And the Tour Lineup is Chosen!

I’m starting a little late tonight because I was baking a pumpkin pie and doing the prep work for some stuffing from scratch! Happy Thanksgiving to all of you fellow SYTYCD fans! And now for the results show. I always get nervous, and I don’t know why, so let’s get this thing started.

I am already loving this Alice in Wonderland themed group routine! The colors, the costumes, the quirkiness! It’s fantastic. I am loving Kathryn front and center. She really is getting better and better every time I see her. Jakob continues to amaze me with his crazy flexibility. My roommate Caity would really like to see a Jakob and Kathryn have a flexibility contest, especially after Kathryn’s Sonya routine last night! But to sum up, that was a fantastic routine by Nappy Tabs! It’s nice to see them do something out of the box like that!

After some Thanksgiving wishes from Nigel, the first two couples on the chopping block are Jakob/Ashleigh and Victor/Karen. I wonder who’s going to be in danger here? And to no one’s surprise, it’s Victor and Karen. Let’s hope Karen read some message boards and brings a little more to her solo this week.

Next to be analyzed are Nathan/Mollee and Legacy/Kathryn. Not sure who’s safe here to be honest. It looks like Mollee and Nathan will be making a repeat appearance in the bottom three.

The last two couples up are Russell/Noelle and Ryan/Ellenore. This could really go either way. And it’s Ellenore and Ryan in the bottom three. I really think Ryan is just bringing this partnership down a bit. I’m pretty sure they will both make the Top 10 though.

After a guest performance from a principal at American Ballet Theater, we get to see some solos.

Karen – Well that was definitely better than last week, but it was still a little boring to me. You would think that ballroom dancers on this show might want a little plan of attack for when they have to do a solo, but they haven’t seemed to grasp that yet.

Victor – He really loves the dramatic music, but I don’t think his dancing is dramatic enough to live up to that. It’s obviously great dancing, but I feel like there’s something missing. I’m not sure what it is, but I never get drawn in to him.

Mollee – She really does a lot of cool things in her solos. This one feels a little frantic to me, but still damn impressive. As I’ve said before she can really fuse together gymnastics and dance in a way that no one else can. She is definitely Top 10 material.

Nathan – He definitely picks the best music for his solos. I wish he could bring the passion of his solos to his couple dancing. His maturity in his solos is really good too. He will definitely benefit from a new partner.

Ellenore – She continues to be so unique! No one dances like her, ever! She brings so much to this show. I would really hate to see her go. I’m sure she’s fine.

Ryan – Well, he is showing a lot of muscle, that’s for sure. I really don’t like ballroom solos because I feel like they’re too fake, but he did ok. I don’t like him, but I think he did enough to stay. The audience seems to adore him.

The Girls are up for elimination first as per usual. The judges praised Molle’s fight for her place in the Top 10. They told Ellenore that they don’t know why she’s not getting votes because they can’t think of anything she needs to do to improve in this competition. They told Karen that her solo seemed like she was giving up, and then they kicked her off. Definitely appropriate. She had some good moments, but it was definitely her time to leave. Good luck in the dance world, Karen, I’m sure you will be just fine.

Nigel says the judges are not unanimous in their decision about the boys. He compares Victor’s growth with Kelly Osbourne’s on Dancing with the Stars. Weird, but ok. They tell Ryan that his partner work is great, but he needs to work on his solos. The judges feel that Nathan hasn’t grown enough, and if Nigel had his way he would be leaving, but it’s going to be Victor tonight. He will also be fine getting work as a dancer. It’s so hard to see anyone go this season because they all are so great.

This worked out fine for me tonight, and now we have our Top 10! Here are my “fantasy pairings” for next week:

Jakob/ Ellenore – this would be a POWER COUPLE

Russell/ Ashleigh – I’m not sure why I want to see this, but I think it’d be interesting.

Legacy/ Mollee – for some reason I think he might be able to calm her down.

Nathan/ Kathryn – if they got contemporary it would be kind of amazing.

Ryan/ Noelle – and then these two can get the boot. Sorry.

Can’t wait to see who’s with who because I swear my Top 10 predictions are always wrong! Until next week, have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy a new Glee! G’nite!

Crunch Time

The Top 12 is here! The stakes are high (TOUR!) and we get to see each couple dance twice! Let’s just get started shall we?

They are doing this whole dramatic intro thing every week this season. It’s kind of weird, but I like musical montages, so I’m fine with it.

Couple: Ellenore and Ryan

Dance # 1: Lindy Hop,

Thoughts (mine AND judges):This style tending to not work that well on this show but let’s see. The old school song doesn’t typically translate to the voters. They’ve already messed up a lift. And it’s not getting better. This is supposed to be fun, but the don’t look like they’re enjoying themselves at all. They did do a cool thing where Ellenore spun around Ryan’s legs, but that was the highlight for me. Adam loved it, especially the “coffee grinders” (the thing I liked earlier). Mary and Nigel loved it too. They didn’t mention how Ryan almost dropped her, but whatever. They could be in trouble since they went first, and it’s a little less memorable than I would have liked…we’ll see.

