So You Think You Can Dance: The Finale!

We've been waiting a whole season and the night is here! Who will be crowned America's Favorite Dancer?

10:00 Well that's a wrap for me & this season of SYTYCD. It's been a great season and I've enjoyed throwing out my feedback. Thanks for reading!
9:59 Girlfriend deserved this win in a big way....get it Melanie!
9:58 The winner won by 15%....and that is Melanie!
9:55 Here we go....the final fluff packages
9:51 Each lady will have a phenomenal dance career if she has the guts to go after it....regardless of which one wins
9:41 Marko is a beautiful person inside and out....and the last man standing nonetheless
9:40 And our 3rd place dancer is.....Marko. As they said in the beginning, a girl will win this season
9:37 Get it Mary for picking my favorite routine of the season, the statue piece by Travis Wall from the first night on the big stage. This was the piece that set them up as the front runners and they never dropped from that pedestal
9:32 That piece was soooo not live btw
9:30 Oh hey Pasha, I'll take a little of you to go! I loved that Jesse referred to Caitlynn as the girl with the bangin' bangs
9:26 Sonya picked the top 10 guys routine...great to see all of them back...this is also the 2nd Chris Scott routine tonight
9:21 Nobody could've done this routine like Sasha & Twitch did it
9:19 Yay the Twitch & Sasha routine...that was pretty great, and by great I mean phenomenal
9:17 Obviously Fox had to make a shameless plug for Glee & the 3D movie
9:14 Oh lord why do we need a Spencer Liff routine in the finale?
9:06 And the dancing winning the Courtney Galiano award...aka 4th place...is Tadd, which was pretty obvious, but we still love him! He came so far!
9:03 How many job offers has Melanie gotten this season?
8:58 Tyce picked Sonya's Geisha routine, which was pretty bangin'. 2 routines each for Sonya, Tyce, and Mandy
8:55 Jesse is picking an all star routine....please be Allison Holker!! Marko & Allison doing a Sonya piece....I  DIE!
8:50 People just lost their minds when Melanie took that huge leap!! Girl is phenom!
8:48 And now for Total Eclipse of the Heart....didn't Mary already pick a routine? This is Mandy Moore's 2nd piece tonight
8:45 UK winner tapping with Jess & Nick....obsessed. Now why couldn't America fall in love with tap too?
8:38 Oh yay Cat is picking a routine! This Circus routine from the top 8 was really quite fantastic.Two pieces from Tyce so far. This piece reminds me of the Broadway musical Side Show
8:36 Lil C just chose "Break Ya Neck" aka the Woodpecker routine by NappyTabs for Robert & Miranda.....that was truly Buck
8:35 That Vulture routine was bangin'
8:33 And we're back!
8:27 OMG Robin you dumb hooker....of all the great pieces this season you pick this one? There were much better Mandy Moore routines and many better routines in general
8:24 This piece is cute and I get what Nigel is saying about it solidifying their relationship, but they did many duets that were much better than this
8:23 Nigel is talking Melanie & Marko....I Got You by Nappytabbs.....I was expecting the statue piece
8:22 This Mary-Nigel montage  is so tacky fabulous
8:17 OMG is Sonya wearing a tutu?
8:16 I just can't get over what great shape Sasha is in physically, she has such power!
8:15 Mary picks Tyce's routine for Sasha & Kent.....a routine I'm happy to see again
8:13 Tyce had the quote of the season when he said "we are going to celebrate DANCE this summer", and we did indeed do that
8:12 Like ever season, this one had its share of freaks
8:10 I reamed Nigel for dismissing the boys last night and he just apologized....he is CLEARLY reading my blog
8:08 Sonya is so right in saying that these dancers are all true artists....something we couldn't say about all finalists in other seasons
8:06 Pretty sure Melanie got the most applause of all, but Sasha was close....we'll see if that's reflected
8:05 Amazing panel tonight: Lil C, Robin Anton (not so fab), Tyce, Sonya, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and obviously Mary & Nigel
8:04 The finale is great because it is a true celebration of dance
8:03 Sasha looks like freaking Xena & Cat is looking stunning in red
8:00 Wow I totally forgot about a lot of these top 20 dancers...this is a pretty bomb routine! It's not teh best choreography but it's certainly a great display of tricks and athletic ability

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 4 Perform!

Here we are, we have our top 4 so get ready to see some amazing performances!!

9:55 I HATE when Nigel tries to make predictions, i.e. saying a girl will still win, because it heavily influences the voting
9:55 I'm disappointed in the producers for doing such a horrible job choosing styles & choreographers for this evening's finale
9:51 Marko isn't quite as low as Tadd.....he could get much lower into the knees
9:46 Finally a Stacey Tookey piece that I can appreciate...it was interesting and not trite
9:42 Wait so Stacey Tookey can do a piece that isn't a love story....congrats! This is really interesting actually. In this case the props work because they provide a barrier that they can't surmount
9:34 Sasha always talks about the hard journey she has had that has allowed her to dance such dark pieces. I'm not being nosy, but I'm curious as to what has lead her to feel such pain
9:31 I'm going to quote my friend @Kyle_louise and say "this piece was too much narrative and not enough dancing"
9:28 Something about this reminds me of the "Way You Make Me Feel" segment from Center Stage
9:27 I freaking love Ray Leeper....he is straight out of the dance competition/convention circuit where I grew up
9:22 I'm def voting Marko tonight.....it will be my first time voting of the season
9:20 I feel like Tadd needs the win the most...everyone else will have a career regardless
9:15 Wow Marko & Lauren just kind of slobbered all over one another
9:13 Marko looks like a star right here...I'm not even watching Lauren at all right now
9:06 That piece was not the level needed for the final episode
9:06 Sasha & Tadd's Cha Cha was sassy in performance, but a little clunky in terms of execution
9:02 Marko is so incredibly genuine! He, like Melanie, makes magic in the subtleties in his solos
8:54 Melanie gives a master class when she performs her solos...the slightest movement is gripping without all the flashy leaps and turns
8:52 Now we get to the feelings....Melanie's favorite memory was launching herself into Neil's arms. Her favorite person was Ricky and you can tell that she misses him genuinely. Obviously she is besties with Marko  from the first half of the season.
8:49 Marko is precious & Sasha is fierce....but for me they didn't work together
8:47 The choreography is fine, but the scenery and props are unnecessary, as was that tumbling pass
8:45 Why God Why do we have to have a Spencer Liff routine in the finale?? I never thought I'd miss Tyce
8:38 Kenny Ortega just said he wanted to work with Melanie and Cat "got her a job" in the remake of Dirty Dancing. Great Cat moment of the night...."nobody puts me in a corner"
8:34 Stacey Tookey is up and we are obviously going to see a piece about love....unrequited love that is
8:32 The judges loved Tadd doing LIL C's work....obviously. These dancers should be good enough to not have to struggle through any style in the finale
8:24 This is certain to be awesome....Tadd & Joshua, I mean really?? And is this the first time choreographing for Lil C this year?
8:18 Kenny Ortega is absolutely correct in labeling her Sasha: Warrior Princess
8:13 Sasha & Sonyah have clearly connected this season, obviously, but this piece choreographed as an ode to her is phenomenal. Mark is a perfect partner for her in this piece. That wheelbarrow move was fantastic. Her body is in such amazing shape and she is so strong to be able to do all these interesting movements
8:11 Stupid Blogger is currently "read only" but I'll continue to write and I'll post live as soon as blogger goes live!
8:06 Kenny & Katie were all sunshine and roses......boring, but Mary is giving it to them straight about the lift issues
8:05 Marko is bound to be phenomenal at Disco! That over the head rotational lift could have been a little cleaner. They are so not in sync. These lifts don't have the speed and flow that we've seen in other routines
8:00 Kenny Ortega is legit in the dance world.....he'll be great tonight! But what the hell does Katie Holmes know about dance other than watching hubby Tom in Risky Business?

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 6 Results!

According to Nigel's twitter, we aren't going to see a bottom two tonight. We will simply lose the male and female that received the least votes as to not reveal the top two. Tonight we'll know who is dancing in the finale....can't wait!!

8:57 And now Tadd is through.....I'm cool with all of the voting tonight, though I did love Ricky so much
8:55 Now I know why Pia got voted off of Idol...great voice but boring overall
8:48 Sasha goes through! America got it right!!
8:48 Caitlyn dances from her head, Melanie dances from her heart, and Sasha dances from her soul.....well spoken Nigel
8:40 Duh, it was obviously going to be Marko because the drama is between Tadd & Ricky
8:40 I'm just going to say it.....that waacking routine was stupid
8:38 I hate to be precious, but they all deserve to be in the finale!!
8:35 OMG the boys are doing a conga line....that's so precious! I bet Marko will be the first guy in the finale since he's pretty much a given
8:30 And the first girl in the finale is.........Melanie! Duh, like we didnt' know that was happening. OMG her Grandma was just so precious when that was announced!
8:22 Why do we have to see "Collide" again?" I didnt' even like it last season. Don't get me wrong they are great dancers but Travis has done much better work since then
8:17 Ricky always has the best solos, his body does things i've never seen and "Requiem For A Dream" is perfect for a dance for your life piece
8:16 Marko has such joy for dance, so ahmaazing
8:16 Tadd is pure entertainment...such a charismatic guy
8:12 National Dance Day is my favorite holiday....obviously
8:07 Melanie manages to tell a complete story in 30 seconds, she is a true gem!
8:06 Caitlynn never learned that you can do a solo without turns and leaps. Her center leap and her jump into a fall onto the shin has been in every one of her solos
8:05 Sasha makes such great use of levels in this solo. I love string music so I'm currently obsessed with this piece and her musical interpretation of it
8:03 The rose was unnecessary, but a lovely piece nonetheless, from Justin Giles
8:02 Sasha keeps catching my attention, she is killing this! This piece is so gentle and easy to watch, I just love it!
8:00 This opening number centers around a huge red rose. Beauty & The Beast anyone? And surprise surprise they are wearing white!

