SYTYCD Season 4: Top 16

Good news if you enjoyed reading the LTV American Idol recaps: our favorite guest blogger DIXIE is back!  And this time she is sharing her overview, opinions and snarky comments on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance.  It's obvious Dixie has a dance background, because her knowledge of the industry nearly equals her sarcasm toward the show.  Love it!

I have to tell you that Dixie has been providing show recaps since Week One, but this mom has been too slammed to get them on the blog. Sorry about that... but on to this week's recap.

DIXIE SAYS:

Why do they waste precious air time with those ridiculous questions? Ninety minute show minus the questions, please. Do you realize that in two hours, we only saw eight routines or about sixteen minutes of stage performances? Although if Nigel had his way, it would only be those questions and rehearsal footage since their judging has nothing to do with dancing anyway. It’s all personality, you know.

Note to Mary: Stop taking the Hot Tamale Train so seriously. Stop shrieking. Stop tanning. Stop doing your hair like you’re stuck at a 1985 high school prom. I am glad that she survived the crystal chandelier accident.

My reviews:

1. Kherington and Twitch (Hip Hop)

Loved the concept, loved the choreography, loved the song, loved their connection, and those baggy orange jumpsuits couldn’t have been more perfect for a prison break hip hop routine! Finally, the wardrobe department got something right! That is one routine I will watch over and over again. I guess my only issue is that Kherington’s “brand” of hip hop was pretty much identical to Jessica’s last week, but yet they crucified Jessica for it. How irritating that Nigel would praise “the most attractive dancer we’ve ever had on this program” and criticize others for the exact same things she does. Both Kherington and Jessica have that cheerleader, “Bring It On” style when it comes to this genre, but truth be told, I really like it! Kherington’s mean gangsta face was fun and she looked as tough as a Prada princess could. Was she up to Twitch’s speed? No, but she came as close as anyone could! It was odd to hear that she owns hundreds of pairs of shoes since tonight was the first time she actually wore a pair.

2. Courtney and Gev (Rumba)

Oh yes, the rumba… the dance that legalized sexual harassment. I love this couple and tonight’s performance was impressively steamy! Courtney’s dress definitely made me rethink that bowl of ice cream… for a minute or two at least. Although I would expect specialists to do it much better and much faster, for non-specialists, they were very credible with the hip action and basic character of the dance. Besides the opening slide, which felt a little uncomfortable, both dancers nailed their foot placement and danced more than they posed. Technically, it was probably one of the best rumbas this show has ever seen, which brings me to my next point. Did you notice how picky the judges were being with them? When Will and Jessica danced that horrible Tango two weeks ago, we didn’t hear any technical critiques. I totally disagree with the judges regarding Gev’s hands; they weren’t floppy! He may not have finished every single arm/hand movement, but floppy? And pointing out to Courtney to lift her leg a little higher when we’ve seen some horrible leg extensions was just kind of nuts. Anyone notice her dress catching on her heel while she was lying on the ground? She unhooked it without missing a beat! This performance was definitely a high point for me!

3. Comfort and Chris (African Jazz)

My body physically tensed up hearing that Marilyn Manson song. The first time I saw him was in the video of “Beautiful People” and it totally freaked me out. Combine a creepy song I abhor with an ADD choreographer named Tyce and what do you get? Pieces of disjointed choreography with no clear point of view. What was the story? Were the dancers pre battle, post battle, in stealth mode? As for Nigel’s “more animalistic” comment, I think raw and dirty would have been more appropriate adjectives to describe African warriors. Comfort obviously wasn’t able to call her dad to learn about her African roots because she was pretty awful. As for Chris, he looked like he was trying way too hard. I’m not sure if it is his body type, his posture, his lack of fluidity, the way he uses his hands, his facial expressions, or some combination of all of the above, but he stands out as being an awkward fit for a show based on versatility. If Chris had gone home last week, like he should have, it would have been Comfort and Marquis dancing African Jazz. Call me racially bias, but my gut tells me I would be writing a completely different review. Definitely B3.

4. Jessica and Will (Disco)

Why, why, why do they let Doriana continue to inflict her horror upon this show? In every single rehearsal video, she says the exact same thing every time- “Disco is no joke. Disco is actually pretty hard. Beware of the death drop. There are fun lifts.” The bottom line is that her recycled choreography sucks. There’s never enough actual dancing and she goes overboard with the awkwardly placed lifts that usually come one after the other towards the end of the routine. Tonight it was just lift, lift, lift with absolutely no transitional movements or relationship to the music. Perhaps we can start a petition to boycott disco (among other dance styles) and replace it with, I don’t know, maybe River Dance or Bollywood? As far as the dancers, I’m interested to see what Will will be like once Jessica stops “dragging him down.” NOT. I have yet to see this amazing potential that the judges keep shrieking about. Sorry, I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid, so stop shoving him down my throat! Will definitely had the disco attitude tonight (LOVED his opening pose!), but both he and Jessica made way too many mistakes to receive any kind of accolades. The lifts and the death spiral were labored and clunky, and their performance as a whole was underwhelming. The best part of the whole routine was Jessica moving her hand at the end to match Will’s stumbled line. When a mistake is the best thing going, you’re in trouble. Last week’s cool hip hop routine kept them out of danger, but I think they may be back in the bottom tonight.

