Dance!

Eight dancers left…what happens tonight? Two dances each pair, no solos tonight. (My typing fingers thank the producers.) And all that jampacked into one hour.

Was it me, or where the dancers a bit lackluster in their opening sequence? I’m guessing they are whipped puppies at this point, so I can hardly blame them for conserving energy. But there was a definite sparkle shortage there. (Okay, so the crowd loved the Benji-Natalie dip at the end…)

Welcome Cat. Don’t you love how big a dork she really is? I mean, she’s gorgeous, but the girl has no rhythm. It’s endearing.

Welcome judges…Uncle Nigel, Crack Mary, and Doinky Dan.

Getting right to it, the first couple this week will be Donyelle and Travis. They get both choices of dance in one selection and because he lives under a dark star that refuses to go away, Travis picks Hip Hop and Quick Step (aka the Ballroom Dance of Death.)

On the bright side, for hip hop, they get Shane Sparks. Hello sweetie! Okay, the jungle animal thing was a little whack, but I can see where he’s going with it, in terms of getting all earthy with their bad selves. But still….

Dancing to London Bridge by Fergie…here we go. Okay, they’re both in hooded sweatshirts with blank white face masks on. Different. It gave it a really spooky kind of feel. Not sure if I like it, but you don’t look away, that’s for sure. The hoods come off to reveal masks on the back of their black stocking covered heads. Increasingly different. Just looking at the dancing…the routine is interesting and good, and they’re giving themselves to it, but they’re off with each other and it comes off looking clumsy, which is a shame. The ending thirty or so seconds was hot, but overall, good, but not great.

Judges? Nigel felt the masks cut off the connection to a dancer’s eyes and spark, and he has a point, but the starkness of it was also riveting. Crack Mary agrees with me, which is somewhat disturbing (and what is in her coke anyway?) but I was glad to see them get some props. She points out how hard it must have been to stay in time with your partner with such limited range of vision - great point! Doinky Dan Says it was more good than bad.

Next up is Alison who gets Ivan again. Their dance styles are Hip Hop and Argentine Tango. Which they rocked once before, so this whole thing is a bit redux for them. I wonder if it will help or seem to repetitive.

For tango, they get Alex de Silva who knocks it up a step for them, which is good. As impressive as they were last time, then it was a surprise, now they have to out do that performance.

Here we go…Alison is wearing a barely their clingwrap dress and Ivan is in black suit and fedora. It’s good, but not quite the same sizzle factor. Again, I’m not sure if it’s because we’re expecting this time and the surprise factor is gone, or if the dance itself is a bit lackluster. They’re good, but it doesn’t rock. The music isn’t really riveting either, to be honest. All in all, Alison was the better of the two - but that dress did her body no favors, and the girl has a solid dancer’s body, so that’s saying a lot. The end had some flair, then Ivan abandons her to stride over to the judges. Not particularly cool, even if unintentional.

Judges? Nigel thought they were tremendous, minimal critique. Mary says it was great, too. So it’s just me, then. Dan says Ivan worked Alison in this dance. Again, were we watching the same thing? But….whatever. America? What do you say?

Next up is Natalie who picks Ryan - so he finally gets his dream come true, as he’s wanted Natalie as his partner from the start. We’ll see where that takes them. For dance styles, they get contemporary and disco. They’ll nail the first, or should, but Ryan and disco? Not so sure on that one.

For disco, they get Doriana-Mistress of the Dark…and here we go. To Turn the Beat Around, Natalie is in a slinky short dress and Ryan is in purple bell bottoms and a pink silk shirt (because someone in the sylist trailer hates him.) Natalie has her knee wrapped, so another injury alert. She is very open and outward with her style, while Ryan looks all fierce and concentrating the whole time. Not exactly a team the way they should be, despite dancing the heck out of it. I think he’s just so worried, he’s forgetting the performance part and focusing on the specifics of the routine. He gets into it more toward the end, and i think he does a good job, but they don’t really connect beyond being proficient. (I’m a cranky demanding sort tonight, aren’t I? What’s in MY Coke?)

Squee! Dmitry with a GO Natalie sign in the audience! Yes, he’s in a shirt, but you can’t have everything.

Ahem. Judges? Nigel praises Natalie and slams Ryan and you do have to feel for him, how stoic he is, standing there taking this week in and week out, though often deserved, it’s still got to grind your soul a little. Mary says she didn’t buy the chemistry either. Ryan is thrown under the man bus again. Dan says it was painful. And you know, I agree to a point, but thought the previous tango performance was far more into that subpar zone than this, so I’m a little stymied. But…say good-bye Ryan, this will be your last week I fear. And deservedly so, but dayum.

