So, before I get to all the MAC, I have to say, I stumbled across and set up my DVR to tape America’s Best Dance Crew auditions in the middle of the night and got around to watching it today. One word: whoa! Those kids are ridiculously amazing. And I love group choreography, which is one thing you don’t get on the other dance shows. Hey, twist my arm. Make me watch another dance show. I dare ya! Yes, there is one serious downside. The host? Mario Lopez. I know! Augh! It’s been a year and I still cannot stand him. But, thanks to DVR remotes, I just click past the parts where he has to be seen. Where’s Cat Deeley when you need her? And, one of the judges is Shane Sparks, who I love, so that helps. Napoleon is there, too, so some nice crossover from SYTYCD. Premieres June 19.
Okay, so last night we had a first, and a last. First night of live performances on So You Think You Can Dance, and the last night of Top Chef. It was also the series finale of Men In Trees, but I’m saving the last two shows for a rainy day. I really hate that they canned this show after never really giving it a chance to find a home. Such a fun, sweet, quirky hour. We need more of that opposite all the frat humor comedies and the gory detective dramas. It was a good alternative. Thanks, networks.
We’ll do Dance first….switching up from the crew dances I just watched, it’s solo dance time.
So, we get the intro dance of each of our Top 20 and I’m sorry, who are half of these people? You can’t get much from their little five second spots, except I’m still feeling the Twitch love, and Joshua is definitely still on my radar. Will is amazing. The Chelsea’s, Kheringtons and Court/Khourtne-ie-ei-es not so much. Seriously, who named these poor children? It sets them up as precocious and does them no favors, mom n’ dad. Yikes. But we’ll see where they go. On first glance, doesn’t look like there are as many ballroom dancers or hip hoppers, but the contemporary dancers are sure well represented. Oh. Goody. (PS Chelsea 2.0? Just because your last name is Hightower does not mean your hair has to emulate your name. We’ll remember you if you bring it. K? Now beat that nest down already.)
Hi Cat Deeley! So tall, so gazelle like, so totally without rhythm. Seriously, I love her.
Our jidges are? Danny K, Shrieky Mary, and the man who never met an 80’s hairstyle he didn’t like…Nigel.
Okay, here’s how this season is gonna work. We’re pairing up the dancers into couples. Each week they pick their dance styles from a hat and perform that style that week. We vote on who we like, the bottom three pairs dance for their lives the next night on the results show, and the judges decide who to send home. One guy and one girl will go home. They don’t specify if they go as a couple or as an individual, but I think it will be like last season where it’s all up for grabs, and if they split a couple, their remaining partners become a new team. (I always like that part.)
Aaaaaaand, here we go. Because we don’t know the dancers and their styles yet, or at least enough of them to matter, it’s hard to have a real feeling on who gets paired with who until we see and learn more about them.
First pair is Rayven, a ballerina (is that a first? I think it’s pretty cool) who, at 28, is the oldest this season. She has also trained in modern dance and her mom runs a dance studio. My first impression of her is a good one. I like her and she’s a lovely dancer. I’d kill for those legs. She is paired with Jamie, a west coast swing pro (who, I believe, used to be last season’s Lacey Schwimmer’s competition partner.) He competed with his current gf all the way to Vegas, but was the only one to make it to the show. Lose the pretentious spiked hairdo, but otherwise, a total cutie. On the surface, this looks like an incredible match up. And? They get hip hop. So, a challenge right off the bat. They get Napoleon as their choreographer and now that I’ve seen him on this show and Dance Crew, I’m interested to see his choreo style. They look like they’re going to be great and I like their personalities a lot. (Hip Hop, Pig Style! Ha!) The ballerina & the ballroom dancer. Here we go. Love the routine, great choreo (except all the crotch grabbing - can we just let that go?) but, overall, I think I’m going to like Napoleon. They don’t have “street” edge, but they can dance their asses off. I thought it was adorable. Their chemistry is fantastic.
