Laptop Television Mom

SYTYCD Season 4: Top 6

Great show this week.  Loved the new Australian choreographer!  Anyway, on to the recap.

DIXIE SAYS:

Mini-rant: Why do the judges make allowances for Joshua and Twitch not being trained in certain disciplines when critiquing him? But not do the same for Courtney and Katee? Yes, I understand that dancing Ballroom and Contemporary is a foreign language to Hip Hoppers and B-Boys. Yes, I understand that it is difficult. What I don’t understand is why they don’t express the same amazement when Courtney and Katee, both contemporary dancers, pull off a Ballroom performance like they’ve been doing it for years. This week it really bugged me and put a damper on what I think was a night of really strong dancing. The producers are shoving their agenda down our throats in such a blatant fashion this season. Mint-rant complete.

Do you know why there has been so much Celine Dion this season? I think its because Benji rejected part of his Prize Package, which was to dance in her show. They owe her.

If Mary and Paula aren’t best friends, they should be. What a perfect pair!

My reviews:

Courtney and Mark (Viennese Waltz and Jazz)

I really wanted to see Mark paired up with Katee tonight, but I knew that it wouldn’t happen. The producers tried to put the fix in as hard as they could…. 1- Joshua and Katee reunited and it feels so good 2- Twitch and Chelsie performing dances squarely in their specialties, and in the pimp spot, nonetheless 3-Pairing what they consider to be the Weakest Links and having them go in the Death Spot. Can you say BACKFIRED? Courtney and Mark were absolutely incredible in every sense of the word! The Viennese Waltz was heartbreakingly beautiful, reminiscent of the Lacey/Pasha Waltz which was easily one of my all time favorites! So utterly romantic, like a newlywed couple coming home from a night out. And what’s this? The dance actually contained Waltz movements, unlike the Waltz Twitch was praised about earlier in the season. Besides his stunningly gorgeous rise and fall, Mark brought maturity and smoothness to what I would call the best performance of the evening! The added bonus of a David Cook song made it undeniably swoon-worthy. Courtney danced like a perfect princess, making every twirl, every lift, look effortless and lovely. We all know she pairs well, but she also seems to be the only girl who understands how to choreograph a solo. That alone should earn her ticket to the Final Four next week. The Jazz performance, which fit Mark to a tee, only confirmed what I already knew about this dynamic duo; they can do anything! The Burlesque number was sassy, entertaining, and showcased the quick chemistry between these two “weak links.” I had to giggle at the flower in choreographer Sonya’s Mohawk. I hope to see them both next week.

 

Katee and Joshua (Contemporary and Paso Doble)

Although the “holy trinity of dance” comment was way over the top, I would rank Joshua and Katee in my All Time Top 3 SYTYCD Partnerships with Chemistry. Very, very few couples have moved me the way that this pair has. And quite honestly, Joshua does seem to lose some of his sparkle when he is not dancing with Katee, while Katee manages to sparkle all by herself. She has the technique that he lacks. But what Joshua lacks in training, he makes up with his strength. They just work! The Contemporary performance was mesmerizing. The lifts were amazing, especially the way Katee was able to get into them; she just doesn’t look like she would be able to do such athletic feats, yet she was perfectly capable. The move that made me catch my breath was the Leap of Faith Katee performed into Josh’s arms near the end. Although imperfect, the Paso Doble was intense with the right blend of sensuality and aggressiveness. Katee was as lovely as always, but seemed a little too soft at the beginning. Joshua’s missteps did not go unnoticed, but he maintained the matador attitude and stayed committed throughout. The change in the music in the middle of the performance kept it interesting and entertaining. Let’s talk controversy for a moment. There is a tricky connotation vs. denotation as far as the definition of “classical training. The judges’ intent was for us to believe that Joshua has had no training outside of Hip Hop. His audition pirouettes and scissor kicks during Vegas Week say otherwise. Perhaps the judges are misremembering that Debbie Allen called Joshua out on his ballet moves. In one of his early pre-performance videos, he even admits to having been sporadically trained at various workshops and camps. No, he isn’t a heavily trained dancer, but to say that he has NO TRAINING is pushing the use of the language. Regardless, it’s not Joshua’s fault that Nigel is losing what little mind he has left. Moving on, while Joshua is awesome and his stage command is excellent, the praise he received tonight was nauseating. He’s obviously the weekly top vote getter and the judges want to be able to say they called it. Meanwhile, poor Katee, who is by far the best dancer to ever grace their stage, has to stand there like chopped liver and listen to it. If there is any justice, Katee will win this competition and second place will go to Mark, Courtney, and/or Joshua.