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 6 Perform!

Here we are....down to the top 6! I hear we have some more exciting All-Stars, namely Jamie from S3 & Kent from S7!

9:59 If I could wrap up the episode in one word...... CHRISTINA!!
9:58 So I'm back on the Melanie bandwagon again....Melanie in Marko all the way
9:56 So now Sonya is back on Nigel's good list....I don't think she needs your approval dear
9:55 Caitlynn may have come of age...but I'm afraid she may be going home tomorrow anyway.
9:52 Wow Lil C just called this routine #buck #buck because it was reckless & convicted. Lil C is always obsessed with Sonya's routines...as am I!
9:51 The lighting of this piece may look great in the theatre but its so hard to see on TV...Marko is on fire in this piece!!! Caitlynn seems to not be quite at his level though
9:49 Marko & Caitlynn doing Sonya jazz....I think a character piece will help her a lot
9:45 I feel bad for Tadd that the judges basically ignored him while going gaga over Melanie's solo. Then Christina compared her to Donna McKechnie which is just not okay with me. I looooove that Christina referenced the greatest musical theatre dancer of all time, but Melanie simply isn't quite at that level yet
9:42 This piece could've easily been The Music And The Mirror.....thanks for stealing 2 concepts Spencer
9:41 Thanks Cat for confirming that this was "Black Swan"
9:39 Spencer's concept is "Black Swan"
9:38 Oh lord I hate Spencer Liff
9:27 Okay I don't really get what whacking is. Maybe flailing? It actually looks just like a syncopated jazz routine to me. Ricky & Sasha are giving it their all, but the choreography just wasn't great. There was much too much unison movement.
9:22 It seems as if Melanie improvised her solo.....that is why it looked so natural
9:20 Cat is a phenomenal host
9:19 Marko fell out of a pirouette and I don't even care
9:18 From an emotional perspective, it seems the producers want the audience to connect to Sasha & Marko because they had the most sappy intro packages
9:11 Caitlynn tried her best to be sexy, but the whole thing was a little clunky for me
9:08 OMG I'm so jealous of Caitlynn for being in the same room with Pasha & Dmitri at the same time
9:07 I think the judges want Sasha to win. Isn't she a contemporary dancers? Because her jazz is hot
9:02 Did Tadd just hop on one hand for like an hour?
9:01 The family vids are all about pulling at the voters' heartstrings and it is soooo working
8:59 I agree with Mary about how Ricky seemed to bounce off the piano keys
8:58 Lil C is commending them on using the props.....but then again was the prop totally necessary?
8:56 What is it with all the white costumes this season? Jamie is phenomenal and I love that she works the hair and the legs simultaneously. Is it just me or does Ricky look like he is marking? Or maybe it is just him preparing for the lifts
8:51 I'm obsessed with Jamie Goodwin...she's one of my favorites from the whole series
8:50 I like Caitlynn's song choice and the fact that she has some movements in between her tricks...its progress
8:47 Can FOX just make Lil C a permanent judge already? His critiques are so great and so specific
8:47 Sonya is PISSED at Nigel for saying her piece needed more dancing
8:44 This piece reminds me of The Tudors....pristine yet dirty
8:43 Sonya is just so freaking interesting! Leave it to her to come up with something off the wall
8:38 Ricky has great leaps & turns, but he actually dances......in that the tricks are not the focal point which I love, he knows how to dance for his life!
8:34 I agree with Nigel....this piece left me a little cold, though I think that was more the choreography than the execution by Marko
8:33 Side note.....Mary continues the trend of neck or shoulder adornments on her dress
8:32 I don't remember Jeanette but homegirl has a fun accent. This is a very theatrical Paso Doble & Marko did  fine job for all I know about Paso Doble
8:30 The power for the man in the Paso Doble comes from the crotch.....good to know
8:25 Sasha is truly connecting with the judges and audience.....girl has come on strong the past few weeks and just might win it all!
8:19 I swear Sasha may actually be the same size as Kent. She is in CRAZY good shape. Something about them looked great together oddly enough
8:17 I love Kent and I'm so happy to see him back!! I hope this Tyce piece is not so fake
8:11 Lil C doesn't think Melanie gets it because she didn't grow up in the ghetto.....like that's her fault?? She is no Shirley Temple girlfriend
8:06 Melanie + Twitch + NappyTabs = Lil Red in da Hood. This is actually a real cool concept! Melanie is getting down too! This is showing a totally different side of her and I love it!
8:04 The Cat-Nigel banter gets better each episode
8:02 Oh Christina Applegate, how precious. At least she knows Fosse choreography. And thank god for Lil C
8:00 The stage looks so lonely with 6! Each dancer will do two routines and a solo tonight

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 8 Perform!

I was exceptionally opinionated in the moment last night during SYTYCD so I decided I'd write up a recap today after I had time to sort out my thoughts more clearly.

Sasha & Pasha (Quickstep): This was a routine I may have judged too harshly. I commented that Sasha was too stiff, but according to the judges that was a "character choice" based on direction by the choreographer so I can't fault her for doing in what was asked of her.

Caitlynn & Ivan (Hip-Hop): After looking at this piece again, I think I praised Caitlynn a little too much. I think I was so surprised that she hit all the choreography that I failed to pay attention to style. She really did need to sit lower in the pocket like Ivan and her movements were too choppy for this smooth style of Hip-Hop.

Jordan & Ade (Jazz): All I can remember about this routine was that Jordan's legs were working. The fact that I saw it less that 12 hours ago and I can't remember anything else about it means that it wasn't a particularly great routine. I actually feel sorry for Jordan that she never gets any other praises or constructive criticism because the judges are so enamored by her legs.

Melanie & Neil (Contemporary): Another 80s-tastic routine from Many Moore. This was so gorgeous because these dancers can do anything but in terms of choreography, the only thing I will walk away remembering about it was that huge catch lift...and that's probably because Cat had them do it a second

Anya & Ricky (Jive): I love Ricky so I'll admit I had blinders on when I watched this piece. Though he did have incredibly energy and he always shows his love for dance, the Jive was not up to par. He was too upright and needed to get more into his knees.

Jess & Lauren (Hip Hop): Lauren is one of the most versatile dancers this show has ever had and Hip-Hop isn't even truly her style but she makes it look like it is. All the movements were there for these two, but there just was no chemistry as a couple. They looked more like a brother and sister competing a junior duet at Starpower Nationals.

Tadd & Lauren (Jazz): This was straight up a competition routine. It would have done really well at Starquest Nationals circa 2001 but for this level of competition, it simply didn't look professional enough. They did well with what they were given, which wasn't much.

Marko & Allison (Contemporary): This Sonya routine was far and away the routine of the night for me! The choreography was thoughtful and layered and dancers attacked it with a fierce intensity. It was so memorable and it held my interest so intently that I think I could perform half of the choreography right now. The two of them truly danced as one.

Caitlynn & Tadd (Foxtrot): This was very old Hollywood glam and I am repeatedly amazed by how easy a b-boy can transition to ballroom. Caitlynn was gorgeous, but I think she will be in the bottom tonight. She is wonderful, but she just is not a star.

Marko & Ricky (Hip-Hop): I think this guy-guy piece was mean to emulate "Tranji" from season 2, but the two just weren't on same level. Marko was flawless, but Ricky needed to get deeper into his knees and the two just didn't gel together.

Jordan & Jess (Rumba): This piece was boring boring boring because there was absolutely no heat between them. And that heinous costume made Jordan look twice her size. That is never good in such an aesthetic thing as dancing.

Sasha & Melanie (Jazz): I loved this choreography but I found the execution to be awkward because in my opinion, Sasha was light years beyond Melanie. I've been getting a lot of criticism for this opinion but then again it is just that...my opinion.

Final wrap ups: Caitlynn & Jess should go home tonight, Gaga should shut up, and this show should actually be about dancing for once instead of the "Guest Judge Side Show" its been the past two or three weeks.

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 8 Perform!

Here we go, we are down to 8 dancers and we have some really exciting all-stars joining them this week for their duets. Exciting stuff!