Couple: Kathryn and Legacy

Dance # 1: Jazz, Sonya

Thoughts (mine AND judges): I love Sonya’s music choices! Ok well Legacy enters doing his little crab walk all the way across the stage, so that’s a good start. Kathryn is amazing in this routine – so flexible! Legacy’s partnering was really good this week, and he was there for her for some amazing lifts. Adam thinks if they keep dancing like this they’ll go all the way. Mary loved it too, and Nigel thought it was one of his favorite routines of the season.

Couple: Karen and Victor

Dance # 1: Tango, Tony and Melanie

Thoughts (mine AND judges): This is an extremely romantic dance, so it’ll be interesting to see the chemistry between them as a new couple. This is the most Karen has been covered up all season. She is great doing this dance and looks like she’s floating, but Victor looks like he’s dragging. I like the music a lot. That was just fine for me, I don’t think it’s that memorable. Adam loved this partnership and chemistry. Mary thought it was really good and was very surprised at how well Victor pulled it off. Nigel loved the chemistry and intensity of the routine. I think they will be inevitably in trouble though because voters just really aren’t connecting with them.

Couple: Mollee and Nathan

Dance # 1: Hip Hop, Jamal Sims

Thoughts (mine AND judges): This dance is about the day that Alexander Bell invented the telephone…interesting. They are more in sync than usual, which is good to see. Nathan is amazing in this. His movement is just so naturally cool. Mollee is good at the movements, but she is a little too smiley/ cutesy for it. Adam thought Nathan was great but Mollee didn’t hit as hard. Mary said it started off a little slow and not hard hitting enough, but she enjoyed it. Nigel said they’re both good dancers, but he’s looking forward to them both getting new more mature partners, and I agree.

Couple: Noelle and Russell

Dance # 1: Samba, Tony and Melanie

Thoughts (mine AND judges): Noelle is wearing the same outfit that Jeanine wore in the heinous Lady Gaga samba with Ade. Well they’re dancing to Shakira, so it’s automatically better. Noelle is way to smiley and stiff for this dance. It’s almost distracting. Russell on the other hand is working it! He was living it up. Adam said it was too sweet and nice, rather than sexy and dirty like the samba should be. Mary liked the performance level and Russell’s samba spirit, but she was a little disappointed in Noelle. Nigel agreed that Noelle was a little too sweet.

Couple: Ashleigh and Jakob

Dance # 1: Lyrical Jazz, Sonya

Thoughts (mine AND judges): This really is Jakob’s comfort zone, and it shows. He is just so natural in everything he’s doing onstage. Every movement is gorgeous. It’s as if Ashleigh is his accessory, according to my roommate. He lifted his leg around his entire head in a way that I didn’t think was possible for a male. Holy cow! Ashleigh has really improved as well, but again, I still don’t like her. Adam thought it was so beautiful that he doesn’t even know what to say. Mary loved it and praised Jakob’s technical capabilities. Nigel said it replaced the earlier Sonya routine as one of his favorites of the season.

Couple: Ellenore and Ryan

Dance # 2: Broadway, Spencer Liff

Thoughts (mine AND judges): This is a dark broadway routine, which should be good for Ellenore. Ryan is enticing her to his world of fame and fortune. Ellenore really does play the puppet character well. This dance is totally the Ellenore show She is playing it to perfection. Ryan is fine, but he doesn’t capture the character as she does. The lifts were a little weird to me because it just seemed like he was carrying her around the stage. Adam thought they nailed it (are they carpenters?!), especially Ellenore who he called a “rockstar”. Mary thought it was great and called Ellenore the “it” girl. Nigel thought they did a great job adding their personalities to the great choreography.

Couple: Kathryn and Legacy

Dance # 2: Viennese Waltz, Jean Marc and Franz

Thoughts (mine AND judges): The story behind it is that he doesn’t know the steps and she is showing him the way. Get inspiration from reality much? Kathryn was beautiful in this dance. She really stole the show for me. Her extension and lines were lovely and her whole movement was fabulous to watch. The thing that bugged me was the fact that they didn’t do anything in close-hold. They were really short on actual waltz technique in my opinion. Adam thought it was good, but said Legacy needs to work on his back and feet. Mary thought there were a lot of things wrong technically, but she liked it. Nigel said that there were a lot of technical issues and he’s not sure they are safe yet.

Couple: Karen and Victor

Dance # 2: Hip Hop, Laurieann Gibson

Thoughts (mine AND judges): This dance is about moving mountains. Great, she always does this generic theme about the struggle a la Brandon and Jeanine last year. I’m not really liking this at all. There’s nothing to draw me in, no story, nothing. They weren’t in sync, and the choreography was super boring. Adam said there was a lot of intensity and commitment there, but it didn’t match the music. He did say they danced it well though. Mary thought it was just ok, and there was nothing to latch onto. Nigel didn’t feel the chemistry and thought they were out of sync.

Couple: Mollee and Nathan

Dance # 2: Can Can, Tyce DiOrio

Thoughts (mine AND judges): Well this is a first. I don’t really know what to think about this one. Apparently it was originally a dance for couples – who knew? Well for such an energetic dance and couple, that dance seemed really low energy to me. Nathan saved it for me with his pirouettes that were just perfectly centered and in control. Mollee had some cool acrobatic tricks that were cool as well. Adam really liked it, especially Mollee’s aerial. Mary thought it was really fun. Nigel said it was great that this couple got the routine because they could do everything it required. I don’t know, I wasn’t as high on it as they were, but we’ll see.

