Thursday, June 23, 2011

SYTYCD8 - 20 Again

So You Think You Can Dance - Season 8 - Top 20 - Performances - Redux - Ep. 808
Judges: Nigel Lythgoe, Mary Murphy, Debbie Reynolds

So I guess they've decided to go with celebrities with dance backgrounds as the rotating judge? I wonder if Carrie Fisher is watching this?

So it's the Top 20. AGAIN. Which while making last week's results show a bit anti-climatic, does let us evaluate the dancers again before we have to start making cuts. And with the dancers starting at such an even playing field last week, with no one really dancing horribly, it's nice to be able to see them go through round 2 to help starting to weed out the better dancers from the group.

And good thing too since with a second chance, some dancers solidify their place at the top of the field, while others manage to save themselves from the bottom of my list and right into the top half!

So let's get to it:

Ryan Ramirez and Ricky Jaime
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Mandy Moore
Song: "Addicted to Love" - Robert Palmer
Grade - Dance: B
Grade - Girl: B+
Grade - Boy: B-

It's supposed to be a sexy dance, but while I think they looked scantily clad, I didn't feel the chemistry together. Ryan seemed to overpower Ricky, and while Ryan danced the physical moves stunningly, her constant BIG SMILE seemed to defy the attitude of the choreography.

I think Ryan is a GREAT dancer and one of the best here, but she still seems ecstatic that she finally made it onto the Top 20 that she cannot NOT show her gratitude. And because she's so happy, she's powering over Ricky.

The judges loved it. Of course. So maybe I'm just being too picky.

Here's the video of Ryan and Ricky's Jazz:
Coming Soon


Caitlynn Lawson and Mitchell Kelly
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "Turning Tables - Adele
Grade - Dance: A
Grade - Girl: A
Grade - Boy: A

These two sound really immature and a little annoying in the pre-preformance video, which makes it all the more startling to see them dance so maturely in another beautiful Stacey Tookey piece (with the help of Adele). Stunning emotions and movements. I had to rewatch it again right away. And I probably enjoyed it even more the second time.

Caitlynn is deliriously fantastic and heartfelt, while Mitchell shows the same strength and power he showed in last week's solo. They both work really well in the small and controlled movements which show how strong they are, and despite last week's injury that kept Mitchell from dancing, these two feel like they've already figured out how to make their dancing personalities work together well.

Here's the video of Caitlynn and Mitchell's Contemporary:



Missy Morelli and Wadi Jones
Style: Cha Cha
Choreographed by: Jean-Marc Généreux
Song: "Cannibal" - Ke$ha
Grade - Dance: B-
Grade - Boy: C+
Grade - Girl: B

On the one hand, it wasn't a disaster considering we have a street dancer and a jazz dancer. On the other hand on closer inspection, there seemed to be slow moments (though is it due to the choreography?) and Wadi looked really stiff in many places. He managed to look strong and tall but sometimes Wadi looked like he was trying too hard to get that right, and forget to actually Cha Cha the rest of the time. Nigel and Mary pick Wadi apart but praise Missy.

Here's the video of Missy and Wadi's Cha Cha:



Iveta Lukosiute and Nick Young
Style: Bollywood
Choreographed by: Nakul Dev Mahajan
Song: "Baawre" - from Luck by Chance Soundtrack
Grade - Dance: B+
Grade - Boy: A-
Grade - Girl: A-

I love the Iveta called Nick out on his chicken legs. Hilarious! But damn can those legs dance!

I know this might be mean to say but I feel like this is an odd couple. Yes they're both White, but with her being the oldest and he looks like he's 17, there's a bit of a cougarish feel to this pairing. And yet I love these two and they seem to work really well together.

I don't think this was perfectly danced and not everything was in perfect sync yet Nick and Iveta made it look SO fun (though Bollywood pretty much always looks fun) but they definitely got some great tricks and moves in there, and I was still super impressed with both of them.

Here's the video of Iveta and Nick's Bollywood:



Miranda Maleski and Robert Taylor Jr.
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Song: "Break Ya Neck" - Busta Rhymes
Grade - Dance: C
Grade - Boy: A-
Grade - Girl: C-

Seemed like a slightly easier, slower paced Hip-Hop routine and overall seemed forgettable, especially from Nappytabs.

Robert, in his own genre, obviously does great (but is really grating more and more each week), but Miranda looks like she's trying to keep up and she doesn't quite manage to do so. She slips up in a bit of a partnering trick but at least manages to continue right on into the next moves. But it was a little bit of a mess and looked obviously off compared to Robert, who was hitting the beat strongly.

Debbie was mesmerized though and Mary only had positive things to say here. Nigel called Miranda the best contemporary dancer who's done Hip-Hop. Whu? Did I miss something? Was only my TV on a time delay?

Here is the video of Miranda and Robert's Hip-Hop:



Clarice Ordaz and Jess LeProtto
Style: Contemporary
Choreographed by: Stacey Tookey
Song: "Cathedrals" - Jump, Little Children
Grade - Dance: A-
Grade - Boy: B+
Grade - Girl: B+

Another beautiful dance by Stacey Tookey tonight, with some perfect song choices again from our little Canadian Contempo queen! Loved when they split from a moment together into a synchronized turns and dance sequences.

There were a few shaky moments, especially in Jess' lifts, and sometimes I think Clarice's height and big hair seemed to throw Jess off, but as Nigel notes, they danced the solo moments superbly.

Clarice and Jess didn't shake off their immaturity as much, or as well as Caitlynn and Mitchell did, but overall, considering I was getting annoyed with Jess last week, I thought Jess made for quite a handsome Prince, and Clarice felt classier.

