So…orientation was fantastic. One of the better days I’ve spent. We had a marvelous time and my college student was both impressed and impressive. Can’t ask for much more than that. Well…I could have asked for a better roommate (no, not my son, another parent…oy, yet another downside of being a single parent…) but we’ll save that for another day. When I’ve recovered from the snoring….and the hacking….and the wheezing….
Instead, let’s talk about dancing!
Some Thursday morning MAC, as promised…
So, Cat opens the show by introducing a mostly shirtless, hip swiveling Dmitry and, you know, some other random dancers. Did I mention he was shirtless? And swiveling? Welcome home, me!
These kids are all insanely talented. So much fun to watch.
For once Cat is not wearing some mutant animal print, we get ruffles instead. But they are blue ruffles, paired with a yellow belt and I am totally taking this as a Mountaineer shout out! Woot!! Go WVU!
And tonight we have four judges…Nigel (the wanker), Mary Murphy (ballroom), and Cicely/Alisa (hip hop)… Fun to have some fresh blood in the judges table. Anyway we can get Nigel out of there for a week? No?
We really (really!) need to get rid of the deja vu Moments Of Past Humiliation. Once was already more than enough. Let it go, Nigel.
Behind the scenes with our dancers was far more interesting. You don’t really think about what it’s like to have the camera guys there - and especially that crucial first day of learning something completely new (and in most cases, completely foreign as a dance style, too.) Like I said, these kids are really talented…add to that the pressure, the long hours, the in-your-face cameras, etc, and it’s really pretty amazing how well they hold up.
I’m totally loving Benji. Such a good spirit. I smile every time he’s on camera. Sunshine, he is.
Our appetizer performance this week is a trio of Lindy Hop dancers - I was really hoping to see this one during the season. Maybe we will. The guys costumes couldn’t be more unattractive and unflattering, but they were all great fun to watch.
Ben (contemp) and Ashlee (popper) are first up and they get hip hop….Finally! They get a discipline at least one of them is familiar with. About time. But now they really have to perform. No excuses this week. They get Todd Sams as a choreographer and Ben is so not a funky white boy, but he definitely gives it his all.
Here we go…to Caught Up by Usher. Ashlee comes out poppin’ her thang like she knows what to do wit it. Ben? Not so much. He does try, bless his white bread heart, but clearly, this is not his element. The judges will have a field day with him. A shame, because Ashlee is totally in her zone. But you find yourself watching awkward Ben more (trainwreck potential.) And, rewatching it, Ashlee wasn’t actually that strong either. I wonder if she toned it down so not to outplay Ben too much. Didn’t work too well for Jason last week. I don’t think I’d go with that strategy. (Okay, and Ben swiveling? Please. Don’t.) He looked exactly like what he is - a contemporary dancer pretending to be a hip hop dancer.
Judges? Fair judging on both parts. Nice to hear.
Next up…Ryan and Heidi. They get Cuban rumba. Alex de Silva is the choreographer. Heidi picks it up quickly, Ryan struggles a bit more. The duo needs more chemistry and I still don’t see it. These two have lacked that from the beginning. Perhaps Ryan will go and Heidi will get a more suitable partner. Here they go to Ruma Del Solar. Heidi looks great. The music seems too slow, but they both do well. Ryan does very well actually. When the music picks up, they do even better. It’s an unusual dance style, not sure I really like it, but I think they both nailed it. Faked chemistry, but better faked than usual.
Judges? Nigel loved it and pulls a Full Mary and Cat has to reign him in. Mary continues the love fest. Cicely/Alisa add on.
Now, YAY, Dmitry! Oh yeah, and Aleksandra. Actually, I’m excited to see how these two do. The Russians are coming! They get the waltz. Which, latin ballroom dancer Dmitry can probably handle. Hopefully Aleks can get her head out of her butt and actually try this week. They get Heather Smith (initially shown dancing with a guy, who, I’m sorry, but ahahahahahahahahahaa) Ahem… Dmitry is very supportive of Aleksandra and seems sincerely happy to be working with her. Hopefully his confidence will carry over to her. Clearly he’s into it (hey, Aleksandra, you get to do the Dance of Love with Dmitry? Did you SEE him with his shirt off? Swiveling? For the love of god, take advantage here!)
They dance to If I Were a Painting by Kenny Rogers. (WHAT????) Okay, I’m keeping an open mind here. They both look lovely. Okay, she’s in a yellow something or other that looks sprayed on and very sexy. Dmitry is in a black suit, very dapper. Aleksandra dances beautifully, though I don’t get the feeling she’s connecting with him personally, just through the dance itself. Dmitry, however, is totally focused on her. (Lucky wench.) The footwork gets a little off at times, but they are a lovely couple. An improvment for both over their previous partners for certain. I had her pegged to go next. Now, not so much. But only because he saves her.
