The Top 12

After much confusion at my house last night (my daughter and I arrive back from dinner only to find that my son and 7 of his posse are knee deep in a thriller on the only TV that has a dvr), I sat down to watch the show after 10:30. I don’t know if it was all of the build up (there was a lot of freaky violin music emanating from the basement during the viewing of what I would later learn was “The Eye”). Maybe it was just that last week was so enjoyable I couldn’t wait for more, but I was a little let down after the performances last night. First of all, I am disappointed in Nigel as a judge this year. He has just become so perverse with his critiques of some of these dancers (poor 18 year old Chelsie Hightower) and while I absolutely love Mia Michael’s as a choreographer, as a judge I don’t think she gives these dancer’s any advice that can be deciphered. At times she borders on cruelty, and I don’t think it is necessary in the context of this show. Let’s get on with the dancing:

THE PERFORMANCES

Mark & Chelsie
Salsa w/ Alex Da Silva - "Fuego," Joe Bataan
I thought both Chelsie and Mark brought the passion required for this dance, and that the delivery was extremely sexy and enjoyable. I won’t say that I went back for a second viewing (like last week with about 3 or 4 of the numbers), but I was completely entertained, as I always am by these two. Nigel thought it was terrific, but proceeded to get a little creepy with his comments about Chelsie’s outfit. Mary thought it was beautiful and dynamic. Mia thought it was smoking hot.
Broadway w/ Tyce DiOrio - "I'm a Woman," Smokey Joe's Cafe (Original Cast)
I thought this choreography was so much fun, and the two of them always deliver if they are given characters to play. This time was no exception. I thought they had great energy and the quality of the performance was very professional. Nigel thought the routine was hot (here we go again). Mary thought it was sultry, sexy, bluesy, blah, blah, blah…Mia thought they told the story very well, but that Mark’s lack of training showed. She said he was lucky that he performs so well that he makes you not care. Then she told Chelsie she wanted more movement. What the f Mia? What does that even mean? I realize I am not a dancer, but I sure didn’t see it that way.

Thayne & Comfort
Hip-Hop w/ Tabitha & Napoleon - "Can We Chill," Ne-Yo
I have to be really honest here; I didn’t notice Comfort in this piece. I found myself drawn to Thayne, who I think is a really solid hard working dancer. He has taken a ton of criticism for things out of his control, and I thought he worked hard at a connection with Comfort, even though it didn’t really come over. Nigel thought they didn’t play off of each other. Mary thought they didn’t have chemistry. Mia thought it was more than just a good performance, but they were lacking a connection between them.
Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore - "A Different Corner," George Michael
I thought that Thayne was gorgeous in this very beautiful work by Mandy Moore, but I felt almost nothing coming from Comfort. Unfortunately, next to Thayne, her bad feet and lazy legs really stood out. I was sad that the judges were so harsh with both of them, because I saw a side of Thayne that I would love to see again in the top 10. Nigel basically said the choreography was too good for them as a couple. Mary said they were not believable. Mia finally gave Thayne his due by telling him that he was gorgeous and that she couldn’t wait to work with him in the future.

Will & Jessica
Contemporary w/ Tyce DiOrio - "Silence," Unfaithful (soundtrack)
Will is a beautiful man and a breathtaking dancer, so I guess each week they will just keep showing him in less and less clothing. I found the music not working for me in this piece, but I thought the shapes they made with their bodies were gorgeous, when Jessica wasn’t struggling for balance. (Tell me I am not the only one who saw a few awkward moments in her performance?) There is no doubt that based on Will’s ability and talent, he deserves to be in the top 10. He has earned the opportunity to work with some of these other dancers and find the chemistry that he and Jessica, for me, are just lacking. Nigel thought it was an extraordinary piece of art. Mary thought it was the most amazing piece she has ever seen on the show. (Really Mary? I don’t think so). Mia thought that Tyce explored newness and that it was like a brilliant painting. So this is once again how we handle Will and Jessica, a lot of comments about the choreography, not so many about the execution.
Quick Step w/ Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin - "Bandstand Boogie," Barry Manilow
I guess I really don’t like Quickstep any more than I like Krump. I was bored to tears during this number, and I thought both Will and Jessica were only a small step ahead of me in the enthusiasm department. The whole performance was pushed towards tricks because of their obvious discomfort with the actual dance. Nigel thought they gave a great performance, but not so great of a quickstep (sorry Nigel, that performance was not great). Mary gave a long detailed explanation of why their quickstep didn’t work, which was unbelievably more boring than the actual dance. Mia thought Jessica went back to a disconnected, insecure place, and then crossed a line when she said it looked like Will was tired of carrying her. I have no patience for that kind of criticism. It has nothing in it that a dancer can work on, and was cruel and unnecessary.

