We’re down to eight couples on So You Think You Can Dance. Still a high level of competition, but last night, while good, wasn’t as dynamic a show for me. Nigel made a point of saying that several of the choreographers designed dances that weren’t as complex or difficult, to allow the dancers to shine more….but I’m not sure I agree. Not that I want them pushed to the point of injury or anything, but it wasn’t a totally memorable night for me, in general. I think maybe my expectations were just too high, as there weren’t any actual bad performances and several quite good ones.

I think most of my disappointment stems from the fact that we’ve now had two Shane Sparks routines, and last night two Dave Scott routines, which are usually major highlights for me, but this batch of largely contemporary dancers don’t seem to really be bringing it to the hip hop style, so the routines have been a let down, or, at the very least, far from a show stopper.

I understand from Adam Shankman’s Twittering that as he’s going through the auditions now for the fall season of the show, that it looks like they’re going back to having more street dancers in the mix. I think that might be a more interesting thing, despite how ridiculously talented this season’s group of far more highly trained dancers can be.

Also…they are clearly spending a lot more money on wardrobe this year as the costumes for the dancers are far more elaborate. Sometimes good (Jason) and sometimes….not as much. (Janette - although, to be fair, it might have been more fierce on a different dancer, but her face was not made for those fishnets and leather.)

Oh, and for the love of god, never have Toni Basil back as a judge. It’s not that she didn’t have illuminating things to say, but you just wanted to kill yourself by the time she finally put her words together.

Okay, so first up, we had Karla and Jonathan with a Dave routine and ever since I found out that Karla is in Boogie Bots dance crew, I’ve been excited to see her do hip hop. And she did a good job…unfortunately there will never be even so much as a hint of gangsta in Jonathan. Boy cannot hit it hard to save his life. And that along with their lack of synchronicity, which I also lay at Jonathan’s softstyle feet, made the dance far from memorable.

Following them was Asuka and Vitolio in a rock and roll Mandy Moore jazz routine which, after seeing in their practice clip how Vitolio has totally taken over the protector role with Asuka, was ten times more dynamic. I think this was one of my faves of the night, mostly due to that chemistry, which was also there after the dance.

Next up was Ade and Melissa with smmmmokin’ hot rumba. Her body is ridiculous. So is his. Another favorite dance for me. This time for both the dance itself and the couple. Incredibly well done. Whew.

Branden and Janette get the other Dave Scott routine. I actually loved this routine, and Branden was amazingly good as the pop n locker. And it’s not that Janette didn’t do a great job as the rock n roller, she just didn’t quite have as believable a look or feel to her as Branden did - her face and hair were incredibly distracting and not in a good way. Still, all in all, one of the top half routines of the night. Branden was especially fun to watch.

Kupono and Kayla have their first dance together and it’s a very ethereal waltz, which I actually loved a great deal. Not so much Kupono, though he did a serviceable job, but Kayla really is a simply stunning dancer. I can’t help but want to see her with a better partner. (Seriously, can you picture her with Danny from last year? Wow.) I’m not sure there is one in this season’s crop to really do her that kind of justice.

Up next are Randi and Evan with a hilarious and adorable Mia Michaels routine. I’m so glad to see Mia is in a much more upbeat mood, stylistically, these days. This was funny, cute, different, quirky. I don’t know that it was a top three for me, but it definitely held my attention. I mean, the whole thing was choreographed with Randi’s ass as the focal point. Literally. You have to admire that kind of gumption creatively speaking. I hope to see more of this kind of thing from her this season. (And I also think Mia’s hairstyle and glasses totally rocked. Maybe she’s found her happy place after clearly not knowing where in the hell it was during the audition phase this season. I still think she owes Branden an apology.)

Jason and Kaitlin get the paso and while the costuming was amazing and the music intense….for me? I didn’t think they brought it at all. I felt like they were thinking waaaaay too hard about it the whole time and there was no real connection or true dynamism between them at all. And it’s a tough dance, so it’s understandable, but it was like they bulled their way through it, but no real power or finesse. It was bottom three for me. And it shouldn’t have been. Should have been a show stopper.

Last up where Philip and Jeanette with…sigh….a Tasty Oreo Broadway routine (and really, that is how is name sounds - say it outloud and see if you don’t agree. Tyce D’Orio….) Now, to be fair, I thought it was a really cute 40’s feel routine. I would have loved seeing this on the stage during a Broadway show, so kudos for that much at least. And I do agree with the judges that Philip’s skill wasn’t the sharpest in this, but he’s a very expressive and dynamic performer regardless and I don’t think that Nigel gave him near enough credit for that. I think he held his own with the clearly more at home Jeanette, for which this number was tailor made. Not top three for me, but not bottom three either.

Which leaves me with…who are my top and bottom threes this week…

Bottom for sure will be Karla/Jonathan, and should be Jason/Kaitlin. I’m not sure which of the “middle group” I’d put with them. I still don’t think it will be Phillip, which leaves a number of other pairs vulnerable.

In the top, for me, was Melissa/Ade and Asuka/Vitolio (though going early might hurt them.) Rounding that out could either be Branden/Janette or Kupono/Kayla, simply on Kayla’s dancing alone.

But it’s truly a very tight race and any of them could be in danger. I don’t really see any frontrunner emerging as yet.

What say you? Who are you loving? Who do you wish had a better partner? What guest judge would you like to see next week?

No Top Chef MAC today…haven’t gotten to view it yet. Hopefully tomorrow along with the results show MAC from tonight. Don’t forget to enter this week’s contest. Details in Tuesday’s blog post. Check right here on Friday to see if you’re the winner!

And now? DISH already!!!

Tags: Writing //