Judges? Nigel liked the softer, more humorous hip hop style but wasn’t sure it was end-of-show memorable for a first-of-show routine. We’ll see. Mary shrieks. Dear god, it’s going to be a long season. Dour Dan says they nailed the light fluffy fun part, but had no funk, no soul, which is totally true. Still…I loved it. So there.
Second couple is 26 yr old Susie Garcia and 18 yr old Marquis. Okay, we didn’t see much of her, but every time they showed her, I found myself thinking “is Miami Pole Dancer” a dance style? She just looked so……garish. Anyway, know nothing else about her, so we’ll see how it pans out. I liked Marquis from the auditions, but, off the top, I can’t see that this is a match made in heaven. But then I don’t know who the heck I’d have given her to, anyway. So….she’s a (garishly) bleached blonde latina salsa dancer and a….high school teacher? Alrighty. I hope the show stylists get ahold of her and tone her style down a notch. From pole dancing street walker to…well, something resembling a ballroom dancer. Or a high school teacher. Marquis is a sweet young modern dancer, very elegant and graceful. And did I mention young? So, yeah, the match with Susie is somewhat alarming. He’s from DC, so represent! They get….smooth waltz. Which, on the surface is kind of, ack! for first week, but Susie has ballroom training and Marquis is nothing if not smooth and elegant, so if they get the partnering, they should do okay. To her credit, she looks a little better in training….now if we could just kill the teal-aquamarine eye shadow (not kidding) and stop shoveling it on with a trowel, we’d be mostly there. She’s actually pretty underneath all that goo.
Here we go…he’s a little too pointy-toed, and there are some stutters, but all in all, it was a good job for first week with a new partner. Lots of lifts, very high level of difficulty, not sure that did them any favors, but it was impressive in its own way. Judges - Nigel says it was challenging a routine that might not connect with the audience, but was impressive for the difficulty. Agreed, totally. Mary is the ballroom expert and said they pulled it off very well. Dan is not the ballroom guy, but thought it was sexy and romantic.
Third couple is Matt and Khourtni Lind (seriously, do I have to type that ridiculous spelling all season? It’s topped only by Kherington, later on.) She is a contemporary dancer, graduated hs at 16, moved alone to LA at 17 to pursue dance, so she’s serious, y’all. And a lovely dancer. She’s paired with Matt, also a contemporary dancer, also young. Could be a good pair, looks good on paper. Will depend on chemistry, I think. They get a jazz routine with Mandy Moore. They are the Tall Couple (she’s 5′9″, he’s 6′3″ - so good pairing on that, would have sucked if she’d gotten a short partner.) They struggle to “get low” with the dance, but they seem to have good chemistry. I like them both. We’ll see.
Here we go…oooooh, they get Tainted Love, original form (wish they’d gotten the Marilyn Manson version) but it’s love for me right off. Thought her outfit was hot, but not so much with the choreo. It seemed really awkward to me. They did look huge and gangly and, well, tall. So…not a win for me in terms of routine, but the ending was a kick, and I like the both of them alot, so I hope they stick around. Judges? Nigel says he needs more personality from Matt and says he dances like he has a stick up his behind (seriously, not making that up) which? Way harsh, for me. But Matt takes it like the constructive criticism it’s supposed to be. I didn’t get that so much from him. He’s much nicer to Khourtni. Mary says she thinks they did a great job and thought it was really sexy. Dan liked the choreo, said the performance was played really safe and they need to hit it a lot harder.
Couple Number Four is Chelsea Not Hightower and Thayne, and they get cha cha. So…this oughta be interesting. They are both very expressive, looks to be a good pair as long as they don’t out preen each other. (Can I take a moment to say what a great season this is shaping up to be? The caliber here is ridiculously high.) Chelsea is first gen American, from Jamaican parents, and is a contemp dancer. Thayne is, too. (Really, very top heavy this season with the contemp dancers, and light on hip hop. I’m a bit disappointed in that.) They get Tony and Melody - the fun latin couple - for their cha cha choreo. They are both definitely committed to doing it, and they really seem to have fun with each other and the whole process, so it will be fun to watch no matter what. I also am seeing where there is a little (or more than a little) competition between the choreographers to put out dances that are wowza right off the bat, some ego here, and making sure they represent well. Which makes it harder on the dancers, but fun for us viewers.