10:00 That's a wrap, see you all tomorrow!!
9:49 I guessed it, Sonya modeled these dancers after herself. Holy crap Sasha, she is making Melanie look like a total amateur right now.
9:45 Omg Sasha and Melanie that hair! I'm going to guess that they're doing a Sonya routine??
9:41 Jordan & Jess are an interesting duo...two mini-me spitfires. The cut of that dress is doing her no favors, it makes her look very hippy and twice the size of Jess. That rotational lift was lovely but the piece as a whole did nothing for me
9:31 Tabitha & Napoleon don't look incredibly pleased about that piece....I wouldn't be either.
9:29 Marko & Ricky doing a Nappytabs routine about Waste Management workers. This is so necessary. Ricky needs to get much lower, he looks like he isn't doing this routine full-out next to Marko
9:21 This old Hollywood look is so fetch on Tadd & Caitlynn. She is gorgeous and we already know he was born for the ballroom
9:14 Marko just kicked sweet little Melanie's ass!
9:13 OMG we just had a precious mother-son moment with Marko and his mom. This is just too much for me and live TV
9:10 I want Allison Holker on every episode please. This is a pretty god routine. Is it just me or does the music (sans lyrics) sound like Hallelujah? These two are truly dancing as one. This movement is perfection
9:03 Okay Gags I'm done with you doll face....pick up your trail of accessories and hit the road
9:01 You'll get this with Mandy Moore...a really great routine followed by something out of Starquest Nationals
9:00 Mandy Moore & I have the same musical taste....all 80s all the time. This routine is cute but I don't think its showing off what Tadd does well other than a few b-boy tricks.
8:59 The more I think about it, They definitely looked like a brother/sister duo, not a romantic couple
8:56 Mary is correct in saying that Jess was particularly strong in his isolations
8:55 Lauren is so versatile & Jess is proving that he is as well. They are perfectly in sync here with one another, its a thing of beauty
8:54 I love Lauren Gottlieb and she and Jess actually look like they could be brother & sister, which actually makes them really well matched to dance together
8:44 Omg I love a Celine moment!! Best song ever! Ahmaaazing footwork! Such performance quality
8:43 Ricky is going to win this competition
8:39 Cat is a great host because she goes with the flow. She just spontaneously had Melanie & Neil do the big jump again lol
8:37 OMG Ellen in the house...I die. Obviously Ellen is wearing flannel and Portia is looking glam
8:36 These judges act like she is the best thing since Isadora Duncan but I'm not quite convinced yet for some reason
8:34 Standing ovation from the judges, but it was started by Madame Gaga! Can Neil marry me? Thanks
8:32 Mandy Moore loves a good 80s throwback....its her favorite musical genre. I'm a little bit over Melanie but you can't deny that she is a phenomenal dancer. Those white costumes are gorgeous and just so ethereal. That running catch lift was pretty great, but also, we totally saw it coming
8:31 Melanie & Neil doing a Mandy Moore contemporary routine about....surprise....a love story. Get it together Mandy!
8:28 "Is there anything that little body can't do?" -Nigel to Jordan. And Gaga just gave Jordan a shout out to the short girls. Rob just commented that Jordan dances with abandon (which is oddly enough what he suggested Caitlynn work on)
8:26 This routine was made for Jordan and her legs and her ability to hit sharp accents. I LOVE this routine. Its a true jazz routine....not lyrical...not contemporary...not Broadway...just jazz. You know Jordan is fierce when I didn't even watch Ade
8:25 So we have a Tyce routine for Jordan & Ade which should be fierce as all get out
8:18 Nigel also said that Caitlynn no longer looks like a competition kid....amen sister! And Gaga called her sexy like 3 times.
8:18 Nigel just told Caitlynn to "open her legs a little" and Gaga laughed. Cat said "Gaga don't". So priceless!
8:16 Caitlynn has grown on me more than anyone in the top 20 this season from a little smiley girl to a very mature and versatile dancer
8:15 Why do girls always wear boys clothing in hip-hop routines? Its unnecessary. Caitlynn actually looks better than I expected. She has nice quiet attack on this material and pretty strong chemistry with Ivan. Nothing like what he had with Allison Holker, but granted that was built over many weeks
8:14 So now we have our little Caitlyn doing hip.-hop with Ivan. I swooned over him circa season 2 but now he just looks like a geeky white boy
8:09 I'm going to agree with Nigel that Sasha is too stiff. Gaga disagrees with us and thinks the stiffness was "a character choice"
8:08 PS Cat looks DIVINE in that white dress and the simple waves in her hair
8:07 Rob & Mary are eating up this routine but it really did nothing for me
8:03 Yay a Jonathan Roberts routine.....he has always been my Dancing With The Stars crush! Sasha & Pasha, now what a cute/awkward pairing. I get that this is supposed to be a "funky quickstep" but Pasha still looks refined and Sasha looks like a spastic robot. And those head movements are just too much
8:02 Yes indeed it is Gaga and what....she's in Nigel's seat on the panel?? I'm guessing Gaga refused to sit next to Mary or something. And of course we love Rob Marshall, director of the film Chicago
8:01 12 routines tonight, I hope we don't have any injuries.....
8:00 Here we go kids! 2 guest judges, could one perhaps be GAGA??

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 10 Perform!

9:56 Thats it for me and until tomorrow night, keep dancing!
9:55 Its amazing how authentic Clarice looks in this Indian dres...at least to my eyes
9:54 I simply cannot listen to one more comment from NPH.
9:51 Its funny how they have no all-stars that specialize in Bollywood so they use Robert lol. He s so versatile and Clarice doesn't even look like herself. I loved this piece...its so high energy!
9:50 Great solo by Marko....he is such an enigma

9:41 OMG I die! Tori Amos, Ricky, and Allison Holker are too fabulous for words. I missed seeing Tyce do contemporary. Its so great to see a piece that isn't about a love story.

9:40 I love Allison Holker!!!
9:39 Caitlynn.....girl is killing this solo! Yeah she fell out of the turn  a bit but at least she went after it. I'd rather see somebody go after it than play it safe
9:33 There is something about Melanie that seems kind of fake to me.....anyone else feel that way? I'm just not sure what it is
9:29 Perfect song for the concept.........Everybody Hurts. Simply gorgeous....so elegant

9:27 Tadd is so versatile that I always forget he is a b-boy and hot a hip-hopper, contemporary, or even ballroom dancer! That routine, however didnt show much
9:22 NPH needs to be done now. He gave Jess criticism on his facial expression when he was directed by the choreographer not to look at his partner. Why Neil why?
9:19 When Kathryn is onstage you can't watch anyonen else. Will that help or hurt Jess? Also, Kathryn looks like Tony-winner Laura Benanti
9:17 The surprise of the night is that Stacey Tookey is doing a love story?
9:16 I keep saying Jordan sn't a star because even though she has some amazing skills, she just isn't captiving, but she still has soooo much room to grow in this competition

9:09 Nigel has no words for this and I'm pretty sure Neil Patrick Harris has no clue what he's talkng about. He acts like it is a surprise that these choreographers choose the music, movement, and costumes. Ummmm Neil dear, in world world does that NOT happen?

9:05 Sasha is such a dynamo and we've always loved twitch! Nice nip-ups! What is with the back to front grinding in the hip-hop numbers tonight? That was so perfect emotionally and they were so committed to the "characters"...it was almost a little too realstic
8:59 Mitchell is such a strong and emotional dancer. He does so much with so little in terms of technical difficulty
8:58 I love NPH but not as a judge on this show. He is having a difficult time separating the "performance" and "execution" from the "choreography"
8:56 Mary is obsessing over Caitlynn in a big way
8:55 I like that this routine was slow enough that we could appreciate the beauty of it rather than getting lost in the crazy fast footwork

8:54 This routine is hot! Smily little Caitlynn is such an elegant Diva!

8:52 This looks like the same costume my friend wore in her senior college dance recital to Rama Lama Bang Bang. Did she actually do any dancing in that solo? Or maybe she just smiled a lot?
8:48 Wait why is Clarice still on this show?
8:46 I'm obsessed with Ricky and the abilities he has as a dancer, but moreso his performance quality
8:44 NPH is not all about this routine and while I don't agree with him, I respect that he is voicing his opinion
8:41 I love "Take Off With Us" from Fosse  and since Tyce was in the show, he knows the style so well. I love this routine and its so great to see Melody back all the way from season 1. I love that Tyce has made Mitchell the focal pointe of the routine rather than the  all-star

8:39 Not that I wanted to see her n the bottom 3, but I missed watching Melane's solos.....just exquisite. She is so well trained that she makes it looke easy
8:38 You know Tadd is good when he made his all-star look bad
8:34 Does many have to wear some obnoxious shoulder ornamentation every week?

8:31 This routine is not doing anything for me. They don't look like they are in synch at all and the routine just is not entertaning
8:29 Tadd & Comfort....this should be good since they are both hip-hoppers but I absolutely hated comfort on her season, especially when she came back after sombody suffered an injury
8:28 I don't think anyone could suit Jess's personality better than Harry Connick Jr. He showed such amazing control at the end of the pirouette sequence
8:26 Adding a solo round to the competition scares me a bit.....this is the point last year where dancers started to suffer overuse injuries

8:21 I don't think Jordan is necessarily a star, but she does indeed do everything that is asked of her and at a very high level
8:19 Jordan's legs are just nuts. Her leg tricks are unlike any I've ever seen
8:18 Desmond Richardsons routines requre such a high level of technicial training its crazy. I'm so happy to see Brandon back this season, though I wish he were dancing for Alvin Ailey
8:17 Sasha is so fluid in her solos, I love that her movements are so natural and not just tricks

8:11 We loved Marko & Chellsie in that Samba routine. He shows such genuine emotion and is so incredibly humble. I loved Chellsie on her season and on DWTS. She is such a versatile dancer and I love that she isn't built like a stick

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 14 Perform!

I can't believe we are already onto week four of the live shows......this is So You Think You Can Dance!

