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So You Think You Can Dance
Season Five — Top 8 Dancers / Top 4 Couples
By Dr Matt
Here are the weekly Recaps from the Top Twenty Dancers to the Final Four:
Intro 20 18 16 14 12 10 Top 8 6 Final 4
Howdy Dance Fans:
Were down to the Final Eight 8 Dancers. Whoopee!
Do the introductory solo-ettes at the Top of the show have any influence on the voters? If they do, then Ade, Brandon, and Evan are scoring points. The girls don't do much in their 5 second solos — unless subtle style and grace count for anything. But it you want Pizzazz and WOW, then you have to look to the guys to get some. However, I give credit to Jeanine, she shows fantastic control in all of her solos — very impressive!
Tonight, we have 4 Judges: or maybe that's 3 Judges and 1 commedian. Ellen DeGeneres delivered some classic lines: "I learned my dancing from the street, and by street, I mean a gated-community."
Having read many SYTYCD Blogs, some people think that Evan is NOT doing that well and deserves to home. Is this attitude the result of Nigel Lythgoe's propanganda campaigne? Every week, the Judges implore: "We need MORE from you, Evan."
I predict that you will see a subtle change in Judge rhetoric concerning Evan: regardless of whether Evan give "more" or not, . . . the Judges will say: "Evan you are finally giving us MORE!" The Judges HAVE TO change their tune, because America is Voting for Evan BIG TIME. Evan & Jeanine are the ONLY dancers who have NOT been in the Bottom 2 or 3 . . . yet.
If America votes Evan in as their favorite dancers, it will look pretty awkward if the Judges are still complaining, "but we need MORE from you, Evan." — saying this to the potential winner?
From
Worst to Wow!
8 - Brandon Bryant & Jeanine Mason
Waltz, choreographed by Hunter Johnson
Music: "May It Be" by Hayley Westenra
Brandon has been dancing "lights out" all season, and seldom do you hear him complain about the difficulty of a dance. Throw any weird and wild bodily contortion, and Brandon can do it, and with gusto! So, it's revealing to hear Brandon say: "The Waltz is really hard!"
What hard is International Style Waltz done with proper technique. I heard the choreographer, Hunter Johnson, speak of the lady doing a "heel turn." The move is simply conceived, but it takes many months to do it correctly, in coordination with a partner.
If you watch this "waltz" as just think of it as a Contemporary Dance done to 3/3 rhythm, then the performance was quite beautiful. But when you realize all the International Style Technique that the dancers are NOT doing well, . . . then that is why I rate this performance lower in comparison to the others.
7 - Ade Obayomi & Melissa Sandvig
Cha Cha, choreographed by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Music: "Yeah" (Como Goza Mi Morena) by Chino Espinoza Y Los Duenos Del Son
Commendable performance. They pulled off some tough-to-do steps, but overall, they just didn't have the International technique down. Honestly, the best contemporary dancer in the world are NOT going to GET the technique in a week. That is why I say commendable. BUT I have to rank this lower because of the technique glitches.
On the positive side, it was GREAT to see Ade & Melissa partnered up again!
6 - Evan Kasprzak & Janette Manrara
Rumba, choreographed by Tony Meredith & Melanie LaPatin
Music: "Heartless" by Kris Allen
Unless you're a highly trained ballroom dancer, it's very hard to sell a slow, slow rumba. But when you have the right technique . . . no problem. Evan & Janette performed this number very well, but because the moves are NOT fast and flashy, this dance may not be a very good vote-generator.
Speaking of fantastic rumba performances. Here are my favorites: Slavik Kryklyvyy & Karina Smirnoff, and Michal Malatovski & Joanna Leunis, and Slavik Kryklyvyy & Elena Khvorova. These dancers will blow you a way!
5 - Evan Kasprzak & Janette Manrara
Jazz, choreographed by Sonya Tayeh
Music: "Move" (Metronomony Remix) by CSS
The Producers NEVER want to start a show with a slow performance, so they started with this one: and it was very nicely danced by Evan & Janette.
Mia Michaels comments that Janette is her "favorite." WOW what a compliment for the Salsa girl from Florida. It appears that she can DANCE any style that they throw at her PLUS, she can dance the Ballroom numbers BETTER than the rest of the ladies.
I'm thinking they need to ask Max Strelnikoff (It's the only name I could think of without looking it up, yes, I know it's the name of the bad guy in Dr Zhivago) to join the Top 10 Tour, because they need someone who can dance the Ballroom numbers with proper technique!
4 - Kayla Radomski & Jason Glover
Hip Hop, choreographed by Shane Sparks
Music: "They're Everywhere" by Izza Kizza
Entertaining choreography and energetically performed by Kayla & Jason! Nice dancing! It was well choreographed — one of Shane Sparks best routines. BUT . . . and there is a BUT, . . . it was unfortunate that this routine came after the breast-cancer number. And double unfortunate that Jason said that he hoped people would cry after this number . . . what?
3 - Kayla Radomski & Jason Glover
Broadway, choreographed by Tyce Diorio
Music: "Mr. Monotony" (from Jerome Robbins Broadway) by Kim Criswell
Kayla was absolutely fabulous in this number. The LONG LEGS come in handy here. Jason dance his part well. I rate this number ahead of the two previous Ballroom Dance numbers, because it was so well done — but this number is extremely condusive to the contemporary training of Jason & Kayla.