Couple: Noelle and Russell

Dance # 2: Contemporary, Tyce DiOrio

Thoughts (mine AND judges): I’m excited to see Noelle in her style and Russell in contemporary. Katee is assisting Tyce, yay! Amazing opening move by Noelle. Wow! I’m getting chills already and I’m in sweats and a long sleeved shirt. This is just beautiful. The song, their dancing, everything - it was so emotional. Just beautiful, I loved it. Good job Tyce! Adam loved it and thought it was beautiful. Mary thought it was out of this world. Nigel loved Noelle’s commitment level, and he praised Russell’s growth in technique. This was my favorite routine of the night so far.

Couple: Ashleigh and Jakob

Dance # 2: Cha Cha, Jean Marc and Franz

Thoughts (mine AND judges): well this is the first time Ashleigh is in her comfort zone, so she should steal the show from Jakob for once. I wish they would dance together a little more. This is like a side-by-side cha cha. And it was supposed to be fighting over a chair, but I didn’t really see that part of it. Adam said they killed it, but not before mocking the stupid ballroom faces. Mary said they blew it out of the ballpark tonight, and she praised Ashleigh’s leg and footwork. Nigel said Jakob didn’t look like he was out of his element at all and he praised the choreography.

My picks for the bottom three tomorrow: Victor/ Karen, Ryan/ Ellenore, and Mollee/ Nathan. It was definitely a great show tonight, and I’m sure there will be at least one surprise couple in the bottom tomorrow just because they’re al so close. If I have to say bye to two of them though, it’s Victor and Karen. Sorry guys, I don’t see either of you on tour or winning, so you may as well leave now.

Tour + Alternates?!

So it’s Wednesday! I’ve got pink champagne, and it looks like it’s going to be a good night of FOX TV!

There are 3 guys and 3 girls that I wouldn’t mind seeing go home tonight, so Nigel if you’re listening, just keep it in this group and I won’t be mad at you! Girls – Mollee, Ashleigh, and Karen; Guys – Kevin, Ryan, and Victor. I haven’t seen any sort of spoilers on Twitter, etc. and I am excited to get to the results!

Cat is looking a little odd tonight; I’m not sure how I like the straight shorter hair, plus her dress looks like either a nightgown or frumpy school uniform with a glitter tie. Sorry, Cat, not a fan.

I loved the group dance! It was so wonderfully weird! The were dressed in loin cloth looking outfits and seemed to quiver throughout the whole piece. The only thing I didn't like was that I couldn't tell who anyone was half the time. At first I thought it might have been a Sonya piece, but it was another great Wade (and Amanda) Robson number! Their group numbers really do kick ass.

The first two couples on the chopping block were Jakob/ Ashleigh and Kevin/ Karen. No surprise here, Kevin and Karen are in danger.

Next up are Ryan/ Ellernore, Victor/ Channing, and Russell/ Noelle. Ryan, Ellenore, Russell, and Noelle are safe, leaving Victor and Channing in the bottom three again. Two repeat offenders so far. Who will be next?

It’s between Nathan/ Mollee and Legacy/ Kathryn. Will the tweens rise again? NO! Nathan and Mollee are in the bottom! I am glad that the voters didn't agree with the judges on their Lady Gaga routine last night. I'm sure their solos will be phenomenal and they'll be safe, but there's no doubt they deserve to be in the bottom. Looks like I was three for three on this one! Woo hoo!

Nukul is dancing this week! That is a very welcome surprise! There he goes flying across the stage, and he looks like he’s having an absolute blast! I love seeing the choreographers dance – I hope there’s more of that this year!

And now for the solos:

Karen – She’s not doing much besides shaking her hips, and the song choice proves she’s just not relatable to the target audience. I yearn for the days of Heidi's ballroom solos...

Kevin – I love the way he moves, but he’s really not using the stage at all, nor is he getting across any personality. I'm definitely worried for him.

Channing – She really is a beautiful dancer. Her solos are so feminine and vulnerable, but she really does shut down when she's in a couple. Weird.

Victor – He has so much body control, it really is impressive. His turns are just unbelievable – what a center!

Mollee – Finally, someone who knows how to use the stage! Her solos really are impressive. She really balances dance and gymnastics well in them. Her aerial onto the floor was really cool!

Nathan – He is so unique in his solos! I really like watching him dance! His center is fabulous as well. No doubt he deserves to stay.

Alright Nigel, who’s it going to be. As usual, let’s start with the girls. Mollee is safe, no surprise there. And they’re keeping Karen?! Wow. I guess it makes sense because she really hasn’t shown her personality at all. Plus, she has had the curse of the bad partner, which never helped anyone. This elimination kind of reminds me of when Shauna got eliminated in Season 3 actually.

As for the boys, Nathan is safe, obviously. Victor gets the mandatory “don’t just to pirouettes” lecture from Nigel, but he’s safe and Kevin is out. I’m a little surprised that they are going to have Victor and Karen dance together. We’ll see how that goes.