9:57 Well that's it for tonight; look for my recap tomorrow and until then...keep dancing!
9:56 If they were a dance crew they'd be called "The Black Widow Brigade"
9:54 OMG I love Eartha Kitt; that opening image of the funeral was great! I love the unison and the quiet intricacy. Ok so we've had enough ripples for one routine, try another compositional structure Ray.
9:53 Its so great to see girls dancing in character heels!
9:49 Up until this week Caitlynn & Mitchell were blandsville but their stock just went waaaaaay up!
9:48 Go away Carmen! Come back Krazy Aunt Kristin
9:47 Nigel & Travis both had their breath taken away but Caitlynn & Mitchell
9:45 Mary is crying and she's on the verge of becoming hysterical....I love the crazy!
9:42 Another love story...this is starting to feel like pairs skating. OMG CELINE!!!!! I love a good Celine Dion moment, especially this song. That moment where Caitlynn's leg fluttered down out of her extension was gorgeous. This routine has really good speed and flow to it. I loved that pendulum lift, normally seen in swing dancing, and how Mandy Moore translated it to contemporary. That cartwheel entry lift was great! Mandy Moore could make bank by teaching these lifts to ice dancers.
9:40 Caitlynn is a skier/snowboarder.....my teacher never let me do those things because I'm super accident prone
9:35 I totally forgot that Caitlynn & Mitchell existed....but they're up next in a contemporary piece.
9:32 That was was so very zombie prom. The judges all love it and it even kept Travis Wall's attention! He sees them well past the top 10
9:30 I am loving this routine already...its like 80s zombie diva chic! It wasn't a meaningful piece of anything, but it was entertaining and so fun to watch.
9:29 This jazz teacher is like crazy and I LOVE HIM!!! A piece about getting hit by a car.....now that is original!
9:28 Its cool that everyone on the show seems so family oriented. I love that Ricky was a cheerleader...I cheered like forever and I love everything about it!
9:25 Ryan is such a sentimental favorite for me! Its cool that Mia really took Ryan under her wing...Mia is great at spotty quirky talent like that.
9:20 OMG Nigel just agreed with me and said that Ashley worked her skirt like West Side Story...zinger!
9:18 I refuse to acknowledge that Carmen is still there because she can't put together a cohesive statement
9:17 Travis is doing job of being nice yet critical with these dancers while also giving constructive notes that they can apply to their future routines
9:16 I hate to say it but Jordan & Tadd would have look hot in that routine! Ashley & Chris...not so much...
9:15 Ashley is moving that skirt like Anita in West Side Story but she is way to jerky for me and that hip action is not in sync between the two of them. Chris is trying so hard and I really wish he didn't look awkward.
9:14 I'm genuinely scared for this Salsa routine, but I hope they prove me wrong.
9:13 What is it with breakers coming from Salt Lake auditions? Tadd, Chris, Gev from season 4...
9:12 Ashley grew up assisting her mom in dance...I grew up assisting my mom coaching cheerleading
9:06 This partner is truly growing, they're steadily improved each week
9:04 Travis is correct in saying this is a really believable piece and the choreography had a very nice arc.
9:02 This is a gorgeous piece of music and I love the lighting. They are really slamming those accents. I like Clarice more in these first 30 seconds than I have on anything all season long. She looked simply exquisite in that last moment.
9:01 Another Justin Gilles routine...a "hard hitting contemporary."
9:00 Haha Jess wouldn't come to meet anyone in his house unless he was introduced....love him!
8:58 Clarice is talking about all the sacrifices her family made for her to dance. I know all about what it's like to be a part of a dance family.
8:57 I'm just obsessed with Travis tonight...I love that he is giving little nit-picky notes to the dancers about technique rather than just a broad sweep of the routine.
8:50 Mary just gave us the history of the waltz...it was considered a scandalous in the 1800s. She complemented Tadd on the softness of his movement and Jordan on her floor sweep. Nigel is so right in saying that Tadd has fantastic port de bras. Carmen...please just leave since you are not doing or saying anything important.
8:48 I've missed Toni Redpath. This is a very cool piece conceptually, about a man trying to avoid a Siren's song. Jordan looks exquisite in that draped fabric and the hair extensions. She is exhibiting some gorgeous fluidity and Tadd has exceptional body carriage.
8:44 Jordan was a serious athlete....which explains why she has such a solid build. I mean that in a good way! She's a super strong, and muscular girl. Hahahaha Tadd thought he was caucasian...love it!
8:40 Jordan & Tadd are up next with a waltz....this is the second time they've pulled ballroom this season.
8:39 That was the kind of routine that was mediocre enough to be a bottom 3 dance, but the judges panned it so America will probably feel bad and vote them through.
8:37 Umm Carmen why don't you try putting together a coherent set of comments? Mary didn't see the swag but then again I didn't either. Nigel felt it was like "hip hop 101" which is pretty much true, it was a simple routine. I am surprised but I'm actually loving everything Travis is saying tonight.
8:35 Alex is a lovely dancer but he looks a little too feminine when he dances to be believable as a guy who just wants a kiss from a girl. What on earth is that tree doing on stage? I like this movement a lot...this routine is very easy to watch...just very pleasant. Sasha hit everything as always, but I don't know if she had the fire we're used to seeing from her.
8:34 Sean Evaristo...is he a new choreographer? Also...what on earth is Sasha wearing? And now Alex is in swag camp....lol
8:32 I guess the intro to each routine this week is all about feelings? Sasha & Natalia had some cool moments in Vegas Week. Its also insane that Alexander has only been dancing since age 17. He is quite obviously a natural.
8:23 OMG I'm actually loving Travis' hand gestures. His outfit looks very much like Kurt from GLEE. Mary is very into big sleeves this season. I like Carmen's comment that "they came out like a bull" because." Mary is correct....Melanie & Marko are masters of inhabiting a character. Nigel is exactly right in saying that these two have matching technical and performance levels.
8:21 Melanie may be a shorter girl, but she knows just how to use those legs. This is a very steamy routine and its interesting but it looks clunky to me. They are usually so fluid and smooth so I have to assume that is the choreography and not the execution. I hate these costumes, its like a cheap looking production of Nine.
8:20 I love Ray Leeper! So Melanie & Marko have had contemporary, musical theatre, hip hop, and jazz....when are they ever going to get something out of their comfort zone?
8:17 Marko was in a drag queen show...how very Paul in A Chorus Line
8:12 Tadd is a standout in this piece for me, as is Ricky...Marko too
8:11 The unison movement is beautiful, very strong and masculine, nice lines and shapes
8:10 So according to whom are there 7 stages of grief? I am only aware of 5, according to Elisabeth Kubler Ross
8:09 The boys routine...welcome to the gun show! And the ab show.
8:08 Fourth of July party at Cat's house....woot woot!
8:05 The guys perform after the break....
8:02 Travis Wall....really? I hope he doesn't fawn over every routine like I think he will. Maybe he'll prove me wrong.
8:00 What on earth does Carmen Electra know about anything but being married to Dennis Rodman?

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 16 Results Show!

The opening number was very cool last night. I liked the simplicity-all black, not too flashy-and the clean technique. How great to actually see double pirouettes! I thought Ryan was a true stand-out in this routine. The editing was a little rough, I would have preferred less close-ups and more wide pans of the whole group.

Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the bottom three couples are Miranda/Robert, Caitlynn/Mitchell, and Ashley/Chris. No surprises here.

A dance group called Axis performed, consisting of a female dancer and a male dancer in a wheel chair, and what an inspiration!!

Now onto the solos. Ashley was okay...nice movement qualities, but overall forgettable. Miranda...KILLED IT! Sure she did some tricks like everybody else, but she danced it oh so well. There was so much passion there and she truly knows how to dance for her life. Caitlynn looked a little spastic to me. It was like she was rushing to get in all her tricks before her music ended. She also had a cheesy smile the whole way through. Chris did a decent solo, but I don't really feel like he showed all he could do. I felt the same about Robert. You can only get so far on  your "personality" alone. Now Mitchell knows how to dance for his life. His solo looked like something I've seen an Ailey dancer do and I just can't say enough about him.

While the judges decided, a ballroom pair did some wicked crazy partner worked that looked like something out of pairs skating. Maybe if Amanda Evora & Mark Ladwig train with them, they can win Nationals finally.

Nigel's comments to the soloists last night were very weird and he just seemed like he was on pills or something. Normally he calls all the soloists forward before he announces who is leaving, but with the girls he seemed so distraught and told the dancer that the judges were not unanimous. Then he pulled Miranda forward and basically said she had grown so much as a dancer...and then proceeded to cut her throat. So here is my thing-yeah Miranda hasn't been a standout in duets, but she did a damn good solo-why even have the dancers do solos to "dance for their life" if you are going to choose based on the duets?

And this is where it got crazy. Nigel pulled Mitchell downstage (I got scared because the only girl he pulled out was the one he cut) and told him he was fantastic and really knew how to dance for his life. Then he pulled Chris down and told him they loved the woodpecker dance (which Robert did last week) but that he needed to grow faster in order to connect with the public. And then he finally pulled Robert and basically said his personality was great but he didn't have the technique to stay in the show. What is going on in your head Nigel??

So we lost yet another full pair, meaning all the teams will stay together yet again next week. Weirdest results show ever? Maybe yes, but I'm sure Nigel & Mary will be all kinds of crazy as we get deeper into the competition. So to wrap up, it was time for Robert to go, but Miranda's solo should have saved her. Oh well better luck next week kids. Viva la Chenoweth! And until next Wednesday's live-blog, Peace Out!

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 16 Perform!

Here we are again, its Wednesday at 8 and that could only mean one thing....this is So You Think You Can Dance. Tonight the top 16 perform and Kristin Chenoweth (my favorite) is guest judging.

