too uptight and it was like he had a stick up his butt. Mary thought it was sexy. Dan said great choreography, great dancers, so-so performance. I think they will be okay this time around.
4. Chelsea Traille & Thayne Jasperson- Cha Cha
Tony Meredith choreographed a very sexy number to Oye Con Va. I was instantly in love with these two. Chelsea has so much sizzle on stage and Thayne is a doll! He gave her some passionate looks that made my little heart skip a beat. My friend Chris thought it didn't showcase either of them like it could have. (Yes, the SYTYCD viewer parties have begun, and will probably keep growing as the weeks go on). I want more of these two! Nigel thought they were both terrific. Mary put them both on the hot tamale train. Oh my. Here we go again. Dan thought they were sexy and that they owned the stage.
5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary
Mia Michael's created her vision of Tim Burton's wedding to the song " Beautiful", in this ultra avaunte guarde piece that I had to watch a couple of times. I have to say that when they literally pulled their lips, all I could say to the girls was "if only I could hear what my dad was saying right now". Call me Nate-I have got to know what you thought of that one! I thought it was creepy, strange and had some absolutely spellbinding moments. When Mark whispered in Chelsie's ear and she started laughing, she was absolutely amazing. The lifts were remarkable and I was completely transported by the story. Nigel thought they both danced brilliantly and that Mia captured the essence of both dancers in the choreography. Mary said if she had a hat she would take it off.sigh. Dan remarked that it must have been quite the experience to be inside Mia's head for a while, and he loved it. I really loved it too.
6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway
I first have to just say that I love Tyce DiOrio. I will be shocked if "Twitchington" doesn't make it to the top 10. Both dance with such absolute joy that it is infectious. I couldn't take my eyes of Kherington's gorgeous smile. I couldn't tell you a thing about the technical aspects of this piece, but from an entertainment standpoint, I really enjoyed it. My friend Andrea choreographed a piece to "Too Darn Hot" and I prefered the way she had cut the music much more than this version, but it didn't take away from this performance. Nigel thought it was stunning. Mary said to look up because the sprinklers were going to turn on it was so hot. It is going to be a long season if Mary doesn't increase her repertoire. Dan thought that they lit up the stage.
7. Comfort Fedoke & Chris Jarosz-Jive
Tony Meredith put together an intensely fun piece to "Boom Boom". Chris caught my eye immediately, since Nigel had said he had the personality of a tree on stage during Vegas. He was in character the entire piece, and Comfort seemed to hold her own for pretty much of the number. She cracked me up when she told Nigel she had never danced in a bra and panties with beads on them. Nigel let the audience know that she had dislocated her shoulder (click click, as Comfort said) in the rehearsal, and that the choreography had to be changed to accommodate her injury. He also thought technically it wasn't quite where it needed to be, but he liked it. Mary thought she had legs for days and told them it was a good job. Dan thought they did well, but they needed to work on their chemistry with each other. Dan had it going on tonight.
8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop
Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a sensitive routine to "No Air" and the story was a soldier leaving his love for war. I instantly was thinking it would be way too hokey. From the second that Katee started dancing I was completely involved. For me this was the piece of the night and I probably watched it 3 times. Both Katee and Joshua were so connected emotionally to each other and were 110% committed to the choreography. I loved it!
Nigel said it was very, very good. Mary said it was tremendous. Dan said they killed it. Wow, what a great addition these two choreographers have already made to this show.
9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango
Hunter Johnson put together a very complex Tango to (and it just my opinion) a really unsexy song called simply-Tango. They are a very likable couple, but Jessica was extremely shaky at unexpected times and although they acted the part very well, I wasn't sold on the dancing.
Nigel thought it was professional and that Will was majestic. Mary thought they were the couple to beat. (Are you kidding me?) Dan thought they each played their part, but it wasn't that great. I still want to see these two in a contemporary piece together, but this was not something I wanted to re watch.
