Episode 200 – Season 9’s Top 20

WHAT A SEASON THIS WILL BE!  

I couldn't begin to imagine how Season 8 could possibly be topped, and yet here are 20 dancers just as formidable - if not moreso - as last year's contenders.  No clear runaway winner out of the gate, but I definitely have some favorites, and am over the moon that they all made it.  Let's run it down, by routine (with all due apologies for my random whack at spelling several folks' names) - *SPOILER ALERT*:

Alexa, Amber, George, Will – BEAUTIFUL Tyce Diorio routine.  And YAY, Alexa!  Finally, she let herself go emotionally, and it made all the difference.  It was like watching an entirely different dancer, and had she been able to do that last year, Ryan Ramirez wouldn’tve made the show.  (So thank you, Alexa, for not quite getting there until this year!  Now, you go girl!)

Nick, Whitney, Lindsey - a)  Thank GOD, because the thought that either of those girls would not have made it into the top 20 was giving me fits such that I was rethinking watching this show.  and b) That is probably THE BEST BALLROOM NUMBER I have seen on this show.  Absolutely, MINDBLOWINGLY phenomenal. Holy crap, those girls are unreal.

Eliana, Daniel, Keon (sp?) - I’ll be curious to see if either of these boys makes it very far.  Both are great; neither strike me as truly exceptional.  Daniel’s consistent alright, but it borders on “playing it safe.”  He’s also peeked out a bit of an attitude from time to time, although that may or may not matter in the end.  Keon, meanwhile, is powerful and beautiful, but occasionally…imperfect. Desmond Richardson’s routine?  Breathtaking, as always.

Tiffany, Audrey, & (in spirit) Janelle - Yep, that was a Sonya routine! And Audrey had good cause to be worried, because that routine proved just how very similar she and Tiffany really were.  They were virtually indistinguishable, and it will be critical that they each find a way—hopefully with less homogenizing routines—to stand out.  That said, it was a GREAT routine that really showcased their abilities – similar though they were.  Certainly looking forward to Janelle getting well enough to join them by next show.

  

Matthew, Darien, Janiah, Amelia - I have to admit personally rooting for Amelia, but I also think it was the right decision, when you think about the “star quality” and “uniqueness” that they’re always talking about wanting.  Jill is a great dancer, but there are a lot of great dancers this season.  You’ve got to be more than great, and Amelia has that special something.  I have to admit, I didn't see Janiah coming, but I'm looking forward to seeing what she has to offer as the show progresses.  As for the Stacey Tookey routine:  *sigh* Stacy remains a treasured favorite.  It was happy and delightful and altogether lovely.

Cole, Brandon, Cyrus - Routine:  AWESOME.  What an incredible medley of their individual styles!  I am so thrilled that Cyrus made it, because even if he doesn’t make it past the first show, it was worth it just to see him make the top 20.  He has more drive and positivity in his little finger than most dancers on this show have had in their entire bodies.  Meanwhile:  Cole, fascinating to watch.  Brandon, glad to finally have a stepper in the crew!  But really, there is nobody I am happier to see in the top 20 than Cyrus.  WELCOME!!!

Top 10 Girls – Travis Wall piece (without Janelle):  TRAVIS. WALL. IS. BRILLIANT.  Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest:  WOW, ladies!  Again, I’m wondering how in the heck we’re going to pick just ONE of them.  Oy.  Positively exquisite collection of young women.

Top 10 Boys – Sonya Tayeh routine:  NICE.  I cannot wait to see these guys compete this year!  Yep, I had my eye on Cyrus, and he held his own.  As my husband pointed out, you not only get the sense that he is pouring his heart and soul and every effort into everything he’s given, but he goes home and practices.  But he’s certainly not alone in the talent and watchability department, so bring it on, fellas!

Top 20, Mia Michaels routine:  YES!  Much prefer her as a choreographer than as a judge.  Welcome back, Mia! And fantastic performance by every single one of the top [19 of the 20 that were able to dance].  Congratulations, and good luck to you all!

I'm gonna say that the top 10 includes Whitney and Lindsey...and that's about all the farther out I'll stick my neck at this point.  Anyone else care to make any predictions???

Well, wouldn't you know I pick the week that I actually got a follower comment to not be able to post!  Boo, me!  :(  Hoping this is a temporary setback and not proof that I'm not going to be able to juggle this new schedule with my love for SYTYCD, but my apologies to everyone in the meantime.

So in short:  Salt Lake City?  ROCKED.  And I was thrilled to see Adrian again.  If only that hadn't been quashed such a short time later...

VEGAS WEEK:  Wow.  What a breathtaking collection of dancers - and what DRAMA.  More importantly, what PAIN!  Poor Danielle, getting her bell rung by that foot to the head.  I admit to being a little peevish at the judges for not giving her group routine a bit of a break considering she joined them at midnight after EIGHT HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL, for Pete's sake.  But that paled in comparison to Joshua's body slam/self-KO, and I am crossing my fingers that seeing him in the teaser for next week is a good sign...