In any case, I’m fine with both of these eliminations. Good luck to Kevin and Channing. There’s no doubt in my mind that they’ll both have fantastic careers! Looking forward to seeing everyone dance twice next week, but for now, it’s time for a new episode of Glee! I’m out.

Getting in to the Good Stuff

Cat looks the best she’s looked all season tonight! Her hair is back to the loose waves we know and love! Tonight the video packages are going to focus on how the Top 14 all got into dance, and “in the interest of fairness” they’re starting out with pictures of the judges! Those three were some cute, cute kids!!! Too bad they didn't show a pic of little Miss Deeley! Maybe tomorrow night? Hopefully tonight is the last performance show that everyone only dances one dance. I love the challenge and variety that multiple dances bring to the show. But for now, there will be 7 dances only, so let's get on with it!

Couple: Jakob and Ashleigh (opening the show again?)

Style: Hip Hop, Nappy Tabs

Thoughts: Well it’s about Jakob cheating on Ashleigh, and it’s another literal piece from NappyTabs. I have to say, they are dancing very well. This is the perfect style of hip hop for Jakob because he can show off his smooth movements, but he still has the ability to do the stops! There is nothing this boy can’t do! Ashleigh actually impressed me tonight, but I do still think she overacts her face, and it’s distracting!

Judges: They loved it! Consensus was that Jakob is awesome, and Ashleigh is coming into her own now rather than just being in Jakob’s shadow.

Couple: Kevin and Karen

Style: Broadway, Spencer Liff

Thoughts: It’s from Sweet Charity, and from the video package, this choreographer looks like he does not mess around. I have to say though, all the excitement from the video package did not really come out in the performance. Their movements weren’t big enough, and I didn’t really feel any personality from either of them. It was slightly awkward to watch.

Judges: The judges were disappointed with the feel of the routine. There was no “X Factor” that they were used to seeing from this couple.

Couple: Russell and Noelle

Style: Fox Trot, Eddie Simon

Thoughts: This is bogus. 2nd time in four weeks that Russell is doing the Fox Trot? You couldn’t give any other couple this dance? It looks like the practice really paid off though – that was fantastic! They looked like they were floating on air and having a blast doing it! Great chemistry! Everything was so smooth and elegant, but with a little bit of sassiness too. I loved it!

Judges: Nigel loved Russell’s improvement and star quality, of course. Mary praised Noelle’s technique. Adam applauded the joy they brought to the routine.

Couple: Victor and Channing

Style: Jazz, Tyce DiOrio

Thoughts: Well Victor has gotten two contemps, a broadway, and now a jazz. Why not give the man some ballroom? As Channing says, this is about some jazzy night birds. The song is really distracting. You gotta hand it to Tyce because this dance is definitely going to memorable. Channing really stood out to me, even though Victor did have some solo spots front and center. It was a good performance for sure, but to me it felt like they were just two people dancing on the same stage rather than as a couple.

Judges: Nigel really enjoyed Channing’s performance because he felt that she really enjoyed herself this week, and he encouraged Victor to push himself in dancing/ performance. The other judges pretty much agreed.

Couple: Legacy and Kathryn

Style: Paso Doble, Tony Meredith

Thoughts: Let’s hope Legs doesn’t split his pants like in rehearsal. Great opening with him picking her up in that spin! I also like that she’s in white rather than the usual red or black. That combined with her great dancing really made her stand out for me in this number. Legacy was a little bit stiff, which I think made for some slight partnering problems, but nothing horrible. He is really strong though, and there were some really cool lifts. I noticed a few issues at the end with trying to get into the last lift, but it really was good. They both danced with a passion and fire that was palpable. Kathryn especially really got down into the floor as Nigel likes to say. Legacy totally won me over tonight though when Nigel talked about him practicing with his shadow. Adorable!

Judges: Nigel praised the fact that Kathryn danced with maturity and praised Legacy’s ambition and drive to get better. Mary really liked their performance, even though there were a few technical issues. Adam said Kathryn killed it and that Legacy’s stamina has really improved.

Couple: Ryan and Ellenore

Style: Contemporary, Travis Wall

Thoughts: Travis’ twitter said he was excited about this, so I am too! It’s a story about heartbreak and missing out on the best thing that’s ever happened to you. I already love the background and the country feel you get from it. Travis is a brilliant choreographer! He continues to impress me with how much he gets the dancers, and audience, to draw out emotions. There were some really great lifts, brought to you in part by Ryan’s muscles. Ellenore was phenomenal to me. She seemed to just float around the stage, and I felt like I really felt what she felt, if that makes any sense. Ryan did a great job of controlling his body and really doing things slowly and beautifully like a contemporary dancer instead of quickly and flashy like a latin ballroom dancer. .

Judges: They loved it! Mary even got a little emotional when she talked about Ryan breaking barriers for ballroom dancers on the show.

Couple: Nathan and Mollee (They seem to close the show a majority of the shows.)