10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco
Doriana Sanchez gave us Neil and Sara's fantastic "knock on wood last year" so I was hopeful because I really love both of these dancers. I thought they captured the energy and the vibe with this choreography to "Boogie Wonderland", but there was a little something missing in the number that I can't quite put my finger on. Nigel railed on it, saying it was not good. Mary really liked it and Dan enjoyed it as well. I don't think they have anything to worry about yet, but they are up against some fantastic dancers so they will have to kill it if they are in the bottom three.
Tune in tonight my dance loving friends. I can't wait to see the group piece and some fabulous solos. I think that Susie Garcia and Marquis Cunningham will go home. I can't tell you why, it is just a gut feeling. This is going to be a fantastic season!
1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop
Napoleon and Tabitha choreographed a humorous dance that only slightly resembled hip-hop to me, to "American Boy". Rayven had a few annoying moments with her facials, but I loved when she pantsed Jamie, and thought he was quite cute. I have a feeling they will be in the bottom, only because this dance wasn't enough to survive the killer first slot. There were too many memorable numbers as the night went on to go back and remember the special moments in this one. I hope they both do enough when dancing for their lives, as I did enjoy their performance and we certainly haven't seen either of them perform in their particular dance style.
Nigel thought it was pretty good, but worried if people would pick up the phone at the end of the show. Mary likened it to cotton candy and said she loved it. Dan said it was not quite there, there was no funk, and the dance stayed at the same level throughout the piece, when it needed to change.
2. Susie Garcia & Marquis Cunningham-Waltz
Hunter Johnson choreographed this difficult number to "Dark Waltz"
I tried to keep my distaste for the waltz out of my assessment of these dancers. It wasn't easy. I think Susie had some nice lines and I do think the choreography was challenging, but the lifts were awkward and they didn't have chemistry. For me it was a bottom three performance.
Nigel thought it was well done. Mary thought they pulled it off. Dan thought it was almost perfect, smooth and sexy. What the heck do I know?
3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz
Mandy Moore choreographed an interesting number to Tainted Love for these two tall dancers. Kourtni was fully committed to the piece and really stood out. Matt was very ballet like, and his smile didn't feel like it was what the dance called for. Perhaps it was nerves? Nigel said he was too uptight and it was like he had a stick up his butt. Mary thought it was sexy. Dan said great choreography, great dancers, so-so performance. I think they will be okay this time around.
4. Chelsea Traille & Thayne Jasperson- Cha Cha
Tony Meredith choreographed a very sexy number to Oye Con Va. I was instantly in love with these two. Chelsea has so much sizzle on stage and Thayne is a doll! He gave her some passionate looks that made my little heart skip a beat. My friend Chris thought it didn't showcase either of them like it could have. (Yes, the SYTYCD viewer parties have begun, and will probably keep growing as the weeks go on). I want more of these two! Nigel thought they were both terrific. Mary put them both on the hot tamale train. Oh my. Here we go again. Dan thought they were sexy and that they owned the stage.
5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary
Mia Michael's created her vision of Tim Burton's wedding to the song " Beautiful", in this ultra avaunte guarde piece that I had to watch a couple of times. I have to say that when they literally pulled their lips, all I could say to the girls was "if only I could hear what my dad was saying right now". Call me Nate-I have got to know what you thought of that one! I thought it was creepy, strange and had some absolutely spellbinding moments. When Mark whispered in Chelsie's ear and she started laughing, she was absolutely amazing. The lifts were remarkable and I was completely transported by the story. Nigel thought they both danced brilliantly and that Mia captured the essence of both dancers in the choreography. Mary said if she had a hat she would take it off.sigh. Dan remarked that it must have been quite the experience to be inside Mia's head for a while, and he loved it. I really loved it too.
6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway
I first have to just say that I love Tyce DiOrio. I will be shocked if "Twitchington" doesn't make it to the top 10. Both dance with such absolute joy that it is infectious. I couldn't take my eyes of Kherington's gorgeous smile. I couldn't tell you a thing about the technical aspects of this piece, but from an entertainment standpoint, I really enjoyed it. My friend Andrea choreographed a piece to "Too Darn Hot" and I prefered the way she had cut the music much more than this version, but it didn't take away from this performance. Nigel thought it was stunning. Mary said to look up because the sprinklers were going to turn on it was so hot. It is going to be a long season if Mary doesn't increase her repertoire. Dan thought that they lit up the stage.
