This week’s opening routine was like something out of a Charlie Chaplin
nightmare. The girls and guys were indistinguishable from one another, each
clad in a loose fitting suit, bowler cap, and mustache. The routine was filled
with lots of nice smaller moments – the guys lifting the girls on develepe and
at least one of the dancers had a lovely spinning stag leap – but I didn’t feel
like the routine had a good sense of direction. There was also a red umbrella
they were passing around (at least I think there was one), but it didn’t seem
to have a purpose, symbolic or otherwise. Tyce DiOrio choreographed the
routine.
This week the third judging seat was filled by Christina Applegate. She’s
got a few Broadway credits to her name, so she can at least recognize dancing,
but I think there are probably more qualified options. If you’re judging
something, I want you to know what you’re talking about. Or at least be funny.
Christina didn’t provide any intelligent critiques all night. In fact, there
were moments she was – dare I say it? – worse than Lil’ C.
George & Tiffany started off the night with a
Nappytabs hip-hop routine about adventures in babysitting. Their married
choreographers clearly have baby on the brain (seriously, Tabitha looks like
she’s about read to pop). It started off with the two “babysitters” going crazy
as soon as they heard the baby’s cries. The routine was set to “Out of My Mind”
by B.oB. feat. Nicki Minaj and had some serious popping. The two started on the
floor, gradually popping their way upright – all the time, perfectly in sync.
At one point, George got behind Tiffany, controlling her every move. It was
impressive how on point they were, considering they got punk’d by wardrobe with
those ill-fitting neon pants. Nigel called out Nappytabs for getting too light
with their hip-hop (although admittedly this routine had more popping than
Nappytabs’ last dozen or so routines combined). Christina’s critique was that
on the slower parts the dancers got “soupier” (“is that a thing?” she asked
Nigel) and then she said something about “X” marking the spot. I’m sorry,
Christina, but you’re going to need to do better than that. This is why we need
true dance experts, not celebs to judge this show.
Amber & Brandon had a major challenge this week.
As first-time partners, they had to bring some steamy chemistry to a Ray Lepper
jazz routine about a couple in the South in the summer – and it was hot.
Amber’s extension is simply sensational. I don’t think there’s a way that girl
can’t bend. I loved the moment when she was picking herself up from a floor
spin and Brandon slid the chair from across the stage and it ended up under her
butt. There were a few moments where the routine missed it, though. Toward the
end, there didn’t seem to be any moves planned; they kind of just seemed to be
making it up on the spot. Brandon partnered her well, but he was largely
invisible to me. The judges praised Amber, but ignored him. Nigel called it
“baby-making choreography.” Oookay. Nigel also warned Brandon to watch his
shoulders (agreed). He tenses up too much, and that sends his shoulders into
his ears. Not good for dance.
Apparently Janelle likes to write raps and Dareian is
a daredevil. It didn’t matter what they said, because their choreographer this
week was Pasha! Thank you, dance gods. You’ve clearly been listening to my
prayers. Unfortunately, not even a prayer could save these two in their
routine, set to, I shit you not, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepson. That song
was fun for about 10 seconds … like two months ago. Now it’s like a cockroach,
living in the proverbial apartment of the world’s mind, and it refuses to die.
ENOUGH. I was somewhat distracted by how poorly that poppy tune fit a cha-cha
routine. I wanted some spicy latin flavor. Instead, Janelle and Daeian gave us
a big, messy bowl of bland grits. Their footwork was too turned in (Mary picked
right up on that) and they struggled with the transitions. Their hand
connections were so sloppy, it was almost as if their hands were covered in
butter and they couldn’t get a grip on one another. On top of that, they were
both trying WAY too hard to be sexy (although that might have had something to
do with their teacher), but not with one another. Mary slammed their lack of
chemistry, footwork, carriage — basically everything. Christina shrugged it off
saying it wasn’t their genre. Christina, sweetie, that’s the whole point of
this show: to challenge dancers to excel in styles other than their own. These
two could be in trouble.
Lindsay & Cole got gorgeous a Mandy Moore
contemporary routine that they threw themselves into. Lindsay reached new
heights with her arabesque on point before collapsing into Cole’s arms. I got
chills. She was the unquestionable star of this routine. It seemed almost super-human
the way she floated into the air on her leaps. Cole was no slouch either. On
that grand jete in second, his extension was flawless. Every move with him
seems so perfectly placed, any dancer would envy him. I loved the way they lit
the stage for this, too. As the two dancers floated across the stage, their
shadows danced behind them on the walls. Simply incredible. Nigel called Cole’s
dancing “meticulous” and all the judges agreed Lindsay was a revelation this
week.
During rehearsals, Mandy Moore tried to steal Will away
from Amelia. The two danced a jazz routine about how
opposites attract set to “You” by The Creatures. The moves for this number were
more angular than some of the couple’s previous work. They were in-sync
overall, and there were a few “wow” moments – I loved it when Will grabbed
Amelia’s ankles, hanging her upside-down from his shoulders and spun her ’round
– but this wasn’t their strongest week. I’ll say this much, though: kudos to
Amelia for being able to dance a jazz number in those 4″ heels – damn!
Christina started off judging by telling Will and Amelia how amazing the
routine was. Nigel quickly contradicted her, scolding the pair for not
connecting with one another. There are differing opinions, but Applegate was
unable to string a sentence together for most of the night. Mary took the
middle of the road, saying it was good, just not as good as some of the other
routines they’ve done so far. Largely, I’d agree.