Judges… Well, crud. We had a storm and apparently signal, so I lost the judges reaction to this AND the entire performance of the next couple, as the signal comes back in with Nigel’s response to Ivan and Allison’s routine. I’m SO not happy right now!!
I have no idea what they just danced, but Nigel loved it. (Really. Not. Happy. right now.) They all go on and on abot how it was one of the best ever????? And I MISSED IT???? That’s just cruel, y’all. Cruel. Man. Somebody fill me in.
Donyelle and Benji are next and there’d better not be any signal loss! They get pop/jazz. I’m guessing something Bob Fosse-ish. Oh cool, they get Brian Friedman and he cut all his curls off!! He’s very leprechaun-like now. Hmmm. But I love his style of dance, so this should be fun. I was wrong on the Fosse. He’s saying Madonna/Britney/Paula music video style. Should be interesting. I think they’ll nail it. They have such a good time together. I love that Benji understands exactly who he is and has fun with it, but does his best to be what he needs to be for his partner. Donyelle is a good foil for him and keeps him grounded. One of the better pairings in this competition. Who’da thunk it? This should be good.
Dancing to Put the Needle On It… Love love love Donyelle’s hair and the whole thing. Benji is great and so obviously into her. Loved loved loved the whole thing. The end move was fantastic. They are so much fun to watch and clearly pros. Dang, this is a tough week, y’all and I didn’t even see all of it!
Judges…Nigel says they are true partners. Totally agree. Mary goes with it. Cicely/Alisa give props.
Next is Natalie and Musa….man, is it getting hot in here or what? They get quick step. Bru-tal, y’all. Brutal. They get Heather Smith. And she works them hard. It’s amazing what Musa has pulled out of himself, untrained as he is. We’ll see what he does this week.
Here they are with Zoot Suit Riot (yay, love that one) and we’re off. They both look wonderful and Musa has really made some amazing changes in how he can carry himself now. He looks wonderful here and totally goes for it. Natalie looks great, too. Is it their element? No. Considering that, this is an A+ routine. Natalie actually messes up more than Musa, and he does his best to keep her on track. By far not the best routine of the night, but major brownie points for difficulty.
Judges - Nigel gives them their due and I appreciate that he makes note of how far they had to come to manage it at all. Mary tries to find nice things to say. Cicely/Alisa follows track.
And now we get Jessica and Jamyz. They get contemporary. And leprechaun Brian as their teacher. This could be fun. I’m ambivalent about this couple (who he nicknames Jessie James. How cute.) He gives them a story - a love story. Which Jamyz is totally not into - so insulting as he rolls eyes while holding on to his partner. Thanks, dude. And damn, Brian, telll us how you really feel. What is up with these people? No love here. At. All. I hope they prove themselves all wrong and do something special.
They get Let Go by Frou Frou and here we go. I liked the jungle gym opening. I loved how Brian used the stage for them. Very nice look to that whole sequence. I think they did the dance beautifully, individually…but together I’m not sure I felt the intensity that Brian wanted. But it was very pretty to watch.
Judges? Nigel enjoyed it like I did. Mary follows. Cicely/Alisa say it was goin’. Which is a good thing.
Last up….Travis and Martha. They get hip hop, which is a Martha discipline and having watched Travis on the opening numbers, I doubt he’ll have ANY problem with this. Should be a slam bang finish on a great night. They get Todd Sams. Travis is such a little dance freak. Love him. Martha is in her zone. Travis tells Todd he’s tired of them beating on each other every week, which they have been and he wants some Martha lovin’ this week. Cracked. Me. Up. He’s so much fun. I can’t wait to see this. Hurry!!
To Just Fine by Chris Brown….here we go!! That? Was perfection. She was all phenomenal legs and he’s just too cute for words. Loved. It. Pros. Totally.
I’m going on record right now - it’s going to come down to these two, and Benji and Donyelle. Everyone else, even My Dmitry, is playing for second.
Judges? Nigel didn’t think they were good tonight? What is he smoking? He makes valid points, but harsh, dude. Way too harsh. I loved it. (And Ivan and Allison did Argentine tango??? And did it well? And I missed it? Rrrrrrrr.) Mary is more impressed, but she wants more, too. Cicely/Alisa says they got it, but it wasn’t cohesive. Hmm. I still really really liked it. Sue me.
I have absolutely no idea who will be in the bottom three. It was really a good night. I SO wish I’d seen Ivan/Allison. Dangit! If I had to pick, I’d say Musa/Natalie, Jamyz/Jessica and…I dunno. That’s all I got. Maybe Heidi/Ryan, but only because they have no real chemistry with each other, despite dancing well individually. Better not be Travis and Martha, that’s all I can say.
Well see tonight!
Tags: Writing by Donna
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