5. Kourtni and Matthew (Lyrical)

Color me slightly disappointed by Sonya Tayeh’s routine. From her appearance and the rehearsal footage, I was expecting something more eccentric, really “out there.” It had its interesting moments, but unique? Not so much. On the other hand, I think Kourtni and Matt danced it brilliantly! They had amazing lines, strong partnering, and perfectly in sync jumps and turns. I still don’t get their harping on Matt’s personality and his “up” ness. Actually, I don’t think he’s stiff at all; Nigel just doesn’t like him! My only real issue with this performance was Kourtni’s big black booty shorts. Everything else was so zany and bright and colorful… and then big black butt. Couldn’t they find yellow or green? Oh, and I seriously doubt Matt will ever wear that mask again.

6. Chelsea and Thayne (Quick Step)

Poor, poor Chelsea and Thayne. Poor, poor bouncy little misunderstood quick step. Last week, Chelsea was taking tickets on the Hot Tamale Train, and Thayne was pushing the drink cart. This week, you know those little car things that run on railroad tracks that have levers both people have to work in order to make it move? Well, now they are on the Hot Tamale That Thing. (I researched it and could not find the name). And if they don’t get their solos in order, they’ll be tied to the Hot Tamale Train Tracks by a Hot Tamale Silent Movie Villain. Enough already. The quick step has got to be in hold for the entire performance, so it’s hard to relax and show personality. Also, it’s very fast, but the couple is supposed to glide across the floor, not bounce as these two did. At the very end when they broke into the Charleston, Thayne looked amazing. I also thought he did a better job than Chelsea with the general footwork.  Chelsea was too busy trying to be sassy that she completely abandoned the feel and technique of the dance. Definitely B-3 and I am more than ready for Chelsea to go home. She’s yet to really impress me.

7. Chelsie and Mark (Hip Hop)

Absolutely brilliant choreography and once again, this couple performed my favorite routine of the evening! No, it wasn’t hard hitting hip hop Shane Sparks choreography, Chelsie’s chest pop was awful, and the part where she was supposed to snake her head through her body to the side didn’t actually “snake”. But because they were both so emotionally invested in the story line and the literal concept of “Bleeding Love”, they sold it like no body’s business! Chelsie danced with such anguish and desperation that I was literally blown away! Mark’s movements were crisp and clean, yet wrought with meaning. I don’t think there’s any style this couple can’t emote! Okay, as much as I like these new, lyrical hip hop choreographers, I have a problem with them being the only, or main, hip hop choreographers on the show. Don’t you just crave some “too much booty in the pants”, fast, hard hitting hip hop choreography? Shane Sparks’s opening number from last Thursday is exactly what I would like to see!

8. Katee and Joshua (Samba)

I know many people believe this couple to be the pimped Chosen Couple, but hands down, they have been my absolutely favorite ever since Week 1. Joshua looked like he was born to do the Samba and Katee’s hip action and footwork were marvelous. When Joshua came out in those pants doing the samba walk, I thought about B-Boy Ryan doing his Latin Ballroom dance in Season 1. It’s so refreshing to see someone so completely out of their element, yet attack the style with such fervor! I was disappointed that they didn’t try a Samba roll; I know they would have pulled it off with flying colors! I’d also like to see Katee get more credit for the role she plays in the partnership. Tonight was the perfect time for Mary to say something directly to Katee about her actual dancing, but once again, she ignored her as an individual. For me, Katee is probably the most versatile of all the girls in the competition and I’d just like to see her recognized. I love Tony and Melanie as choreographers, and couldn’t be happier that the show is finally giving Melanie more air time and speaking roles. And boy, does she look fantastic! “What Not To Wear” really changed her own whole persona!

My personal favorites are Katee/Joshua, Chelsie/Mark, Courtney/Gev, and Twitch/Kherington. If those eight are on the tour, I just might go.

B3 Prediction: Comfort/Chris (African Jazz), Jessica/Will (Disco), Chelsea/Thayne (Quick Step) and I think they’ll probably send Jessica and Chris home… although I’m not sure they want Comfort and Will to be a couple (although I’d like to see it!)… so they might send another complete couple home being Comfort/Chris. I wouldn’t care if they sent Chelsea home either- I can’t see her doing any better than she already has. This group just isn’t in the same league as my Top 8!

 

Comments

[Laptop Television Mom]

VOTED OFF THIS WEEK:

Chelsea and Chris