Here we go….okay, she has a body that is bionically amazing, and a very dramatic face, so the purple sequin feather boa thing rocks on her, and Thayne is all sinewy, sexy goodness, so this is pretty hot, especially given they don’t partner dance in their respective styles. Great choreo, wildly difficult, and wow. This is going to be one ridiculously amazing season y’all, if this is week one caliber. Dayum. Judges - Nigel has to wipe the drool off his chin. Mary puts them on the hot tamale train. Dan just says damn girl. (And, Chelsea…you might have to keep the ego in check. Just sayin.)
Couple Five is ballroom dancer Chelsea Is Hightower from a huge, damaged family, paired with really fascinating contemp dancer Mark from Hawaii (did you see his solo routine? So wildly weird and cool.) I’m not necessarily seeing this as a match made in anything, but who knows? She’s a very good ballroom dancer and he’s amazing, just not sure on obvious chemsitry here. They get - wow, a contemp piece by Master Mia. He should rock this to a hard place, but not sure on the Blonde One. We’ll see? She is very talented, so hopefully it will be wonderful. She choreo’s what Tim Burton’s wedding would be like. (No, I don’t make this up. Who could?) The intent is that it’s about two quirky people who find a match in each other, which? Perfect match for Mark, I’m thinkin. Except he’s the one who can’t get it, disappointing Mia (and what had to be a very bruised Chelsea. Ouch.) But, when they dance on the show? Wow, I thought it was lovely and powerful and moving and that he partnered her very, very well. Her dress added a lot to the movement of the whole piece, as did his face and expression. I loved it. And I didn’t think I would. Well done. Very well done. Much credit to Mia for a lovely routine. Judges? All the judges drench them with love.
Couple 6 is OMG! They paired Twitch with Kherington?? Wow. I’m just…well, I won’t say anything. I’ll just watch now. (Really, show?) Hip Hop Twitch brings the humor and Contemporary Kher brings the 18 yr old that she is. And, oh, wow, it just keeps getting better and (not) better….they get Tyce and a Broadway routine. Can we say Kiss of Death? Crikey. Okay, seriously, no more talking and typing. I’m just going to shut up now and watch and not say anything and pray like hell this isn’t a train wreck of phenomenal proportions. Because, they’re messing with my Twitch. Why, show, why? Tyce says he thinks its a good partnership…in the way people do when they’re really trying to convince you they’re not lying. Sigh. Here we go.
So, it was way cute and Twitch was dashing and Kher has the flair (though I wish she’d been in heels rather than barefoot) and it might have been the best Broadway routine I’ve ever seen Tyce create. He owes a large thanks to the larger than life presence of both dancers. They both have personality times a million. Not sure about the chemistry, too much age difference and just everything difference, but their personalities might save that. They’re certainly entertaining and don’t lack for energy. Judges? Nigel says they were great, and they were. Mary’s waiting for the sprinkler system to kick on, that’s how hot they were. Dan loved them and is all for the love on Twitch, who was so sweetly humble. (Yes, ma’am’ing Mary. Awww.) I heart him and I take back my worries on Kherington.
Couple seven is up and we get hip hop Comfort and……contemporary seriously whitebread boy Chris. So, this should be interesting. She is totally unapologetically street and cracks me up with her direct comments. Chris? Well…whitebread pretty much sums that up, really. They get Tony and Melody, and the jive. Oookay. Wow, for sheer entertainment value, I’m all in. Here we go! And holy crap. This? Is all kinds of crazy hot. Wow. How much fun are these two? The fact that they are so mismatched actually works for them in a huge, huge, way. Dang. They are just all right out there and in your face and you’re gonna love it attitude. And damn, I sure did. It falls apart in the middle and they get lost at times, but honestly, I didn’t care. Great fun. The audience is out of their minds, too. This season is going to be all kinds of awesome. Can we just let them all stay and play with different styles each week then give them all pots of money? Please? Incredibly entertaining show, start to end.
