Repeat Edition?

Ok I’m back and blogging after a week break for vacay!

Justin Giles is a first time SYTYCD choreographer, and he had the boys for a group number tonight. I am always worried for the newbies who don’t know the stage and the failures of the cameramen, but that was ridiculously good! So simple, but it was so enthralling that I couldn’t tear my eyes away,. Sometimes I have a hard time not just focusing on one person when they’re all doing separate movements, but they all came together, and I could see the dance as a whole. And it’s about time the guys got a chance to shine since they’ve been pimping the girls all season.

Melanie and Marko, Jazz w/ Ray Leeper
I’m not sure what the costumers have against Melanie, but that outfit is more atrocious than last week’s disaster. Thankfully, the dance completely drew me in and once it got going, I didn’t even notice the horrid outfit. I didn’t really see how the story of a couple eloping fit in with that, but it was just such strong dancing. Their turns are strong and sharp, their leaps are like they came off a trampoline, and they’re always so in sync! They way those two look at each other is just priceless. Too bad she’s got a boyfriend ☹

Sasha and Alexander, Hip Hop w/ Shawn Evaristo
This is a new choreographer too! I guess they gave the regulars a week off? I like the concept of this routine – guy trying to get a kiss after a first date – and for the first time, I actually didn’t hate Alex. I thought his facial expressions were cheesy and kinda lame, but I thought they were really cute in it. Not the best hip-hop I’ve ever seen, but I was on the same page as Travis about it. Maybe this will put them in the bottom and send Alexander home…oooh I’d be ok with that.

Jordan and Tad, Waltz w/ Toni Redpath
First of all, WHY IN THE WORLD DO THEY HAVE WALTZ AGAIN??? I am not ok with this – give it to someone else. Secondly, I adore Toni Redpath as a judge, but I don’t like her choreography at all. I don’t know why, but I just don’t get it. I know they probably did it better technically this time around, but I just liked the dance better when they waltzed 2 weeks ago. Still thought they were great though, and Tad definitely does ballroom better than any of the other hip-hop dancers…oh wait, everyone else who did it got kicked off already.

Clarice and Jess, Contemporary w/ Justin Giles
Wow, he gets two numbers in his first ever show…way to go, Justin Giles. This was almost a hip-hoppy contemporary number. It was pretty cool, but I wasn’t buying Clarice’s performance. Her dance is great, but I can’t feel her emotions when she dances. Travis complimented Justin Giles’ musicality, and I am in total agreement with that! The judges thought it was Clarice and Jess’ best performance yet, which I don’t necessarily agree with, but ok then.

Ashley and Chris, Salsa w/ Liz Lira
I think I completely agreed with the judges on this one. The lifts were AWESOME! Props to Ashley for doing them and Chris for some pretty amazing partnering skills! As for the feel of it, it was almost there but didn’t quite hit the note I wanted out of it. Definitely missing the salsa “spice” a little bit. I thought Ashley was the better of the two, but that might be unfair since she has a sparkle dress to shake around and he doesn’t have anything equivalent.

Ryan and Rickey, Jazz w/ Chucky Klapow
Ok it really was a week off for all the regulars. Another new chorepgrapher! I am loving this one a ton! This was such a fun and funky number! It had a story, but not one that overwhelmed everything else. The music was perfect, and both of them were really able to get in character. Ryan really shined in this one, as per usual, but Rickey was fabulous as well! Just great!

Caitlynn and Mitchell, Contemporary w/ Mandy Moore
My favorite number of the night (like Mary!). This was just straight up gorgeous dancing! Passion, great music, synchronicity, everything was just fabulous! This one really reminded me of Melissa and Ade’s first dance together with Mandy mixed with Katee and Joshua’s reunion in the Top 6 with Tyce. These two are the emotional beasts of the season…dare I say, maybe even more extreme than Melanie and Marko? Loved it loved it loved it!

The Girls did a Ray Leeper routine about ridding the world of all the boys…fabulous idea in theory, right? I thought so. This was a super cool routine! Very smooth and sexy, I was totally into it. I have to say, there is literally no way for me to not watch Ryan and Melanie in these group numbers. They are just heads above everyone else. Something about their movements is just larger than life, and I (and the cameramen) can not look away. Sorry everyone else, but they’re just all over it.

I AM TAKING TIME RIGHT NOW TO VENT IN ALL CAPS. 5 OUT OF 7 COUPLES HAD REPEAT STYLES. IN WEEK 4!!! WTF THAT IS JUST UNACCEPTABLE. THEY BETTER HAVE SOME VARIETY NEXT WEEK AND NO MORE CONTEMPORARY OR JAZZ FOR ONCE.

Ok venting done, now for my superlatives…I’m loving this more and more!

BOTN: Caitlynn and Mitchell
Second Tier: Ryan and Rickey, Melanie and Marko
B3: Sasha and Alexander, Ashley and Chris, Clarice and Jess
Best Performance: Caitlynn and Mitchell
Best Choreo: Chucky Klapow – way to come in with a BANG
Girls vs/ Guys: GIRLS. Duh.
Best Outfit: n/a
Worst Outfit: Melanie, sorry ‘bout it
Best Music: Chucky Klapow with the David Bowie song