7. Comfort Fedoke & Chris Jarosz-Jive
Tony Meredith put together an intensely fun piece to "Boom Boom". Chris caught my eye immediately, since Nigel had said he had the personality of a tree on stage during Vegas. He was in character the entire piece, and Comfort seemed to hold her own for pretty much of the number. She cracked me up when she told Nigel she had never danced in a bra and panties with beads on them. Nigel let the audience know that she had dislocated her shoulder (click click, as Comfort said) in the rehearsal, and that the choreography had to be changed to accommodate her injury. He also thought technically it wasn't quite where it needed to be, but he liked it. Mary thought she had legs for days and told them it was a good job. Dan thought they did well, but they needed to work on their chemistry with each other. Dan had it going on tonight.
8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop
Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed a sensitive routine to "No Air" and the story was a soldier leaving his love for war. I instantly was thinking it would be way too hokey. From the second that Katee started dancing I was completely involved. For me this was the piece of the night and I probably watched it 3 times. Both Katee and Joshua were so connected emotionally to each other and were 110% committed to the choreography. I loved it!
Nigel said it was very, very good. Mary said it was tremendous. Dan said they killed it. Wow, what a great addition these two choreographers have already made to this show.
9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango
Hunter Johnson put together a very complex Tango to (and it just my opinion) a really unsexy song called simply-Tango. They are a very likable couple, but Jessica was extremely shaky at unexpected times and although they acted the part very well, I wasn't sold on the dancing.
Nigel thought it was professional and that Will was majestic. Mary thought they were the couple to beat. (Are you kidding me?) Dan thought they each played their part, but it wasn't that great. I still want to see these two in a contemporary piece together, but this was not something I wanted to re watch.
10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco
Doriana Sanchez gave us Neil and Sara's fantastic "knock on wood last year" so I was hopeful because I really love both of these dancers. I thought they captured the energy and the vibe with this choreography to "Boogie Wonderland", but there was a little something missing in the number that I can't quite put my finger on. Nigel railed on it, saying it was not good. Mary really liked it and Dan enjoyed it as well. I don't think they have anything to worry about yet, but they are up against some fantastic dancers so they will have to kill it if they are in the bottom three.
Tune in tonight my dance loving friends. I can't wait to see the group piece and some fabulous solos. I think that Susie Garcia and Marquis Cunningham will go home. I can't tell you why, it is just a gut feeling. This is going to be a fantastic season!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Step It Up and Dance Winner Talks
For those Cody Green fans out there, here is an interview for you to watch.
You will have to watch it via the SYTYCD blogspot, but that is a good thing to get in your list of favorites, as it is the best blogspot out there for dance, with easy to navigate links to interviews and newspaper articles.
http://bloggingsytycd.blogspot.com/2008/06/cody-green-interview.html
If you missed the show and would like to see Cody's solo, I believe you can watch it on Bravo's official website for Step it Up and Dance.
You will have to watch it via the SYTYCD blogspot, but that is a good thing to get in your list of favorites, as it is the best blogspot out there for dance, with easy to navigate links to interviews and newspaper articles.
http://bloggingsytycd.blogspot.com/2008/06/cody-green-interview.html
If you missed the show and would like to see Cody's solo, I believe you can watch it on Bravo's official website for Step it Up and Dance.
SPOILER ALERT-DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE PAIRS
Good old Ducky always seems to find out the scoop on who is paired with who, so I thought I would share for those who are getting pumped up for this evening.
1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop
2. Susie Garcia & Mrquis Cunningham-Waltz
3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz (supposedly with Mandy Moore)
4. Chelsea Traille & Chris Jarosz- Cha Cha
5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary (rumor is with Mia Michael's)
6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway
7. Comfort Fedoke & Thayne Jasperson-Jive
8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop
9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango
10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco
I will never share spoilers about the actual show and how the judges perceived the dances on this blogspot. I won't even read those, as I like to have an unbiased response. As a non-dancer commenting on a dance show, I don't necessarily catch technical errors-especially in ballroom.