9:56 Well that was it for me. I'm going to do some thinking and post my recap and my predictions tomorrow. Until then, happy dancing!
9:54 I expected this to be a crazy aggressive song but I think the softness actually suits it well. Maida Withers would say that it is was way too symmetrical
9:53 Battle of the Sexes, part....how many? PS this is a very cool piece, Dee's stock just went up in my mind!
9:52 First I thought this piece was about snap cups; Dee why couldn't you have done this for a duet instead of that damn piano man piece
9:50 I wanted to give a special shout-out to my follower from the UK who has hit my blog so many times tonight! Come back again and see us soon!
9:47 I feel like Kristin is putting on a little bit of a "tv personality" tonight....I don't think she is being completely "real Kristin"
9:45 Sometimes when a choreographer comes up with a "concept" it can be dangerous...just ask Baayork Lee
9:44 They are really killing this routine; I like the play on "jumping on the bed" because we all did that when we were kids
9:43 The movement is actually pretty good, and the changes of clothes are a really cool idea
9:42 Okay so we are doing a hip-hop version of "the morning after?" hmmmm.....its inventive I'll give you that
9:35 Thank the lord they kept those 2 last week, they have so much growing to do and tonight was a huge step in the right direction
9:34 Lil C is clearly president of the Sonya fan club
9:33 Is Ryan not wearing any makeup? She needs a little something more on the face
9:32 I like how understated this piece was, not a lot of tricks, just some nice quiet dancing
9:31 This piece is very quiet, I get the message they are communicating and it is great to see Ryan expressing something other than a smile
9:31 Sonya has used that same 2-rotation lift in both pieces tonight, just in different body positions
9:30 It brings an interesting angle that the two have never been in love before but they're creating a piece about losing else they've loved in their lives
9:29 Ryan was like me....her mom put her into dance to bring her out of her shell
9:28 Ryan & Ricky are like my goofy favorites; I feel like they are the slow ones of the bunch and always out to lunch but I want to be their best friends
9:24 Sinatra can make anyone look good
9:22 The Foxtrot was Kristin's favorite dance of the night; she just labeled them Fred & Ginger
9:21 That was a spot on Foxtrot according to Mary, did she just call her "Clarence"
9:21 Jess is not the strongest partner and the lifts still look heavy and clunky; part of me thinks that it is his diva attitude not wanting to let her be the center of attention
9:20 Nice lines and nice fluidity. I love the little West Side Story side kick moment
9:19 This is so classic but Jess looks so short next to Clarice in heels, especially when he is lifting her
9:18 Going back to the Sonya piece....the reason I praised the competition was because I couldn't praise the choreography
9:14 By the way, if you hate what i'm saying or love what i'm saying, please feel free to let me know in the comments section below and we can get a dialogue going! Or tweet me @barbiebackstage
9:11 Kristin's comment was convoluted for me, she couldn't comment on it because she didn't understand the style? I'm confused
9:09 I'll agree with Nigel that the performance was 100% committed but I disagree that the music was a wrong choice because A) That is not under the dancers' control and B) this is the kind of material Sonya does so that's what you get when you commission a routine from her
9:08 Sonya is a master of composition. This duet is very well fomatted with side-by-side movement, individual movement, and partnering
9:07 In the side-by-side unison movement, Chris is slightly behind Ashley and isn't quite punching the movements as hard as she is. This music has really cool undertones. I like the whole use Ashley as a puppet thing
9:07 Sonya pieces must be so fun to perform once you finally get the choreography down pat
9:06 Is Ashley wearing a onezie?
9:05 Sonya is craxy as all get out and I just love it, she is truly original
9:00 And Krazy Aunt Kristin just laid a bit smooch on Lil C....like we didn't see that coming
8:59 Thank god Kristin just hit a signature high note and gave us her signature phrase "we sing because we can't speak anymore, and dance is an extension of that"
8:58 Oh hell no Nigel just macked on Mary! Krazy Aunt Kristin doesn't know what just happened
8:57 Nigel just labeled Melanie & Marko "the couple to beat" #duh
8:56 Tabitha's doppleganger is most definitely Stacey London
8:55 It most definitely was "buck"  -Lil C
8:54 These two are on of those partnerships that only happens maybe once in a season and they are both such bright lights for dance!
8:53 These two have some amazing chemistry and that is so the key to making it far in the competiion
8:52 Lyrical hip-hop by Nappytabs...a piece about 2 friends...now that's a new concept. Basically "Man of Honor"
8:51 Melanie & Marko were both little divas when they started dancing
8:44 Nigel gives us a shout out to Vincent Minelli #work
8:44 Lil C: "Miranda, with legs like that, who needs arms?"
8:42 So here is my thing Tyce, why choose music with built in tap sounds and not have them tap? And do ladies of the night always do aerials?
8:41 Oh yay we love Sophisticated Ladies! Right off the bat,  Miranda is not committing enough to the character. Robert is lighting ig up in his role but Miranda looks like she is out to lunch
8:40 Hello there Tyce: so Miranda is playing a hooker and Robert is a groovy cat
8:39 I think I had almost the exact costume that Miranda wore in her first show.
8:33 Nigel just called Mitchell "the Chris Rock of dance"....is that a compliment?
8:32 I love Aunt Kristin "you shut it down, you shut your legs, you opened your legs"
8:31 So Mary had a stroke? She forgot Caitlynn's name and is forgetting how to speak English
8:29 This routine is so clunky. The music isn't helping, but everything looks awkward and forced, nothing is smooth.
8:28 Caitlynn has nice straight legs and pointed feet in that opening helicopter lift; is it just me or is this piece moving really slowly? So Caitlynn is whipping her hair and her skirt a lot while Mitchell is actually dancing. Is that the name of the game?
8:27 Caitlynn & Mitchell Samba with Jean-Marc; this best be hot
8:27 Holy crap Mitchell didn't start dancing until he was 16
8:26 I can relate to Caitlynn on the horrible costume front
8:24 To quote my friend @Kyle_Louise "where was the dancing there? if you blinked you missed it"
8:20 Lil C just called Sasha "8 notches above perfection"; so the judges loved Sasha and Alex was invisible? Did I hear that correctly?
8:19 Aunt Kristin always has the best stories: "I played a flower and a frog peed on me"
8:18 That piece was a collection of lovely images and photo opportunities, but choreography? Not so much...
8:15 I kind of love the opening image with Alex at the piano. Sasha is just so present in her own body. Wow he is throwing her all over that piano! I'm not cool with disrespecting my favorite instrument, but for the sake of art I'll allow it. That last image with her hands coming through the back of the piano was haunting!
8:14 I'm so happy to see Dee Caspary back, he's working with Sasha & Alex. Surprise, surprise, it is a love story, but it looks like a unique twist so we'll see.
8:12 And some more tacky introductions, but at least "the first performance" is poignant. Sasha was a frog in Thumbelina, aka wearing a green unitard. Alex did a tribute to The Lion King at his 6th birthday party.
8:07 Every time I want to "hit the road" I always do a back handspring series. Tyce the genius
8:06 The lighting is so dark that i can barely tell what is going on in the routine...but now that I can see the movement, it's not doing much for me
8:06 I so thought that this was going to be Cell Block Tango because Tyce is trite like that
8:05 Tyce is such a jerk-wad....if you want a better explanation just watch Every Little Step, a documentary about the revival of A Chorus Line
8:04 OMG Kristin & Lil C are going to be best friends...its so going to happen...watch out twitter!
8:03 Get it Kristin Chenoweth! That's my girl right there....my idol...the person I aspire to become!
8:02 Our dancers are doing their intro dances as couples tonight instead of solos, very sassafrass
8:01 It's going to feel weird going from 10 routines to 8
8:00 Cat Deeley is looking so glam tonight......very Roxie Hart!

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 20 Results Show (again)!

I loved the opening number, it was very unique and I loved the simplicity of it. This is weird but I love when they truly dance as one and you can't pick out who is who. Dave Scott is great and I really want to see his work on the show more this season. Debbie Reynolds has loved the experience even though she "is used to being on the stage and has never been off the stage".

First 3 couples are: Missy/Wadi, Caitlynn/Mitchell, and Sasha/Alexander. Could Caitlynn be wearing any less clothes? Come on now let's keep it clean. Missy/Wadi are in the bottom 3 (we knew that) after that heinous Cha Cha. Caitlynn/Mitchell are safe (we knew that too) after that Stacey Tookey dullsville contemporary routine that was sure to be a crowd pleaser. Sasha/Alexander did the best routine of the night and if they are in the bottom 3 I'm not watching this show anymore. And they are safe too...which means I can keep blogging for y'all!

Gatorade is helping the dancers work on a nutrition programs which is a phenomenal idea. After the injuries last season, we need to keep these dancers as safe and healthy as possible.

Next 2 couples: Melanie/Marko and Miranda/Robert. Both sets are safe which was pretty much expected.

Next 2 couples: Jordan/Tadd and Iveta/Nick. Jordan/Tadd are safe so thank goodness America got it right and voted for a strong couple even though it wasn't necessarily a crowd-pleasing routine. Iveta/Nick are in the bottom 3 and Cat says she can't wait to see their solos. How weird is it that Iveta is nearly as tall as Cat?

Final 3 couples: Ashley/Chris, Ryan/Robert, and Clarice/Jess. This was the big surprise of the night because I really expected Clarice/Jess to be in the bottom after that mediocre contemporary number, but hey, whatcha gonna do. Ryan & Ricky will kill it in  the solos.

I always fast forward through the fluff on the results show...aka the dance crews and the musical "artists" that nobody has ever heard of.

Wadi didn't dance for his life like he meant it. He did what I've seen anybody do in the clubs, plus a lot of flares. Missy looked incredibly spastic and and whip her hair. Nick looked and sounded great just as expected. Goodness I hope they keep him! He's so cute and so good! It is so hard to do solos when you are a ballroom dancer. Iveta tried  but it looked like all she was really doing was shaking her ass. Ricky started out with a huge turn sequence and into a lot of other tricks, but he had some really interesting connecting movements and showed off some really spectacular ways of moving his body. He was truly dancing for his life. Ryan showed a ton of emotion in her solo but she was a little wild in her movements and lacked control.

I always hate how the judges bring each dancer forward and tell them how wonderful they are, blah, blah, blah. And the judges kept Ryan. She was so genuinely emotional. I think they picked her because she is such a diamond in the rough  and she hash so much potential for the rest of the season. Ricky's reaction was just as emotional and genuine as Ryan's! I'm genuinely sad to see Nick go, and even Wadi too! I'm pissed at Iveta for sucking in that Bollywood routine and putting Nick in the bottom 3.

Well that's it for me guys. Next week's guest judge is my girl Kristin Chenoweth! Until next Wednesday's live-blog, Peace Out!

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 20 Perform (again)!

Because Nigel was feeling nice last week and didn't cut any dancers, the top 20 performed once again. Maybe it was because most of the dancers had to step out of their style or maybe because the choreography was bland, but overall I was unimpressed with last night's episode. Here is my live play-by-play of the episode in case you missed it http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2011/06/so-you-think-you-can-dance-top-20.html

Here are my favorite routines in order...

