The Big Finish

Well, here we are!  How did America vote?  Let's recap tonight's show, and then we'll find out...

First, as I come into this show tonight mulling over how I think/hope it will turn out, I find myself mostly brewing about the controversy over Cyrus - 'cause make no mistake, there's been controversy.  LOTS o' people don't seem to think he deserves to be here, and yet a mighty lot also seem convinced that, being about America's favorite dancer, he's sitting right where he oughta be.  I'm torn.  As someone who firmly believed Jakob should've won over Russell on the same logic (better dancer v. favorite), it's hard to argue Cyrus should win.  Yet, I'm the first to defend (now) that this is, indeed, a popularity contest.  The dancers must not just be technically proficient, they also have to win the hearts of the audience.  So after a LOT of soul-searching on the subject, where I find myself coming down, is this:  Chehon is clear and away the better dancer.  He's brilliant, in fact.  But it took him all season to win me over as a performer.  To me, that says just as much as Cyrus' technical deficiencies, especially in a contest about favorites.  Does that mean I hope Cyrus will win?  Not necessarily, but it does mean I feel comfortable that I can defend the show in good conscience if he does.  And now, on with the show!

WOW, what a stupendous opening routine!  I worried that the much-hyped Sonya Tayeh and Christopher Scott co-developed routine would ultimately fail to measure up, but I am thankful to be very, very wrong.  Was Nigel right that it was the best opening routine ever?  Meh, I'm still a fan of Rama Lama (although admittedly, I can't remember if was actually an opening routine...), and I'm not convinced there haven't been some other equally terrific openers, but this was stellar in its own right, no doubt.  I loved everything about it - the mood, the music, the costumes, the blend of dance styles, the choreography, and even the Emmy-winning lighting.  Fantastic opening for the show.

In the interest of brevity and because we've seen all the "favorites" routines before, I'm just going to hit a few highlight thoughts:
- I love Twitch.  Immensely.  But he can just go home when that number he does with Witney comes up, because I am riveted to her every time I watch it.  Girl rocked the HOUSE!  I don't even have an adjective buck enough for that dance. Mm.
- I forgot how much I loved Love Cats.
- Stop making me cry.
- LOVED the Christopher Scott hip-hop WITH Christopher Scott in it.  BOOYAH!
- I wanna live at Dragon House!  And Brian Gaynor remains one of my all-time favorite SYTYCD auditioners.
- Say what you will about Cyrus' overall dance talent:  that boy can animate like nobody.  NOBODY.
- As for that NappyTabs routine with the allstars and the top 10?  There are not words.  There was entirely too much awesomeness going on in that number to possibly put an adjective to it.  It would be limiting, no matter what I chose.  That is right up there with Rama Lama for me.  Wow, I just said that. It was THAT good.

Now, a word about the winners' circle (emphasis on winnerS):
I'm still not sure how I feel about the two-winner format.  Yeah, it was a shortened season with only one show a week, but I'm not sure that that alone necessitated two winners.  Yeah, yeah, we hate picking ONE winner, and sometimes it seems severely leaned in favor of one gender or another, but really, we've managed it for eight seasons.  And an equal number of girls and boys have won (Nick, Benji, (Josh? I can never remember the dude who won Twitch's year!), Russell for men; Sabra, Janine, Lauren, and Melanie for the ladies), so really, I think we coulda handled it.  But, okay, I'll grant us all a one-season copout.  Just don't do it again, Nigel.

As for the winners themselves?  Woulda been truly heartbroken for either girl that didn't win, because both were exceptional and either as winner woulda been a satisfying answer.  And I'm willing to bet the vote spread was minimal.  So, my congratulations to Eliana, a truly spectacular talent, and very deserving winner.  As for the guys:  yeah, I'll admit I ended up being a bit disappointed for Cyrus, and a bit surprised too.  I really thought Nigel's end-of-show commentary last week mighta pushed the votes to defending Cyrus, but I guess not.  Still, it's not an unhappy or undeserved result, and I'm happy for Chehon, who's clearly worked for this moment.

And with that, you have your Season 9 favorite dancers, America:  Chehon and Eliana.  Bring on Season 10!!!

The Final Four - Performance Finale

OH, I almost hate for this to END!  What a season it's been.  You think the talent just can't get any better, and yet somehow it does.  And was it ever on display tonight!  Let's get right to the goods:

Cyrus & Eliana, Jason Gilkinson paso doble: I’m sorry to all the naysayers, but CYRUS.  JUST. KILLED. THAT!  Yes, the leap and cartwheel were terrible, but otherwise, he was outstanding.  His posture was good, his moves were crisp, and he was a fantastic partner.  Eliana was, of course, perfection, but this time, I did not feel she suffered at all for being teamed with Cyrus.  I loved that, and what a great way to open the show.

