So You Think You Can Dance? Absolutely. So You Think You Can Position the Camera’s Right? Not so much.

So, the first night of competition was also the first time they’ve done the performance show live. (Usually just the results shows are live.) And the lack of editing ability showed. Not one minute in and we’re already missing the dancer’s intros, some are off the screen entirely. It was really, really…not good. Definitely got better as the performances themselves started -thank God - but they couldn’t have been much worse, so that’s not a huge compliment.

I’m all excited to see if they live up to all the pump and hype. The format will be one contestant paired with one all star, then the contestant only comes over to be judged. In some cases, I am as excited to watch the all star perform as much as the new kid on the block. In some cases, more.

That wouldn’t, however, but the case with the first up. Billy is paired with Lauren (all star, not current contestant, though I’d love it if it were.) They get a Tyce Broadway routine to Footloose. Billy definitely can keep up with the frenetic choreo and it was a good opening. Like Mia, though, I’m looking forward to something less childlike for him and soon.

Next was Cristina, paired with Mark. He would be one I am very interested in seeing again. And he definitely doesn’t disappoint. Afraid the same can’t be said for Cristina. They get a Sonya contemporary routine that is supposed to embody the feel of a snake, and you’d think with Cristina’s salsa background she’d be able to writhe with the best of them. Turns out, not so much. I completely disagree with the judges on that - I thought she was stiff and not at all fluid. She hit her poses, but the transitions I thought were really off. Maybe they’re just trying to pump the girls so they’re not first off the island. It’s not going to help. Just sayin. Not with this line up of guys. For me, Mark completely outclassed her in both performance and skill. And while I get that he’s the all star here, she really came up short with this. And since the all star’s return isn’t predicated on her getting votes, I don’t think Mark will help her out there, either. He’s back either way. And from this routine, he’s the only thing I want to see again. Sorry, judges. Sorry, Cristina.

We get Jose next, paired with Comfort and NappyTabs for hip hop (um….not exactly out of his comfort zone here…hmm….coincidence?) I liked the “floaty” feel to the opening part. After that, it was a little hit or miss choreo wise in terms of excitement and wow factor, though they both did a great job. But then….duh.

Adechike is up next, paired with Kathryn, for a Travis Wall contemporary routine. I’m in! I thought Kathryn was ridiculously great in this. Wow. Adechike just basically had to show up. And he did. It’s his genre, too, so no surprise that he did well. Loved the effect of her throwing the papers up, then dancing as they floated down around them. Really enjoyed this. But then, I tend to heart all of Travis’s work. Nice job. Odd interpretation of the song Addicted to Love. But two enthusiastic thumbs up on the routine. Agreed with Nigel on emotion from Ade. Harsh, Mia, but, alas, true. Glad Adam brought the balance.

Melinda is up next. I wasn’t in love with her during Vegas, but she did a great job in the intro performances last week. So…I’m more interested to see what she has to give now. She gets Pasha (mmmmm) and a Melanie and Tony jive routine. Okay, that’s a kickass routine with the most kickass pro she could get and I thought she hung in there amazingly well. The camera work, frankly, sucked. Show. Their. Feet. It’s a jive. Sheesh. But what she lacked in technique, and there were a lot of mistakes, she did make up with personality, which I’m sure she draws on her tap background for that. It was a remarkably challenging routine to start with. All in all, a surprising thumbs up from me. (For cannon fodder.) Pasha, of course, gets both thumbs up. Amongst other things.

YAY! Alex is next, Alex is next! (I might be slightly, just slightly, biased.) YAY, Alex is next! !!!!!!!!!! And he can sing, too? I heart him. And way to show them that you won’t take the Danny “Has No Personality” edit. Have they met you? Loads of personality. Loads. Outdone only by the ridiculous level of talent you possess. He gets paired with Allison (yay!) for a contemporary routine from Sonya. This is going to be stunning. He is going to be stunning. And…what did I tell you? WOW. They were so in sync. That was gorgeous. He is gorgeous. How ridiculous is he? SEE??? There is so much pleasure and joy to be had in watching him dance.

