It’s finale time people! I am especially excited to see this episode because I was turned away from being at the taping after waiting almost 3 hours! BOO! From everything I’ve heard from people’s Twitter accounts, this is going to be an AMAZING show, so let’s get started! We'll have 9 dances tonight - all couples, no solos. I'm not a fan of this format at all, especially since we won't get to see them individually It's a little bit weird to not have a group finale dance either, plus the all girl and all guy dances last year were fun too! I do have to say this could be a cool twist to Season 7's top 6...do this instead of couples? Just a thought. Ok here we go!
Kathryn and Ryan – Samba, Jason Gilkison
Great song! Kathryn is smoking tonight! Her footwork is amazing and so tight. Her shakes were big enough to get the feel of the dance, but not too much to be cheesy. Love it! Ryan was fine and a good partner as usual, but I was watching Kathryn the whole time, obviously. The end move where Ryan threw her into a split leap and then onto his back was AMAZING though. Kathryn is always part of these cool end poses (like last week’s Cha Cha). Nigel called Kathryn his favorite girl this season. Mary loved it! Adam says the show should be called “The Rise of Kathryn” after that performance. Great number!
Ellenore and Jakob – Broadway, Tyce Diorio
This is like a super broadway number! They really are capturing the whole Fosse style her, and it’s fabulous. I love Jakob’s sideways pushups across the stage! I love Ellenore, and she is dancing damn well, but I can’t not watch Jakob! Does the man have bones? It seems like NO. Ellenore is awesome as well, and she really captures the Fosse feel of the piece. Nigel says it shows the pair of them off to their best. Adam called it gorgeous and said that Jakob was one of the most selfless partners he has seen because even with all that he can do, he still “gives it up” to his partner so they can shine as well.
Ashleigh and Russel – Lyrical Jazz, Sonya
Ashleigh you really don’t deserve to be here, I don’t care how many pretty dresses they put you in or how much your hair blows around in the wind machine. As Shanta just said, this is like the Russell show. He is amazing in this, and it may as well have been a solo. I can’t stand watching her anyways so it’s a good thing I don’t need to. Russell you were amazing. Even Nigel said “This whole routine was about Russell” and he couldn’t take his eyes off him. Mary stop talking about Ashleigh, she really didn’t do shit. At least now she is crying her eyes out for Russell. Adam said Russell kicked that dance’s asssssssss! Agreed.
Ellenore and Ryan – Jazz, Gary Stuart
This style is perfect for Ellenore. They are like robots, and she really could be one with how she’s moving…in a good way, of course! This is a routine I really would have loved to see the package for! It’s so interesting, but I don’t know why!. Ryan just seems stiff and awkward, whereas Ellenore seems to be playing her character to a “T”. I did like the pushup where Ellenore pushed Ryan down with her foot. Nigel thought it was too techo-esque for him to enjoy. Mary liked its uniqueness. Adam called Ellenore Gary’s muse for this piece, which is so true because it completely suited her. I wish it was a little more accessible to the audience and viewers though because I don’t think it helped Ellenore’s cause.
Ashleigh and Jakob – Foxtrot, Jean Marc
For a ballroom dancer, Ashleigh’s hands look pretty ugly half the time. Jakob is brilliant as usual, but this dance is so hard to get excited about. I was very impressed with Jakob’s footwork, and unlike Nigel, I don’t mind seeing Jakob j’ete at all! Throw some more in there, it’s fine by me! They work well together as a couple, but probably only because they are already comfortable with each other. Nothing really stood out, but it was pretty. Nigel didn’t think it was as good as others on the show tonight, but he thought it was good.
Ellenore and Russell – Paso Doble, Jason Gilkison
I love the silouhette start like from Mollee and Nathan’s Bollywood. And I also enjoyed the fact that Russell slid into view. I have to say, they are both getting really into this dance! I almost can’t watch their bodies/ feet because I drawn to the passion in their eyes. Another great show piece by Jason Gilkison. He really knows how to show off ballroom! Love it! Nigel thought Ellenore was very fiery and passionate, and he especially loved her in it. Mary praised Russell’s performance and said it made up for the technique that might have been a little lacking. Adam loved it as well.
Kathryn and Jakob – Contemporary, Dwight Roden and Desmond Richardson
Words can not describe how good this was, you just have to watch for yourself. Everything about it was amazing. The transitions, the lifts, the flexibility, the musicalty, the fluidity – it all just worked perfectly. Both Kathryn and Jakob danced, performed, and emoted that whole piece beautifully. Nigel said they “stopped the show”. Nigel told Jakob to join a company because he needs to be in the company of dancers as good as him to grow.
The Dilellos – Contemporary, Travis Wall
At least they don’t have ballroom, that would have been so bogus. They do look really in love, and if I didn’t dislike them so much I would think it was cute. Ryan is so ungraceful, ick. The best thing about this is that we don’t have to see them attempt to act. Genuine emotion on their faces is actually a bit refreshing. The judges have like nothing to say aside from “how great for you guys to do this as a married couple”. No praise of any kind for the dancing. I think that’s a fair critique! After seeing an unbelieveable contemporary routine before this, it pretty much just paled in comparison.
Kathryn and Russell – Hip Hop, Nappy Tabs
They look so cute and happy, but damn they are hitting hard! I love this routine. So much fun, and it doesn’t even need any story gimmicks. They are perfectly insync, it’s awesome. I loved Kathryn’s “super crunch” from the flor to on top of Russell’s shoulders. There were a lot of cool lifts a la Nappy Tabs, and it was fantastic. I also really enjoyed Kathryn “surfing” on Russell’s back. The judges all loved it, and they praised both Kathryn and Russell for their versatility on the night.
My final thoughts on everyone individually, since we didn’t see them alone at all tonight! In my personal order:
- Kathryn – She killed it tonight! I don’t know that I want her to win as much as Jakob or Russell just because she is a little bit too similar to Jeanine, but the girl is good! She did such a wide range of dances (Samba, Contemporary, Hip Hop) and she looked like she belonged in all of them! Plus, she really did grow and improve throughout the course of the season.
- Jakob – I have been on Team Jakob from the very beginning, and that did not change tonight! He can do things that I have never seen, and I am constantly left speechless by his abilities. He also danced a wide range of dances tonight, but I think the Fox Trot was the one blip in the evening for him. Even though he was fabulous in it, there wasn’t enough to hang on too, plus it was with Ashleigh who I don’t like anyways.
- Russell – He has been a dark horse through the whole competition, and I’m not sure why because he is SO DAMN GOOD! He can do anything, and he does it all with a huge beaming smile across his adorable little face! He is the best performer in the bunch, and he kicked butt tonight. He especially owned that lyrical jazz piece, but his paso and hip hop rocked as well!
- Ellenore – She is so great and so unique, but I feel like she has stayed at the same level throughout the competition and not blossomed as some of the others. She has the coolest solos of all of them, but unfortunately tonight she wasn’t put in a position to really shine in the duets and there weren’t any solos. She’s still great, and I adore her.
- The Dilellos – I can’t stand either of them and would be horrified if one of them won. Yeah, Ashleigh’s overcome a lot and Ryan is a good partner, but there is something so fake about them, and I can’t stand it. I would have liked Ashleigh a little more, but her disappointed face throughout the night as the judges pretty much only complimented her partners really put me off.
I’m excited for tomorrow night’s routines, and I’m hoping to see Kathryn/Legacy contemporary, Kathryn/Jakob contemporary again, Molle/Jakob Waltz, Ellenore/Jakob jazz, Ellenore/Legacy contemporary, and Ashleigh/Jakob cane dance, and maybe some tapping! What about you?