Tiffany & Will, Sonya Tayeh jazz:  Well, I thought they performed it terrifically, but I was kinda “meh” on the choreography itself.  Tiffany is such a light, and so joyful to watch, and this routine did show that off.  I wish it had been one of Sonya’s better routines, because I think with each of them getting their own genre, Tiffany shoulda gotten a better showcase.  But, it by no means sucked, so there ya’ go.

Chehon & Eliana, Marat Daukeyev ballet:  Well, I didn’t think the choreography was terribly interesting, but I recognize its difficulty, and that not everyone could do that.  It certainly showed off what those two are capable of, though, and it was a nice change of pace from the abundance of contemporary and hip-hop numbers.

Tiffany & Cyrus, Tessandra Chavez lyrical hip-hop:  That was probably my favorite Tiffany performance all season.  She was not only technically virtually perfect, but her expressiveness was so convincing that at one point, I couldn’t resist saying out loud, “You let him have it, girl!”  And Cyrus was great, although admittedly, this one time I was hardly watching him for how riveting I found Tiffany.

The Top Four,  Tyce Diorio “quirky” number:  Well that was…interesting. It was an interesting attempt to showcase each person’s skills, but it ultimately didn’t quite hang together for me.  Not good, not bad, just…yep.

Eliana’s solo:  How ridiculously elegant.  I am so glad she had to do that in her toe shoes (‘cause she pretty much did, given the quick-turnaround between numbers), because it just emphasized how splendid her lines are and the absolute eloquence of her movement.

Chehon & Allison, Stacey Tookey contemporary:  I’ll admit I have not been Chehon’s biggest fan this season, but I am SO glad I was overruled and that we got to witness that extraordinary performance.  Allison is probably my all-time favorite female contemporary dancer (if not female dancer period), and yet Chehon completely held up to her level.  They absolutely threw themselves all over that stage, and were both so emotionally invested that I worried Twitch (Allison’s beau, currently) would storm that stage.  Tiffany and Cyrus had my favorite routine of the night – until this happened.

Eliana & Tiffany, Ray Leeper Broadway:  Well I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of pole dancing having made it to SYTYCD, but I have to say that I was frankly just not all that impressed, and not because it was pole dancing.  It wasn’t nearly as nasty as I’d feared, but it also just wasn’t all that…huh.  I don’t get the judges’ reactions at all.  I was impressed with Eliana’s pole work, just because of the physical strength required to execute it, but I didn’t think she was all that sexy.  I thought Tiffany was the sexier of the two, and also the better overall performance, which was a smidge more Broadway. 

Cyrus’ solo:  I just don’t get tired of that.  Ever.

Tiffany’s solo:  By far the strongest solo, and that is exceptional tonight.  She’s right, she wasn’t known at the beginning.  What a testament to her skills – and her drive – that she is here in the final four, blowing us away with each and every performance she gives. 

Chehon & Cyrus, Sonya Tayeh jazz:  I wish I could explain why certain Sonya Tayeh numbers connect for me and others don’t – this one had music and choreography just as weird as any other, but I absolutely LOVED it.  No, she didn’t dumb this down, and yes, it showed a little in Cyrus.  Some of his execution was marginal, and it seemed like he was anticipating a bit more than once.  But Nigel was right that he has come so terribly far; I don’t think he could possibly have pulled that off back at the beginning of this season, and he did more than respectably tonight.  Chehon was terrific, and I have not been disappointed with any of his stuff tonight, which is a first, I think.

INTERLUDE:  Jean Sok – That was one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen on this show, and considering all that we’ve seen here, that is really saying something. 

Chehon’s solo:  Lovely.  Just lovely.

Eliana & Alex, Travis Wall contemporary:  For sheer quality of dance, this is one of my favorite pairings the show has ever given us.  I could watch Alex and Eliana dance ALL. NIGHT. LONG. That was exquisite.

Tiffany & Chehon, Dmitry Chaplin rumba:  Honestly, I did not have high hopes for this dance, but I was happy to be wrong.  Just goes to show how far Chehon has come this season that he could ultimately convince me (sorry Mary) that he has chemistry with Tiffany - who was wonderful, as always.  Not my favorite number - or performance by either of them - but a pleasant surprise nonetheless.  