Chelsie and Twitch (Mambo and Hip Hop)

If it were up to me, Chelsie and Twitch would be the two dancers leaving the show this week. They were fortunate enough to land the coveted pimp spot and dance inside their areas of expertise, yet they still bombed. And don’t even get me started on their total lack of chemistry. Sorry Nigel, I actually did notice all the missed connections in that ludicrous mess of a Mambo; I didn’t need Twitch’s face to tell me anything. Chelsie, who magically gets ballroom every week (imagine that?) had great leg action, good hip action, and proper Mambo technique, but her upper body was painfully weak. From concept to choreography to execution, the Hip Hop routine was atrocious! Chelsie barely danced at all and then the judges claimed she was keeping up with Twitch? When? Where? Twitch literally danced circles around her for the entire performance. Chelsie was given one extremely rudimentary thing to do; she went down on one knee with her back leg outstretched and then she came back up. Wow Wee. Chelsie didn’t do a single thing this week that warrants Final Four status, but just in case she makes it anyway, she should watch tapes of Benji and Heidi’s solos to learn how to do a good, entertaining ballroom solo. She should also consider a costume that isn’t from the 2008 Muppet Inspired Collection of Ugly. While brilliant in his solos, Twitch’s lack of training really shows up in many of his partner dances. I love him in his element, but when he’s out of his element, he’s often WAY out. Mary telling Twitch that he has been great in every style this season, but then only lists Hip Hop, Krump, ... (draws a blank) is classic.

My ideal Final Four would have been Katee, Joshua, Courtney, and Gev… here’s hoping that Mark replaces Gev and that Chelsie and Twitch call it a night.

 

SYTYCD Season 4: Top 8 (THE RESULTS)

We didn't hear from Dixie this week (something about a husband who likes boxing and a Tivo!) 

Anyway, I can share the results from this week's show.  Comfort and Will received the lowest number of votes and left the show.  Comfort leaving was no surprise, but Will's departure was a total disappointment.

Until next week...

SYTYCD Season 4: Top 10

This week's show was a complete train wreck, in this mom's humble opinion.  (Thank goodness I watched Project Runway and Shear Genius afterwards!) Of course, the person with the in-depth, hilarious and often insightful feedback is Dixie. 

DIXIE SAYS: How unfortunate that wardrobe couldn’t scrub Mia’s tire tracks off of Jessica’s dress. Speaking of Jessica, how do you “break” two ribs and “fracture” one? There is absolutely no difference between those words. Perhaps she meant that she has two severe fractures and one hairline fracture. Don’t mess with Mia, man.

Lil’ C is an awesome judge! In fact, he is the anti-Mia… so rational, so reasonable, so even. He praised the skilled components, commented on what needed to be improved (if anything), and then gave a little pat on the back for the dancers’ efforts. Imagine him, Dan, and Tabitha/Napoleon judging the show instead of Nigel, Mary, and Mia. Can we have that please?

So, David Archuleta sounds asthmatic in recordings too. Who would have guessed that?

On to the dancing:

Courtney and Joshua (Hip Hop and Rhumba)

I admit it; I initially missed Courtney with Gev and Joshua with Katee, but both parties of this new pairing transcend the mechanics of dance with such intrinsic joy and feeling that I got over it quick like. Joshua is truly a jack of all trades and knows how to completely transform himself for every challenge. His Spankenstein and popping/acrobatic solo were of course awesome and entertaining, but I was more impressed with the grace, maturity, and hip action he exhibited during that incredible Rhumba! Half the credit, of course, goes to Courtney, whose lines and timing are second to none, but all the mechanics seemed like an afterthought compared to their immediate jaw dropping chemistry! If that wasn’t the epitome of burning passion then what is! Joshua seems so humble, almost shy, during his interviews, but as soon as he steps foot on that stage, his personality comes out in spades! He is my favorite male dancer by a gazillion miles. Courtney never ceases to impress me; from her believable, fun loving Hip Hop moves to her sultry Rhumba to her highly skilled Lyrical solo, she was a definite stand out tonight.