Which pairings am I most excited about??? 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 10. I think I have been pretty open in my last three seasons of blogging on this show with regard to my boredom factor with the waltz. The other three pairs I just don't know enough about to be excited about. I hope they surprise me!!
I look forward to your comments friends!
1. Rayven Armijo & Jamie Bayard-Hip-Hop
2. Susie Garcia & Mrquis Cunningham-Waltz
3. Kourtni Lind & Matt Dorame-Jazz (supposedly with Mandy Moore)
4. Chelsea Traille & Chris Jarosz- Cha Cha
5. Chelsie Hightower & Mark Kanemura-Contemporary (rumor is with Mia Michael's)
6. Kherington Payne & Twitch-Broadway
7. Comfort Fedoke & Thayne Jasperson-Jive
8. Katee Shean & Joshua Allen-Hip Hop
9. Jessica King & William Wingfield- Tango
10. Courtney Galiano & Gev Manoukian-Disco
I will never share spoilers about the actual show and how the judges perceived the dances on this blogspot. I won't even read those, as I like to have an unbiased response. As a non-dancer commenting on a dance show, I don't necessarily catch technical errors-especially in ballroom.
Which pairings am I most excited about??? 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 10. I think I have been pretty open in my last three seasons of blogging on this show with regard to my boredom factor with the waltz. The other three pairs I just don't know enough about to be excited about. I hope they surprise me!!
I look forward to your comments friends!
Monday, June 9, 2008
The Top 20
I have to hand it to the producer's for keeping Vegas week short and sweet and getting our top 20 to us in record time. As usual, there are several rounds of cuts after different styles of choreography. The judges during Vegas week were Nigel, Mary and Mia, but this time Tabitha and Napoleon and the very blunt Debbie Allen joined them. Round one cuts were after the contestants performed a hip/hop routine by Tabitha and Napoleon. Round two was a Broadway Jazz routine by Tyce DiOrio. Round three was a Jean Marque Foxtrot, and round four was a contemporary routine by Mia Michaels. The cuts took care of Claire of the Season 2 injury, the pageant girl, and both of the ballroom couples that we saw during auditions.
As is typical of SYTYCD, we ended up with some dancers in our top 20 that didn't receive too much airtime and so how they stack up is a complete mystery. From what I saw of the auditions, there is only one dancer that I am kind of grossed out that made it, but I am getting ahead of myself.
After the four rounds, the remaining dancers were randomly put into groups and had to stay up all night choreographing a routine to music pulled out of a hat. The dancers who survived that, roughly 47, ended up doing their solos and waiting in the holding room to learn their fate.
Here are the top 20 Girls:
COURTNEY GALLIANO-Courtney impressed at the auditions, and is a 20 year old fireball from Queens, New York with the big Italian family. This selection is no surprise to me at all and I think she will be fun to watch in this competition.
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER-Chelsie is an 18 year old ballroom dancer from Utah that had tons of free publicity during the audition process. She is darling, but not having seen much of her during Vegas week, she could be the next Faina, who knows?
SUSIE GARCIA-This 25 year old Flamenco dancer also is skilled at Salsa and Latin dancing. My favorite part of her in Vegas week was when Debbie Allen told her to go put some clothes on. I am not a fan, and was flabbergasted that she took Kelli Baker's place in the top 20.
CHELSEA TRAILLE-This 23 year old from Texas is a contemporary and jazz funk dancer. I have no memory of her audition, but loved what I saw of her solo during Vegas week.
KOURTNI LIND-Kourtni is an 18 year old from Minnesota whose dance to a spoken word piece during auditions was wonderful. She is a contemporary dancer with a unique look.
KHERINGTON PAYNE-I had a feeling this darling 18 year old from California would have that look that would make for great TV. I think she is darling, and from the little bit of performing that I saw, she dances with great joy. She was not a surprise for me.