Matthew & Audrey got a salsa with new
choreographer Liz Lira. They seemed to be faring pretty well in rehearsals,
until they got to the tricks. I was a bit nervous for this, because these two
have been the couple to beat in my mind so far. They stumbled this week. The
costuming proved that even hotties like Matthew can’t pull off a shocking red
full body suit slit down to the navel. The dancing wasn’t much better. The
whole routine felt lethargic and lackluster. The pot stir Audrey did at the
beginning slowed them down. Matthew seemed to always be thinking about the next
step, and he let it show. That’s a big no-no in dance performance. The judges
tore them a new one, too. I think these two have a strong following, but I
could see them landing in the bottom. That said, I don’t think the judges will
send them home unless they really botch next week’s routines.
Witney & Chehon took on a Stacey Tookey
contemporary routine about two people who love one another but circumstances
get in the way. The routine was set to “I Will Always Love You” by the late
Whitney Houston (that still feels strange to write). The pressure was on for
Witney, whose parents named her after the iconic singer. Witney seemed to grab
onto a moment in time and hold onto it with her slightly forward-leaning
arabesque. Just when it looked like she couldn’t hold on any longer, Chehon was
right there to catch her. They cut the song to get to the climax a little too
soon for me. I would have liked to see the pair struggle with this forbidden
love a bit longer before getting to that moment, but it was incredible. Witney
dove at Chehon, who threw her spinning into the air and then caught her, as she
draped herself perfectly across his body. Wow. The pair got a standing ovation
from the judges and Nigel called it “flawless.”
Cyrus & Eliana got a customized hip-hop routine
from Nappytabs about a ballerina from a jewelry box corrupted by a robot.
Strange as the concept sounded, it kind of worked. Set to a slower version of
Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” the number featured great partner work. There were
times when Cyrus would start an arm isolation, and Eliana would seemingly
finish her sentences. When it was sharp, he was spot-on, but Eliana killed it
when it came to swag. It’s probably not a good sign when a hip-hop dancer gets
outdone in his own style by a ballerina, but that didn’t stop the judges from
fawning over Cyrus. I don’t get it with this guy. I mean, the is the king of
the robot, but that move is so 10 years ago, and it’s about the only thing he’s
good at. And every time he doesn’t do well in a style, they chalk it up to “not
being his style.” That’s bullshit. This show is about excelling at styles other
than your own. And he hasn’t yet. Christina was the voice of reason this time,
warning him to prepare for contemporary soon or he could be in trouble.
Elimination time, and once again, there were few surprises for me. Amber,
Lindsay, and Eliana landed in the bottom for the girls, and George, Brandon,
and Dareian were in danger of going home on the guys’ side. Unfortunately with
the new format, even though these dancers bombed last week, they all redeemed
themselves this week. Lindsay was lukewarm in the dentist routine, but
brilliant at tonight’s contemporary routine; Eliana struggled through a jive
last week, but bucked up (see what I did there?) with her hip-hop number tonight.
I thought Amber sizzled in last week’s tango (with no help from her partner)
and she was hot again tonight. Surprised to see her land in the bottom this
week – it seemed like her star was just starting to rise.
I thought George’s foxtrot was perfection last week and he was good again
tonight. Not sure how he landed in the bottom. Dareian botched it both weeks
for me, and Brandon is largely forgettable. I didn’t even remember what routine
he did last week (it was the Broadway bookworms-on-a-bench number with Janaya,
who got axed last week).
The judges asked four of the dancers to dancer solos: Amber, Eliana,
Brandon, and Dareian. Amber’s solo showed off her incredible
extension, but it felt like a series of moves, not a routine. Like I’ve said
before, a good dancer does not a good choreographer make. She did get great
height on her leaps and her center was nice, but the number dragged on. Stepper
Brandon had a lot of fun with the routine, but it didn’t include much stepping.
It was mostly him wiggling his hips. He’d do a few short sequences of stepping,
but then stop and make some ridiculous face. Not so buck.
Eliana went sans-toe shoes, but decided to dance in hot pink spandex pants
(eek!). She’s got gorgeous control of her movement though, pirouetting and
arabesquing all over the place. Her hands felt a little sloppy at times, but
overall, not a bad solo. Dareian seemed to always be falling, and it didn’t
feel as controlled as it should have been. His center is stunning though. I’m
pretty sure his pirouette count at the end was close to a hundred or so.
The special guest dancers tonight were from Alvin Ailey Dance performing a
routine called “The Hunt.” I’m a huge Alvin Ailey fan. That company does some
absolutely incredible dancing, but tonight’s routine didn’t do it for me. It
featured six guys shirtless (yes, honey), but in big black skirts with red
undersides (no, honey). The routine had strong warrior-like hand combat-style
moves with a mish-mosh of other sporadic leaps and such. The tribal circle was
cool, but then the music stopped all together, the men paired off and started
tangoing. I didn’t totally get it. I will say this much though, as much as I
didn’t like the routine, their technique is breathtaking.
Nigel started off saying that each of the dancers got a lot of votes, but
not enough. The judges were surprised all three of the girls ended up in the
bottom 3, and I agree. Ultimately, they ended up sending Amber home. So sad
they had to get rid of one of these three, because Amber was brilliant tonight
and didn’t deserve to go out like this. For the guys, Nigel seemed less sincere
about being bummed about the guys being in the bottom three, and ultimately,
they decided to eliminate Brandon. I think that was the right call. So sad to
see Amber go. That’s bullshit, America. You’ve got two weeks to think about it
though, as the show is taking a break during the Olympics. “So You Think You
Can Dance” resumes August 8. See you then!
This article appears in Jul 25-31, 2012.