I could spend an hour writing about each of the hours of tonight's show, but I'm working on my brevity for this season in the hopes of increasing my readership.  :D  So, just these three thoughts on Vegas week:

1.  Genuinely sorry to see Adrian go, but I think he was right - they're looking for something he just doesn't have.  I don't know what it is, but I'm sorry they didn't find it in him.

2.  I don't think it's a question of whether Whitney and Lindsey (the ballroom babes) make the show; I think it's a question of which one will win it.

3.  CYRUS. MUST. MAKE. THE. TOP. 20.  There is no one, and I mean NO ONE, that I have ever wanted to see make the show more. And yes, that includes Melanie.  Are there better dancers?  Sure.  But there has never, in the history of this show, been anyone with a better attitude and more fire in their belly.  He defines heart.  No matter what they threw at him, he said, "okay, well, I'm gonna give it my best shot," even when he was completely out of his element.  He performed respectably, but he behaved exceptionally. There has never been anyone more deserving of a slot on this show, and I hope the judges see it the same way.

And with that, I'll see you all next week when we find out who made the cut for Season 9.  (Fingers are crossed for you, Cyrus!)

HOT-lanta!

After last year's Atlanta auditions, I couldn't wait to get back to the Peach state again.  And I appreciated the Melanie tribute at the beginning of the show, because really, who doesn't like watching her dance, over and over again?  But boy, that's a tough act to follow.  So how’d Atlanta fare?  Let's run it:

Audrey Case – freaky neck-squeaking talent, but lovely dancing.  Was she Melanie?  No.  But was she good?  OH. YEAH.  And she danced with joy, an evident love for what she was doing.  Vegas for me!  And the judges too, so we’re off to a running start.

Boris Penton – hip-hop/piano dancer:  the first of three roommates/housemates to wow us.  I loved that he took a chance, and it really worked.  He demonstrated great musicality in the blend of his movement to the melody.  Mesmerizing indeed, Nigel.  Can he do anything else?  We’ll see in Vegas, but I certainly hope so.

Joshua Alexander – VEGAS! 'nuff said.

Tim Conkel – The Karate Kid:  I will grant that he’s got spunk, personality, and a lot of sweet tricks.  I’m kinda with Nigel though – can he dance?   Aw, who cares, that kid is dyn-o-mite.  Vegas, baby!

Jackson Alvarez – I love a good performer, and this boy PERFORMS!  Downright exuberant.  Thank goodness that translated to other styles in choreography, and we'll be seeing him again.

Janelle Ississ – Alabaman belly dancer: well, it’s not really my thing, but I gotta give the girl props for her isolations, musicality, and performance.  Beautiful girl.

Danielle Dominguez – My first thought was:  that’s Ellenore music!  And Ellenore style!  And I loved it, much like I did Ellenore.  Yay to Vegas!

Andre Rucker and Cyrus Spencer – the other two Dragonhouse dancers (along with Boris) – Wait!  I’m almost done shakin’ my head….okay, done.  Um…DAYUM.  There just aren’t words. My husband described Andre as a Rubik’s Snake toy personified.  I could watch him do that ALL. DAY. LONG.  Fortunately, I’ll get to see what else he can do in Vegas.  Along with Cyrus, who just…  DAY-UM.

And then, Day 2 happened. 

Courtney Kirby – Grandma's girl:  That was a very gymnastic routine, but I would’ve liked to have seen some better choreography.  I don't think I was alone in that, but I thought Nigel handled the situation very diplomatically.  Because really, how could you say no to Grandma? Vegas it is.

Asher Walker – hip-hop redneck – That was FUN!  Will it translate to other styles of dance?  Meh, who cares.  That was FUN!  :D 

George Lawrence the Second – There are only a handful of male dancers on this show who truly moved me, especially out of the gate – Brandon, Billy, Alex… and George.  Welcome to the show, George Lawrence the soon-to-be-not-so-Second.

Brittany Hortner (sp?) – potential is the right word indeed.  This is a girl who has the whole package, right down to the Jessica Simpson memorability.  Good thing she's going to Vegas, because I think she has a lot more to show us.

Deon and Damon – the choreography borrowers – Better.  Because we do appreciate originality on this show.  Choreography was definitely a necessary step, but I was a little confused; I thought (from what little I saw, obviously) that the judges had it backwards.  I thought Deon performed better than Damon, and that Damon made Vegas while Deon did not still has me a little puzzled.  But…we’ll see; truthfully, I suspect that'll be as far as he goes anyway.

And to all the other dancers who made it through – I loved what little I saw and I can’t wait to see more.

But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:  How the HECK are they gonna pick only 20 dancers out of this crew??  Guess that’s why they get paid the big bucks and I’m just an armchair expert.

See you in Salt Lake City!