I could happily end here. But? We have more dancers. I can rewind and rewatch later. And, I will.

Up next is Alexie and Twitch with a NappyTabs hip hop. Alexie is a Laker Girl, so she should do well here. And I enjoy Twitch, so should be fun. A complete change up from what we just experienced, which is also a good thing. She was total Laker Girl and Twitch was all Mr. Charisma and it was fun. Good chemistry. Cute. Doesn’t rock the house down, but definitely passable. She won’t be fodder for a few more weeks, at least. I think it will be Lauren and her lasting the longest for the girls. We’ll see!

Speaking of…Lauren is next, paired with Ade to a Mandy Moore contemporary. Okay, confession time…I love Oh Yeah by Yello. Love. So…they better DO THIS. I loved the choreo. Really innovative. And she has the technique chops, fo sho. But, like Alexie, her beaming grin came across more cutesy cheerleader than sultry seductress. Not as much chemistry as needed. Still, I really enjoyed watching this. Very entertaining. I hope she sticks around.

Three left…next up is Kent. Yay! I adore this kid. I hope he shines, because, next to Alex, his journey is the one I’m most interested in being a part of. Now, he gets a Melanie and Tony cha cha. With Anya. I know, right? Yowza. That’s a Mrs Robinson set up if I ever saw one. I’m intrigued. And little scared for him. Let’s see how this is going to go. Aaaaand, about like I thought. HA! This is so adorable. Of course, it needs to be hot and sexy. Which it has no way of being. And? I don’t think I’m going to care. I just want to pinch his cute, country cheeks. Okay, so watching this is too, too much. In a good way. This is what Ade’s routine should have been, because if anyone is looking like they’re living out their hot woman fantasy, it’s Kent in this routine. HA!! I love it. He’s nailing this! How adorable is he? Screaming charisma from every little hormonal pore of his body. Is anyone having more fun than this guy? I think not. I’m going to LOVE this season.

Ashley (aka Cannon Fodder) is up next. (Crazy voices? That’s all you got? ::shaking head::) And other than coming up after Alex, Kent would be the other person you don’t want to perform after. So…yeah. She’s toast. And then she gets Neil for a Tyce contemporary routine? So….we’ll see. She fully commits, I’l give her that. But, otherwise, it was just….nice. I mean, I can’t pick apart the routine or the performance, but it doesn’t move me to care about her. Something is too…generic contempo girl for me. Shrug. We’ll see. But, for me? Compared with the field? Cannon fodder it is. She rescues herself somewhat with her candid confession about being in love…so perhaps a one week reprieve?

We get Robert next. He’s gorgeous. So, I hope to fall in love with him. Hey, you can join me in the shallow end of the pool. The water is fine. Pass the umbrella drinks, would you? He get’s Courtney and a strong Sean Cheesman African Jazz routine. Intriguing! So, I was never a big Courtney fan during her season, but I couldn’t help but watch her in this, at least in the beginning. I don’t know why Robert wasn’t commanding my full attention. He was shirtless and everything. And he did a good job. But even then it was a lot of flailing on both of their parts. Plus? The chemistry totally wasn’t there. Sigh. (Tons of charm after, though!) Well, another umbrella drink and a rewind of the Pasha dance from last week and I won’t care so much. Lights!

So. That was a damn entertaining two hours of dancing, if I do say so myself! And I believe I just did. I am forever grateful for the new format, so only one dancer leaves tomorrow and no one is penalized by being paired with someone who isn’t pulling their weight. Great kick off to the season. Can’t wait to see what we get next!

What say you Blog Babes? Who did you love? Alex, Kent. Who should go home? Hmm….it will be a girl. Guaranteed. Cristina? Melinda? I dunno. What do you think? DISH!!

Tags: Writing //