Kherington and Mark (Two Step and Jazz)

So why didn’t the poor Two Step choreographers get the usual “we’re so blessed to have you” shout out? It was a perfectly good piece of country choreography! It’s not their fault that Kherington has noodle arms. Seriously, that Two Step couldn’t have been more of a nightmare if Mark would have had a dead horse as a partner. Kherington was checked out, completely missing connections that poor Mark was standing there waiting for! When the judges pointed out that she was trying to lead and helpfully showed us the clip to demonstrate the point, I was even more horrified. The stylist who put together their costumes should be fired on the spot. They both looked ridiculous, but Kherington even more so. To make matters worse for this couple, Tyce’s Jazz choreography flat out sucked! The pairing of those movements with that song was bizarre to say the least. There wasn’t one step that went with the natural rise and fall of the music. It’s pretty bad when Napoleon Dynamite uses the same song (“Canned Heat”) for his high school dance number, and his performance is more potent. Mark’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” solo was fabulous and innovative, so hopefully that, along with his large fan base, will save him. I cannot put into words how much I abhorred Kherington’s solo! Zero musicality, zero choreography, zero commitment. And what was up with that half-hearted booty shake at the end? If you’re going to stick your back side in the camera, you better mean it. If not, then choreograph some different steps! After that garbage, I truly believe Kherington is in great danger of going home this week.

Comfort and Twitch (Waltz and Hip Hop)

It has to be Nigel behind the horrible song choices for Hip Hop. There’s no way Dave Scott picked that sappy song for a hard hitting urban routine. After watching their awesome rehearsal footage, I was all set for a Jamal/Destiny/Shane Sparks/Pitbull revival. And it didn’t happen. Besides the distracting music, I was so put off by the costumes and Comfort’s makeup that I could barely focus on their dancing abilities. What a tragically missed opportunity! And then there was that Waltz… although it wasn’t the train wreck that it could have been, it was just simply not good enough. No connection, no rise and fall, and sloppy footwork means one of these dancers will most likely be eliminated this week. Both of their solos were passable at best.

Katee and Will (Broadway and Pas de Deux)

A few weeks ago, Katee stopped being my favorite female dancer and became my favorite dancer overall of the entire season. I absolutely adore her, her exquisite artistry and her unfaltering love of dance. When Katee reached the apex of her split leap during her solo, her grin exploded with some sort of giddy zest that is hard to put into words. It was like the ecstasy of flight- what birds must feel as they are soaring above the earth on a beautiful, blue day! It’s that expressiveness and passion that puts her above all others. Will may be a naturally talented, well-trained, athletic dancer with a good sense of musicality, but tonight, I finally realized what he is missing; he lacks overall ease and gracefulness which causes a lack of flow in his movements. Unfortunately, fluidity, like being light on one’s feet, is just one of those things you either have or you don’t. And sorry, Will, you don’t. Also, he seems to dance with his arms a lot. Maybe he doesn’t have the strongest core, so he relies on the sharpness of his arm lines to cover it up. Particularly in their second routine, I wanted his legs to be as precise as his arms, and they weren’t. Not sure why the judges made such a fuss over that ridiculous Broadway routine that had absolutely nothing to do with “Guys and Dolls”. If they are going to continue to use this category, shouldn’t the dance have SOMETHING to do with the Broadway show? “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” takes place in a church mission and the guy is giving his testimony. The boat is metaphorical and yet Tyce turns it into a couple flailing about in a boat?  The context and meaning could not have been more lost. Although the Pas de Deux could have simply been called Contemporary, it was breathtaking to watch, botched spin and all. Desmond is an incredible choreographer, and despite the gaspy song choice, I found the entire routine to be awe-inspiring. Definitely my favorite of the night! Will needs to stop with the shirtlessness yesterday. Also, was Katee wearing Joshua's hat?