1) Sasha & Alexander Lyrical Hip Hop: Thank the Lord, Napoleon & Tabitha have returned! They are masters of this style and nobody does it like them, in my opinion. This piece about a soldier returning home from war to his emotionally tormented wife was poignant, particularly after the President's announcement before the the show about withdrawing troops in 2012. Many thought Sasha was too aggressive and too hard-hitting, but I really think that was a character choice and it showed that her husband's absence left her feeling tortured from the inside-out. Alex looked a little dead-faced like he did last week and he really needs to up his performance level to meet Sasha's. They should be 100% safe tonight.

2) Jordan & Tadd Viennese Waltz: I cannot even believe I'm picking a ballroom style as my 2nd favorite but it was just a huge surprise for me how well they did. I mean Tadd is a b-boy, all he does is freestyle, and I was shocked to see how incredible his posture and body carriage was. He looked so elegant and he was there for his partner. He even had the proper rise and fall. Jordan was fine, but Tadd definitely pulled focus. She had a little too much sass and not quite enough polish in my opinion. Wardrobe also did a poor job with her, putting her in a costume that made her look stocky when in fact she is not. They should be safe tonight.

3) Miranda & Robert Hip Hop: I was just so excited for the return of Tabitha & Napoleon last night! I love their choreography, but even more, I love that they are constantly coming up with new concepts. I could be wrong, but it always seems like they come up with their themes and then find music to fit, rather than letting the music and lyrics dictate the movement. I mean a daddy and a baby woodpecker? You can't get much more out of the box than that. This is Robert's style, but Miranda did her best to keep up and showed her grit when she got back up after eating it on a flip. I'd have them as safe, but they could potentially be in danger.

4) Caitlynn & Mitchell Conemporary: I hate that Stacey Tookey can't come up with anything but love stories or love stories gone wrong for her contemporary routines, but I'm ranking this routine high simply for its  movement quality. I've decided that I'm no longer going to expect great concepts from Stacey. I'm going to look at her routines strictly as movement for movement's sake. Caitlynn & Mitchell are a fantastic pair and it was great to see them dance together. They have great lines, extension and lift in jumps and leaps. The movement was gorgeous and flowed well with the music but the concept was tacky and so was that stupid lamp on stage. The chairs would have sufficed.

5) Melanie & Marko Jazz: This routine should have been great on paper but in no way shape or form should Sing Sing Sing ever be updated. Mandy Moore could have played with putting contemporary movement to a classic song  without actually choosing a techno version. Melanie & Marko did a great job with the intricate choreography and they looked quite polished. I didn't even see the moment when Marko dropped the hat. The one thing that bugged me about the piece was that we could tell right away when a jump or lift was coming because of the big preparation. I think they should be safe tonight, not only because it was a solid routine, but also because of the huge response to their statue routine last week.

6) Ryan & Ricky Jazz: I love these two and it was hard for me to be critical of the routine but it just was not good enough. There were issues in ever way possible from the stale choreography and 80s-tacular song choice to the costume malfunctions. One thing I also noticed last night is that Ryan & Ricky are nearly the same height which can be awkward visually. We'll see how that works when they draw their first ballroom routine. Another thing I noticed is that Ryan, though she makes up for it in heart, lacks a bit of polish. She is a little clunky and heavy in her movements and hasn't yet mastered how to use her long limbs to her advantage. I hate to admit it but they may be in danger tonight

7) Iveta & Nick Bollywood: I grew to love Nick even more in this routine because of his dedication and commitment. He was 150% into the routine and his energy made us all believe that he actually knew what he was doing. He keeps tweeting that his dream is to dance with Allison Holker and he seems dead set on making the top 10. Iveta on the other hand, brought the routine down with her lack of energy and commitment. She was half a beat behind Nick the entire routine and never finished her movements or extended her limbs. Mary proclaimed her the Queen of the ballroom, which may be true, but in something outside of her own style she just looked uninterested. I give Nick an A for effort but I don't know that my goodwill alone can keep them safe tonight.

8) Ashley & Chris Broadway: I get where  Spencer Liff was going with this and I do praise him for creativity, but it was much much too literal. I think this may have worked as a jazz or contemporary piece with a song about longing or being kept apart, but using Cry Baby's "please Mr Jailer" took away all the suspense and drama. It was danced well enough but the bars limited the choreography. It was more posing and doing tricks on the bars than actual full-bodied movement. I think that it was sassy and flashy enough that they'll probably be safe tonight.

9) Clarice & Jess Contemporary: This piece was blah blah blah for me. I'll give Stacey Tookey credit for coming up with a stronger theme (Prince & Princess) in this piece but if they hadn't been in those costumes, I would have had no idea that was the concept because nothing in the music or movement backed it up. They really struggled with the lifts, which surprises me because Jess has been on Broadway 3 times and he should know how to partner. I think a lot of it may be his ego and Clarice is suffering because of it. As Nigel said, they did a phenomenal routine last week that put them in the bottom 3 so after this mediocre showing, I assume they'll be there again.

10) Missy & Wadi Cha Cha: This routine was just all kinds of wrong. A) Jean-Marc said upfront that this was the hardest routine he's ever done for the show. Why then would he use it for week 2 and with  non-ballroom dancers? B) The song was annoying and obnoxious. C) Wadi tried but his upper body was so weak and he seemed to be behind Missy the whole time. D) Missy's "come hither" faces were so unnecessary. You can do that if the routine is flawless but when its not, well then that's just tacky. I'm not picking on them but if they don't end up in the bottom 3, then something is wrong.

So You Think You Can Dance: The Top 20 Perform (again)!

Here we are again on a Wednesday evening around 8pm EST watching the top 20 perform on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance. Deja vu much? Nigel, being the softie that he is, decided to keep all the dancers last week, which means that we'll see 2 couples go tomorrow night. That's 4, count 'em 4 dancers! This is a big week for the performers as there is such little margin for error. Last week nearly every dancer or couple drew their own style so expect to see some switch-ups tonight. Hip-hoppers doing ballroom anyone? Either way, get ready for some good choreography, some great technique, and some even better Mary Murphy outbursts because this.....is So You Think You Can Dance...according to Barbie of course.

10:10 Well all thats it for me tonight. I'm going to analyze my thoughts and write a recap tomorrow where I'll also try to predict the bottom three. Until then, happy dancing!
10:08 Mary nobody cares about your Hot Tamale train dear. I really hope that Debbie took out her hearing aide before that signature Mary squeal
10:06 Obviously a side tilt is necessary when we are doing a piece about prison. Anytime I visit someone in prison, I always do a side-tilt.
10:04 Spencer dear I get that bars have never been used on the show, but that doesn't necessarily mean that its a good idea
9:57 The judges love it and I agree. Tabitha & Napoleon are fantastic storytellers!
9:56 Get it together Mary, big girls don't cry!
9:53 This is a perfect song for this story. That moment of connection was just phenomenal. That was certainly the WOW dance of the night.
9:52 I can tell from rehearsal that this is going to be a memorable piece.
9:46 I want some of whatever Debbie Reynolds is on, pretty please!
9:43 "Sing Sing Sing" I'd say that is an oldie but a goodie. I love the intricacy and musicality of the piece and Melanie has great leg lines for a short girl. I kind of hate this remix. Melanie has a great layout. The split catch lift was good, but I hate how we totally knew when it was coming.
9:42 Let's hope this Mandy Moore choreography is better than the last one
9:41 I love that all dancers are so immature and silly...not just me.
9:35 Mary I wouldn't go announcing "the surprise of the season" yet in week 2. Also, that dress is not flattering on Jordan. It gives her love handles that she probably doesn't have.
9:34 I don't agree that Jordan is so beautiful and elegant, but Tadd was really phenomenal.
9:32 Very nice penchay from Jordan and some pretty nice upper body carriage from Tadd. Okay so I scoffed at this but Tadd is actually pretty good. The woman is supposed to be the picture while the man is the frame, but I'm only watching Tadd.
9:31 Is Jordan wearing a curtain as a skirt?
9:30 Wow so Jordan really is our slow friend. Tadd is OCD.
9:23 Okay I get it, Stacey Tookey is jonesing for some media attention from the royal couple. I agree with Nigel that the separate movement was nice but the partnering lacked fluidity
9:21 If she wanted this to be really unique, she should have gone with a Disney song or something and made it into a parody. Other than the costuming, nothing in this piece tells me that he is a prince and she is a princess.The side by side movement is nice, it has some really great bounce to it. Was it just my viewpoint or did Jess botch that turn?
9:20 What the what Stacey Tookey? You did another love story on the same show? This is so un-called for. Like I get that the "prince-princess" thing is different but really?
9:19 Is Clarice's secret that she can do a leg catch turn?
9:13 Nigel has about the worst set of dentures that I've ever seen
9:12 So Debbie Reynolds just did a Woody the Woodpecker impression, #Idie
9:10 Robert looks really good, and he uses those long limbs in such an interesting way, but Miranda doesn't seem completely committed to the movement. She seems to be marking the routine. Newsflash girlfriend, you are on the BIG stage. The ending with the dive offstage was precious
9:09 Now this is an interesting concept that is not, I repeat NOT a love story
9:08 Miranda has a crush on Tadd, which is so precious (and juicy)
9:02 I'm 98% sure that Debbie Reynolds is either drunk or on some REALLY good meds
9:01 Mary, I get that you have a girl crush on Iveta, but she did NOT shine on that stage. She couldn't have been less interested if she had been giving waltz lessons at a nursing home.
9:00 Nigel, Joshua & Katie were 4 seasons ago, so like why bring them up?
8:58 The lighting is very nice in this piece. I feel like Nick is killing it but Iveta is lagging behind and is not straightening her arms and/or fully hitting all of the movements. Good energy overall from Nick but Iveta was lacking
8:57 Dancers always give the same response when then find out the have bollywood, always a dazed and confused look
8:56 Iveta talks to herself in mirrors & Nick always wears shorts; this whole "get to know your partner" segment makes for such bad TV
8:50 Mary is praising Missy as the "cha cha Queen".....okay whatever Mary. And Debbie "cougar" Reynolds just offered to take Wadi home and cha-cha with him anytime
8:49 Nigel just said, imma keep it real. And he basically told Wadi he had a lot of work to do and that was very true. Nigel praised Missy, but like if you are an expert jazz dancer, cha-cha isn't so so far away
8:48 Those poor dears, good try but that was heinous
8:47 Wow this is just horrible from the technique and the execution to the song and the "come get me faces."
8:46 Why would Jean Marc do his most difficult routine ever in week 2? Why, God Why?
8:38 "Dance is the language of the soul" -Nigel Lythgoe. Who wants to knit that on a sampler? Needlepoint anyone?
8:37 Thank GOD Debbie started singing! I just love that broad!
8:36 The judges are so nice this season. What is this, American Idol?
8:35 It was a very visually appealing piece (minus the lamp) but we've seen all of that movement and all of that emotion before.
8:34 I love an Adele moment, but can we say 'overused'? I like how we don't see Caitlynn's face for that opening section. Also, why do we need this lamp? That is just so unnecessary. This is not a Broadway set.
8:33 Get it Stacey Tookey in your booty shorts and oversized V-neck! I hate that ever partner dance is a "love story" or a "love story gone wrong". There is soooo much more to dance about!
8:32 This whole "partner secret" thing is so tacky. And why is Caitlynn giggling like a 12-year old at a middle school dance?
8:30 Wait so why was I so nice about that routine? Mandy is doing the same choreo she did circa 1997 and Ryan dear, why couldn't you stick that double pirouette?
8:26 And what does the dame thing? Debbie "never saw anyone dance sexier". She fell out of her top and he fell out of his bottom, and they gave her their all. Hahahaha Debbie I love it!
8:25 What on earth is Mary wearing? Something resembling an epaulette? She loves Ryan's strength and Ricky's character
8:25 Nigel is acting as if jazz is a huge step away from contemporary, which it isn't in my mind, ps he called them raunchy
8:24 I love the dancers and the choreography, but this routine isn't really going anywhere conceptually. But I think that is ok, it was a good dance just for dance's sake
8:23 I love when Mandy goes to an 80s-tacular place; Ricky looks sexy but Ryan looks a little awkward and clunky. She is one of those dancers who has such long limbs but hasn't completely mastered how to use them
8:23 Ryan and Ricky are such goofballs and Mandy Moore clearly is not having any of that; they need to kick up the performance level
8:22 Oh wow I didn't realize that they were keeping the same partners all season
8:20 Doesn't that old clip just take you back!
8:19 Debbie Reynolds is such a grand Dame! I just love that gal!
8:16 Its so cute that we saw the dancers enter in their pairs from last year
8:15 And after the Presidential address, we are FINALLY starting (thanks to FOX for showing the entire episode)

