SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Recap: Top 12 Perform
July 19, 2007 by Kath Skerry
A special thanks goes out to Jet Blue Airlines for allowing me to experience SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE like I’ve never experienced it before – from 30,000 feet in the air. I wish I could say that the high altitude made me giddy over tonight’s performances, but I can’t. This is the last time that all the original partners were dancing together and I wanted magic. Needless to say I felt a bit underwhelmed.
One of the bright spots for me tonight was guest judge Wade Robson. Sigh. Wade how I love thee, let me count the ways.
Before we get into the dances, let me say that I wrote this recap while on the flight last night (Wednesday) and I got a few stares from fellow passengers who were probably wondering why I pulled out a notebook and pen and took notes during a reality show. I must have looked a bit foolish…but it’s all for you!
My all around favorite couple, Sabra Johnson and Dominic Sandoval, were up first tonight with a Jive routine be choreographer Tony Meredith (and assisted by the poor man’s Better Midler who partners with Pasha a few weeks back.) While I can’t say that the Jive was my favorite performance by Sab and Dom, I still loved it. The lifts were a little clunky and they were out of sync a few times, but I can forgive that because they both attacked the dance and left everything on the stage. The judges were all feelin’ the routine, and Nigel went as far to say that these two were the best partners since Benji and Cousin Heidi. Now that’s a compliment.
Jaimie Goodwin and Hok Konishi took the stage next with a Tyce D’Orio Broadway routine assisted by BF Travis Wall. I gotta say that I’m usually on the same page with the judges, but not one this one tonight. I was completely mesmerized by the performance and it moved me to the point that I got a little teary (which is quite awkward on a full plane). Jaimie has really shown me something the past few weeks. Her lines and the control she has over her body is stunning. Hok is so likable and so amazing at what he does that I want him to do well. I personally thought he was crazy good tonight, but the judges disagreed. Wade didn’t respond to the story or the characters. And while Mary and Nigel both praised Jaimie they weren’t feeling Hok’s performance tonight.
Sara von Gillern and Pasha Kovalev took on a Jazz routine by Mandy Moore and were forced to wear some truly heinous 80’s attire. I think I blocked out the time in my life when I thought it was ok to wear neon. Despite my distaste for their costumes, Sara and Pasha performed incredibly tonight. Key word “performed”. They really sold the number with their expressions and interaction with each other. Wade though it was “sick” which is always a good thing. Mary praised the routine but then said she feared that they would end up in the bottom three. Huh? Nigel thought it was really well done.
Lauren Gottlieb and Neil Haskell killed it last week with their Wade Robson Jazz routine, and tonight they are lucky enough to have a contemporary routine by Mia Michaels. My love for Mia Michaels is right up there with my love for Wade (well almost at least). But if I’m being completely honest, I didn’t love the routine she choreographed tonight. It was vague combination of jazz, hip hop and contemporary and I didn’t connect with it at all. Neil and Lauren seemed out of sync throughout the dance. But I’ll tell ya, Neil is something special. I couldn’t take my eyes off him tonight. Although Wade made mention of how Neil has really come alive the past few weeks, overall he didn’t love the dance. Nor did Mary who thought it was good, but not great. And Nigel didn’t particularly enjoy it because he had no idea of the story they were trying to create on stage. I thought Nigel was going to diss Mia’s choreography, but I think he knew better than to do that. He didn’t want a beat down on National television.
Anya Garnis and Danny Tidwell were up next with a Fox Trot by Jean-Marc Genereaux. After being slammed by the judges last week for his lack of “magic”, Danny really had something to prove this week, and I think he did. Both Danny and Anya are such beautiful dancers that you can’t help but get lost when you are watching them. Tonight, more than any other week, Danny was 100% present during his performance. He danced with Anya as a true partner and did so with such amazing beauty that I wondered why he can’t dance like this every week. Wade was fully prepared to lay the smack down on Danny for not being able to really connect with him, but said tonight that he couldn’t go through with it because he was truly moved by Danny’s performance. The Mary Murphy love fest continued and Danny and Anya were the only couple tonight to get a Mary Murphy scream. Nigel declared that this was the best Fox trot of any season.
Closing out the show tonight was Lacey Schwimmer and Kameron Bink with a Hip Hop routine by Dan Karatay. Something really interesting happened tonight and unfortunately for you (we) Kameron fans it isn’t good news. Since their very first performance, the judges have said that Kameron was more like Lacey’s prop than her partner. I defended Kam as I thought the choreographers really didn’t give him the opportunity to shine. Well tonight Dan Karatay gave Kameron that chance. Hell he even had Lacey sit on her ass during a lengthy solo by Kameron, and sadly Kameron didn’t deliver. To me it became quite obvious that Lacey has carried Kameron through this competition so far. These two have never been in the bottom three and if they had I feel that Kameron might have been gone a long time ago. The judges weren’t overly thrilled with the performance as a whole. Wade thought Lacey’s performance was (and has been) a bit contrived. And all around the judges weren’t loving Kameron.
So that’s that. Tomorrow night the judges will have their final say in who goes home. After that it’s up to America. The girl and guy going home tomorrow night will not be going on the SYTYCD tour. As I looked on the stage at the 12 remaining contestants it was hard to believe that they wouldn’t all be on tour. Who should go. At this point I think it has to be Lauren and Kameron.