Chelsie and Gev (Contemporary and Jive)

I cannot believe the chemistry between these two dancers! It was as if they had been dancing together for years! When Gev is in his element, he has such a quietly confident showmanship. It’s so effortlessly enjoyable! The choreographers are really taking advantage of his ability to explode into the air with no visible preparation. On a show like this, it’s not just the contestants who are working outside their dance wheelhouse; the choreographers are also! Metaphorically speaking, they have to write poetry using words that may never rhyme again. This week both of Chelsie and Gev’s routines were pure poetry in motion! “These Arms of Mine” by Otis Redding was the perfect backdrop for their emotional Contemporary piece and I literally sighed in contentment at the end. I don’t know all that much about proper Jive technique, but I thought Gev did an outstanding job, much better than the other male Jivers this season, and Chelsie absolutely shined! Besides the fact that it was one of the fastest Jives I have ever seen, it was fun, energetic, and entertaining from beginning to end. Chelsie definitely gets props for working the “Cookie Monster” dress like Anya, but let’s hope she doesn’t get any ideas about replicating her “Flava Flav’s Barcalounger” unitard. Her solo was energetic, but as the weeks go on, she may run into the same stumbling blocks that other Ballroom dancers have faced. Hopefully, her exceptional partner work will override her solos and she’ll be around for weeks to come.

Going home? Honestly, I think it should be Kherington, but it might be Comfort again. And on the male side…. Either Mark or Twitch.

SYTYCD Season 4: Top 12

The SYTYCD judges were spicy, and Dixie was even spicer this week.  I watched last night's show mildly disgusted, good thing Dixie lets me know I am not alone.

DIXIE SAYS: This week on SYTYCD, the part of Old Uncle Icky was played (per usual) by Nigel Lithgoe, who, even more than usual, truly embraced the character. And in a stunning, totally committed performance, the part of Rodan was played by Mia Michaels, who swooped down on Jessica, grabbed the young red-head in her talons and flew her off to Monster Island.

Once again, Mia exposed herself as a bitter pill who needs to stick the verbal knife into other people to validate her own existence. Forget all the talk about “earthiness” and “organic”, THIS is the real Mia Michaels.

What happened to Mary Murphy? She has become progressively more horrific, and it kind of makes me sad. “There is only one rule on this stage… (pause for a ridiculous amount of time because she lost her drunken train of thought)…….Heart.” Her brain has officially left the building.

Oh, and Nigel, you have our full permission to boo yourself whenever you deem fit. We’ll even provide you with the bullhorn.

Bottom three this week? Most definitely Nigel, Mary, and Mia.

On to the dancing:

Chelsie and Mark (Salsa and Broadway)

Did anyone else find Mia’s comment about stabbing Chelsie due to her beauty more than a little disturbing? Chelsie was definitely a sensation in her costumes, but if I had known we would be subjected to Nigel’s overly pervy comments, I never would have complained about the big, gawdy dresses. The salsa was tons of fun, and both Chelsie and Mark danced it wonderfully, but there was something weird about it. Alex duh Silva choreographed something that wasn’t as fast-paced and trick-laden as his typical competition-ready routines. Maybe he was going for more of a club vibe, but unfortunately, it didn’t translate for me. The best salsa dances I’ve seen imbue their movements with some incredibly contradictory characteristics- they are delicate but athletic, elegant yet earthly, sensual while also being appropriately restrained (side note: the best dancers don’t cross the line between sensual and straight out freaky either). This salsa routine just kind of missed the mark, but my disappointment is with the choreography and not the dancers. I don’t think it’s possible for me to say positive things about any Broadway routine. Remember my suggestion for the producers to replace with Broadway with Bollywood? Well, they forgot to take out the Broadway. Chelsie and Mark did was as asked of them, and if there is any justice left on this show, they will sail through to the Top Ten.

Comfort and Thayne (Hip Hop and Contemporary)

I think this couple needs to make like a tree and leave. Pun intended however bad it is. Unless Comfort is dancing in her style, she just isn’t exciting to watch. The opening sequence of the Hip Hop number was awesome, but by the time they got to the dance floor, all the magic had disappeared. The Contemporary routine had potential, but the execution was weak making it completely forgettable. I feel really sorry for Thayne because he does have superior technique; his lines during the Contemporary were nothing short of amazing! Imagine him with someone like Katee! It was nice to see the look on Thayne’s face as Mia complimented him. Hopefully it took some of the sting out of what might be the inevitable for him. Because of the judges’ constant comments about chemistry, the show runs the risk of auditioning a bunch of mediocre dancers next year, and they have no one to blame but themselves. No real dancer who has perfect technique and carriage wants to hear they that suck because they didn’t emote, or couldn’t show chemistry toward a dancer who isn’t attracted to them. So goes the way of Henry Graham and Kelly Price.