JESSICA KING-We didn't really meet this 23 year old from South Carolina until the group number drama, with Derek of "I am too good for this choreography". It was pretty funny that this dancer who loves all styles of dance made it and Derek and his big mouth went packing. He was not the only one-Liz of tap blew her chances with her mouth as well.
RAYVEN ARMIJO-Rayven is a contemporary ballet girl who is the oldest of the girls. At 28, she is from California and the most we saw of her dancing was a snippet of her on point.
COMFORT FEDOKE-Is 20 year old hip-hop and popper from Texas who won me over with her foxtrot. I have never seen someone so clearly out of their element, try so hard.
KATEE SHEAN-Katee is a 20 year old California girl who almost blew her chance at the top 20 by insinuating that if she weren't picked over her best friend, she wouldn't try again. I think the judges were pretty harsh and I don't think Katee expressed herself well. I am glad she is getting a chance to prove she should be there, because I loved her contemporary audition.
Now for the top 20 Boys:
JOSHUA ALLEN-the 19 year old Texas native was Comfort's partner at the foxtrot. He did some amazing leaps, and Debbie Allen speculated aloud that he has had more training than a typical hip hop artist. If he can get the crybaby stuff under control, I think he will impress us.
TWITCH (A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS)-Loved this 25 year old freestyler last season and I so excited to see him partnered up and attempting new styles.
THAYNE JASPERSON-At 27, Thayne is the oldest of the boys, and is a ballet/jazz guy from Utah. I have almost no knowledge of what he is about, so I can't wait for Wednesday to see!
MATTHEW DORAME-Matthew is 22, from Arizona, and wowed me with his lyrical dance at the auditions (despite the basketball shorts). I think he is darling with a ton of personality.
MARQUIS CUNNINGHAM-This New Jersey native is 18 and a lyrical contemporary dancer that also remains a little mysterious due to lack of on air time.
MARK KANEMURA-Mark did some contemporary modern funk when dancing for his life in Vegas that cracked me up. He is 24, from Hawaii, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with on the show.
CHRIS JAROSZ-This 21 year old Texan was worried about his chances given all the contemporary dancers picked this season. I was too, since I really had no idea who he was before he marched on stage and found out he had made it. His specialty is modern, but the judges said he had the personality of a tree on stage so he better bring it.
WILLIAM WINGFIELD-The 21 year old from Tennessee stole the spot from Brandon Bryant, of this I am certain. His contemporary audition to a spoken word piece was really solid, and from the clips of his time in Vegas, we will be in for some amazing leaps and tricks.
JAMIE BAYARD-All we know about this ballroom dancer is that he is 22 and is from California.
GEV MANOUKIAN-The 21 year old Russian Ice breaker now lives in Utah. I guess since Robert Muraine opted to leave the competition without attempting choreography, and obviously Philip Chbeeb didn't fare well either, we were left needing a breaker. I thought Gev's audition very interesting, and I am hoping he does well.
There you have it folks, your top 20. I don't know about you, but I am now officially pumped to get the party started. There is always a break out piece of choreography in the first show, so I am excited and anxious to see what happens in two days. Tune in as the competition begins....
As is typical of SYTYCD, we ended up with some dancers in our top 20 that didn't receive too much airtime and so how they stack up is a complete mystery. From what I saw of the auditions, there is only one dancer that I am kind of grossed out that made it, but I am getting ahead of myself.
After the four rounds, the remaining dancers were randomly put into groups and had to stay up all night choreographing a routine to music pulled out of a hat. The dancers who survived that, roughly 47, ended up doing their solos and waiting in the holding room to learn their fate.
Here are the top 20 Girls:
COURTNEY GALLIANO-Courtney impressed at the auditions, and is a 20 year old fireball from Queens, New York with the big Italian family. This selection is no surprise to me at all and I think she will be fun to watch in this competition.
CHELSIE HIGHTOWER-Chelsie is an 18 year old ballroom dancer from Utah that had tons of free publicity during the audition process. She is darling, but not having seen much of her during Vegas week, she could be the next Faina, who knows?
