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So You Think You Can Dance
Season Five — Top 18 Dancers / Top 9 Couples
By Dr Matt
Here are the weekly Recaps from the Top Twenty Dancers to the Final Four:
Intro 20 Top 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 Final 4
Howdy So You Think You Can Dance Fans:
Something interesting happened this week: The two couples that were in the Bottom Three last week (Karla & Jonathan AND Asuka & Vitolio), were given encouragement and praise from the Judges: And the two couples that did the very BEST last week (Jason & Caitlin AND Ashley & Kupono) received criticism.
Thus, the Judges were able to level the playing field for all the contestants, to a certain extent, and NOW . . . it's up to American to vote for who they like.
Here's how I see the Top 9 Performances:
From Worst to Wow!
9 - Jeanine Mason & Phillip Chbeeb
Tango choreographed by Tony Meredith
Music: "Violento (Up Mix)" from Bailango!
Chbeeb was weak in this number. Jeanine did the best she could. But when you remember how well Tangos have been done in previous years, this one fell very short! In contrast, take a peek at Chelsie Hightower & Joshua, then Chelsie & Mark, then Allison Holker & Ivan . . . both girls are from Orem, Utah (Dr Matt's town!)
8 - Jason Glover & Caitlin Kinney
Hip-Hop choreographed by Shane Sparks
Music: "Missin' You" by Trey Songz
Last week Jason & Caitlin performed an intricate Bollywood number that Judges and audience loved a lot! This week the music and the choreography did not enhance the ample skills of these two dancers. As a result, the piece was pretty forgettable. I have not desire to play this one back: Although Caitlin had a few moments that were pretty good.
7 - Ashley Valerio & Kupono Aweau
Hip-Hop choreographed by Shane Sparks
Music: "Imma Be" by Black Eyed Peas
Last week Ashley & Kupono benefited from the genius of Wade Robson, and were at the very TOP of the rankings. This week, the music and the choreography did not complement these two dancers. As a result, the Judges didn't like it much, AND the piece was pretty forgettable. Nigel was right, when they took off their jackets and the music crescendo-ed . . . then the choreography fell flat.
6 - Karla Garcia & Jonathan Platero
Contemporary choreographed by Stacey Tookey
Music: "Falling Slowly" by The Frames
Even though the Judges gave this piece raves, and yes, they danced it pretty well, and Lil C called it "buck," . . . I just not clicking with Karla and Jonathan's chemistry. It should be interesting to see if the top choreographer from So You Think You Can Dance - Canada, will be good medicine for this couple. Maybe Canadian voters will be able to give some support to this couple (that is, if Canadians feel any allegiance to their native choreographer).
5 - Asuka Kondoh & Vitolio Jeune
Waltz choreographed by Louis Van Amstel
Music: "Dreams Are More Precious" by Enya
It is crystal clear that the Producers are NOT "randomly choosing" the dancers that each couple will dance! Instead, they are strategically choosing just the right dance to allow certain dancers to show off their skills. Asuka is a Latin Ballroom Dancer is should be easily adaptable to this Smooth Waltz. Vitolio's upper body expressiveness was FANTASTIC. He's one of my favorite guy dancers!
Asuka is quite vulnerable if she has to dance with her life: the "ballroom" specialists usually are a little WEAK when it comes to the "dance for your life" solo. The most prominent exception was America's Favorite Dancer: Benji Schwimmer. So, I see Asuka being eliminated eventually after landing in the Bottom Three . . . and Vitolio being saved because his solo skills are so freaking fantastic!
4 - Max Kapitannikov & Kayla Radomski
Pop/Jazz choreographed by Brian Friedman
Music: "Hot Like Wow" by Nadia Oh
Max was powerful in this number, and Kayla . . . is just amazing. This number may have been rated BELOW Melissa & Ade's routine, if the order of performing were switched. They were both outstanding! I was wonder if Max could stay up with the Jazz and Contemporary styles: I think he can handle them just fine, thank you. This field of dancers is really strong. Only, Philip Chbeeb shows obvious weakness outside his style.
3 - Evan Kasprzak & Randi Evans
Jive choreographed by Louis Van Amstel
Music: "Shake A Tailfeather" by Ray Charles
Lil C says: "Out of the Box with a Bang" . . . this was a FUN number: energetic and lively. They took a hard style to do . . . and did it very well! Evan was criticized for being too smooth, whereas, Randi got raves for the edge and the energy she brought to the dance. Lil C called her a "firecracker!"
2 - Ade Obayomi & Melissa Sandvig
Jazz choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
Music: "24 Hours (The Ashton Shuffle A-Bomb Remix) by Terry Poison
Curious choreography by Sonja from Mohawkia. Melissa is a prima ballerina with diverse skills sufficient to do anything! She is emerging as one of my FAVORITE Female dancers on the show! Both dancers are precise and powerful. Great duo. They should be around for many weeks to come. Definitely Tour-Worthy.
1 - Brandon Bryant & Janette Manrara
Disco choreographed by Doriana Sanchez
Music: "Loving Is Really My Game" by Brainstorm
Holy Smokes! This extremely fast Disco routine was the BOMB! Loved it, loved it, loved it. Mary Murphy jokingly suggests that Janette needs to work on her "flexibility" . . . NOT! Ms. Manrara did a groin-wrenching, spread eagle splits, hoisted above the head of Brandon. OUCH! A spectacular move guaranteed to induce labor among lady-watchers, and give guy-watchers a hernia!