Jessica and Will (Contemporary and Quickstep)

Hades has obviously frozen over because Tyce’s “Adam and Eve” choreography was by far the best thing we’ve seen from him to date. Truth be told, I was a wee bit bothered by the Biblical annotation being attached to something that was so overtly sexual and lustful. Speaking of which, when did this show become PG-13? As far as Will and Jessica’s execution of Tyce’s choreography, I found it to be jerky and fondle-y, absent of the grace and artistry we’ve seen from so many other couples. From the beginning, Will was wobbling and trembling in the lifts. Perhaps that is what Mia means by “organic” movement. Even still, Will just doesn’t do anything for me and I fail to see what is so fantastic about him. The Quickstep wasn’t nearly as awful as the judges made it out to be, and Jessica was by no means any worse than Will. Getting thrown under the bus doesn’t even begin to describe what they did to that poor girl during the second round of judging. Did they really think their scripted efforts would make us feel sorry for poor Will who is so tired from holding his partner up? Not in this lifetime. Will was given a perfect opportunity to say some lovely and uplifting things about his partner, and all he could come up with was “I’m glad she came out of her shell tonight” while not even looking at her? Last week he seemed genuinely upset when the judges berated her; tonight he seemed like he just wanted to save himself. Maybe the meltdown they mentioned a few weeks ago was due to their dislike of each other.

Courtney and Gev (Cha Cha and Jazz)

I still can’t get over how convincing Courtney was as a hip hop dancer last week! Even though I knew the judges wouldn’t send either one of them home, it was a total shock to see them in the bottom. The highlight, of course, was seeing Gev’s solo- that was awesome… dangerous, but awesome! Even though the Cha Cha is one of those dances you can fake, Courtney and Gev did an amazing job with it. Gev’s lack of technique was only obvious to me after Mary pointed it out. My only suggestion would be that Courtney dial down the Mystic Tan; she was practically lipless! The jazzy map dance was entertaining and adorable. These two cuties are definitely one of the stronger, if not the strongest, couples as a whole. Mia’s “you’re not the best dancers on this show… but you’re one of my favorites” is just par for the course with that wretched woman.

Kherington and Twitch (Krump and Smooth Tango)

What was Nigel smoking to make him think that it would be a good idea to tell the world that he’d forget the last part of their Krump routine and just focus on the good beginning? I thought he was joking at first! At any other time with any other couple, he’d say, “The end is what brings the dance home. You’ve got to sell it from beginning to end!” Kherington was overly exhausted by the end of a TWO MINUTE dance routine (and she wasn’t even dancing in the beginning during Twitch’s dazzling opening) and its still praise worthy? What happened to dancers being athletes and needing stamina? I became increasingly more outraged as each judge fell into lockstep with Nigel’s “ignoring” of the last 16-cts. Why didn’t they conveniently ignore Gev’s lack of technique in the Cha Cha? Why didn’t they ignore Will and Jessica’s lower half in the Quickstep? Or the “Viennese Waltz” part of Katee and Joshua’s first dance?
AND if you remember, when Kherington and Twitch did the same Viennese Waltz, there was NOTHING waltz about it, and it wasn’t even mentioned. With that said, I don’t want my disgust with the Three Stooges to take away from by far, the best Krump routine I’ve ever seen on this show. Twitch was nothing short of spectacular, and up until the ending, I really respected the effort and energy Kherington was bringing to the genre. Of course we didn’t get to see the very end of the routine; thank you for showing us the over-stage lights instead of the dancers, Mr. Camerman! The Smooth Tango was pretty lame, but its amazing how all of a sudden, Mary springs alive when she is critiquing a dance in her wheelhouse! When they panned to Twitch’s face while Mary was ticking off his missing technique, I could almost hear the trombone sound that is Charlie Brown’s teacher’s voice. Mary: You didn’t execute the carbuncle-knee-toe split and your split-hammer glide was off and… Twitch’s brain: Bwwaaan, ba-bwaaaaa, ba-ba-bwaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh.

