Top 12

This is a big week my SYTYCD friends. It is the final two dances with some of our favorite couples, and it is the selection of the ten you will see live if you go to the tour (heck yes I go to the tour). Cat is fabulous in a one shoulder royal blue dress that appears to ride up on occasion, but she wears it well. The shoes are ridiculous (and when I say that I mean fabulous).

Tonight Cat tells us that we will get to see the first Can Can and the return of the Lindy Hop. While I am thrilled at the possibility of new choreographers, I have not forgotten the Russian folk dance from Season 5. Each couple is dancing twice, so let’s get busy.

Round Number 1

Ellenore & Ryan - Lindy Hop (Carla Heiney) -
This dance was packed with high energy and required a ton of lifting on Ryan’s part. These two captured the spirit of the dance (which I am sure was exhausting) while still looking like they were having a blast. The judges tell us that Ryan had pulled his back earlier in the week, which is amazing to hear after seeing such an effortless performance. There was one slight glitch where Ellenore’s leg appeared to get caught for a moment, but otherwise they didn’t miss a beat. All three judges loved it.

Kathryn & Legacy - Jazz (Sonya Tayeh) –
Sonya did a great job using Legacy’s strength’s as a b-boy in this quirky little number, and Kathryn oozed sensuality without the suggestive movement that sometimes gets Karen noticed. I thought they performed wonderfully together and the dance was edgy enough to stay with people throughout the show. The judges loved Kathryn and Legacy and Nigel even said it was his favorite dance of the season. I would not go that far, but I did really enjoy the performance.

Karen & Victor - Argentine Tango (Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin) -
This was an amazing comeback for both of these dancers’ who have not seemed to capture America’s attention despite their strengths as dancers. I thought the chemistry was riveting and the technique was perfect. The costuming was amazing for a change and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the dance. The judges were blown away, but Nigel told Victor to tuck his bum under his body. Thanks Nigel now that is all I will be looking at the next time he is on stage.

Mollee & Nathan - Hip-Hop (Jamal Sims) –
This was a cute fun dance, but I felt Nathan out performed Mollee. Gary thought it was the most ridiculous song he had ever heard in his life (and by this I mean ridiculously stupid). I thought they performed well, and though Mollee has been suffering from an ankle injury, I sure didn’t see the bobbles until the replay. This type of hip hop needs a story that connects the dancers in a way that creates chemistry, and unfortunately, I was not feeling it. This type of number on these two dancers only served to accentuate their youth. A a time when the other couples are forging ahead, this couple has stalled out due to style and in the case of last week-bad choreography.

Noelle & Russell - Samba (Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin)
This was not a number for these two dancers, and while they still seem to have a great connection between them, it was like their faces were still in the foxtrot and their bodies were trying to do something else. Noelle’s shaking never quite got with the music, so it looked a little frantic and out of place. I am not sure what happened at the end, but Noelle’s best hip action happened about a count of 8 after the music had stopped. The judges thought it wasn’t dirty enough, but Mary thought they did a respectable job.

Ashleigh & Jakob - Lyrical Jazz (Sonya Tayeh) –
This was actually a really beautiful piece that the dancer’s lived up to. I had no doubts that Jakob would be worthy of top ten, but I am happy to say that Ashleigh has won me over. She danced this beautifully. All three judges are going to be sad to see this couple separate, but I for one can’t wait until Jakob is paired with Ellenore or Noelle or Kathryn. Just think what Travis Wall could do with one of those pairings. These two have earned a spot at the top and will not be in trouble after tonight.

Round Number 2

Ellenore & Ryan - Broadway (Spencer Liff) –
This was an amazing Broadway piece that had so much character matched with great technical dancing. Ryan was the lure of fame and Ellenore was absolutely brilliant as the innocent one being lured in. Ellenore was able to use her face to completely sell this story and I was blown away by her extensions. I have to confess that I was watching Ryan’s expression and trying to decipher if he was staying in character or grimacing with the pain of all of the lifts (can you tell I have thrown my back out?) but this was so unique and well danced that in the end I was cheering with the crowd. These two have earned a place in the top ten, with their only misstep being the hip hop number (which was not great choreography so not entirely their fault).

Kathryn & Legacy - Viennese Waltz (Jean Marc and France Généreux) –
I am not a fan of the waltz in any of its manifestations, and this was not really an exception. I thought that Kathryn was gorgeous and used as a major distraction from Legacy’s lack of training. Lesson for all you contestants, if you know you were really bad, cry and talk about hope. The judges will then softly serve you their criticisms. I still love these two, but I think they might be in trouble after that.

Karen & Victor - Hip-Hop (Laurie Ann Gibson) –
Why is Laurie Ann Gibson still a choreographer on this show? This was just awful, although I will say that they gave their whole hearts over to it. They weren’t together in the beginning, but the music, the endless reaching (or was it pushing?) and the painfully executed lifts took these two from professional dancer to workshop dancer in a minute and thirty seconds. I was so disappointed for both of them after that fabulous tango, especially Victor who was not utilized in this piece at all. I get that the dancer’s seem to love to work with Laurie Ann, but even Adam was thinking the music and the movement did not go together. Enough of my rant, they are going to lose good dancer’s if they keep this woman on staff!

Mollee & Nathan - Can Can (Tyce Diorio) –
This was pretty darn fun, and was another high energy performance that was a winner with the judges. For me, it was memorable, but not special, if that makes any sense. The choreographers need to help these two grow up in a hurry. Since there will be three couples on top and three on bottom, I think these two could land in the bottom again based on both of their work tonight. Sidebar, was it me or did the rest of you find it totally unnecessary to know that the French did that dance without underwear?

Noelle & Russell - Contemporary (Tyce Diorio) - Tyce
Tyce wanted the dancers to paint their relationship on each other with their bodies, and he was literal enough to use paints halfway through. It was stunning to watch Noelle, and Tyce created some really unique lifts and body shapes within this work that kept me interested and moved throughout. I thought they would be in the bottom and possibly going home after their samba, but now I am not so sure.

Ashleigh & Jakob - Cha-Cha (Jean Marc and France Généreux) –
I have come to love this style and this performance was perfection. Jakob can do no wrong in my eyes; he adapts to whatever they throw at him and captures the essence of the dance as well as the movement. Ashleigh was in her style and was fantastic. This was a great way to end the evening, and all three judges were loving, even after giving Jakob some teasing for the ballroom facials and points.

Bottom three couples? Karen and Victor, Mollee and Nathan, and Noelle and Russell. From my surfing of the blogs, Legacy’s fan base is HUGE and may carry him through over Noelle and Russell, although either couple could be there based on their split performances. Going home? Victor and Noelle, that is if Noelle is there over Kathryn. The judges are really crazy about Karen, and after her tango they are not going to let her go unless she has another abysmal solo. If it is Kathryn and Legacy instead of Noelle and Russell, it will be Kathryn to go home. I find them to both be very beautiful dancers but minus that special something that Jeanine (season 5 winner) had. You need that extraordinary personality to get the phones ringing, and I am not sure either one of the girls have won hearts with their personalities. The only thing that could change this scenario is if Mollee’s injury is worse than they are letting on. Tune in tonight…..