Gev & Courtney
Cha-Cha w/ Pasha Kovalev & Anya Garnis - "Don't Stop the Music (The Wideboys Club Mix)," Rihanna
This was the first time for me that Courtney and Gev got to really connect with the audience during their rehearsal tapes. Having Anya and Pasha choreograph was such a thrill and I absolutely loved this number. They were so clean and so together for the times that they were performing separately, and I thought Gev (who I was ready to send packing) stood out in his execution of this dance. I thought he actually carried his body like a ballroom dancer, and from the second the music started I was hooked. Nigel thought it was abso-bloody-lutely great. Mary cha cha cha’d herself back onto my last nerve. Mia said it was fabulosity at its best. She also said that they weren’t the two best dancers on the show, but that they had great performance quality. I think they are great dancers. I thought Will, who is beyond any other male dancer in modern times if you listen to these judges, looked awkward and out of sorts during his Quickstep. Gev and Courtney became ballroom dancers in this number and that does take talent.
Broadway w/ Mandy Moore - "Standing There," The Creatures
I really enjoyed this routine that took us on a trip with a map as the main prop. The energy and quirkiness of this dance had me entertained, and I thought both were totally committed to their characters. I believe with these two solid numbers tonight, Courtney and Gev have earned themselves a spot in the top 10. Nigel thought it was all cotton candy, and nothing but a bit of fun. Mary disagreed and loved everything about it. Mia said that they both had a great night, and they were here favorite couple of the night. I would have to almost agree with her for a change. I really warmed up to these two underdogs today.

Twitch & Kherington
Krump w/ Lil'C - "2 Buck 4 TV," Tha J-Squad
Okay, I really still don’t like this style of dance, although I was wowed by the attack that both of them started out with on this number. I thought Twitch was in his glory, but that Kherington held her own for at least the first half of the dance. I don’t care for all of the anger (I don’t care what you say Lil’C-it comes off angry not passionate) and ugliness in this style of dance. I think there are enough styles of dancing that SYTYCD doesn’t need this particular one, and it only serves to hurt the dancers that get stuck with it, no matter how popular they are. Nigel thought the first minute was great and only decided to focus on that. Hey, where is that kind of slack when we are judging poor Thayne? Mary thought it was the first time she believed the dance on this show. Mia thought it was dirty, nasty, and she loved it, but again commented on how it lost energy mid way through.
Smooth Tango w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "Assassin's Tango," Mr & Mrs Smith (soundtrack)
This Tango just didn’t do it for me. I thought that Twitch didn’t have the right carriage and that he didn’t bring the same performance level as Kherington. I also didn’t buy that they were trying to kill each other, and maybe some of that was lacking in the choreography. I am not sure. Nigel thought Twitch wasn’t honest, so it didn’t work. Mary loved the beginning, the end, but not the middle. Mia said it was mediocre. These two have really been great for the most part, so I am not truly worried for them, but this is sometimes when you get one of those surprises in the bottom three, and I hope that doesn’t happen to them because of a forgettable night.

Joshua & Katee
Viennese Waltz w/ Jean-Marc Genereaux - "Iris," Goo Goo Dolls
I thought this dance was beautiful, and from start to finish I was completely captivated. I can’t believe how good these two are together when the music starts. I have been impressed with the show’s take on the Waltz this season, and haven’t been bored with it yet. Nigel thought Joshua was too bouncy. Mary said the dancing wasn’t great, but the lifts were perfect. Mia said it was not their best, but thought that Katee was a gift to dance.
Bollywood w/ Nakul Dev Mahajan - "Dhoom Taana," Om Shanti Om (soundtrack)
I have to say this performance was a mixed bag for me. I thoroughly enjoy cultural dance, and while having absolutely no idea if it looked the way it was supposed to look, I thought they did a great job with it. I loved the music and the costumes and the energy they brought to it. That being said, I am of the opinion that maybe this style should have been reserved for the send off night, where they have been showcasing other styles of dance each week. When the most you can do in a critique is talk about how great it is to see different cultural works, maybe you aren’t really being fair to the other dancers who are being very specifically critiqued by experts in the dances they are performing. Any thoughts on that my faithful viewers? Nigel thought it was fabulous. Mary thought they were bound for stardom. Mia went on and on about how cool it is to see 100 dancers doing the same dance like this. (?) Again, is this really a critique?

BEST OF THE NIGHT
For me this is a hard thing to say after a night like tonight. I loved Will in his Contemporary, Katee in the Waltz, Twitch in the Krump, and Thayne in his Contemporary piece. As couples, I thought Gev and Courtney, Chelsie and Mark, and Joshua and Katee had the most success at nailing both of their dances.

WORST OF THE NIGHT
That Quickstep was for me the worst of the night, with the Smooth Tango right behind it.




THE TOP TEN
I have no idea what the judges will do tonight. It would stand to reason that Thayne and Comfort would go home, given the number of times they have been in the bottom (and don’t you think they will be in the bottom?). After this week, our power couples are no more, and each week chemistry will have to be redefined for each new partnership. This levels the playing field for all of the dancers, and it gives someone like Will a chance to prove that if given a different partner he could wow us with a great connection on stage.
I think this is an extraordinary group of dancers, and I will be very sad on Thursday nights for the duration of this season.