Cyrus & Twitch, Christopher Scott animation:  To quote Billy Ocean:  "Simply. Awesome."  Rob Marshall took the word right out of my mouth: That was crazy, crazy good.  I do think Twitch mastered the choreographed-ness a smidge better, but his animation wasn't quite as crisp as Cyrus' so that kinda evened the field.  Twitch makes Cyrus look like such a shrimp by comparison, but both are incredible specimens in their genres.  

Now, as for Nigel's parting comments:  That was an interesting move on his part.  On the one hand, I completely understand: people have questioned Cyrus' continued presence all season long, and sure, as a dance professional, it's hard to set aside quality and technical proficiency for popularity of performance.  On the other hand:  what a horrible thing to say, regardless of whether anyone listens to him or not.  It's a comment best dealt in person, not live, at the end of an otherwise wonderful series of performances, and certainly not when others will be voting immediately thereafter.  Then again, he may very well have just sealed the sympathy vote for Cyrus, but either way, I thought it was terribly unfair and inappropriate.  Twenty lashes with a wet noodle tonight, Nigel!

So, America: who will it be?

Top 6 Perform, and the Final Four are Chosen

Opening number:  outstanding!  (And shocker that it was Sonya Tayeh.  NOT.)  And at first, I thought Chehon was Cyrus, so I’m thinking that says something about how the two were performing just then...  But I digress.  Let's get down to it, shall we?

Tiffany & Benji (YAY, Benji!!), Jean-Marc Genereux jive:  First of all, thank you SYTYCD producers for bringing ALL the bestest all-stars back this season! HI, BENJI!!  Second:  what a fantastic opening duet.  So fun, so full of energy, and so terrifying – those CARTWHEELS! Oy.  Now, that said, I do think Tiffany was probably a bit less sharp than she could’ve been, but holy Moses, between the tricks and the verve and the keeping up with Benji…WOW.  Spectacular!  

Witney’s solo:  Now, I know it’s hard to do ballroom dances without a partner.  And I give the girl props for taking on a paso doble-type number as a solo, which I don’t think has really been done (has it?).  But…that was…just…  Hm.  I didn’t particularly dislike it, but my husband was quick to point out the expressions on the judges’ faces when the cameras cut to them between numbers, and I have to agree that sorta summed it up.  Just kinda… o.O

Cole & Melanie, Sonya Tayeh jazz:  I have been hearing that song for months now, and every time I do, I think, “that is such a Sonya Tayeh song.”  ‘bout damn time she choreographed to it!  Now, for the dance:  I thought it was great.  Hubby was less impressed.  But even though I think Cole did really well and I enjoyed the number, I do think it might have a little trouble competing with the other numbers.  Yeah, I know, we’re only two numbers in, but if the opening jive was any indication, every number is going to have to be superb, and for me, this was just “really good.” 

Chehon’s solo:  Uh…was that choreographed by the same person who did Witney’s solo, by any chance?  ‘cause I kinda had the same reaction with this.  There were some great spins in the middle, but otherwise… Maybe it’s just because his last one was SO phenomenal, but… o.O

Eliana & Twitch, Christopher Scott hip-hop:  Wow.  Rarely does Christopher Scott disappoint me, but I did not care for that routine one little bit.  The whole thing rubbed me the wrong way – the music, the jazz/hip-hop combo, the moves, even the personality of it just…no.  It was danced well enough – although there were a couple of “meh” moments – but it wasn’t awesome.  Nigel pretty much nailed it for me.  The routine wasn’t the best exhibition of Eliana’s capabilities – nor did she make it moreso. 

Tiffany’s solo:  FINALLY.  Best solo ever?  No.  Considerably better than either of the others so far tonight, HELL. YES.  Thank you, Tiffany!

Chehon & Kathryn, Tyce Diorio contemporary:  That was gut-wrenchingly beautiful, Tyce, Chehon, and Kathryn.  Even as they stood and listened to the critiques, they still looked beaten and drawn, and had me on the brink just to look at them.  Fantastique!

Cole’s solo:  Now THAT was dancing for your life!  That was a terrific display of Cole’s unique style as well as his proficiency as a dancer, and I loved every second of it.

Witney & Marko (YAY, Marko!! But DUDE, where did your hair go??), Ray Leeper jazz:  Well, Marko nailed it, and Witney’s dancing was outstanding.  But I wasn’t completely convinced she was committed emotionally, at least not the entire way through.  I thought it was pretty darn good, and I’d happily watch it again (and probably will), but I’m not sure it’s at the level of Tiffany’s jive or Chehon’s contemporary, for example. 

