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.