So, another week on So You Think You Can Dance, and another dancer down. This time, it’s Ashley with a rib injury. She goes automatically into the bottom two tonight, and, if as it was with Alex, she can’t perform next week either, she’s out. Seriously. I know. What’s going on? Just when things were fun.
Alex Freaking Wong Update: He had surgery Monday night, things went well, and he’s heading home to Vancouver and family for a bit to start on the road to rehab. He gave an interview here saying he wasn’t sure what he was going to do about coming back next year, and was torn. I am, too! I want to see him dance. I don’t want him to jeopardize his long term career. What to do, what to do??
Half-heartedly, I return to the show. We get some new twists tonight. We get a Tahitian Contestant/All Star routine (Lauren & Mark) for the first time and a b-boy routine. And who would get that one? Hmmm, an odd number of contestants leaves Jose without a fellow contestant to dance with in his second routine, so he gets a street dance AND is just magically paired with….Dominic. Really. I’m stunned.
Gosh, show, who do you want us to vote for? Why not just have one phone number for us to call? Make it easier for us to ‘get it right.’
See? I’m cranky.
First up, the Tahitian routine with new choreographer Tiana Liufau. (I can’t say it right, etiher.) I am very happy to have Mark on my television. And I think a pairing with Lauren is a good thing. Not so sure about the Tahitian thing. And right off, what is UP with Lauren’s Feathers Gone Wild outfit? Talk about not flattering and obscuring the dance. Which I’d say might have been the point, except, dayum, she totally kills the hip action. And yet, I dunno. Then Mark? He can be all kinds of hot, but this? Not so much for me. I don’t know if there was enough dancing for me, overall…and the costumes just proved to be a huge distraction. So…hmm. Potential, yes. But this wasn’t quite there for me. Still, I don’t know how she did that.
Next we get Adechike and Anya in a competition salsa routine by Liz Lira. The trick level, just in rehearsal bothers me. A lot. I mean, with two pros, sure. But to risk Anya with that level of trick to a dancer who isn’t seasoned in that discipline, or even partner work? I think is foolishly dangerous in the name of trying to be Best Choreographer Evah. I think maybe they’re reaching too high here and that’s why the IR list is growing. Rapidly. Just sayin. Okay, so we’re on the stage now, and um….I get the costumes might be traditional, but…wow, those colors are not copacetic with each other. At all. Anya dances her literal ass off and Adechike tries to keep up but is more funky than latin and the whole damn thing is so frenetic it’s not enjoyable to me. They get the tricks, but both of them look more nervous than excited and it feeds outward. I am seriously thinking of just fast forwarding through the judges comments. Most especially Mia’s. Because…this was really hard, sure, but not exactly fun to watch. And I don’t blame Adechike. But I have the feeling they’re going to say “Hey, Lauren just pulled off Tahitian…you shoulda done better.” And I’d agree….if it wasn’t just danced at warp speed. And, say what you will about his stylings, he managed to partner Anya in terms of being there for those lifts and tricks, and I have to give it up to him for that. I’m sure Anya is relieved as well.
But I leave this dance wanting to shout: Choreographers? CALM. DOWN. Sheesh.
Jose and Courtney get a Joey Dowling Broadway. I’n not a huge Joey fan, but more than I am a Tyce Broadway fan. Hmm…it didn’t come together for me. (I know, so grumpy!) His movements were too small, too contained, and not big, bold, and confident that Broadway demands. Even in the “marquee finish” part. And there seemed to be a real disconnect between the two characters so that I didn’t feel the story really at all. That wasn’t their chemistry, but sort of off disconnected choreo. So…least entertaining of the night so far for me. He’s a sweetheart, but this was a fail for me on all levels. So, then Nigel agrees and trashes Joey’s routine on live television, and Mia exposes every single hypocritical aspect of her “judging” because she really struggles to tell him he how badly he sucked (and it was badly) because she’s all done in by the sad puppy face, but has NO problem tearing Adechike a new one, who just arguably danced one of the hardest pieces of choreography ever and takes their harsh criticism about as stoically as any human being with a heart could. I am almost SO over this show. So I’m moving on before I am done with it. NEXT!
Robert pairs with Allison to get the Dysfunction/Tragedy/Disease of the Week routine, this time by Travis Wall, who I adore…but enough with the tragic routines. When they happen weekly, they lose their punch. I do happen to know how close Travis is to his mom, and who she is in the industry, and Robert’s mother’s struggle with cancer, too…so this will be wrenching….but I could use a break from this for a week. And it’s perfect for Allison, and Robert does a lovely job, as we all knew he would. So…that was a gorgeous job Travis. I know your mom is so incredibly proud, honored, and moved, as she should be. As was Robert’s mom sitting in the audience. I know I cried. Now do something fun. Dammit.