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I thought it was just me left with the feeling of…meh…last night. I so expected it to be a blowout fo fabulocity! I stilll love Dom and Sabra. I wasn’t feeling Danny and Anya – I thoguht it was creative camra angles that kept it from looking like Anya had brick feet. Danny was fab. I was super let down with the Mia routine. WTF? I so wanted it to be feirce and romantic like her stuff always is and it was…bleck. I liek Pasha and Sara – totally with you on the costumes but I understand the need for the suspenders. I can’t believe we are almost to the top 10!!! I agree – Lauren and Cameron.
I think that Nigel’s comment that Danny and Anya had the best fox trot ever was the overstatement of the year. If it was any other dancer Mary would have ripped them apart. Did you see when Danny looked down at his feet? Ridiculous. I’m glad the judges are done for after tomorrow. Then, America can finally kick Danny off the show.
It took me a while to figure out what it was that was different about last night’s show…usually on Thursday mornings, the first thing I do is go to YouTube to find videos of my favorite dances (usually at least two per episode – last week it was Sarah/Pasha and Lauren/Neil.) But this morning I realized there wasn’t one routine that I wanted to watch over and over again (like I did this past week with the above.) They were good, but not memorable.
Carly – I completely agree with you. I too realized that there wasn’t a dance worthy of a rewatch last night.
I have some differing opinions…though, I usually do LOL I am SO over Anya. She is the only person left in the competition that I don’t care to see dance with someone else.
I did like Dom and Sabra, probably the most of the night.
Unlike most, I actually liked Lauren and Neil’s the second most. I don’t get everyone’s beef with Lauren. Do you rewatch the performances? Her movements were very crisp and sharp in this one. I thought she did a great job. Neil too. It was a tad weird, but when is a Mia routine not? As much as I love Sara/Pasha, I thought their routine was incredibly easy (except for that one lift). In fact, I thought a lot of the routines last night were fairly easy. Maybe that’s why I rate Neil/Lauren so high this week. The judges were right, it was the most technically difficult dance of the evening.
Lacey and Kam’s dance sort of disgusted me. Too…much…flashing! My fiance came downstairs after it was over and asked who the girl in the cheerleading outfit that kept flashing everyone was. He said it was a bit extreme.
I didn’t like Jaimie and Hok’s and agreed with the judges, and I still have a problem with Jaimie. I think it’s just her voice.
If Danny and Anya are in the bottom again, I say Anya should go. Besides, her solos are dreadful and this would be her third time in the bottom. I have a feeling they’ll be safe, though. I think Lacey and Kam should be in the bottom and if they are, I think Kam should go. Hok might go if he’s in the bottom. What people always say about Lauren is how I feel about Kam. If Lauren and Neil are in the bottom, Lauren will probably go.
I love Dom and Sabra! I am so sad that they will not be partners anymore. I also really enjoyed Neil and Lauren. They used to be my least favorite couple but now I really like watching them.
I don’t understand all the fuss over Anya and Jaimie, they are my least favorites.
Kath, I love ya, but I’ve got to jump in here. Melanie Lapatin- Tony Meredith’s “assistant”- is a Four-time North American Latin Champion. Let’s give the girl some respect- she rocks in the world of ballroom, and is a super-cool lady to boot!
I totally agree with some of you other points, though. I didn’t understand Lauren/Neil, and didn’t really like their dance, but I love, love, LOVED Danny/Anya. What a lovely dance that was.
Here’s what I love: the judges don’t seem to like Dan Karaty’s choreography. And I have to agree – it seems “too easy” and unoriginal. I loved when they called him out on it last year (was it the finale or second to last show?) and his stuff this year has been sub-par when compared to other hip hop choreographers. I don’t mind him as a judge though. I wish Brian Friedman would come back. I didn’t really like him but now I kinda miss him. And, I think he’s a lot better than I first thought. Too bad he’s been scooped up by another show.
I was very happy to see Wade judging. I liked how he took notes – he takes this seriously! And, he provided good critique rather than the fluff comments some judges provide (I’m looking at you fabulous Debbie Allen!)
No disrespect to Melanie, I was just having a little fun. I didn’t see her back and the day but I’m sure she was great. I wasn’t dazzled when she performed with Pasha, but I suppose that was so last minute she did her best. I was a bit surprised when Mary told us she was a 4-time champion.
Last night’s show was a little disappointing to me also. I didn’t think any of the routines were anything to brag about. I am so over Jamie. Somebody mentioned her voice was annoying, but I just can’t stand her hair. It’s cool to have big poofy hair or whatever, but she needs to learn how to style it. I think she did okay last night, but in previous weeks, that horrible “style” of putting it in a pony-tail and leaving out “bangs” is horrible. Oh, and how lame were those videos of everyone saying how the good and bad qualities in their partners. Anya has to go this week.
Dang it, was I the only person who really liked Lauren and Neil’s performance? I knew that Mary and Nigel didn’t quite “get it” but Wade (the choreography prodigy) appreciated the number and his comments on the technical difficulty reflected this. Also, what was the name of the song? Love it.
[…] GMMR watched the show on JetBlue and wasn’t into the routine. […]
So only the top 10 do the tour? Can someone confirm this? Can someone also confirm that apples do not belong in the fridge, but peanut butter does? Go Sabra!