Judges - okay, Comfort totally cracks me up with her “bra, panty, and beads” comment. I’m going to love her. A lot. And Nigel’s impression of her was freaking hilarious. He compliments Chris, then tells us she dislocated her shoulder yesterday? Yikes! Wow, you’d never know. Mary loves them. Dan tells them to develop a chemistry with each other. I think that’s already going on. I really liked these two. Heck, who don’t I like? So far, this has been fantastic! I might have to actually vote this year…can I vote for them all?
Couple eight - contemporary Katee and hip hop Joshua. My first impression was, aw, poor Joshua, but I’ve been proven wrong every single time tonight that I’ve had misgivings, so I’m just going to go with it. And I love, love Joshua. He’s such a doll. They get hip hop from Napoleon and Tabitha, so this should go well. I hope! Here we go…and what a powerful, touching, beautifully realized and performed routine. Wow. Loved. That. The ending made me cry. Standing O on that one. Judges - Nigel is just breathless and almost speechless. Mary was really touched. Dan, well, he gushed. All earned.
Contemp dancers Will and Jessica are Couple Nine and they should be a very powerful couple. They get the tango with Hunter Johnson. It’s such a powerful dance, so I hope they can pull it off, with it being their first time partnering. Period. They’re strong dancers though, so it should work out. Here we go…it was good, they dance well. Will was all over the tango vibe and Jessica danced it well, but didn’t know what to do with her face. She’s too used to smiling big and this dance calls for Drama Face, which was obviously hard for her to do. All in all, not the strongest of the night, but these two are good dancers and it’s only in comparison to the strength of tonight’s performances that they suffer. Had they gone earlier, I think they might have been in trouble with voters remembering them. Judges? Nigel says Will was majestic, which is true. He says Jessica had wobbles, but did a good job. Said nothing about the expression, so maybe it was just me. Mary shrieks and says couple to beat. Dan’s all, well, I don’t know…to which I nod and say mm hm. He’s not as all that as she is, but gives them props.
Last couple of the night…who’s left? Beat Boy Gev from Uzbekistan and pro basketball dance team dancer Courtney are last with….oh crap, a disco routine by mistress of the dark Dorianna. Well, and I thought Tyce was bad, but I forgot about her. And he ended up really shining tonight, thanks to his dancers. Can she pull off the same coup? We’re going to find out. They seem to make a really cute match. Here we go….they get Boogie Wonderland, which is good as it gets the juices flowing and the toes tapping. Disco to me just never looks all that WOW, but it’s fun and smooth and, you know, okay. Which this was. Didn’t blow me away, but I don’t think the dance is really designed for those kinds of moments. They did a really good job with what they were given. It wasn’t the strong close a show of tonight’s caliber deserved, but it’s to their advantage they went last with this kind of dance, so people will remember to vote for them. Judges? Nigel didn’t love it. Mary says she thought they brought it. Dan says he enjoyed it. Not the best, but good.
Okay, so there you go. I can’t even say who should go and who should stay. Seriously. Wow. Glad I’m not the judges. There might be a few who are in trouble, but overall, by far the strongest opening show ever. This is going to be a fantastic season.
After they showed all the reviews….my faves of the night - I liked all of them, and really enjoyed Chelsie & Mark, Twitch and Kher, Chris & Comfort - but my personal top three were Rayven & Jamie, Chelsea 2.0 & Thayne, and, by far, dance of the night for me was Joshua & Katee. Bottom three for me this particular week, because possibly not in other weeks, were Will/Jessica, Gev/Courtney, and I guess Susie/Marquis. Khourni & Matt might be in trouble, too. By contrast only, though. And a lot of this was choreo driven.
And since this has now become a War and Peace length MAC, I will close it here and say tune in tomorrow for Top Chef MAC and the results from tonight. Man. Who goes? What did you all think? Who did you love? Who, not so much?
Aaaaaaaaaaaand DISH!!
Tags: Writing by Donna
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