Katee and Joshua (Viennese Waltz and Bollywood)

How dare those judges criticize this Viennese Waltz after praising the same dance on another night that wasn’t even a waltz! My outrage continues. Yes, it was a tad bouncy, but I thought it was breathtakingly beautiful and very romantic. Joshua’s build puts him at a disadvantage for ballroom dancing, where looking tall and lean is ideal for the males. However, even with his muscular, stocky build, I’m continually impressed with his musicality, his balance, and his lightness of movement. I don’t even know where to start with the Bollywood routine; these two frontrunners killed it, just like I knew that they would! Bollywood is a blend of many dance styles, mainly African, Middle Eastern, Hip Hop, and Jazz, but more importantly, it requires athleticism, huge amounts of energy, and big goofy happiness, all of which this couple possesses! Even with all the jumping and hopping around, they were able to maintain really precise hand movements, and those looked to be pretty complicated hand gestures. I was especially blown away by Katee and the lightness and radiance she effortlessly brings to every routine. Not only did she look adorable in the traditional garb from India, but she could have passed for an Indian! I love this couple to pieces. Bravo!! Bravo!!

Bottom 2 Couples:

• Comfort and Thayne
• Jessica and Will (although America seems to really keep them out of the bottom as of late)

If the judges keep Comfort over Jessica, then it will be a travesty. I’d love to see Comfort and Will go home, but that ain’t happening! If its any other couple in the bottom with Comfort and Thayne, then its goodbye to Comfort and Thayne.

SYTYCD Season 4: Top 14

Another good week for dancing, and another great week for Dixie’s recaps. Here’s a shout-out to Katee, who I just learned is from San Jose! Read the story in the San-Jose Mercury News HERE. Good luck, Katee!

DIXIE SAYS: Okay. They should never do that again. Way too many short dances and it was obvious that most of the couples spent tons of time on one of them, and then just “made due” with the other one. By the last half hour of the show, I didn’t care anymore.

Nigel, the third guy is Jules Munshin. But more importantly, surely there is another rude British dancer/choreographer that can take Nigel’s place. I have just about had it with that man. I hate the way he judges. I hate his voice. I hate his face.  Please Nigel, for the survival of the show, replace yourself. Just stay home and count your money.

I’ll admit that I rather liked his grumpy mood toward Mary and the audience. It’s very annoying when the audience starts booing before the judges even finish a sentence, but I never expected Nigel to tell them not to come to the show. That was classic!!

On to the dancing:

Jessica and Will (Jive and Lyrical Jazz)

I feel so bad for Jessica. It’s got to stink to have the perceived “svengali of dance” as a partner. I don’t even really like Jessica, but the “William is God and you are dirt on his shoes” is getting old. And then they have the gall to criticize her for not having confidence? Talk about mind games! I kind of want Jessica to leave the show just so they can stop reminding her how much she sucks. The Jive was “okay” but I really thought Jessica was on par with Will. The Lyrical Jazz, which is really just Contemporary under another name, was brilliant! Mandy Moore redeemed herself, and Jessica was a beautiful partner. Will looked genuinely upset when the judges were tearing Jessica down for the zillionth time on a dance he knew she nailed. Although I think he is getting far more praise than he deserves, it’s not his fault and I think no one (except maybe Jessica) would be more delighted if they stopped tearing his partner apart.

Comfort and Thayne (Broadway and Waltz)

Andy Blankenbuehter is definitely a valuable recruit to the show. His choreography tonight was the best we’ve seen in the nebulous “Broadway” category. It actually seemed worthy of being on a Broadway stage, especially compared to the theme park revue choreography we are used to getting from Tyce. What a shame that it was wasted on these two dancers! While Thayne was “okay”, he doesn’t have the musicality needed for a number like “Cool”. I agree with Tabitha and Napoleon completely (and I love them as judges!)- There is a build and a momentum to true Broadway choreography. There are moments that are understated so that other moments can pop, and this couple just didn’t grasp that aspect. The Waltz was stunning and Comfort looked amazing, but by that time, I was falling asleep and over it, as I’m sure most of America was. B3 for sure.

Kourtni and Matthew (Hip Hop and Mambo)

So yet again, we have Nigel calling Matt gay in every way he possibly can without actually saying the G-word. Matt is in the same boat as Jessica, except that Nigel actually hates Matt as a person. I’m probably in the minority here, and I will admit that the Hip Hop routine started out pretty rough, but all of a sudden, they were rocking it out! They started to relax and get into it, and personally, I thought it was fun and very enjoyable. No, it wasn’t the best hip hop ever, but Kourtni and Matt did not deserve that beating! Unfortunately, Alex Duh Silva is a selfish ego maniac who didn’t take the dancers height into consideration when choreographing their Mambo and they suffered because of it. In addition, neither of these dancers has any hip action, or hips so to speak. Definitely B3 and there’s a possibly they could both be eliminated. Although the judges would love to get rid of Jessica and Matt, there is no way they will pair Kourtni, who is the biggest girl on the show, with thin little Will.