Eliana’s solo:  I’m not sure that was all she was capable of, but it was quite lovely nonetheless.

Cyrus & Comfort, Christopher Scott dubstep:  Well, you know I love watching Cyrus do what he do, and boy, did he DO it tonight!  I’m sorry, but what other male dancer this season could’ve done what he just did with that number??  SYTYCD app fans apparently agree with me:  91% said, “BUCK!”  Yeah, I know, it still doesn’t mean he can do contemporary convincingly or could walk into a ballroom competition and walk out with a prize, but DAMN, he is just DA BOMB at what he does.  LOVED. IT.  !!!

Witney & Chehon, Jean-Marc Genereux cha-cha:  OOF.  That was my visceral reaction to the one missed lift.  And then it was just…okay.  I felt like it was underwhelming choreography for Witney, and yet too challenging for Chehon.  Witney did as well as she could with what she had to work with, but it just wasn’t enough to float this routine.  OOF.

Cyrus’ solo:  Meh, not his best work.  But his musicality is incredible, and that shines through even the more ordinary choreography.  Still love watching him.

Eliana & Cole, Mia Michaels contemporary:  Well that little bit o’ weirdness from Mia really worked.  It was unique and challenging and beautiful, and I was pleasantly surprised at how moving it proved to be.  Both of them danced it brilliantly (stop stealin’ my words, Nigel!), and were passionately expressive in all the right ways.  Tremendous.

Tiffany & Cyrus, Spencer Liff (gag!) Broadway:  Not one of Spencer’s worst, thankfully, and they nailed it.  So much personality, and just wonderful showmanship.  And boy, did they manage chemistry!  It was terrific on all counts, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Interlude:  the Axis Dance Company – “WOW” just doesn’t cut it.  That was amazing and powerful, and I look forward to watching it again.

THE FINAL FOUR:

There was not going to be any single outcome here that wouldn’t sadden me, and yet I found myself cheering when Tiffany was the first announced through to the finale.  Of course, that meant either Eliana or Witney was going home, and either of those choices sucked.  And yet…kinda like the way if you toss a coin and have to declare while it’s in the air which side you’re hoping comes down, I knew while I was waiting that it was Eliana I wanted in the finale.  Good thing, because that’s who it’ll be.  I’m sorry to see Witney go, but I think the other two are better all-around dancers, and I’ve come to appreciate them both more each week.

Similarly, I found myself saying, “Not Chehon.  Not Chehon.” when it was the guys’ turn, like Harry Potter wishing to not be put in Slytherin.  And yet that was the first guy announced as through to the finale.  *sigh* I was, of course, thrilled when Cyrus turned out to be the other, but at the same time, I am truly sorry to see Cole not make it.  I am not entirely surprised, because I think based on judge’s commentary last week, that outcome was somewhat predictable since we’re now down to votes, which are often influenced by a single dance and its critiques, but I am still bummed.

But what a finale it will be.  Four fantabulous dancers, and then, we vote once and for all.  Who will your vote be for, America??

Top 8 Perform

Sorry for the delay, folks!  Here's the breakdown of last night's stellar performances - and the good and bad news about who's left standing:

[Opening number by Peter Chu:  Cool.  And weird, in a Sonya Tayeh kind of way, but that's by no means a bad thing.  Also, a quick acknowledgement that I thought every last solo performance was wonderful - no duds in the bunch this time, not even by comparison with others.]

Witney & Twitch, Luther Brown "East Coast hip-hop":  I don't know what ratch-ed/ratchet/whatever is, but that number was AWESOME, with a capital "AWE"!  I have never seen Witney that down and dirty, and I kinda liked it.  (In a totally not creepy way, for the record.)  I commented to my husband that I pretty much failed to see Twitch in the number at all, because Witney had my full attention the entire time. (And after a second viewing, I paid explicit attention to Twitch, and I'm sorry but Witney outdanced his ass altogether.)  Quite impressive!

Cole & Allison, Sonya Tayeh contemporary:  I was a little dismayed to hear that Cole would be playing the soulless evilman again after he drew "Addiction" in the Mia tribute show, but he really did a great job with it (again), which helped redeem it some.  Personally though, I thought Allison overwhelmed and outshone him, and was a little surprised that the judges were so relatively lenient with him on that count.  Still, an overall moving routine, and I was glad Cole'd redeemed himself a bit from last week.