SUSIE GARCIA-This 25 year old Flamenco dancer also is skilled at Salsa and Latin dancing. My favorite part of her in Vegas week was when Debbie Allen told her to go put some clothes on. I am not a fan, and was flabbergasted that she took Kelli Baker's place in the top 20.
CHELSEA TRAILLE-This 23 year old from Texas is a contemporary and jazz funk dancer. I have no memory of her audition, but loved what I saw of her solo during Vegas week.
KOURTNI LIND-Kourtni is an 18 year old from Minnesota whose dance to a spoken word piece during auditions was wonderful. She is a contemporary dancer with a unique look.
KHERINGTON PAYNE-I had a feeling this darling 18 year old from California would have that look that would make for great TV. I think she is darling, and from the little bit of performing that I saw, she dances with great joy. She was not a surprise for me.
JESSICA KING-We didn't really meet this 23 year old from South Carolina until the group number drama, with Derek of "I am too good for this choreography". It was pretty funny that this dancer who loves all styles of dance made it and Derek and his big mouth went packing. He was not the only one-Liz of tap blew her chances with her mouth as well.
RAYVEN ARMIJO-Rayven is a contemporary ballet girl who is the oldest of the girls. At 28, she is from California and the most we saw of her dancing was a snippet of her on point.
COMFORT FEDOKE-Is 20 year old hip-hop and popper from Texas who won me over with her foxtrot. I have never seen someone so clearly out of their element, try so hard.
KATEE SHEAN-Katee is a 20 year old California girl who almost blew her chance at the top 20 by insinuating that if she weren't picked over her best friend, she wouldn't try again. I think the judges were pretty harsh and I don't think Katee expressed herself well. I am glad she is getting a chance to prove she should be there, because I loved her contemporary audition.
Now for the top 20 Boys:
JOSHUA ALLEN-the 19 year old Texas native was Comfort's partner at the foxtrot. He did some amazing leaps, and Debbie Allen speculated aloud that he has had more training than a typical hip hop artist. If he can get the crybaby stuff under control, I think he will impress us.
TWITCH (A.K.A. STEPHEN BOSS)-Loved this 25 year old freestyler last season and I so excited to see him partnered up and attempting new styles.
THAYNE JASPERSON-At 27, Thayne is the oldest of the boys, and is a ballet/jazz guy from Utah. I have almost no knowledge of what he is about, so I can't wait for Wednesday to see!
MATTHEW DORAME-Matthew is 22, from Arizona, and wowed me with his lyrical dance at the auditions (despite the basketball shorts). I think he is darling with a ton of personality.
MARQUIS CUNNINGHAM-This New Jersey native is 18 and a lyrical contemporary dancer that also remains a little mysterious due to lack of on air time.
MARK KANEMURA-Mark did some contemporary modern funk when dancing for his life in Vegas that cracked me up. He is 24, from Hawaii, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with on the show.
CHRIS JAROSZ-This 21 year old Texan was worried about his chances given all the contemporary dancers picked this season. I was too, since I really had no idea who he was before he marched on stage and found out he had made it. His specialty is modern, but the judges said he had the personality of a tree on stage so he better bring it.
WILLIAM WINGFIELD-The 21 year old from Tennessee stole the spot from Brandon Bryant, of this I am certain. His contemporary audition to a spoken word piece was really solid, and from the clips of his time in Vegas, we will be in for some amazing leaps and tricks.
JAMIE BAYARD-All we know about this ballroom dancer is that he is 22 and is from California.
GEV MANOUKIAN-The 21 year old Russian Ice breaker now lives in Utah. I guess since Robert Muraine opted to leave the competition without attempting choreography, and obviously Philip Chbeeb didn't fare well either, we were left needing a breaker. I thought Gev's audition very interesting, and I am hoping he does well.
There you have it folks, your top 20. I don't know about you, but I am now officially pumped to get the party started. There is always a break out piece of choreography in the first show, so I am excited and anxious to see what happens in two days. Tune in as the competition begins....