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: Top 20 Results Show

So the opening number was bondage themed. What is Fox trying to sell anyway? The movement was very unique and all I could think about was how amazing Mark Kanemura would look in that movement. Sonya Tayeh is the it girl of contemporary and jazz right now and her movement is always interesting and she never recycles her work.

I just love Megan as a judge on the show and I wish they'd keep her around. Hopefully we'll see her again soon! Nigel spoke a lot about national dance die, Cat went on and on about the special performance, blah blah blah. Let's get to the results!

First up were Melanie & Marko and duh they were safe. Missy & Wadi did the Sean Cheeseman Pandora's box jazz routine that I hated...and before we give them their results we had to review Iveta & Nick's quickstep. Both were safe. I disagree because I would've put Missy & Wadi in the bottom, but then again what do I know? I've only been in this business for 20 years.

The next group included Ashley & Chris who had the misfortune of doing that heinous Chris Scott hip hop routine that had no originality and no difficult. We also saw Jordan & Tadd  who did the better of the two Sean Cheeseman routines last night, the afro jazz. And Jordan & Tadd go to the bottom 3 while Ashley & Chris are safe? What was America thinking?? Then poor Caitlynn had to stand there along onstage as her "partner" Mitchell already has to dance for his life. She is safe. And then Clarice & Jess fell to the bottom 3? They did that stunning nuanced Broadway piece but all that did was prove that America likes tricks rather than legit dancing.

Then because of the beauty of tivo I could fast forward through that heinous Kerry Hillson routine.

Ryan & Ricky were up next. Ryan is my girl and they were safe!! Sasha & Alexander were also in this group along with Miranda & Robert. Miranda & Robert to to the bottom 3 while Sasha & Alexander were safe.

Russian dancers have springs in their feet. The Gopak number proved that indeed white men can jump!

Its solo time so get prepared for the tricks! First up we have Mitchell who was injured last night. Doing such an overdone song as Say by John Mayer is not a good idea. Doing such a long devellope was not a good use of his time to dance for his life.

Jordan knows how to work it and show everything she needs to in that short period. That is how you dance for your life and she brought her signature sex appeal.

Tadd comes out breaking to Jump Jive and Wail  which is such a quirky combo and shows his personality and sense of humor in addition to his technical skills. The judges loved it.

Clarice is all about the legs and the hair but she doesn't really who much in the solo other that grande battements and whipping her hair back and forth. She also botched her a la seconde turns which is a huge no no on this show.

Jess came out in a bowler hat and showed of his technical prowess with a very controlled pirouette. He stays true to his style and shows us a great mixture of personality, showmanship and technique.

Miranda comes out swinging and I loved her pirouette arch into layback. She definitely could be more controlled and she showed signs of nerves. She wasn't as clean as some other girls but I think she showed a lot of fight.

Robert didn't show much actually training for me. Everything he did was something I've seen in clubs.

If it were up to me, I would send Robert and Clarice home but who knows what these judges will do.

I loved how Cat thought she was "breaking" the news of Gaga guest judging when I actually heard that a few days ago.

And after deliberations and feelings from the judges.....they asked two of the boys to dance again. Why is this necessary? Oh yeah, its not.

Oh lord and we kept everyone. I am all for giving people second chances, but the name of the game is choosing America's favorite dancer so how are we going to get down to one if we keep them all? So to wrap it up, we didn't eliminate anybody in the elimination show but we are cutting two couples next week. That's it for me guys. Until next Wednesday, Peace Out!

So You Think You Can Dance Recap: The Top 20 Perform!

For my live play-by-play of last night's episode you can click this link http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2011/06/so-you-think-you-can-dance-june-15th.html
Here are my favorite performance from last night in order.

1) Melanie & Marko Contemporary: I am very critical of Travis Wall's choreography normally but I have to give credit where credit is due and this was an extraordinary piece of art. The statue theme will be memorable for seasons to come and it was beautifully danced to boot.

2) Clarice & Jess Broadway: I've always loved Tyce Diorio's Broadway pieces and this Me & My Baby number was another great one. Jess has three Broadway credits and he was darn near perfect. Clarice didn't quite rise to his level and missed some of the nuances and precision that Jess nailed, but it was a solid and entertaining routine nonetheless. They should be safe tonight.

3) Ryan & Ricky Lyrial Hip Hop: I love this style, though Chris Scott doesn't hold a candle to NappyTabs. I have loved Ryan since last season when she was cut last minute and these two had amazing chemistry. The judges criticized her for smiling too much but when she explained the concept to the judges they understood her motives. If the dancer has to explain a concept to the judges then that is a discredit to the choreographer. These are all-star choreographers and they should be able to clearly communicate their message through their dancers. I think these two will be audience favorites and shouldn't be in any danger tonight.

4) Iveta & Nick Quickstep: I cannot believe I'm putting a Quickstep in my top four routines but this was great. Iveta is a world champion in this dance so I wasn't worried about her but Nick truly rose to her level. Though he had to learn the ballroom posture, he is a tapper so the footwork came pretty naturally to him. They were well suited as partners and choreographer Jason Gilkerson chose a great song, Ballroom Blitz, to make it as exciting as possible. Though I thought it was a solid routine, I predict America will put it in the bottom 3 but as long as they don't blow their solos, I'm almost positive the judges will save these two. 

5) Sasha & Alexander Contemporary: This was one of those Travis Wall pieces I didn't like because it was about a broken relationship like most of his work. This piece showed Sasha off beautifully and she is just so strong....like a dancing Xena. Her emotion was spot on but Alexander looked vacant, though her body lines were stunning. His dancing is great, but he needs to work more on connecting his body and his face. This routine should leave them safe after the results are read.

6) Jordan & Tadd Afro Jazz: I like this piece because it was aggressive and it gave the dancers a chance to show just how much they want to be there because they had to truly commit to the movement to do it properly. This proved that Jordan & Tadd are tough dancers and you can throw anything at them. This high-energy piece was likely an audience pleaser and they should be safe.

7) Melissa & Wadi Jazz: I did not like the choreography of this Sean Cheeseman jazz piece because there wasn't any choreography. It was a lot of leg tricks from Melissa & b-boy stunts from Wadi masquerading as a dance. Sean's "pandora's box of sexy demons" theme was just tacky and much too elaborate to develop properly in such a short routine. I would personally put this in the bottom 3 but I'm assuming that it probably got a lot of votes from America because it was flashy and showy.

8) Caitlynn & Mitchell (Robert): Mitchell was unfortunately injured this week and last season's Robert had to stand in for him. This was rather unfortunate for Caitlynn as she seemed to struggle next to Robert, especially because he does Sonya's work so well. She doesn't yet have his polish or precision but she had great energy and performance. Mitchell is automatically in the bottom 3 so it will be interesting to see what happens to Caitlynn.