Here's the video of Clarice and Jess' Contemporary:
Coming Soon


Jordan Casanova and Tadd Gadduang
Style: Viennese Waltz
Choreographed by: Jean-Marc Généreux
Song: "Fade Into Me" - David Cook
Grade - Dance: A-
Grade - Boy: A-
Grade - Girl: A-

Wow, Tadd looked very soft and graceful, but still holding his upper body. Jordan just seemed to whisp around so smoothly that I just felt like I was watching her dress float around.

Surprisingly beautiful and despite a few shaky moments (mainly in a lift), incredibly strong ballroom that I thought was going to be a disaster. But instead, total wow!

Nigel praises Tadd as probably the best B-Boy dancer to do ballroom, and this time I think he's right.

Here's the video of Jordan and Tadd's Viennese Waltz:



Melanie Moore and Marko Germar
Style: Jazz
Choreographed by: Mandy Moore
Song: "Sing with a Swing (Raf Marchesini Remix)" - DWS
Grade - Dance: B+
Grade - Boy: A-
Grade - Girl: A

Um, how adorable is this pairing? I just want to eat them up!

I didn't think it was the most perfect choreography, as it felt more like a series of Broadway elements pieced together instead of a WHOLE piece, but dang, did Marko and Melanie DANCE... IT!

Melanie could just keep strutting herself right off this show and right onto Broadway right now. And Marko looks so smooth and hot shaking those jazz hands that with the exception of a couple of tiny slip ups, he could dance right along with Melanie to Broadway too!

LOVE watching these two dance!

Here's the video of Melanie and Marko's Jazz:



Sasha Mallory and Alexander Fost
Style: Hip-Hop
Choreographed by: Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo
Song: "Coming Home" - Diddy & Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey
Grade - Dance: B
Grade - Boy: B
Grade - Girl: A-

Sasha was great. Just great. So great. Loved her, and she had so much to do.

Alexander did a pretty good job, but wasn't quite a match to Sasha, and next to her, his hits didn't seem as hard or on the beat. It didn't help that in his costume, he looks a bit like Chris Evans before he becomes Captain America, so his thin frame doesn't quite work in this role.

The judges loved it though and probably spent more time talking/crying about soldiers coming home than they did the actual dancing.

Here's the video of Sasha and Alexander's Hip-Hop:



Ashley Rich and Chris Koehl
Style: Broadway
Choreographed by: Spencer Liff
Song: "Please, Mr. Jailer" - Rachel Sweet
Grade - Dance: B+
Grade - Boy: A-
Grade - Girl: A

What a fun routine around a set of jail bars. I was half mesmerized just waiting to see how the two dancers were going to twist their way around the prison bars (as shaky as the prop looked).

Ashley just has this glow, so looked absolutely stunning in that red dress, and even more stunning with her strong leg kicks and softness in the stretches.

Chris becomes far more memorable behind bars as he weaves his way around and through the bars.

Here's the video of Ashley and Chris' Broadway:



- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Final Roundup:

The Dancers - Pairs Routine:
1st - Best of the Night: Caitlynn and Mitchell
2nd:Melanie and Marko
3rd: Jordan and Tadd
4th: Ashley and Chris
5th: Iveta and Nick
6th: Clarice and Jess
7th: Sacha and Alexander
8th: Ryan and Ricky
9th: Miranda and Robert
10th - Worst of the Night: Missy and Wadi

The Routines:
Best Routine of the Night: Stacey Tookey's Contemporary (Caitlynn and Mitchell)
2nd Best Routine of the Night: Jean-Marc Généreux's Viennese Waltz (Jordan and Tadd)
3rd Best Routine of the Night: Stacey Tookey's Contemporary (Clarice and Jess)

The Predictions:
Bottom Three Pairs:
Sacha and Alexander
Miranda and Robert
Missy and Wadi

Should Go Home: Since 4 dancers must go, I'd say Missy, Wadi, Miranda and Alexander should probably go (even though Robert annoys me the most)
Going Home: Missy, Wadi, Miranda and Alexander.

This is how I rank all the dancers overall (based on dancing and personality): (last week's rankings in parenthesis):
Overall Ranking:
1. Marko (1)
2. Nick (2)
3. Melanie (3)
4. Tadd (9)
5. Iveta (14)
6. Jordan (15)
7. Ashley (4)
8. Caitlynn (18)
9. Mitchell (20)
10. Sasha (5)
11. Chris (6)
12. Jess (8)
13. Clarice (7)
14. Ryan (10)
15. Ricky (11)
16. Robert (13)
17. Missy (19)
18. Alexander (16)
19. Wadi (12)
20. Miranda (17)

Boy, some dancers sure are lucky they had a second chance this week, with a few major shakeups on the list.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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2 comments:

momo said...

very judicious recap! I was somewhat annoyed with the choreographers in the first half, because I thought some of them were being derivative, but the dances in the second half were much stronger. I love the Ivette Nick pairing because I think they have a great relationship, sharing a dry sense of humor. He's more mature than some of the other kids who may be perfectly nice, but come off sounding like airheads. I thought Marko and Melanie were fabulous: another great partnership connection.
Judging by my Twitter feeds, some voters will vote for their favorite song as much as for the dancers (Adele! AI guy!).
I'd like Alexander to go home so Sasha can have a better partner. or at least one she wants to dance with.

DuchessKitty said...

I said this in a post I did about last night's performances - wouldn't it be great if Sasha and Tadd were partners?

That would be a dream pairing for me, much like Melanie and Marko already are.

Vance, you nailed pretty much how I felt about last night's routines. I am really interested to see how America voted and which 4 will be sent home. I want there to be some partner shake-ups.
I really want Jordan and Robert to go home.