Chelsie and Mark (Jazz and Foxtrot)

This couple didn’t excite me the way they normally do, but they continue to be a delight! I love their chemistry and they are two of the better “actors” on the show. They balance each other beautifully, and always seem to know where the other is at any given moment in the routine. The Jazz routine was awesome and highlighted their fantastic partnership. They took the choreography, injected their personalities, and made it their own. The Foxtrot was elegant and lovely, and Mark totally looked like a ballroom dancer. Why do they keep hiding Chelsea in these big gaudy dresses? Poor girl had to eat a feather! The judges praise them, but blandly. I think Adam (Hairspray) has been the only judge so far to really express great appreciate for the way they dance.

Kherington and Twitch (Paso Doble and Contemporary)

Kherington looks like a young Sharon Stone, especially with her hair slicked back. Twitch’s upper body trumps little Will’s any day of the week. The reason he can’t bring his shoulders down, aside from the fact that they are huge, is that they are naturally high. And apparently, no other male dancer on the show has the type of upper body strength Twitch has because no other male is given the complicated, extreme lifts and flips he is given. They judges must know this, so why bring up his shoulders? I actually enjoyed the Paso Doble and thought they both did an excellent job maneuvering those capes. As for the Contemporary, Kherington’s bed head cracked me up! There wasn’t a whole lot of dancing or real movement, and what is up with Mia and those faux flowers? Still, it was entertaining and goes to show that this couple can look good doing just about anything.

Katee and Joshua (Contemporary and West Coast Swing)

It’s about time that Katee get some individual love and praise! The girl is all that and more!! The Contemporary routine was hands down, my very favorite of the night! Deep, riveting, truly amazing… For once, Joshua was choreographed into the background, but he was there for Katee and the partnered parts were captivating. Before the commercial break when Kat announced that this couple would be doing West Coast Swing, the mere thought of Benji choreographing the dance was just too much to hope for! And then we get Benji, Lacey, a puppy, and my favorite couple all in one segment! As for the performance, they executed it well (minus a little bit of clunkiness from Joshua) but I couldn’t help but want it to be faster, like the way Benji and Heidi dance! I realize that West Coast Swing can be danced fast or slow, just like the Rhumba, and some of the best swing is an earthy, grounded partnering where the lead-and-follow connection is the main ingredient. But I personally prefer the fast, razzle-dazzle, show me the money, competition style that the Schwinners have down pat. Regardless, Americahas fallen in love with Katee and Joshua.

Courtney and Gev (Hip Hop and Broadway)

Without a doubt, Courtney is THE best non-hip hop dancer that has ever graced the SYTYCD! She is from New York and has the same old school, East Coast feel as the two choreographers. While Gev was very good, Courtney just blew me away! I never would have thought she had THAT in her. My second favorite performance of the evening! How incredibly disturbing and offensive were Nigel’s comments! Where do I begin! First of all, why does Courtney have to be naturally “ghetto” in order to dance hip hop well? For whatever reason, this show’s presentation of hip hop as a legitimate dance genre is distasteful and hypocritical. Come on, Nigel, do you want the dancers to hit it hard or not? We all know he loves “so called” lyrical-hip hop set to slow, bluesy songs, but to tell two professional Hip Hop choreographers that their work wasn’t really hip hop? This was one of the first REAL hip hop routines this season! No wonder Shane Sparks doesn’t want to be a mentor on the show anymore. And since when did Nigel become a hip hop expert? As for the Broadway, my mind was pretty much numb by that point. Both Gev and Courtney were as cute as can be, and I wanted to love their Broadway, but… I just didn’t. It wasn’t bad, just blah, kind of like the West Coast Swing.

B3 Predictions:

Comfort and Thayne

Kourtni and Matt

Jessica and Will??? I’m not sure about the third couple, but its probably because I love the other four couples! I hope its not Courtney and Gev!! The judges eliminations were PERFECT last week, so I have faith they’ll get it right. Eliminating Comfort and Thayne would probably be my first choice. If it was actually the weakest girl and the weakest boy, it would be Comfort and Thayne in my opinion.

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!