Eliana & Ryan, Jonathan Roberts quickstep: Hubby and I both groaned at the announcement that Eliana'd drawn The Death Dance, but really, that was a pretty terrific quickstep.  It had verve, it had a plot that gave it somewhere to go and some personality to see it through, and it was danced spectrifically (think "spectacularly" + "terrifically"; I've had to invent some new words so as to not keep repeating myself).  Beautifully done!


Lindsay & Alex, Sonya Tayeh jazz:  First of all, I am SO over that song.  Secondly:  I had to go back and watch this a second time today, and upon second viewing, I'm not so sure that the same thing didn't happen to Lindsay that happened to Will (but that's getting ahead of myself).  No, I don't think the chemistry was perfect - I got frustrated more than "sexual tension" - but after a second look, I don't think it was as entirely absent as the judges made it out to be.  Both were actually rather convincingly there, but again, it wasn't so much sexual longing as tension.  And how were they supposed to get sexier with that choreography and with the direction of "sexual tension, but chill."  In any case, I think Lindsay got a bit robbed there, but what're ya gonna do.

Will & Lauren, Christopher Scott hip-hop:  I thought this was an outstanding number, and I was a little baffled by the slightly dodgy comments by the judges.  Sure, the setup sort of negated the chemistry issue between partners, but there still had to be incredible coordination between them, and they definitely had that.  Plus, it was a whole different side of Will - I thought he did a terrific job of reining himself in and really doing justice to the character, as well as the style.  Yet the judges seemed to gloss over it with nothing more than generic "it was great" comments.  Hm...

Cyrus & Melanie, Mandy Moore jazz:  THRILLED to see Melanie back on the stage, and although I winced a little to see that she was paired with Cyrus - who she clearly outclasses as a dancer - I actually realized what a wonderful partnership they make because they both truly love what they do, put everything they have into every performance, and display it unmistakably.  About halfway through, my husband said, "I just don't even CARE about his dancing; he is just great to watch!"  That pretty well sums it up, and Nigel echoed as much in his comments.  I know some of you (cough*Sher*cough) hate it, but the competition is America's favorite dancer, not "best".  If Russell could win it over Jakob, then Cyrus has as much chance as anyone, and frankly, I think he's a lot more fun to watch.  Plus, as my husband was also quick to point out:  true, Cyrus can't do every style of dance well.  But give me one other dancer in this competition who could do what Cyrus does.   ....     What?  No one?  RIGHT.

Chehon & Anya, Miriam & Leonardo tango:  That was probably the most understated tango I've ever seen, but it was that much more powerful as a result.  What an incredible performance!  Anya looked like an entirely different dancer this week (thank goodness), and Chehon finally stepped it up in the chemistry department, connecting with everyone and everything - partner, music, and audience.  That was the first time I really felt Chehon had earned his place in the top 10 this season.  Amazing what you can do when Mom's in the audience.  ;)

Tiffany & Ade, Mandy Moore contemporary:  I could care less about Celine Dion songs or singing along with them, but that was absolutely lovely to witness.  And for the life of me, I couldn't tell you why - there was really nothing about it that stood out to me.  Sure, there were lifts, but that's been true in a lot of numbers.  Yes, they danced it flawlessly, but again... not unusual.  But when they talked about Tiffany's making it look effortless and flashed back to a clip of the assisted lift series, I realized that it's truly the way she just radiates happiness that made the dance exceptional, and for that I give her major props.  Positively enchanting.

THE BOTTOM FOUR:

Well, I can't say that I was terribly surprised about either girl (Lindsay & Witney) - they'd been there before, and I think the pretty ones always have a harder time with the young female demographic of the show's main audience.  But I was positively stunned that Will was in the bottom, because I really thought he had a shot at winning...

THE FAREWELLS:

...so imagine how hard my jaw hit the floor when Will was the one they sent home!  *CLANG* <--sound of jaw hitting floor    I think Cole was more than a little surprised too.  Now, in retrospect, I suddenly realized why neither of those guys' judges' critiques had entirely made sense to me; Nigel already knew the outcome, and I think he and Mary tailored their thoughts accordingly.  I can only guess that the choreographers prefer Cole's exceptional discipline to Will's class clownism, because nothing else quite explains this particular choice.  Cole's a terrific dancer, don't get me wrong, but up until now, Will has clearly be a fan favorite (by comparison), and so I'm still shakin' my head a bit at the outcome.