Style: Pop Jazz, Laurieann Gibson

Thoughts: It wouldn’t be SYTYCD without some Lady Gaga! At least this is the right genre for it. They are really out of sync at the beginning, and it feel like they are a little too cute for Laurieann’s style. I have to say, it must be harder when there isn’t a clear story. I don’t really get anything from them as a couple. Kim pointed out that they are both a little too much into themselves, which could explain why they’re not giving themselves to each other as a couple. It was danced well, but I’m not latching onto them as much as I want to. Laurieann’s face makes it seem like she wasn’t that impressed.

Judges: Nigel complimented them both on their talent, and told Nathan he would be hard on him the whole competition because he has so much potential. Mary liked the intensity, but said it didn’t give her chills that Laurieann Gibson wanted. Adam agreed with gave them a few strategy tips including “look at what we’re praising people for” and do that. I was actually a little bit surprised at how much they liked it, since I was just so-so about it.

Sorry Karen and Kevin, you guys are gone. I think the other two in the bottom will be Victor/ Channing and, I’m going out on a limb here, but Nathan/ Mollee as a hangover from last week’s “survivor’s guilt” as Adam called it.

Drumroll please...

I am really nervous about tonight for some reason. Maybe it’s because I looked at Nigel’s twitter earlier. I gotta remember not to do that on Wednesdays! I am however very excited about the group dance tonight!

Ok, what in the world are the wardrobe and makeup people doing to poor Cat?!?! I miss the beachy waves and light makeup. She used to look glamorous and now she just looks cheesy.

Well the group dance is starting with Russell front and center so I like it. He’s doing his krumping thing, and of course he is fabulous. This seems like some kind of Mayan warrior dance or something. The makeup and costumes look amazing, and I’m liking the whole concept. The dancers are not that in sync though, which is slightly distracting. Legacy did a crazy leap over three people, and then he and Jakob had a little dance-off, which let’s be honest, Jakob won. They spent a good deal of time at the front of the stage doing hand and arm choreography when I would have liked to see a little more dancing, but it was still good. Dave Scott was the choreographer, and I usually do love him, but maybe better as a couples choreographer.

The first couple up is Ryan/ Ellenore, and after a recap of their awful performance, they are in the bottom three. No surprises there, not even from them. Victor/ Channing and Legacy/ Kathryn’s recaps are up next, and they’re both safe. Cat tried to fool them by only saying Channing and Victor were safe, but we weren’t buying that for a minute.

Dominic is here! He’s out in the audience’s staging area before the show, and he’s testing people’s knowledge of dance moves! Very cute, I wish I was there! The K-Mart plug was a bit odd though. Very American Idol of them.

The next couple to be recapped (if that’s a word) is Jakob/ Ashleigh. Their recap makes me want to go back and watch their dance again – definitely my favorite of last night. Clearly they are safe. Peter/ Pauline’s performance is revisited next, and I really hope they aren’t in the bottom after that adorable performance. But, they’re up against Russell/ Noelle so it’s not looking good since those two killed it. Yep, it’s Peter and Pauline in the bottom again. They better not send home the last tapper, or I might cry.

The last couple in the bottom three is between Kevin/ Karen and Nathan/ Mollee. I am worried the tween voters will save Mollee and Nathan from the bottom three, when they really should be dancing for their lives. Nope, the tweens reign supreme again, and Nathan and Mollee are safe. Nigel is ripping the crap out of Nathan basically saying that he’s only been voted through because little girls think he’s cute. He didn’t think his dancing was good enough, and he thought Nathan showed immaturity last night. That was kind of harsh, but I totally agree and I think it was also kind of necessary. While the judges still have the final say, I think the dancing should determine the Top 10, not the pre-decided popularity based on tween appeal. I’m just saying.

Ellenore’s solo is up first. She’s dancing to a song called “Eleanor”, which is too cute! Her solo is unique and quirky like her first Vegas solo! I love how her dancing always seems to tell a story. I’m sure she’s safe.

Next is Ryan doing a little jive solo. I never really like male ballroom solos with all the kicking and whatnot. And, he attempted a tumbling pass at the end of his solo that resulted in him landing on his hands. Unimpressive.

Pauline is doing a faster solo than last time, but it’s essentially the same. The audience seems really into it though, and the cheering is actually a bit distracting. She’s good, but she doesn’t bring anything extra for me. Just another contemporary dancer that jumps and turns and flips her hair around the stage. Sorry Pauline, you’re adorable, but I just don’t think it’s enough.

Peter is doing a tapping solo acapella, and hopefully he can bring the personality to it that Phillip and Bianca couldn’t do to save themselves. WOW! That was pretty fantastic, albeit I don’t know anything technically about tap. He just did so much! Spins, up on his toes, everything! Love him.

Karen is up next and working the salsa moves. She is super hot and has huge crowd support. She’s showing off a lot of quick leg action and using the stage pretty well for a ballroom solo.

Kevin is last and using a song from a Twitch solo! He really does have a cool style of hip hop, and he threw in some cool floor moves. I hope he and Karen both get to stay.

Well, here come the eliminations. Nigel started out by saying that the solo performances were not strong enough to keep any of them in the competition. Pauline will be leaving for the girls and Peter for the guys. The judges were unanimous on both choices. Great, another tapper gone. They really don’t give the non-contemporary dancers enough chance in my opinion. I’m not as upset about Peter leaving as I was about Bianca, but from here on out, the only solos I want to see are Russell and Jakob, and I’m thinking they will not be in the bottom three EVER. The rest are going to be a yawn fest. Oh well, let’s hope the couple dances make up for that!