Predictions:
Even though the Judges gave them praise, I'm thinking that last week's surviving Bottom Three couples will just NOT have the fan support AGAIN. If there is justice in the universe, then Chbeeb and his partner should be in the Bottom Three, but
If Asuka gets in the bottom three, I think she's GONE! And probably Jonathan will be GONE as well. This means that Vitolio and Karla will be teamed up, and THIS TEAM could be formidable if they get the right choreographer and music NEXT WEEK.
Results Show:
Last week, the first three couples out were . . . surprise, surprise . . . SAFE. BUT, this week one of the first three couples were in the Bottom 3: Melissa & Ade were saved first, and that left one of the next two couples to be . . . in the Bottom Three: Jason & Caitlin OR Philip & Jeanine.
Deciding which couple was canned, was a curious choice? Anyone who watched the SYTYCD Top 18 Performances knew that Philip was totally spewing chunks during his Tango! In contrast, a week previous, Jason & Caitlin were at the Top of the Rankings with a fantastic Bollywood routine!
Shocker: Jason & Caitlin are voted into the Bottom Three.
Next three couples out: Brandon & Janette, Karla & Jonathan, AND Ashley & Kupono.
It's a NO BRAINER when the first couple to the far left is announced SAFE . . . because if the FIRST couple to be "sentenced" is in the Bottom 3 Three, then there is NO suspense in announcing the "sentences" of the remaining two couples standing. You see, if either one of the next two couples is in the Bottom 3 . . . then ALL of the final 3 couples yet to be presented are SAFE . . . and bringing them out becomes unnecessary.
So to milk the suspense as long as possible, the first couple to the far left is usually safe (which is typically the first couple "sentenced"); thus, creating some decisional suspense among the remaining two couples. Thus, FIRST COUPLE SENTENCED: Brandon & Janette are SAFE . . . and they should have been, because their routine was extremely hard, and they killed it completely!
Look who we have left: One couple who was in the Bottom Three one week ago, but received praise for their performances this week, are up against Another couple who, a week ago, danced the fantastic Wade Robson routine: Crash Test Dummies! Seems likely that Karla and Jonathan would be in the Bottom Three again, BUT the home town troops got out the vote for K & J, and the Judges helped their cause by praising their performance too. Kupono and Ashley become Bottom 3 Three Dwellers.
You have to wonder if the Choreographer Factor came into play? Stacey Tookey is So You Think You Can Dance Canada's most popular choreographer. Did this influence Canadian Voting tendencies towards a couple that were Bottom-3-Dwellers a week ago . . . Maybe?
The last three couples were Evan & Randi, Asuka & Vitolio, AND Max & Kayla. As usual the "sentencing" of the first couple HAD TO BE SAFE, else suspense is short circuited. Thus, Evan and Randi were SAFE again, as they were the previous week. Yahoo! Go Randi, my home-town girl from Orem, Utah.
Now, to the suspenseful announcement of who is in the Bottom Three between last week's Bottom Three Dweller's Vitolio and Asuka VERSUS Max & Kayla.
Last Week, Max and Kayla benefited from the Pimp Spot, but this week, they were hurt by the quirky choreography of Brian Friedman. His choreography is hard to do, and visually, it's not so appealing to a general audience. Hence, Max & Kayla danced their guts out, and were NOT proportionally rewarded.
Suspense Over: After dancing a beautiful waltz routine, Vitolio and Asuka are surprisingly, amazingly SAFE this week — putting Max and Kayla in the Bottom 3 Three. I'm shocked.
The Elimination Solos made the difference this week:
Caitlin and Kayla danced solid routines that contained difficult moves; in contrast, Ashley, did some cool and quirky moves, but the Judges were NOT impressed with her lack of content. Caitlin is saved first, which is always an indicator of the pecking order.
After criticizing Kayla for putting too much difficult content in her solo, thus taking away from continuity, . . . the Judges decided to keep Kayla and toss Ashley in the trash.
First to be saved among the guys: Jason Glover. This means the person eliminated would be either Kupono or Max. By the way, Max did a pretty good solo . . . it honestly approached the quality of a Benji Schwimmer solo, but didn't quite have that Benji edge of appeal. After criticizing Kupono for NOT having much content in his solo, and congratulating Max on being a dancer who "works harder than the rest" . . . Max gets the BOOT.
I've checked individual popularity polls around the Internet: Max was clearly the weak link in the partnership between he and Kayla; also, Ashley was the less popular partner between she and Kupono. So both least popular dancers were eliminated: Max & Ashley.
I really didn't think Ashley would be eliminated, NOT after Kupono created a combination name comparable to Twitchington—he created the name Ashono. Alas, Ashley gets kicked to the curb along with Max, leaving Kayla and Kupono as NEW partners.
This NEW partnership—Kaylono— will absolutely be popular because both these individuals has higher popularity numbers compared to their old partners. Look out for Kayla & Kupono . . . a catchy name! I believe they will be a strong partnership. Plus, if Caitlin & Jason are able to rally the vote in their home regions, AND dance well next week, they could easily be SAFE next week, along with Kayla & Kupono.
So, for the first time EVER, . . . So You Think You Can Dance just may have yet another entirely different Bottom 3 Three.
:o)
Dr Matt
Weekly SYTYCD Recaps from the Top Twenty Dancers to the Final Four:
Intro 20 Top 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 Final 4
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