Top 16 Perform & 2 More Depart

Tyce Diorio opening routine:

Wow, that was COOL!  I was equally impressed by the music, choreography, costuming, and lighting – positively brilliant, Tyce.  Now let's get down to the business at hand:

Tiffany & George – NappyTabs “babysitting” hip-hop – That. Was. AWESOME!  It was fun, it was interesting, and I thought the two of them did the down-in-it part of hip-hop very well, not just for contemporary dancers, but just period.  Fantastic!

Amber & Brandon – Ray Leeper jazz – Hm.  I think the judges and I watched a different routine.  Dancing?  Excellent.  No question there.  But chemistry?  Um…lotsa sultry movement doesn’t itself make for chemistry.  I saw a lot of smiling, but not about each other.  There was a lotta happiness, but I wanted to see desire.  Ironically, before Cat said it, we were comparing that routine to Sasha & Twitch’s “The Breakfast Table” as well, but as the gold standard for passion and chemistry – and this, I’m sorry, was no Breakfast Table.  Still a great routine, but not the fire-filled perfection the judges apparently saw.

Janelle & Dareian – cha-cha by Pasha – Was it a fun dance to a fun song?  Sure!  Was it technically perfect?  No.  Mary was right – even a non-Ballroomer like me could see the mountain of imperfections.  I thought it was enjoyable to watch, but both of them clearly struggled with the polish and prettiness.  I actually wondered if the hyperbolically popular song wasn’t a little too peppy for them to really connect chemically – but as Nigel pointed out, Anya and Pasha woulda had that chemistry, so you can’t blame it all on the song.  Sorry, ‘cause I like the both of ‘em, but not their best effort.

Lindsay & Cole – Mandy Moore contemporary – Riveting.  I absolutely loved that, particularly the lighting (Nigel, quit stealin’ mah stuff!), and in spite of it having a much simpler story, it was almost as powerful for me as the Breast Cancer and Addiction routines of seasons past.  I was really moved, and thought the dancing and performance of both dancers was breathtaking.  Outstanding work!

Amelia & Will – Mandy Moore jazz – Well, that was kinda typically jazz for me, in that I really didn’t care for the routine itself.  Just a little too funky, music and moves alike.  That said, I thought they danced it brilliantly, and in spite of MY not connecting with the routine, I felt like they connected with each other beautifully, no matter what Nigel failed to see.  I think it’s probably going to be a “meh” for a lot of people, and might affect them in the voting, but I don’t think that’s at all their fault.

Audrey & Matthew – Liz Lira salsa – That was…disappointing.  Disappointing because they’re both great dancers, and because we’ve come to expect such great ballroom numbers on this show.  But that…just…didn’t…  Well it just didn’t.  I felt like Audrey was afraid she was either gonna break her ankle or lose her shoe.  Her lines were terrible and her moves sloppy, and she was gripping with her knees which were bent the entire time.  Christina Applegate (LOVE HER!) had a good point that the music was also kind of off for the dance it was supporting.  But, neither of them really rocked that number, whatever the reason. 

Witney & Chehon – Stacey Tookey contemporary – It was mighty ambitious to choreograph anything to that song, and I was fearful of their ability to do it justice – Stacey’s or the dancers.  But, I thought they did a tremendous job.  Hubby was right – it felt short – but other than that, it was splendid.  It was moving, it was fluid, and I think Witney & Chehon had chemistry for the first time this season.  They did wonderfully, and I congratulate them. 

Eliana & Cyrus – NappyTabs hip-hop – “Uh-oh.”  That was my first thought upon hearing Cyrus got hip-hop.  No doubt people (*cough*Sharon*cough*) are going to wail that it’s unfair, especially if he survives another week as a result.  But then I realized it might be the last time we get to see Cyrus dance, so I was glad it was in his element.  Now that I’ve seen the dance?  Well, pretty much…nothing’s changed.  It was really good; Cyrus was predictably terrific in the genre, and Eliana rocked the house.  So whether he stays or goes, I’m happy that I got to see Cyrus do that dance.

***WARNING:  SPOILERS BELOW!!!***

The Bottom Six:  Amber, Lindsay, Eliana, George, Brandon, Dareian. 

HUH???  Well…dayum.  Amber?  Dareian?  Eliana???  I mean, okay, I get why Cyrus isn’t in the bottom (because yes, Sharon, it’s unfortunately at least as much a popularity contest as a dance one), but:  ELIANA???  I’m a little baffled there.  I suppose I can see how Amber and even Lindsay’s routines failed to impress last week, but Brandon and Janaya (before her untimely departure) were spectacular.  And George?  And Dareian?  Well, I guess not everyone connects adequately with the audiencewhen it comes to vote-getting time.  As for their soloes?  I’m sorry, but although Brandon may have “owned it” in his style, his performance paled in comparison to Dareian’s, as did Amber’s as compared to Eliana.  We’ll see if the judges agreed…

Alvin Ailey

Let me just take a moment to say that the Alvin Ailey dancers NEVER fail me.  I actually got to see the Alvin Ailey Dance Company many years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, and then and now, I am left jaw-dropped every time I see any of them perform.  The strength, the complexity, the stamina, the lines…just spectacular, every. time.

The Bad News:

Well, yes, I think they agreed on the girls.  It pains me to see Amber go, but then again, who would I rather see in her place?  This is a season wherein ten of The Most Talented Female Dancers Ever are competing; how is there a right answer as to whom to send home?  I think of the three, Amber was the right choice, but it still sucks.

And with the guys as well.  Again, I do not want to see Brandon go, and in fact, I (of all people) would actually have been okay with Cyrus going home this week.  But Cyrus wasn’t in the bottom three, and of those that were, I think Brandon was the right decision, and certainly after the solo performances by him and Dareian. 

A painful week of goodbyes, but I suspect it’s only gonna get worse as we move on, because absolutely none of these dancers is disappointing.  Until next week then, America!