9) Miranda & Robert Jive: These dancers were victims of situation because they were one of the few pairs who didnt' draw their own style. They did their best and the energy was good but they struggled with unison and with the intricacies of the footwork and leg placement. I suspect this will put them in the bottom 3.

10) Ashley & Chris Hip Hop: I do not like what I've seen so far of Christopher Scott's work and I think his concepts are trite & underdeveloped. This piece explored the overused theme of "cheating" and the comedic aspect made it seem silly. The choreography was so elementary and did not show off what the dancers are capable of. This piece should be in the bottom 3, though it is not the fault of the dancers. They were victims of poor material.

So You Think You Can Dance: June 15th Liveblog

Welcome to my first So You Think You Can Dance Liveblog of season 8! I'll be doing this every Wednesday for the rest of the season. Tonight we'll see the top 20 pair up to perform 10 exciting original routines. I can't wait!

9:56 That's a wrap for tonight guys. I  won't be with you live for tomorrow night's show, but I will post a recap later in the evening after I watch the show. I'll be liveblogging again next Wednesday for the top 18 episode. Until then, happy dancing!
9:53 According to Nigel, Nick conquered the Quickstep, the dance of death, because of his fabulous tap dancing feet. I always love Jason Gilkerson's choreography and he does a great job of making the routines entertaining so that ballroom appeals to the TV audience.
9:51 Ballroom Blitz is a very fun song for a quickstep. Nick is looking pretty good on the first run across the stage! He is also performing the heck out of it as is she. This his pretty exciting for a quickstep if I must say.
9:50 I love how Yveta acts like she is the instructor.
9:49 I forgot that Oksana Baiul was on this show! Oh wait, that's Yvetta and she is partnering with Nick the tap dancer. Let's hope his quick footwork helps him in the quickstep!
9:44 Megan gives a big shout out to the costume, hair, and makeup team and calls them the best on TV.
9:43 I hated that choreography so much but I can't fault the dancers for the choreographer's work.
9:41 This song is comical and it fits Christopher's "theme". This movement is so elementary and I get that it's intended to be humorous, but it really looks silly.
9:40 Choreographers......can we PLEASE develop some concepts that don't involve love stories or cheating? There is so much other material to explore.
9:39 What I want to know is if they are all really that excited to see their partners. A Hip Hop routine by Christopher Scott by Chris & Ashley.
9:32 Standing O from the judges! Mary gets emotional. I agree with Mary & Megan that the piece was truly special and magical. Also, love Travis's sparkly suit. I usually don't love Travis' choreography but this really was a special one.
9:29 From the first movements I can tell that this will be one of the top routines of the season. Melanie has such amazing control of her limbs and Marko is such a strong individual and partner for her. The emotion is spot-on. This is a good example of it being totally appropriate to do leg-tricks because it fits the theme of the piece. This was just phenomenal. They are the team to beat!
9:28 Congratulations Travis Wall for developing an interesting concept! Coincidence that they are both contemporary dancers and they drew that style.
9:27 I love Melanie! She is so fresh-faced and innocent-looking and just lovely overall. And I love Marko! He is so real!
9:22 Megan consistently has the most sensible and constructive commentary for each piece.
9:20 Nigel is correct in saying that this year's hip-hoppers are adapting remarkably well to other styles.
9:18 I like the manipulation of the box set pieces. The could be cleaner. At one point she was expecting him to lift her and had to look back to find him. There are so many tricks in this piece. The actual dancing is really great but is so sparse. I did not like this choreography. I think Shawn is a little full of himself in thinking that those evolved concepts can actually come to fruition.
9:17 The concepts behind the pieces are very elaborate this week. We are doing a sexy evil demon Pandora's box jazz dance. I'm sorry but Miss Clarissa didn't teach me that in class.
9:16 Missy & Wadi doing doing jazz. Sooooo much jazz on this show.
9:09 In all these years of hosting SYTYCD, Cat still doesn't know what a pony is?
9:08 Megan comments on the energy and fun of the piece. She calls Miranda "goofy" but announces her love to Robert.
9:07 That was an unfortunate draw for style for them and I think that may be a bottom-three routine.
9:06 They have great bounce to them, a real spring to their step and a lot of power in the kicks. This lighting is serving them well as the flashes disguise some of the incorrect technique on the kicks and flicks. She keeps looking back at him in a way that looks like she needs to see him to remember the choreography.
9:05 So they drew "latin" but its jive? Does that mean the choreographer can pick the style when they get the dancers? Why is she wearing silver lame boots?
9: 04 Yeah Miranda repp-ing Pittsburgh! I also love her big hair. She is a contemporary dancer partnering a hip hop dancer in a Jive? Should be interesting.
8:58 Nigel gives her "10s across the board". I don't agree but such is life.
8:57 Mary: "Every girl wants to be you". Really Mary? I wouldn't really call Caitlynn phenomenal yet but she is really showing potential and she did have the disadvantage of performing with a "potential" all-stars.
8:56 Unfortunately for Caitlynn, Robert is so fantastic that he made her look inexperienced. She seemed to be playing catch up to stay with Robert.
8:55 Sonya's work requires such abandon which I love. They are recklessly in control in this piece. They really hit the syncopation and this piece is choreographed wonderfully for the accents.
8:54 Here we have Caitlynn dancing with Robert (love) from season 7. I love La Roux but this is my first time hearing this song (in for the kill).
8:53 So Caitlynn is dancing with Mitchell (who is injured) in a jazz routine by Sonya. Now that Mitchell is injured, I wonder who she'll dance with. (Mitchell is sweaty & slippery btw).
8:46 Megan has to wonder what she got herself into sitting next to that nutso Mary Murphy. I love that she mentioned the term "through-line". She is such a professional.
8:45 Mary you can't tell every dancer that they were the most talented girl or guy of the season. When you hand out compliments so easily, they lose their weight.
8:44 Nigel, you are always the biggest culprit of this, but I hate when you give the dancers criticism based on the choreography, which is completely out of their control.
8:43 This was not up there (in choreography or performance) with the great NappyTabs lyrical hip hop routines, but it was a good start. I don't know that they connected enough emotionally for the physical anger in the piece.
8:42 I like the sharp syncopation of the opening sequence. Using a classic song like Aint No Sunshine is so inventive for a hip hop routine. I don't like the lighting of this piece because it is hard to see their facial expressions, though the bodies are really showing a great deal of emotion.
8:41 It looks like the acting part of this won't be hard. They seem to genuinely like each other.
8:40 love Ryan Ramirez and I want to see her go the whole way. She is partnering with fellow contemporary dancer contemporary to do a Chris Scott lyrical hip hop routine. (I love that they are both wearing flannel....its so in for dancers now lol)
8:35 Mary basically tells Jess he gave as perfect a performance as possible. I wouldn't go that far as things can always be better, but Jess was pretty darn good!
8:33 When you are a jazz dancer, you focus on the big movements and the energy. But in a Broadway specific routine, you need to focus much more on the small details and perfect those small moments.
8:32 Obviously Megan loved the Broadway routine. She commented on Jess's showmanship and Clarice's sass. I'll give her props for that. Nigel agreed with me...that Clarice was missing a little bit of the nuance of the routine.
8:31 Oh my lord we have a Liza moment with Me And My Baby from Chicago. I like the simplicity of this routine and the fact that it allows the dancers to focus on the intricacies and specifics. Jess has the Fosse style down and Clarice could stand do round her shoulders a little more, but a good start overall.
8:30 Jess is officially my new favorite because he has been in 3 Broadway shows.
8:29 Our next pairing is Clarice & Jess and they are doing a Tyce Diorio Broadway routine! I love how so many of these couples are "randomly" drawing their own styles.
8:22 I'm loving Megan's comments on the performances...she should come back! She is calling it as she sees it and points on that Sasha is a favorite and Alexander needs to show the emotion that is in his body on his face.
8:21 As Mary commented, Alexander really slammed to the floor on that last movement. Mary is gushing over Travis's choreography and while I don't think he is as special as they all believe, I do agree with her that his transitions are great and each movement moves seamlessly into the next.
8:20 Sasha is beastly....she is like a dancing Xena!
8:18 They have a gorgeous fluidity to their movements. Tremendous performance quality: Sasha is so aggressive and Alexander looks as if he isn't in his right mind. The choreography is not doing much for me. It's the same old thing we always see from Travis.
8:16 Sasha is up for our next couple & she's paired with Alexander. Both are contemporary-ish dancers. They'll be doing a Travis Wall contemporary routine so that should be old hat for them. The rehearsal footage shows Sasha basically attacking Alexander so we'll see how that translates to the routine.
8:11 That number was a good start to the season. Those two have similar body types as weird as it sounds and I'd really like to see them partner in the future. I can see them fitting well into a Mia Michaels routine the way that they were throwing one another around in that piece!
8:10 Mary looks like she is about to cry already. Its going to be a loooooong season. Megan is giving very specific comments rather than a general sweep of the routine. She definitely has some chops for this and it sounds like she knows her stuff!
8:07 These two look very good together when they are dancing separately but the partnering is very awkward and clunky. They have great aggressive energy toward the beginning but they started losing it toward the end. Overall it was a strong opening to the season and I liked the style overall.
8:06 We have jazzer Jordan and hiphopper Tadd doing Afro-Jazz, which Tadd called "destructive.
8:05 We haven't even seen the first performances and we already have one injury. Mitchell injured his elbow after his first rehearsal. Dear lord let's hope that is the only injury of the season and not like that mess last season.
8:03 Megan Mullally is guest judging tonight and she looks exactly like Karen Walker. I keep forgetting that Megan studied at SAB. Though she does indeed have a technical background, I suspect she'll be commenting mostly on performance.
8:00 The dancers always look so darn excited in their intro dances on the first episode of the season, its so cute! We always see huge tricks, lots of turns, leaps, and tumbles.