The Sweet 16

Tonight we finally get to vote! I don’t know why I’m so excited about that though, since I don’t usually vote until the Top 8 or 10, but I’m excited nonetheless! I’m going to try a new format tonight, which hopefully will make it easier for my to type up and thus more bearable for the roomies so I don’t have to pause things and catch up between routines!

I have to say, I am not liking wardrobe’s choice for Cat tonight. As my lovely roomie Emily says, she looks like a lizard. I do like her rocking the Beyonce hair though! But enough about Cat, bring on the dancing!

Couple: Kevin and Karen

Style: Hustle, Maria Torres

Thoughts: Karen is supposed to be seducing Kevin. That shouldn’t be hard…the girl is hot. Not so much in that outfit though. They both look a little weird. This was not the best song choice either, and it didn’t give them anything to work with personality wise. They looked great dancing though, especially Kevin! Both of them were very graceful and partnered each other very well. I wish it was a little more fun, but they definitely danced it well.

Judges: Adam loved them and said he saw Kevin for the first time. Mary and Nigel loved them as well. More praise for Karen for bringing that “something extra”.

Couple: Jakob and Ashleigh

Style: Jazz, Mandy Moore

Thoughts: They’ll be dancing with a cane, and props always make for a good time, right? Great song, as usual Mandy! WOW, AMAZING CHOREOGRAPHY! The way they used the cane was so creative, and their movements were so sharp. I loved their musicality too! Jakob is a great dancer and an amazing partner. He continues to impress me and show me things I’ve never seen before every week! LOVE him.

Judges: Adam says Ashleigh belongs on this show, and that the choreographers keep finding new amazing ways for Jakob to jump! So true! Mary loved the partnership, and praised Ashleigh for getting better every week. Nigel compared to the standard of Mandy’s table dance from Season 3!

Couple: Pauline and Peter

Style: Quickstep, JT and Tomas

Thoughts: They’re with new choreographers JT and Thomas, and I like them already! Peter is a navy officer in love with Pauline the hula girl! This is too cute! My face hurts from smiling! Peter’s fast tapping feet made him look really good! They were both so in character and were totally into each other! Their lifts looked really effortless, probably because Pauline is so tiny!

Judges: Adam loved their performances, especially Peter. Mary said they pulled it off technically, even though their were some problems. Nigel said that he loved the performances and how the story made it accessible to the audience.

Couple: Kathryn and Legacy

Style: Broadway, Andy Blankenbuehler

Thoughts: Cute song choice! Kathryn is adorable and has so much energy. Legacy does the steps, but he does them like a hip hop dancer, kind of heavy on his feet. There were some really cool partnering moves in there, especially Legacy flipping over Kathyn’s back. It was very cute, but nothing too impressive.

Judges: Adam wanted Kathryn to be more angry and not as cute, but thought the dancing was fine. Mary said Kathryn got lost a little because Legacy has been growing so much. Nigel was a little disappointed with Kathryn and called her a bit childish, but he was uber impressed with Legacy and called him an inspiration to his choreographers.

Couple: Victor and Channing

Style: Contemporary, Stacey Tookey

Thoughts: The piece is about a couple going through a toxic relationship as their first dance, so it will be a good test as their first dance together. Channing really stood out in this for me, and I’m not sure why. Her floor work and turns were really beautiful and emotional. Victor danced beautifully as well though, and he is a great partner. It was a beautiful routine – I am loving Stacey’s style this season. It’s simple and beautiful and pure, and the great music doesn’t hurt either.

Judges: Adam thinks Victor is bringing out Channing’s sensitivity and loves the partnership. Mary thought the quality of movement was beautiful and light. Nigel thought it was good technically, but it didn’t touch him emotionally and he was expecting more.

Couple: Ellenore and Ryan

Style: Krump/ Hip Hop, Lil’ C

Thoughts: Initial thought – oh no. Second thought – this is going to be funny. Well, their outfits are ridiculous and the song is awful. They are out of sync and boring. Ryan looks like he’s trying too hard and Ellenore is just not into it. That is bottom 3 potential.

Judges: Adam thought Ryan was the most transformed dancer of the night?! I definitely disagree with that. He did give some critiques and said it wasn’t great, but it was good. Mary said it wasn’t great – kind of sluggish and not synchronized. Nigel didn’t think it was good at all. Thank goodness for Nigel, someone who tells it like it is! The style didn’t suit them and their personalities didn’t fit the style.

Couple: Mollee and Nathan

Style: Salsa, Gustavo Vargas

Thoughts: Wow this is starting out awful. They are completely out of sync and look really awkward. Molly looked hunched over the whole time, especially in her turns. The lifts were all completely awkward and they looked totally uncomfortable. Mollee looked she was trying to be sexy, but she did not succeed and it took away from her dancing. There was really nothing good about that routine. The tweens better not put someone better tonight in the bottom three for the sake of these two. They can dance their way to the Top 14, but they don’t deserve votes for that.

Judges: Adam said that all their weaknesses were exposed. Mary didn’t feel any of the salsa feel. Nigel said there wasn’t any chemistry between them.