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Audition Highlights
I have to say I am impressed with SYTYCD producers, for keeping the auditions rolling. I am blown away that we will have a top 20 tomorrow and that next week the competition can begin. The last four hours of auditions brought out some talent that I can't wait to see again in Vegas (which will be tonight my friends). I want to highlight some of my favorites, and I will tell you up front that I will not be highlighting the terrible auditions. There were too many dancers that really did well, and I want to focus on the positives. I will start back to last week Thursday.
Sheila Kaiser-the student whose father did NOT support her decision to audition. I absolutely loved her from the first smile. She has one of those faces that does its own performance. I can't wait to see her tonight.
Jeremiah-I really didn't want the audition to go well, because I thought he was really out there and strange, but even though he went through, I don't think he will survive Vegas. There are some OUTSTANDING gentlemen this season.
Brandon Bryant-All I can say is GORGEOUS. I can't imagine that he won't be in the top 20, and can't wait to see the partnering this guy is going to be capable of with all of that strength and technique.
Anthony and Antwain Hart-twins. I don't think they will last long in Vegas.
Courtney Galiano-Loved everything about her audition. She had fabulous technique and a personality that drew you in. I can't wait to see her family members in the audience during the top 20! They will probably give the Schwimmer's a run for their money.
Megan Campbell-came with her aunt. She gave an interesting audition, but there was little too much head flailing for my tastes.
Claire of season 2. First, I think this girl looks 12, not 20. I enjoyed her season 2 audition, but there wasn't any dancing in this one. It was all posing, and I kept waiting for her to do something. All of her emotion was saved for the interview afterwards, and I was glad that she was able to pull something out for the choreography section. There is so much talent this year, that I am not sure how she will stack up in Vegas.
Last night had even more wow factor than last week's auditions, and we started with the best that they hadn't shown us yet.
Michael Kim had been cut season 2 during Vegas week, as he couldn't hack the partnering. His his hop style was ridiculous and I could have watched him for hours. He says he has been training and preparing for this round of Vegas. He is up against some crazy talent in the hip-hop genre. It is any one's game at this point.
Katee Shear and Natalie Reid came out together and are dear friends who dance together. I instantly was worried, since the two friends from last week completely underwhelmed me. These two were a completely different story. They had great choreography, which will always showcase a dancer in the best possible way, but both brought it, and I can't wait to see more.
Janette Manrara and Romulo Villavede performed the most incredible salsa I have ever seen, but only Manrara made it through choreography, and without her partner I am not sure how she will compare to Chelsea Hightower and the 2 ballroom couples that have already been showcased. Of course there are probably others we haven't seen...
Susie Garcia did some Latin dance in the most outrageous get up. I didn't get it, and I doubt she goes very far.
Philip Courter's hip hop number was also very interesting and entertaining. There are so many unique poppers and lockers (did I do say that right Christine?), it is making my head spin.
Rebecca Hart had been cut two weeks earlier and came back to Milwaukee to try again. She managed to not bring any rhinestones or competition flair and made it through to Vegas. I am not 100 % sold.
Evan Kaprzak was my Fosse guy and my favorite audition of the night. I loved it from the second he threw the hat. His turns were AMAZING and that face. LOVED IT!!!
Kourtni Lind auditioned to a beautiful spoken word piece and completely won me over with her emotional execution of this dance.
Even Cat is starting to grow on me after this season's audition process.
The highlight of the evening was Travis Wall in drag. I am a little disturbed at how quickly my daughter was able to name him after only a few seconds of his dance technique and style.
I will not be able to post a blog until Sunday but believe me, I will be sharing my thoughts on the top 20 and on the winner of Step it Up and Dance that will be announced this evening on Bravo. For me, the winner is Nick, but I would not be unhappy if Nick, Mochi or Cody won. Nick's work ethic, his crazy funny personality won me over before his dancing did-but after his interpretation of Man in the Mirror I will forever be a fan. It was like I was a witness to Nick's rediscovery of his love of dance. I wish the show had been just a little longer, as it has just now hit its stride for me and it will be over tonight.
As far as MTV's search for the next Elle Woods, I am addicted already. Having seen Laura Bell Bundy on Broadway, however, it is hard to picture any of those girls replacing her.