If we imagined for a minute, Ade & Melissa doing this number, and Kayla and Jason doing the International Cha Cha . . . which couple would turn out on top?
Jason & Kayla benefit from the luck of the draw here (remember the "draw" that the Producers manipulate every week. They say to Jason "Stick your hand in this HAT and pick a partner at random" (and there are 4 card to draw from, ALL with the name "Kayla" on them).
2 - Brandon Bryant & Jeanine
Pop/Jazz, choreographed by Laurie Ann Gibson
Music: "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks
Strong athletic dancing: you expect such from Brandon, but Jeanine was also hard hitting! The 2nd half of this SYTYCD show was DYNOMITE!
Mia Michaels said that choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson doesn't do anything unless it "comes from her soul." This statement is so pretentious to me. Dance is dance: We're not solving the problem of hunger and poverty here.
1 - Ade Obayomi & Melissa Sandvig
Contemporary, choreographed by Tyce Diorio
Music: "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell
Special Performance. Ade was strong as usual and Melissa was perfectly graceful as usual! Great night for these two dancers. I don’t really have anything else to say. They danced it sensitively and fully. Fantastic choreography by Tyce.
Predictions:
Melissa and Ade were in the Bottom 2 Two last week, so they are ON THE BUBBLE. The fact that they delivered the best performance of the Night, make predictions very interesting?
Because of his spectacular solos, I think Ade has raised his Vote-Getting lately, and will NOT go home. Even though Jason danced great, I think it's his time to go. The girl to go home is a tough call: Even though Melissa was part of the tearful "Cancer" Dance, . . . . She was in the Bottom 2 Two last week. I would guess Melissa . . . and if not her, then Janette is next in line.
The following vote percentages do not reflect the most recent popularity, but they at least tell you that Evan and Karla used to be very popular:
Top Five Guys Raw # Perc. Top Five Girls Raw # Perc.
Evan Kasprzak 354 24 % Kayla Radomski 419 29 %
Brandon Bryant 163 11 % Melissa Sandvig 139 10 %
Jason Glover 99 7 % Jeanine Mason 76 5 %
Ade Obayomi 93 6 % Janette Manrara 48 3 %
The burning question is: just how many people are in the "Swing Vote" category. The die-hard FANS of each dancer will continue to vote for their favorite, but the Swing Voters are free to SWING to those dancers who have a memorable performance — with Melissa & Ade being on the top of that mountain.
Results Show:
The Choreography to "One" was just OK for me: I'm not sure Broadway is Mia Michaels strong suit. I didn't like her ripples: they were predictable and looked messy. The number demands razor sharp choreography. The music dictates simple rhythmic movements; meaning there's not much to do but make sure you're matching the other 7 dancers.
I would have liked to see what Joey Dowling or Tyce the Oreo could do with this number. So here's how the Bottom Two turned out:
Melissa Sandvig is Safe! Being in the Best Performance of last evening pays off!
Kayla Radomski is in the BOTTOM 2!
Jeanine Mason is SAFE! and for the first time this season:
Janette Manrara is in the BOTTOM 2!
After Cat announces that one of these two is in the Bottom 2 Two: Jason or Ade . . .
Jason Glover is in the BOTTOM 2! and
Ade Obayomi is SAFE!
That means that either Brandon or Evan is in the Bottom 2 Two:
Brandon Bryant is in the BOTTOM 2!
Evan Kasprsak is SAFE!
Kayla appears to be losing popularity. I think America is tried of the Judges putting a crown on Kayla's head, and are fighting back: "Hey, we're the ones who vote . . . we'll decide America's Favorite Dancer." In the end, Janette is eliminated. I'm not surprised. Even though she participated in some fantastic choreography with her partner Brandon, her solos were WEAK (as they often are for Ballroom Dancers — unless you name is Benji Schwimmer).
So, Kayla is on the Bubble, and I see her paired in the Bottom 2 with Melissa next week.
No drum roll, no fanfare, Jason is Eliminated on the Guy's side. Who else? Did anyone think that there was a real possibility of Brandon being eliminated? Now that Brandon has been in the Bottom 2 Two, that's a wake up call for the Brandon Fans, and if he dances well next week, he will NOT necessarily be the obvious one to go. On the other hand, Evan has A LOT of fans, and Ade will be a formidable contentstant.
Here's how I see the partner pairings next week:
Evan Kasprzak Jeanine Mason
Brandon Bryant Melissa Sandvig
Ade Obayomi Kayla Radomski
Or possibly this permutation for the partner pairings:
Evan Kasprzak Melissa Sandvig
Brandon Bryant Kayla Radomski
Ade Obayomi Jeanine Mason
I like the first pairing the best, because it puts Evan and Ade with partner's they've not had before, AND Kayla is a tall girl who will better match up with Ade, and the Black against White will be striking! Further, Evan would be paired up with a partner he has never had before, and Jeanine is a small woman, thus fitting the smallish Evan.
The second permutation is one where two of the partnerships have NEVER happened before. I think the viewing audience in intringue by different pairing every week. Can SYTYCD Producer pull their preferred pairings out of a hat? If I were the Producer, I would absolutely design the BEST show possible at this point.
In the first season, I think they really did pull names and dances out of a hat randomly, and that is why Nick & Melanie got paired up week after week — boring! I like the RIGGED HAT much better!
:o)
Dr Matt
Weekly SYTYCD Recaps from the Top Twenty Dancers to the Final Four:
Intro 20 18 16 14 12 10 Top 8 6 Final
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