I was also a little surprised that it was Witney they kept, because I think Lindsay has a smidge broader potential.  Then again, last night's performances don't necessarily demonstrate that - Witney rocked the house in a genre I didn't think she'd really be able to grasp, and Lindsay was unable to convince us she and Alex had it goin' on (or, hm, could the judges also have tailored these comments....).  Either way, it would've been both disappointing and a relief, which is how it will be from here on out, 'cause there are no losers left in the bunch.  We'll just have to see who has the most staying power with the fan votes.  Any predictions, America???

Tape Delay...

Just a quick post tonight to say I'm only just back from a trip and am catching up. Will post about tonight's show tomorrow!

Top 10 Perform

Opening Number:  Wonderful tribute to Gene Kelly – and props to Tyce Diorio for his dancing, as well as his choreography! 

Tiffany & Brandon – Doriana Sanchez disco:  WOW!!  I am thrilled that Brandon is back as an all-star, although I thought it was a little unfortunate that he got disco.  Then again, in his season, he had the best disco in the show’s history, so I suppose that makes sense.  That is, it was the best disco - until tonight!  THAT. WAS. AWESOME!  There was just nothing about that dance that did not work – the music was great, the choreography was both challenging and in the spirit of disco, their personalities were lively, and damn if they weren’t just on FIRE with their energy.  Outstanding, and I’m glad I don’t have to be the one to follow them!

Witney & Nick – Travis Wall: That was so COOL!  Once again, Travis Wall ROCKS. MY. WORLD.  (Okay, done overusing the already overused all-caps, extra periods thing.)  What a fantastic hybrid of contemporary and ballroom, and a unique take on the “dead dancers” storyline, and of course, the dancing was fabulous. 

Cole & Anya – Dmitry cha-cha:  Well, I can see this is just going to be a night chock-full of awesomeness.  Yowza!  I have to say Cole creeps me out ever so slightly, but that does not remotely mitigate the extraordinary talent he has on the dance floor.  I didn’t see quite what Mary saw; I thought he was doing his part to hold up the chemistry, but as I’ve thought with Anya before, she seemed a little vacant to me   Maybe Nigel has a point that he was performing more to the audience than to Anya, but I’m still not convinced that’s his fault.  Hubby thinks Anya looked a shade out of shape; also possible, but I just think she wasn’t fully checked in, and that hurt Cole with the judges – but not with me!

Lindsay & Jakob – Spencer Liff Broadway:  YAAAAAAAAAAAAY, JAKOB’S BACK!!!!  *Kermit-the-Frog wavy arms*  I have been waiting for this moment!  And lucky me, it was capped off by:  Spencer Liff choreography.  ???  REALLY???  WHY do they keep letting that horrifically incapable man choreograph on this show???  *sigh*  Okay, in spite of that, Lindsay (and of COURSE Jakob)?  Incredible.  They managed to make that routine (which wasn’t Spencer’s horriblest) eminently enjoyable, and I genuinely saw the Broadway in Lindsay.  LOVED IT.  (And THANK YOU, Nigel, for bringing Jakob back!  IT’S ABOUT TIME!)

Will & Kathryn – Nakul Bollywood:  I mean…rrrreeeeaaalllllyyy, to use an old Cat Deeley phrase.  That was full of energy and spunk, sensuality and silliness (in the way that Bollywood should be).  Kathryn, ever beautiful, was the perfect snake to be charmed That was thoroughly entertaining, and I am so glad they continue to put Bollywood routines in these shows.

Cyrus & Jaimie – Travis Wall contemporary:  Uh-oh, it finally happened – Cyrus got contemporary.  So, to all you naysayers who thought Cyrus would be screwed when he finally got contemporary, all I have to say is:  how ya’ like me now?  Travis did not dumb that routine down one iota, so I don’t wanna hear any nonsense about how it wasn’t a challenging enough routine.  No, his leap wasn’t executed the way Jakob would’ve done it, but did his performance lack in this dance?  Nuh-uh.  It is so obvious how hard he works and how much he puts into every single dance, and I am thrilled that he survived this competition long enough for us to see that particular performance.

Chehon & Lauren – Dave Scott hip-hop:  You know, on another night, that might’ve been better for me than it was tonight.  In light of the other routines, I thought this was okay.  I thought Chehon performed well, but I felt like he was a ballet dancer in a hip-hop routine (which, while true, should not have been so evident).  Granted, Dave Scott created a very fluid routine which facilitated Chehon’s style, but I think that actually did him a disservice because it didn’t give him any…well, “buck-ness.”  It was by no means a bad dance, but it wasn’t exceptional the way the other routines tonight were. 