As far as my first love SYTYCD, it really begins for me next week. While I am curious about the auditions, I am excited to fall in love with a brand new set of dancers and choreography. Tune in tonight-and let me know your favorites!!
Sheila Kaiser-the student whose father did NOT support her decision to audition. I absolutely loved her from the first smile. She has one of those faces that does its own performance. I can't wait to see her tonight.
Jeremiah-I really didn't want the audition to go well, because I thought he was really out there and strange, but even though he went through, I don't think he will survive Vegas. There are some OUTSTANDING gentlemen this season.
Brandon Bryant-All I can say is GORGEOUS. I can't imagine that he won't be in the top 20, and can't wait to see the partnering this guy is going to be capable of with all of that strength and technique.
Anthony and Antwain Hart-twins. I don't think they will last long in Vegas.
Courtney Galiano-Loved everything about her audition. She had fabulous technique and a personality that drew you in. I can't wait to see her family members in the audience during the top 20! They will probably give the Schwimmer's a run for their money.
Megan Campbell-came with her aunt. She gave an interesting audition, but there was little too much head flailing for my tastes.
Claire of season 2. First, I think this girl looks 12, not 20. I enjoyed her season 2 audition, but there wasn't any dancing in this one. It was all posing, and I kept waiting for her to do something. All of her emotion was saved for the interview afterwards, and I was glad that she was able to pull something out for the choreography section. There is so much talent this year, that I am not sure how she will stack up in Vegas.
Last night had even more wow factor than last week's auditions, and we started with the best that they hadn't shown us yet.
Michael Kim had been cut season 2 during Vegas week, as he couldn't hack the partnering. His his hop style was ridiculous and I could have watched him for hours. He says he has been training and preparing for this round of Vegas. He is up against some crazy talent in the hip-hop genre. It is any one's game at this point.
Katee Shear and Natalie Reid came out together and are dear friends who dance together. I instantly was worried, since the two friends from last week completely underwhelmed me. These two were a completely different story. They had great choreography, which will always showcase a dancer in the best possible way, but both brought it, and I can't wait to see more.
Janette Manrara and Romulo Villavede performed the most incredible salsa I have ever seen, but only Manrara made it through choreography, and without her partner I am not sure how she will compare to Chelsea Hightower and the 2 ballroom couples that have already been showcased. Of course there are probably others we haven't seen...
Susie Garcia did some Latin dance in the most outrageous get up. I didn't get it, and I doubt she goes very far.
Philip Courter's hip hop number was also very interesting and entertaining. There are so many unique poppers and lockers (did I do say that right Christine?), it is making my head spin.
Rebecca Hart had been cut two weeks earlier and came back to Milwaukee to try again. She managed to not bring any rhinestones or competition flair and made it through to Vegas. I am not 100 % sold.
Evan Kaprzak was my Fosse guy and my favorite audition of the night. I loved it from the second he threw the hat. His turns were AMAZING and that face. LOVED IT!!!
Kourtni Lind auditioned to a beautiful spoken word piece and completely won me over with her emotional execution of this dance.
Even Cat is starting to grow on me after this season's audition process.
The highlight of the evening was Travis Wall in drag. I am a little disturbed at how quickly my daughter was able to name him after only a few seconds of his dance technique and style.
I will not be able to post a blog until Sunday but believe me, I will be sharing my thoughts on the top 20 and on the winner of Step it Up and Dance that will be announced this evening on Bravo. For me, the winner is Nick, but I would not be unhappy if Nick, Mochi or Cody won. Nick's work ethic, his crazy funny personality won me over before his dancing did-but after his interpretation of Man in the Mirror I will forever be a fan. It was like I was a witness to Nick's rediscovery of his love of dance. I wish the show had been just a little longer, as it has just now hit its stride for me and it will be over tonight.
As far as MTV's search for the next Elle Woods, I am addicted already. Having seen Laura Bell Bundy on Broadway, however, it is hard to picture any of those girls replacing her.
As far as my first love SYTYCD, it really begins for me next week. While I am curious about the auditions, I am excited to fall in love with a brand new set of dancers and choreography. Tune in tonight-and let me know your favorites!!
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