And this means Heidi gets Benji! Whoa!! Cousins who have danced together for years, the expectations from the judges will be off the charts. Something tells me these two will deliver and then some. I’m SO excited. They get Mambo and Broadway. Could this BE any more tailored to these two? And this means they close the show tonight, too. Cool!

First up is the Broadway with Tyce! Church revival theme - again, perfect fit. To Fake Your Way To The Top from Dreamgirls, they start out on the rear stair railing (the crowd is just screaming the whole time.) Benji in 50’s suit and skinny tie and Heidi in a short silver and purple maribou Supremes dress. To be honest, the routine itself didnt do much for me, not enough together dancing (which, I know, I know, it’s Broadway) but they did dance the heck out of it. Very commanding performance, easily the best so far, though not all that surprising given their experience dancing with one another. A total pro performance there. The crowd, literally goes wild, chanting Benji.

Judges? Nigel loves it. He’s been drinking Mary’s Coke. Mary takes a sip and is saved. Dan says Broadway needs them. Best of the night so far - and they close the show with the mambo later? Yeah, that’ll rock in such a big way I’m tempted to do as my blog talked about yesterday and ff to the end, just to see it next. But I won’t, I swear! Anticipation….

Now, on to Round Two.

Travis and Donyelle get Glen Weiss as their Quick Step coach. I fear nothing will save them, though. Donyelle and her busted toe and the two of them don’t mesh well together body-size wise, so it’s just going to be a bit of a train wreck I fear. I hope I’m wrong! I really do! But this dance kills everyone, and I don’t think tonight will be different. At this stage of the competition, I think it was really rotten for them to even have this one in the hat at all. Travis couldn’t catch a break with a mitt on these days.

Here we go…to Dancin’ Fool by Barry Manilow (yeah, I said it) the crowd is already behind them with huge screams, they start by coming down the steps in the rear… Travis in tails and Donyelle in a lovely dark green sparkly gown. Really great showmanship opening. Smart choreo there, very smart. A lot of fun and very attention grabbing right off. My hopes increase. But the partnering part? Ouch. They are like three feet apart and their bodies should be meshed. And it’s like on half speed. Which the quick step can’t be. It does pick up after awhile, but they never close the grand canyon of space between them, which dimishes the power of the dance completely. Ah, you guys. My heart bleeds. But this? Isn’t good.

Judges? (Covering eyes.) Yep, ouch across the board, though nicely delivered. I hope they both make it through. I think tonight Ryan and Nat will be the unfortunate victims of the voting pool.

Next is Alison and Ivan with one of Shane’s hip hop routines. Slow hip hop to Neo’s Sexy Love, here we go, complete with umbrella props. Okay, this is perfect for the two of them. Very cute, adorable, young lovey. Alison’s straightened hair is perfect for this, too. And they are moving so smoothly through this. Very very very well done. Top Two of the night. Shane totally did it for them.

Judges? They all loved it. Dan totally gave them props for this, very very well deserved. Maybe my fave of the night so far.

Now we have Natalie and Ryan with their contemporary routine, choreo’d by Tyce. If they’re going to get anything, it will be this. To a Boyz to Men song, it’s very lovely and well danced. Perhaps no chemsitry with them, but they do a lovely job. I feel it’s their farewell, so not a bad one.

Judges - Nigel gave them both props, which was nice to hear. Mary also gives them props and Dan concurs.

And squee! Benji and Heidi bring it with the mambo. They get Alex de Silva. He challenges them with a super speed mambo, which they both agree is the hardest thing they’ve faced, which is saying something. Will they nail it? I think they will.

Here we go….to Black Mambo…Oh, that was SO cool! They started with Heidi over his head in this pretzel loop, then he drops her and she slides down around his whole body like a human ring toss. Very show stopping opener there. And they just rock this thing all over the damn stage. And the ending was ohmygod. Totally pro, the whole thing. Fast, sharp, and flawless. The crowd is insane, chanting both of their names, and they are clearly high from such a great routine, as well they should be.

Judges? Gushing praise. Across the board. Well earned.

And Nigel mentions the tour again…I hope that means these guys are coming to a town near ME!

I think Ryan and Natalie will be leaving us. I fear Travis and Donyelle will be next to last this week, but only because we’re down to the final four and Ivan and Alison lucked out with the dance styles this week. Benji and Heidi ain’t going nowhere.

Tune in tomorrow for the Results MAC and Fabulous Tim Gunn MAC from Project Runway as well.

Don’t forget to get your answers in to this week’s SHaQ Attack by tonight! See Monday’s post for the details. Winner announced tomorrow!

Tags: Writing //