George & Allison – Tyce Diorio jazz:  First words out of my husband’s mouth:  “Great dance!”  Meanwhile, I was thinking:  “Hm.  Not my favorite genre…still, the choreography was challenging…Allison is smoldering hot…but George, while performing well, just doesn’t seem to be connecting with her, per se…”  Huh.  So, what a relief to me when Nigel said exactly what was on my mind.  Thank goodness, because I was beginning to think it was just me!  Sorry, I adore George, but the chemistry just wasn’t there, especially given the premise of the number.

Eliana & Alex – Stacey Tookey contemporary:  I’m sorry, let me get this straight:  I get to watch Eliana – and ALEX – do a Stacey Tookey contemporary routine?  Um, short of Jakob joining in, I can’t think of a more ideal set-up.  And yet… I think, honestly, it was a routine I’d rather have seen on another night.  It was such a change of pace from all the hyperkinetically-charged numbers we’ve seen so far, that it just felt almost out of place.  That said, it was lovely.  Nigel pegged it right in terms of the strengths – the maturity, the intensity…  it was a terrific routine, but I just didn’t feel like I enjoyed it to its fullest, and I can only imagine it musta been the context of the other numbers.

Audrey & Twitch – Dave Scott hip-hop:  That was entertaining, and a smidge of hilarious, but I’m not sure that Audrey wasn’t just a little too cute for that routine.  I think Benjamin had a point about her being a little outshone by Twitch’s stardom, especially in this genre.  She wasn’t at all buck, although I have to admit it kinda worked for her character to be a bit more peppy.  We’ll see how the voting goes.

And now, for the bad news…

The Bottom Four: 

You know, I so enjoyed this show, that I honestly forgot we had to lose someone at the end.  And wow, Witney and Audrey are the bottom two??  Oy.  I mean, there is not going to be any satisfying answer, especially among the women, but…wow.  I do think Chehon and George are probably the right answers for the guys, but it’s still unfortunate.  I’m glad they opted to have them do solos – although I feel confident the judges have already made up their minds.  All four soloes were terrific, and I’m glad I didn’t have to choose.  (Note:  loved the LA Dance Project performance!)

The Goodbyes:

I must say, while I think there was no right answer, I was a little surprised they ultimately picked Audrey to go home.  I am guessing they think Witney is a smidge more marketable, but otherwise, I kinda thought Audrey’d be the keeper.  As for the guys, that was less of a surprise.  I think they both have their struggles, but I think George’s brink-of-ouster last week was a little fresher, and I think his performance tonight didn’t help.  I hate seeing either one of these folks go, but at this point, there are going to be no good goodbyes.  We’ll just have to set our sights on seeing them both on tour!

And then there were eight…

Update on the Top 14 Performances

Now that I've had a chance to see the first two numbers (group and Cyrus/Eliana), I wanted to chime in and complete the last post.  The group routine was...in..ter..est..ing.  In a Mia Michaels sort of way, I suppose.  With a taste of Wade Robson thrown in for good measure.  I liked it, but I can't exactly...explain...why...

As for Cyrus & Eliana:  That routine ROCKED, and for all the reasons the judges cited.  No, I don't think there was really a ton of actual dancing for Cyrus to do, but purely as a performer and entertainer?  He was terrific.  Eliana, of course, was beyond awesome in all aspects, and I look forward to seeing what she does now that she can branch out from Cyrus a little.

Finally, I thought the twitter stream that Nigel shared the day after was particularly interesting.  Understandably, many people were upset about the format - chiefly, the fact that these dances had been performed by other performers and that the new performances were compared to the previous ones.  It seemed somewhat unfair to take something that now stands as somewhat iconic (especially since a few of those routines were Emmy-nominated/winning) and expect a new group to step in and do it justice.  But Nigel repeatedly iterated that very point:  these are dancers.  What they do is step in to choreography, often the same choreography others have done.  Broadway stars do it all the time.  It's part of the business, and those that can do it well - not only doing as well with the dance, but bringing something new to it to love - are the ones who will succeed.  To that end, I think it was a fair contest - with some clear winners.

Jes my two cents.  What do you think?

Top 14 Perform - and the Top 10 Are Chosen

WELCOME BACK!

Well, I’m on vacation, but thanks to the Olympics and other programming decisions by Fox, I am, for once, not missing the finale!  I did, however, tune in late, so I missed the first routine (and, I presume, an opening number), which I now know was Cyrus & Eliana (bummer!).  I came in during the recap of National Dance Day, so that’s where I’ll pickup tonight, until I can get home and see what I missed on the DVR.  (OH, and being late, I have NO idea who these guest judges are, so…yeah.)