Couple: Noelle and Russell

Style: Afro Jazz, Sean Cheesman

Thoughts: This should be good, since they’re closing out the show. It’s a princess and frog routine! Russell is shining in this routine! His is completely into his quirky character, and his movements are strong and energetic! I also just love his smile! She is a little too pretty and flowy for the style for me, but she was definitely good. It was just so much fun and joyful, and it was definitely a breath of fresh air!

Judges: Adam loved it and said they really captured the spirit of the dance. Mary said that Russell is not the prince but the king of Afro Jazz and put him on the hot tamale train! Nigel loved it and especially praised Russell for his character and lines.

My bottom three: Ryan and Ellenore, Mollee and Nathan, Channing and Victor (only because people might not connect with them)

I have to say, I definitely enjoyed seeing a lot of new choreographers tonight! Even though some of their routines didn't turn out that well (*cough* Salsa), I saw a great deal of potential for dances yet to come! So tomorrow marks this season’s first live results show, and hopefully there will not be another tragic elimination a la Bianca. Tomorrow also brings the return of Glee, so it should be a fabulous night on Fox! And with that to look forward to, I will say good night!

5 Alive Tour!

So I went to the tour last night, and I have to say, I was not all that impressed. I was really excited to see everyone, and I thought it would be a super high energy show because they were back in LA where it all began for them, but it was kind of dull. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED the dances (well, most of them) but they all just seemed really tired and worn down. In their defense, their twitters do keep me informed about their illnesses and injuries, but as Nigel often says, that kind of stuff doesn’t matter when people are paying good money to see you dance. I also have to say that the intros were super cheesy and WAY TOO LONG. I know it’s a family friendly show and all, but it was especially ridiculous.

That being said, it was great to see the Season 5’ers live again! I was super impressed with Caitlin’s solo! So much grace yet so much power! She definitely proved why she was on the tour! I loved the group Russian Folk routine as well! The boys rocked that with their crazy jumps and floor work! Jeanine and Phillip trying to do their routine the whole show really was the funniest part to me actually. Phillip also ROCKED his solo. I am pretty sure they gave him double the time that everyone else got because he is so phenomenal. I have never seen such an instantaneous standing ovation in my life! Melissa also had the crowd, her hometown crowd, standing up quite a bit. I loved seeing her and Ade’s pas de deux live again. I wish they did the Mandy Moore contemporary from Top 20 week last year, but oh well. Jason got to dance a lot more than I thought he would, which was a nice surprise! I loved both of his dances with Kayla, Mr. Monotony and the Zombie dance! I also loved seeing Brandon and Kayla’s broadway routine from the finale. Fantastic! Brandon also did his unbelievably powerful solo, which was just as impressive as it looks on TV. You can see the definition in his abs as he breathes! It really is ridiculous. The highlight of the night for me was the Brandon and Janette jewel thief dance though! Although it was missing the stairs, they adapted it really well. It’s such a great piece! And, possibly the best part of it was seeing the little girl in our row who wore their outfit AND wig react the entire time. The smile on her face has got to be the reason people dance. Such pure joy!

All in all, it was a fun night, but it definitely did not live up to the extremely high standards set by Season 4. And after going to so many tapings in Season 5, I have to say, unlike Season 4, most of the dances were better on TV or the first time. it didn’t seem like anyone besides Caitlin had improved all that much. Janette and Brandon were amazing as usual, Jeanine was precious even as she mooned the entire audience during the Paso, and as usual I loved Jason and Ade J The Season 6 dancers also made a guest appearance, but unfortunately they did not dance. They all looked amazing though! Can’t wait to see what their tour is like!

And then there were 18

Tonight is the last non-voting night. Let’s hope Nigel and co. come through for us and make sure the next week’s Top 16 will be up to snuff. I’m not going to lie, I’m still a little…ok a lot…bitter that Arianna is gone and Noelle is not. I think she should have to dance for her life regardless of tonight’s performance. Just saying.

Anway, on to the dancing! OMG what is this new intro thing?? They’re all coming out separately and doing their own thing in the middle of the stage. Weird. This is going to to take some getting used to. HA! Oh, Cat – “We don’t have a results show again this week because of a slightly less prestigious competition…”. LOVE IT. Nigel also announced the good news that Billy Bell can go straight to Season 7’s Top 100 in Vegas and Brandon can still be eligible for the Top 20 in seasons to come.

Noelle (yes she’s back still no word on what the injury was exactly) and Russell are up first with a new choreographer, Jamaal Sims. They’ll be doing hip hop. Ok,they’re having some sort of tennis dance off. It’s actually a cute concept, but I don’t know how I feel about them together. They are in and out of sync, and she doesn’t really hit hard. Noelle also looks kind of tired and a bit clunky. Russell was obviously in his element, but it was a bit hard to even watch him because she was so distracting. The judges were so-so on this one.

Ashleigh and Jakob are going to be dancing a Viennese Waltz by Tony and Melanie, and it’s supposed to be a “first wedding dance”. Well I already love the fact that they’re dancing to “At Last” by Etta James – great song choice! I absolutely love Jakob – from the very first step, he is so in character, and he moves so beautifully. The lifts are fantastic and seem so effortless. Mary seems to want more from him though, at least in the dancing aspect. I guess that shows how little I know dancing because I thought he was great. And yes, Ashleigh was in it too.