Yeah, it’s Louis!! He’s giving one of his classic jives to Billy and Anya. Wow. I can’t even go there. I will be curious to see how they pull this off. And you know what, the leather works for Billy, as does the sock hop kinda vibe. He has the footwork and really does invest the right energy in this. His lack of partnering chemistry is there but not as super obvious as it can be. It’s an infectious routine and fun to watch, if sloppy as hell due to the speed and being off beat. It’s a hard song to stay on beat to. So, for Billy the contemporary dancer, not bad. Anya however? Wow, not a good jive for her at all. Odd, but she had a couple of huge missteps and seemed off most of the time. She got ahead of the music a few times and I don’t know if it was her partner or what as he seemed on top of the beat okay. But it made for a sloppy routine overall. Will be interesting to see where he lands this week. My guess is still on the bottom, but I don’t know much that could pull him out of it at this point. I thought it was fun. Nice week for him. But…so was last week.
Next up Kent & Neil tackle a Tyce Broadway routine that’s all about baseball. All I know is I’m all about this pairing. Tyce, not so much, but it turns out to be better than Joey’s. Who knew? It’s super high energy, a lot of fun, challenging physically, to say the least, and Kent nails it. Another good week for him!
Now it’s time for the contestant/contestant pairing (unless you’re Jose and incredibly lucky. Again.)
Billy and Lauren are up first with a cute Mandy Moore jazz routine. I’m ready for some cute, and this should be a fun pairing for both. Okay, so they already have me with KC & the Sunshine Band’s Boogie Shoes because, seriously? You sit still when that song plays. I double dog dare ya. Plus, there is sincere affection between these two that’s very obvious without even trying, which helps Billy tremendously with the whole partnering issue. Lauren reverted a little to her cheerleader-y self, but it works here, so I was okay with that. I enjoyed this. Fun, light, and performed by two very good dancers.
Jose and Dominic’s first ever SYTYCD b-boy routine is up next. Choreo by NappyTabs and Legacy. I thought the choice of music was really interesting, lending a very different vibe to their “battle.” Very diverting, very engaging. Nice job, Nap/Legacy. And nice job Jose/Dom (to the surprise of no one.) I do think Dom out danced Jose, or at least he drew my eye more with his dynamism, and perhaps he should have been a little kinder to his partner in that regard, but I don’t think Dom is worried about anyone but Dom, even in this kind of situation. Maybe especially in this kind of situation. Still, pretty attention getting overall.
Kent and Adechike get a Dee Caspary contemporary routine. This could be interesting. It’s Dee’s first two-guys routine and I found it pretty compelling, the use of the chairs was really interesting and well done, as was the imagery they were supposed to evoke. I thought both dancers did really well. Very nuanced performances. Nice job, you guys.
And finally, Robert and shouda-been-Ashley shoulda gotten the season’s first disco routine (from Doriana) but because yet another dancer bit the dust, he gets to dance with Kathryn (yowza - lucky Robert) instead. I’ve really loved some of the disco routines on this show and really hated others. I’m in the middle with this one. Great energy and a fun routine, but really really…busy. I know Kathryn only had like a day and a half to learn this, at most, and she does a great job, but it looks a bit frantic. They can be forgiven that with such a last minute change up, so, otherwise, I thought it added to the fun, diverse spirit of the night.
So, what did you think, Blog Babes? Love it? Not the same without Alex? Who’s your frontrunner? Who should go home? And what did you think of all the diversity this week? Too distracting? Much needed with Alex gone? I miss his presence and I think his absence is significant. I still think this is Kent’s to lose, but I have zero idea who goes home tonight if it’s not Ashley due to injury. I’m not hoping for that, but neither Billy or Adechike deserves an exit. Actually, if it was me? Overall? I’d say Jose. But he’s got the support, I think. So the other bottom two are….? I just don’t know. Robert and Billy again, maybe? Just because? I don’t know… Robert I can see, but Billy got it this week for me… Billy, Kent, and Lauren had a great week. Adechike a solid week. Robert was half and half…and Jose a bit below that… Hmm…
And don’t forget to enter this week’s contest - see Monday’s post for the details! Then come straight back here and DISH!
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) and will be published here in the States by Running Press. The release date is early January 2011, but might sneak into the stores in time for Santa to stuff a few stockings. Here’s the cover! 