George & Tiffany – “Hometown Glory” - Yep, they blew that one away.  Granted, I never really saw the original, originally (I’ve only seen the footage – musta been a season I didn’t watch or before I tuned in that year.  But they killed it – although I do think Tiffany leapt more than ran during the assisted run.  Otherwise, beautiful.

Will & Amelia – “The Butt Dance” – I’m not a fan of this dance.  Wasn’t the first time, not now.  BUT (har, har), they did it tremendously well.  I continue to be impressed by these two, and although I understand Nigel’s criticisms, I’m not entirely sure I agree. 

Janelle & Dareian – “The Mattress” Hm.  I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this routine.  I never saw the original (was busy having a baby that season), and now that I have…hm.  I think it’s a very passionate piece, but I feel like there isn’t enough dancing, just a lot of throwing themselves around on the mattress.  That said, I think they both danced it well.  I don’t notice Dareian’s feet when I’m busy watching him dance, but I do think Janelle’s hair got in the way, BUT THAT’S NOT HER FAULT.  Who decides the costuming and such?  I’m thinkin’ that wasn’t up to her, and so I’d hardly fault her for the fact we couldn’t see her face. In any case, a “meh” routine by comparison, but by no means poor.

Audrey & Matthew – “Time” – Another one I didn’t see the original of, but I liked this version.  I agree with Mary that I felt something was a little lacking from Matthew in the emotion department, but at the same time, I think that somehow gave it a lightness that was actually kind of useful in the piece.  Audrey was, once again, beautiful.  I understand Nigel’s critique, but once again, I’m not sure if I agree.  I think if you’re comparing it to the previous and if you fully understand all the background that he does, it’s understandable, but on its own, I think it was lovely and touching.

Witney & Chehon – I have to say that I think that was THE best I’ve ever seen Chehon perform – not just dance, perform.  I was, for once, a little less impressed with Witney, contrary to the judges.  I think she performed okay but actually didn’t dance it as well as she could have.  Maybe this time I’m comparing it to the original, but I think Heidi had it in spades over Witney.  It was by no means a poor showing, though, and I still thoroughly enjoyed the routine.  

Cole & Lindsey – That. Was. Outstanding.  I was worried, because I did not think it was possible to match up to Kayla and Kupono, but they managed it.  I wasn’t entirely sure about Lindsey until near the end when I got a look at her face, and it just stole my breath.  I immediately teared up, and I hadn’t realized I was that invested until then.  And Cole was perfect for this dance; I agree with Mary that he was a little quirkier where Kupono was sinister, but he has the capacity to look completely inhuman, and in that respect, he was even better than Kupono – he looked less like a bad guy and more like the personification of an evil thing, and that was appropriate.  By far the best performance of the night.

The Bottom Six

WOW.  Um, okay, even I’m a little surprised Cyrus made it to the top 10, but I guess that’s a popularity contest for ya’.  But BOTH Lindsey AND Amelia in the bottom???  Oh my.  I’m not entirely sure what to hope for here, because I truly think Lindsey has the potential to win the whole shebang – especially after seeing what she is capable of in that Addiction number – but Amelia has been marvelous so far, so it’s not like I want to see her go home.  True, we’re reaching a point where there will be no more good answers, but…LINDSEY OR AMELIA???  (Because no, I don’t believe Janelle has performed well enough to be allowed to stay – shame though I think that is.)  That is just the suckiest of all possible dilemmas for the top 10 selection, in my opinion.

As for the guys…well, I don’t love the choices there either, but I’m not quite as heartbroken about them.  I will miss whoever it is, and I think I would miss George most.  That said, Dareian was the ONLY one of the six who danced for his life just then, and I mean that boy danced like it was the last thing he might ever do.  Bad feet or not, if that solo has any bearing, Dareian just might’ve bought himself a spot in the Top 10.  I think Nigel even made a face that said, “well heck, I thought I had my mind made up until Dareian danced.”

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

I was both relieved and disappointed about the girls – understandably, since there was just no right answer.  But, I agreed with the logic – if tonight has bearing, then Lindsey knocked it out of the park, and more importantly, showed us an entirely different dimension that we haven’t seen, and that I wasn’t entirely sure she was capable of portraying.  As for the guys, I’m okay with it (but I would also have been okay with Dareian after that solo) because I’ve got a soft spot for George; I don’t know why.  Sadly, this is just a season where nobody really “deserves” to go home., but somebody must.  And on that happy note…

WE HAVE OUR TOP 10!