Bianca and Victor are tackling a Broadway piece with Tyce Diorio this week, and it’s from The Color Purple! This is a little weird of a song choice, even for Tyce. Bianca is trying really hard to point her toes, and it’s really cute. I think the judges put it very well when they said that they were overly aware that they were dancing. Adam seemed to want to see them “lose it” a little more. Nigel liked Bianca’s character, but none of the them really felt the true character of the piece. I think that’s fair.

Mollee and Nathan are doing Bollywood this week! I’m sure these two will have the energy for Nukul’s warrior dance. I am already loving the opening with the sun and silhouettes – looks like the Lion King! Nathan is such a powerful dancer. How does he do those pirouettes?? And then just stopping on one leg! This was such a great number! It seems like Nathan did the brunt of the work in this dance at least in terms of “tricks”, but I was definitely impressed with Mollee’s dancing as well. Adam and Nigel praised Mollee’s maturity, and they all just loved it! Good job, youngins!

Next up are Channing and Phillip with a Tony/Melanie samba. Apparently it’s a classic competition samba. The first lift is pretty awkward, as is the second one. The whole time they just look like they’re struggling through things. I have to say that Channing’s hip and leg action were pretty damn good, and Adam agrees. Phillip was awkward on his feet, but you could see him getting into character. Mary thinks Phillip let Channing down in the lifts and partnering, and I definitely agree. Nigel thinks Phillip doesn’t get down in the floor enough, especially for a tapper. I think these two could be in trouble, and they should be.

Kevin and Karen will be doing a Nappy Tabs hip hop, which in theory should be awesome, since they can both really move. Emily totally called the song – Ice Cream Paint Job! Well that was hot. So much fun, so in sync, great choreography! I loved everything about that number! Kevin was great, and Karen totally kept up! The girl is HOT. The judges praised Karen’s confidence and “it” factor. It’s so true, I’m liking her more and more, and she’s so humble too!

It’s Kathryn and Legacy’s turn, and they’ll be doing a Stacey Tookey contemporary dance about fear. Wow, that was great! I couldn’t even type during that because I was so focused on watching. Legacy moved beautifully, and Stacey really used his breaking moves well in the routine. Kathryn was beautiful as well! I got chills halfway through. The judges praised Legacy’s growth, and I have to say I am starting to jump on the bandwagon. He even impressed me (and Caity) in his sincerity in the video package.

Pauline and Peter will be dancing together for the first time this week, and they get to do a Wade/Amanda Robson jazz routine! It’s such a cool concept about the discarded people that were originally painted in Vincent Van Gough’s “Starry Night”. They are so in sync, I love it. I’m loving the changing aspects of the set too. Peter is so good at being in character! I really liked it. I don’t know how much dancing there actually was, but I loved the piece as a whole. The judges were a bit on the fence about it, but Nigel seems to really like it, especially Pauline. I think it would have been really cool as a group dance too. Tour perhaps?

Ryan and Ellenore will be doing a Miriam and Leonardo Argentine tango. Well, I’m sure they’ll nail the lifts! Oh no, Ellenore’s dress is caught on her heel! It took halfway through the dance before it comes undone. They are doing a great job though! As Adam has been trying to say all night – don’t let it get to you! And she didn’t. The chemistry in that was great, I have to say. They were both very much in character and into each other. The judges gave them a standing ovation, which pretty much sums it up. Well done.

My call for the bottom four is Phillip, Channing, Russell and Noelle.

Ok, it’s Vicor, Bianca, Phillip, and Noelle, but they put Phillip/Channing, Victor/Bianca, and Russell/ Noelle in the bottom three couples before deciding on those four. Totally fair.

First up dancing for her life is Noelle. She does some good moves, but her hair was distracting. It also seemed short for a 30 second solo. Pretty much like any other contemporary solo on the show. Nothing special.

Victor is second in a very revealing outfit. He truly is amazing. The height on his jumps and just his power in general is truly amazing. You can’t help but agree with Shanta though when she says it’s a toned down version of a Brandon Bryant solo.

Third is Bianca. BEST SOLO EVER. So much fun! Tapping her llittle heart out to Tootsie Roll – perfection. Peace out, Noelle.

Last up is Phillip. He’s a great soloist and a beautiful dancer, but when push comes to shove, he's a crappy partner. I think he’s gone.

Here comes the moment of truth. JUDGES I HATE YOU. Sending Bianca home, really? REALLY?! Wrong decision. Straight up. WRONG, Nigel. You were wrong.

The guys’ elimination is an afterthought at this point. It’s Phillip, which is the right choice, but whatever.

Well, I’m officially pissed. But seriously though, Nigel?! Bianca’s personality didn’t show through enough in her solo?!?! BULL SHIT. I can’t even believe this. Bogus. UGH. I’m blown away by the extreme contemporary dancer bias on this show!!! Finally a girl who is original and has so much room to grow as a dancer, and you get rid of her. Completely defeats the purpose of the show. And on that sour note, I’m out for the night.